Were Ancient Indians VEGETARIAN or NOT? | Abhijit Chavda

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The dietary practices of the people during the Vedic period were diverse and varied. While it is known that the Vedic people consumed a range of plant-based foods, including fruits, vegetables, and grains, the extent of vegetarianism during that time is a subject of debate among scholars. The Vedic texts mention the consumption of meat, particularly of animals such as cattle, sheep, and goats, as part of sacrificial rituals and feasts. However, it is important to note that dietary practices could differ among individuals and social groups based on factors such as occupation, social status, and religious beliefs. Some scholars argue that vegetarianism may have been advocated by certain sects or individuals, while others suggest that meat consumption was prevalent but not exclusive.

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[anwesabhowmik]

Swami Vivekananda cleared that concept most perfectly...he told to choose diet according to the profession of that particular person...
In case of Brahman, their profession was to teach and learn and writing books...so they ate satvik diet...but those persons who had to fight on a battlefield....meat was a part of diet for them....

[bibeksamal]

Vedic and Tantric texts mentions about animal sacrifices and meat eating after offering it to the deities. Indian culture have had both Veg and Non-Veg diet. Kudos Abhijt!!

[cw]

There is an ancient cookbook called "Paka Darpanam" which was written by Raja Nala (of the Nala Damyanti tale). You will find a lot of recipes in there that we use to this day and you will also find receipes that use meat and all kinds of meat: Horse, chicken, Goat even tortoise. Not only that you will also find what is probably the oldest recipe of the good old biryani in there.

[Sabkasath]

"Let us not get emotional about this!" Very well said.

[BHALAMAN]

Vegetarianism was inspired by Jainism and its principle of non violence. Vedic/Indus Valley people used to consume fish and meat.

[TheGoldbags]

We should not get offended by this. Ancient Indians happily and casually ate meat of Deers, Peacocks, Lambs and all. Nothing was wrong. It was choice of people to be veg or non-veg.

Only the top-of-the-line people practicing Yog were Saatvik. These great people are mentioned everywhere in the texts but not he normal people who were like us casual.

Sanatan dharm has never dictated or forced anything. Everyone has their own choices in Sanatan Dharm.

[sonofsam]

Yes ancient Indians ate meat, its 100% true. Things have been mentioned in our several holy books indirectly. The warrior clans and even others ate.

[bharathr]

Satyavati, the great-grandmother of the Pandavas and Kauravas, was the daughter of a fisherman. So, if there were fishermen, then they at least ate fish.

[sagarjadhav]

It is common sense
Not all the Indians were living like kings
Many were Hunters and gatherers
So it's duty of a Hunter to Hunt
just like its duty of a Farmer to grow crops
to Survive.

This whole Vegetarian food is hindu food narrative is vastly spread amongst the Indians because of the
Vishnu/ Krishna followers of Hinduism.

For example in many other sects of Hinduism Goats or as far as I know Ox are also sacrificed to Devis and such.

[noone_]

In that country (India) they do not keep pigs and fowls, and do not sell live cattle; in the markets there are no butchers' shops and no dealers in intoxicating drink.

— Faxian, Chinese pilgrim to India (4th/5th century CE)

[wanchooo]

Kashmiri Pandits offer raw mutton to Shiva on the night of Shivratri ...
However many stopped this practice after migration but this was very common practice in Kashmir and even today many families follow it.

[hidum]

In some regions of Bengal and in Konkan regions of Maharashtra people offer seafood/meat to the Devi.
In fact even in my locality there was a local deity celebrated who was offered chicken, although it is not done anymore.

[darshanravi]

Abhijit sir nothing to be sorry about stating the truth.
Meat consumption has been culturally accepted in bharatiya society from ages.

For vegetarians it seems they are always right but that's just narcissistic behaviour to tell I'm vegetarian and hence I'm right only

[shashanka-deva]

I totally disagree with the fact that vegetarian food is for "not causing unnecessary cruelty towards animals" (which may be a European / Christian philosophy but Sanatani) rather Sanatani vegetarian foods are non Tamasik foods. Its believed foods which creates "asura prabritti" or "animal like behavers" in human body should be avoided Those are called Tamasik foods or non-vegetarian foods includes all animal meats, fish, garlic, onion and few lentils(here to be noticed not all lentils are consider in prasad in many traditional temples because their Tamasik nature), milk in any form is considered as one of the best foods in Sanatan dharma.

[swatichatterjee]

Food in Upanishads aren't classified as Vegetarian or Non vegetarian, it's rather been classified as Satvik, Tamasic and Rajasik. Even some plant based foods can be Tamasic in nature, like the lots of Chemicals and Fertilizers...

[Musaafir-lnfeet]

In Markandya Puran It is clearly written "A man can only eat meat if he is ready to give his flesh as he takes the the flesh of other then only he is allowed to eat it"

[PRASHANTRAI-xgit]

See the jats of Haryana, majority of them are vegetarian, even our 2 times olympic medalist Shushil kumar was vegetarian.
I am from UP and my Village is a vegetarian village and have pehelwans on diet mainly having dairy.
We in North India have cows and buffaloes to provide ample amount of milk to make us fit both physically and mentally.

[varunpai]

It doesnt matter if we ate meat or not, what matters is if we choose to be humane or cruel henceforth. I hope we free the world from cruelty as much as possible.

[abhradip_]

It is not necessary to eat veg to be a true Hindu ! Nowadays a true Hindu is a person who is fighting for the Dharma.

Jay Sanatan 🕉️🙏🏻

[INDYEAH]

We in south India, except Brahmin, Vishya all other Hindu eat meat !
It was never mentioned in any script that Hindus shouldn't eat meat !
Lord Rama ate meat, Lord seethani ate meat, Lord seetha offered rice and meat to river Ganga !
All North Indians never know the vedas n Puranas they simply cry on Muslims and hence they eat meat we shouldn't eat meat !
Poor guys and political victims