Hindu Media WikiVegetarianism in sanatan dharma Ramayana
Sadar pranam to everyone reading the question.
I have a doubt regarding a depiction from Ramayana. Is it mentioned in the true texts of ramayana that Mareech actually took the form of a deer to lure Lord Ram? If yes, what was the need to go after the deer as is shown to be on the request of Maa Sita. If it was for taming the deer, why was the arrow shot? Did lord Ram identify it to be a Rakshas or wanted it to be killed for any other purpose (like eating etc)?
Pls don't bash me for asking this... But this has been bugging me for quite some time and since thought that this forum could provide me with the correct answer.
Thanks in advance
2Answers
Welcome to HMW!
This site is for discussion about Hinduism.
You must have an account here to participate. Its free to use this site.
Suggested for you
Books based on Hinduism
Explore 101 Books You Must Read
Grounds for Divorce in Hindu and English Law
Click here to Buy From Indic Brands
"Indic Brands" is a curated marketplace of remarkable brands that value and celebrate our cherished cultural heritage.
Related Posts
We do NOT offer personalized advice based on Astrology.
It's perfectly ok you are really allowed to ask anything which doubts your mind here, so there is one thread on Twitter which has discussed this If you wish I can pass the thread.
Also Apart from I have few more question.
1) when do people started following particular veg or non-veg in Hinduism?
2) is there any role fo Jainism or Buddhism to make veg diet famous?
3) What are the incidents in scriptures where non-veg is shown, and when and why it was altered in the text?
Let's discuss these three questions.
My opinion. Hinduism evolved so there is no turning point in Hinduism from non-veg to veg. It was gradual. Like all civilizations, we also started as hunter gatherer and as started settling down in groups and move to farming and domesticating animals, vegetable, grains and milk become larger and larger part of the diet. Both hunting or farming was unpredictable but I think when human learned converting milk in to butter/ ghee, that was the turning point. Milk has short expiry but ghee could be stored over the year and this provided good food storage mechanism and human realized a live milk animal is better than meat animal. Just my thought.
I feel it depended more upon the availability of meat as food as well as financial strength of the community. Like, in case of rajasthan, apart from Rajputs, majority were banjaras or belonged to the vaishya (baniya) Samaj, who were not so well off always. Moreover, the baniyas got rich only after they left rajasthan and by that time, vegetarianism got imbibed in their culture.
The point of contention is that it was more financial or availability issue rather than the more prevalent dharmic issue.
As far as Jainism or Buddhism is concerned, I think both religions focus more on controlling ones senses and mind, and I ve heard that certain foods have different impacts on our body, like meat which increases testosterone, which results to boost in Josh and anger. I think in order to avoid such impact on the body, non veg was prohibited in those cases.
So basically you are asking did Bhagwan Ram went to kill deer for food, skin or just as game or target? There is nothing wrong in asking or discussing if Bhagwan Ran ate meat during vanwas or do Kshatriyas used to eat meat during Ramayana time. Let us look it from practical point of view. Bhagwan Ram stay in Panchvati about 13 years and totally cut from civilized world or settled population, so they were on their own to arrange food.
There are 3 options.
1) Be farmer and grow your own food. Raise cattle for milk and fat
2) Be a hunter and gatherer.
3) Totally depend on wild fruits and vegetal like Kandmul. This is very very difficult as there is not enough supply of these fruits and vegetables in forest throughout the years.
May be Bhagwan Ran turned farmer, raised animal and also eat kandmul or may hunt and eat meat. Don’t know
That's exactly my question... Was a bit hesitant to phrase it so... Bcoz in my mind I felt it to be somewhat wrong... Logically speaking, all your points seem tenable... However I wanted to know whether the same can be found out from any written sources or not?