Animal Sacrifice in Hinduism
In India, Hindu religion is followed by a large majority of people. It is also third most followed religion in the world. Hinduism is considered to be one of the most flexible religions of the globe. A follower can choose his or her own personal god or goddess to follow. Also there isn’t any restrictions on Hindus as to how they wish to worship their lord. It’s a freeway and one can practice their religion according to their choice.
But like all things in the world, this religion too has another face of itself. There are a few Hindu practices which are unlike the rest of the culture this religion follows. The most oldest and prominent of all the holy texts in the Hindu religion is the scriptures of Vedas. The Rig Veda says that by bali or yajna, one can help himself attain moksha. Moksha in Hindus is the freedom of the soul from the cyclic circle of birth and re-birth. It suggests that this process of sacrifice is one very unique as it’s different from both every day traditional activities and basic prayers and worship.
In earlier times, there were different types of sacrifices. The Royal ones which could only be done by the Kings and Princes for example: Ashavamedha and Jyotistoma where the sacrifice took place in three different stages. But one needs to understand that times have changed.
Many other Hindu holy scriptures like the Bhagvad Gita and Puranas are completely against animal sacrifices and have also forbidden it. According to these texts, killing an animal in the name of sacrifice is considered a sin.
Even though now in the present time, a huge Hindu population does not follow these rituals but there is still a part of the Hindu community that does. In the Nepalese festival of worshiping the goddess Ghadimai, it’s an annual practice where about five million devotees sacrifice tens and thousands of animals all that are part of the cattle. Such include cows, buffalos, goats etc. Hindus in Bali use sacrificing as part of the ritual of opening a new business or enterprise. In Rajasthan localities offer a sacrifice of buffalo or goat to their family Goddess during the festival of Navaratri. The practice of animal sacrifice is actually hugely popular down in south. Due to the ardent devotion to the goddess Kali. In Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, scores of animals are sacrificed during the Jayanti of Kali Mata. Also at times live human sacrifices have been reported too.
Even though the animal’s welfare is highly at risk due to these rituals and festivals, no such definitive rules or policy has been released by government to ensure the safety or the welfare of these animals. There have been numerous NGOs at work for this cause. Even though they have managed to lessen it, they haven’t still managed to completely eradicate this ritual.
We should all try and do our bit so such practices are discouraged and animals are saved.
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