Questions tagged [ahimsa]
ahimsã (Sanskrit: अहिंसा, "non-harming") is derived from the root hims, "to strike".Himsã is injury or harm. A-himsã is the opposite of this, non harming. ahimsã means abstaining from causing harm or injury. It is gentleness and non-injury,whether physical, mental or emotional.It is good to know that nonviolence speaks only to the most extreme forms of forceful wrongdoing, while ahimsã goes much deeper to prohibit even the subtle abuse and the simple hurt.
28
questions
1
vote
0
answers
87
views
Why do many Hindus eat meat and fish? Eating meat and fish directly violates the principle of Ahimsa
Ahimsa is one of the Yamas of the Vedic religion. My question is why do so many Hindus eat meat and fish?
Eating meat and fish directly violates the principle of Ahimsa.
3
votes
0
answers
125
views
Are Brahmins allowed to use non-cow leather products?
Are Brahmins allowed to use non-cow leather products? Obtaining leather involves ahimsa, but many things Brahmins already use involve ahimsa like silk (killing worms alive), deerskin for Brahmacharis, ...
- 21.9k
3
votes
1
answer
129
views
Why did god create violence?
Violence is something always in nature.Animals killing each other. God created carnivores.Who will make carnivores understand that ahimsa is important . If god wanted god could just have created peace ...
- 787
3
votes
1
answer
338
views
Do scriptures provide any guidelines or any information for vegan puja and rites?
Do the Hinduism scriptures have any info for vegan puja rituals/reet/rasam ?
Like performing abhishek with almond milk and coconut milk and such?
Daan/charity as being only vegan food, prasad as being ...
user27626
2
votes
1
answer
178
views
How big of a sin is killing of insects?
I have created a separate question for killing of animals as in case of animals , one can easily avoid killing of animals. It is one's choice whether or not one kills an animal or not.
While in case ...
- 6,018
2
votes
0
answers
86
views
Is there any scriptural opposition to humane animal slaughter?
Note that I'm not talking about general ethics - I mean only from a religious scriptural perspective.
To give you full context on why I have this question:
Because cow slaughter is banned in many ...
- 160
6
votes
1
answer
378
views
Should you be guilty of killing insects while running, cycling , playing etc?
Should you be guilty of killing insects while running, cycling , playing etc.
When you ride a bicycle, run or play, I usually don't care about what's on the road, ground etc. It may kill the insects.
...
- 189
2
votes
1
answer
305
views
How do Gaudiya Vaishnavas justify their strict adherence to ahimsa, vegetarianism, etc. when Krishna himself didn't advocate these?
Gaudiya Vaishnavas claim that they follow the supreme Godhead Krishna. However, I have a few confusions.
First, as we know from the Mahabharata, that Krishna never told Arjuna to chant his name all ...
- 6,141
2
votes
0
answers
59
views
What beliefs are there regarding the moral status of eating lab grown or plant based meats in Hinduism? [closed]
I have seen various arguments about the validity of vegetarianism as a core tenet of Hindu moral thought. I would like to set that aside for this question and focus just on the belief systems within ...
- 21
1
vote
2
answers
959
views
Is deer (venison) prohibited?
The ancients hunted deer, presumably for food and not for sport. What is the scriptural evidence that venison should or should not be eaten?
- 2,064
0
votes
1
answer
67
views
Does the concept of ahimsa make knowing and/or influencing thoughts, emotions and feelings of others paapam?
Does the concept of ahimsa make knowing and influencing thoughts, emotions and feelings of others as paapam?
When I say knowing and influencing thoughts, emotions and feelings of others, I mean ...
15
votes
5
answers
3k
views
Why are Hindus vegetarian? What is the real meaning of the word 'mamsah' (मांसः) or meat?
Generally, Hindus are vegetarian. They avoid mamsah i.e flesh of animals like meat, fish - because it means their suffering and death. Some avoid eggs also. Atleast it is very limited, and they don't ...
- 8,001
11
votes
1
answer
140
views
In which scripture originally 'ahiṃsā sarvathā sarvadā sarvabhutānāḥ manabhīdroha' sentence was written?
अहिंसा सर्वथा सर्वदा सर्वभुतानाः मनभीद्रोह।
ahiṃsā sarvathā sarvadā sarvabhutānāḥ manabhīdroha।
I read somewhere that it was written by Maharshi Veda Vyasa but the name of scripture in which he wrote ...
