Brahmins are allowed to eat meat under some circumstances, while the other twice born castes too are allowed to eat meat under such and such circumstances, so where do Shudras and Chandalas stand here? Are they allowed to eat meat or not?
5
-
Brahmanas are generally discouraged from eating meat, unless it has been consecrated to devas & pitrs but no such restriction was deemed mandatory for shudras, varnasamkaras & antyajas. Manusmriti stereotypes low-caste people as meat-addicts & heavy-drinkers by stating that being created out of Tamas, tendency to eat meat & alcohol is inherent among them, while brahmanas being created out of Sattva, are expected to naturally refrain from both. Manu goes as far as to say that low-caste people are exempted from observing shastric orthodox standards because of their inherent inability to do so.– অনুCommented Jun 24, 2023 at 15:36
-
@অনু could you provide the verses which say that a sudra chandala etc can eat meat or it wasnt mandatory for them to avoid eating meat?– RajamCommented Jun 24, 2023 at 16:21
-
@Rajam - eating meat is looked down upon. Eating meat that is not consecrated makes one stoop down to lower castes. A chandala who desirs higher birth in next birth should also emulate practises of higher varnas including shunning meat– Artist Formerly Known As CSDCommented Jun 25, 2023 at 10:12
-
@Carmensandiego ok does the same apply to Shudras?– RajamCommented Jun 25, 2023 at 10:19
-
1@Rajam - yes. They too should not eat meat– Artist Formerly Known As CSDCommented Jun 25, 2023 at 14:30
Add a comment
|
1 Answer
1. Atonements for Twice-Born Consuming Eggs
For the Dvija (twice-born), dietary rules are stricter, and eating eggs—knowingly or unknowingly—requires specific atonements, which are outlined in various Dharmashastra texts.
References and Atonements:
- Manusmriti (Manu Smriti):
- Chapter 11, Verse 11.152: If one has eaten the food of persons of unfit food, or food left by a woman or a Śūdra,—or forbidden flesh,—he shall drink barley for seven days.—(152)
-Chapter 11, Verse 11.155: If one eats dried meat, mushrooms growing on the ground, or unrecognised meat lying in the slaughter-house—he shall perform the Cāndrāyaṇa.—(155)
-Chapter 11, Verse 11.216: If one reduces his food by one morsel daily during the dark half of the month, and increases it during the light half,—bathing at the three ‘extractions,’—it is what has been called the ‘Cāndrāyaṇa.’—(216)
————————————————————————————— -Viṣṇu (51.3-4):’If the twice-born eat of the following—garlic, onion, tame pig, tame cock,—he should perform expiations and should go through the sacraments over again.’
Parāśara (2.9-10).—‘Milk of newly calved cow, white garlic, brinjals, leeks, onion, exudation from trees, the property of gods, mushrooms, milk of the camel, milk of sheep,—if the twice-born eats these unintentionally, he becomes purified by fasting for three days and eating Pañcagavya.’
I could only find the Atonements for Twice-Born but not for the lower varna I did not found any verse saying they were allowed or not but there was mention that consumption of meat is for demon and people who eat meat don’t do spiritual progression
