Diet
Because of the importance of cows, many Hindus do not eat beef, and many are vegetarians.
The MahabharataHindu scripture that tells of the lives of the Pandava princes and the deeds of Lord Krishna. The Bhagavad Gita is a part of the Mahabharata. states:
If there were nobody who ate meat there would then be nobody who kills living creatures. The person who kills living creatures kills them for the sake of the people who eat meat.
However, some Hindus may eat fish and meat because they interpret teachings differently and because traditionally, different varnaThe social divisions described in scripture as necessary for society to function properly, but used by some humans to justify a hierarchy in society. Sometimes called 'caste'. and casteThe anglicised term for varna; originally a Hindu social order of higher and lower class. Also followed by some Sikhs. had different rules about what could be eaten.
The cow is a sacred animal
In Hinduism, the cow is a symbol of life and of the Earth, and thought of by many as a mother, because she gives food and nourishment through her milk.
Many Hindus perform worship rituals in praise of their own cows or using symbolic cows. This extends to bulls and calves as well as female cows because the bulls are used widely in ruralThe word that describes places that are in the countryside, outside built-up areas. India for farm work and pulling carts.
Lord Krishna is often pictured as a cow-herder and some Hindus try to follow his example by caring for cows in particular, as well as respecting other animals.
Mahatma GandhiA Hindu who was given the title 'Mahatma', meaning 'great soul', because of his work for and commitment to equality and peace. Born Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. said that:
Cow Protection takes the human being beyond his species… (It) is the gift of Hinduism to the world; and Hinduism will live as long as there are Hindus to protect the cow.
Respect for all life
For many Hindus, a guiding principle is a respect for all life. This comes from the belief that humans were not created to dominate other forms of life but have evolved from these forms and are therefore part of the whole of creation.
Hindu belief in the principle of ahimsaThe Buddhist, Hindu and Sikh principle of total non-violence, in thoughts, words and actions. might be applied to this issue in a variety of ways, eg campaigning against animal testing and being vegetarianA person who does not eat meat, especially for ethical or religious reasons..