- 195
0
votes
0
answers
56
views
Usage of Silk in Worship [duplicate]
Even though the Hindu religion is based Non-violence (Ahimsa), the usage of silk, is prominent in worship such as in making the dress for the Lord and also in various paraphernalia. In Srivaishnava ...
user15963
4
votes
2
answers
176
views
Do different forms of life have different value?
In an answer I recently read:
Do you not think the karma of killing a small insect is less than the karma of contributing to the death of a human?
I do not know. Life is life, correct? Is it ...
- 2,064
5
votes
0
answers
368
views
Does the Mahabharata contain the quote "When is peace not peace?"
Yesterday I was listening to an American political radio show, and I was surprised to hear a reference to Hinduism. An African American activist who was being interviewed said the following:
In ...
- 96.9k
8
votes
3
answers
15k
views
Why did Rama try to kill an innocent deer just for its skin?
Hinduism doesn't favour violence or killing innocent beings. We support being vegetarians.
But isn't killing a deer for its golden skin unjustified?
I'm referring to the incident in Ramayana where ...
- 229
3
votes
1
answer
1k
views
A question about blood sacrificial acts in Hinduism
I am a Hindu who is a devotee Sain Sacho Satram Das (my Satguru) whose faith is fairly strong but has a fair amount of questions about Hinduism. I believe that I will get answers to all of them on ...
- 677
6
votes
1
answer
206
views
How can we make sure it's impossible for us to commit any sin or violence?
Is there a way to make committing violence impossible?
Can someone do something so that it will be impossible (or at least very difficult) for him to commit any violence in any corner of the world?
- 169
9
votes
1
answer
240
views
Is painless killing a form of himsa?
It is clear that killing anything by paining body is himsa. That's why many people in Hinduism(especially Brahmins) generally do not prefer to eat animal food.
My doubt is whether killing an animal(...
- 31.4k
15
votes
4
answers
17k
views
Does the shloka 'ahiṃsā paramo dharma' or excerpt appear in Mahabharata?
Ahimsa paramo dharma, is it taken from Mahabharata?
Many sources over internet say so and claim that it is a half-truth and the remaining half is Himsa dharma tadaivacha. Is it true?
Who is the ...
- 31.4k
2
votes
0
answers
542
views
How is killing of black deer for skin and other products justified
Shatpath Bramhana says that brahmin boys should cover their bodies with skin of Black Deer or Krishna Mriga (Black Buck), and this is okay if they don't just kill them for that purpose. A dead buck's ...
- 10.4k
13
votes
3
answers
5k
views
What do the Vedas say about animal sacrifice?
In ancient times, there had been animal sacrifices at various Yagyas and rituals were performed by Brahmins for kings, while on the other hand they also used to advocate non-violence and preferred a ...
user3870
3
votes
2
answers
896
views
What are the 29 tenets of the Bishnois?
The Bisnois are said to be the foremost practitioners of Ahimsa and the greatest environmental activists. The 29 tenets of Bhisnois were formulated by Guru Jambheshwar. The following documentary ...
- 3,742
6
votes
1
answer
311
views
Who was Ahimsâ dévî?
I read an article on the french version of Wikipedia where it was said that Ahimsâ was personified as a goddess with Ahimsâ dévî, wife of the Dharma god.
I understand what Ahimsâ is but I have ...
- 171
3
votes
0
answers
511
views
Do the Vaikhanasa texts allow animal sacrifice?
As I discuss in this question, one of the early movements that was important in the development of Vaishnavism was the ancient Pancharatra movement, whose sacred texts consisted of detailed procedures ...
- 96.9k
1
vote
2
answers
420
views
Why do Hindus still perform cremation now that it is known that cremation will kill microbes?
Scientists tell us that 90% of the cells in (or on) a human body are microbes (bacteria/viruses, etc.). Most of these are essential for human life.
When the dead body of a Hindu is cremated, all ...
- 43
6
votes
1
answer
2k
views
How does the practice of self-defense fit into the concept of Ahimsa?
We know Ahimsa is the core concept of Hinduism. It is not just non-violence or not resorting to arms, but it is also the feeling that tries to reduce harm to all living creatures.
Sometimes, force ...
- 8,103