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The footnotes of this translation of Āpastaṃba Dharmasūtra says:
Manu III, 119 and 120; Yājñ. I, 110;: Weber, Ind. Stud. X, 125. A guest is also called goghna, 'cow-killer,' because formerly a cow used to be killed on the arrival of a distinguished guest. The rite is described by Āśvalāyana Gṛhya-sūtra I, 24, 31-33.
Is this custom still practiced in the Indian subcontinent? If not, when did they stop following this and why?
The questions you have asked are difficult to answer.
For example although i know that it is not followed nowadays but how i am going to prove that?
Similarly the question "When did they stop?" is unanswerable IMO.
As far as the "Why" part is concerned, we can still answer it.
The book " Essence of Dharma Sindhu" says that many forms of sacrifices are prohibited to be performed in the Kali Yuga. And one such sacrifice is the Go-Medha, where a Cow is killed.
Kali Yuga Nishiddhas:
The following are the avoidable and unnecessary acts of Kali Yuga viz. Samudra Yatra, carrying of Kamandulu to misdirect the Public , remarriages, begetting children fro m husband’s brothers; Go Vadha; Mamsa Bhakshana at Shraddhas; performing vivaha to a physically imm ature girl; Chirakaala Brahmacharitwa; Naramedha Ashwamedha Gomedha Yagna; Madya Paana, Abhakshya Bhakshana, Apeya paana, Agamyaagamana orcwandering aimlesly Rahasya Prayascittha, Devata Puja and Pashubali for evil ends; Kula Bhrashtata; Extreme Profiteering and narrow mindedness.
In general (IMO), all forms of animal sacrifices are needed to be stopped now, as only some very adept persons are capable of performing them exactly as prescribed in scriptures.
The person who's conducting the slaying and sacrifice must be spiritually advanced too. Otherwise, it just becomes an act of ordinary killing and in that case both the Pashu and the person go downwards.
And, that's why, i think, Sri Sarada, the wife of Sri Ramakrishna, abolished the practice of Pashu-bali from the concerned Temples entirely, as soon as she arrived there.
That's probably a wrong interpretation/translation-
Guests were treated by letting loose the cows (as a gesture to show the “willingness to give off cows”, as a sign of respect to the guest). Goghna is used in this context. The cultural practice of announcing of a released cow before guest is mentioned in Ashvalayana Grihya Sutra 1.24.25. Guest is offered Madhuparka (honey mixture) which he partakes of, partially. Then to him arghya is done, and the cow is shown.
Ghna is derived from “han”, which also means “letting loose”, “abandoning”, “weakening”.
Imagine that funny awkward situation if each cow was killed for feeding a single guest.
Taken from a comment on this quora answer: https://www.quora.com/Why-do-the-Vedas-have-beef-eating-verses
If the person is not able to find the comments, just click on "All" on bottom left below the 3 dots.
The translation of shlokas 119 and 120 of Manusmriti, Chapter III are as under:-
119.He should receive, with the “honey-mixture,” the king, the priest, the accomplished Student, the Teacher, the Son-in-law, the Father-in-law and the Maternal uncle,—coming again after a year.
120.The king and the Learned Man should be honoured with the Honey-mixture, at the approach of a sacrificial performance,—not if there is no sacrifice (going to be performed).
And the translation of Āpastamba-Dharmasūtra (2.8.5-9)is as under:-
‘The Vedic Scholar deserves the cow and the honey-mixture; as also the Teacher, the Priest, the Accomplished Student, and the King, if he be righteous; to the Teacher, the Priest, the Father-in-law and the King, the cow and the Honey-mixture shall be offered when they come after the lapse of one year; the Honey-mixture consists of curd mixed with honey, or water mixed with honey, or, in the absence of other things, water only.’
