In his last message, Sri Krishna says: “Brothers, wives, fathers, and friends, who were very near and dear to the heart, are all instantly alienated and turned into foes by even an insignificant sum of money. Even the least amount of money upsets them and inflames their anger, so that they immediately part company, and all at once abandoning cordiality they rival and even kill one another.” The Bhagavad Gita (VI.5) tells us that a person’s “own self, endowed with discriminative knowledge, is the only friend. So-called friends and relatives are in reality the enemies of the aspirant; for, being objects of his affection and attachment, they create bondage.” In the light of that knowledge, as Sri Ramakrishna says: “When a man is seized with the spirit of intense renunciation he regards the world as a deep well and his relatives as venomous cobras.” The same message is repeated by the Master in a song: “Remember this, O mind! Nobody is your own; vain is your wandering in this world. Trapped in the subtle snare of maya as you are, do not forget the Mother,’s name. Only a day or two men honour you on earth as lord and master; all too soon that form, so honoured now, must needs be cast away, when Death, the Master, seizes you. Even your beloved wife, for whom, while yet you live, you fret yourself almost to death, will not go with you then. She too will say farewell, and shun your corpse as an evil thing.”
A true friend is a person who inspires us in the path of God, shields us from all vices and temptations, intercedes on our behalf with God, and prays for our spiritual welfare. On the other hand, the friend whose company makes us forget God, and arouses in our mind worldly propensities, can never be called a true friend, however pleasant or likable he may be. There is hardly anything more ruinous to the soul than the company of such a friend. The downfall of a person, in all countries and all ages, is caused by the company of such bad friends. Bad company is the breeding ground of all sins and vices. This is so, as Narada says in his Aphorism 44: ” Because it causes lust, wrath, delusion, loss of memory, loss of reason and finally, total wreck of the man.” The Mahabharata points out: “You have no desire for a thing till you know what it is like. It is only after you have seen it, or heard of it, or touched it, that you get a liking for it. Therefore, the safest rule of human conduct is not to take, touch, or see whatever is likely to taint the imagination.” So Narada says, “By all means, avoid bad company.” Bad company fans the flames of passion: “These propensities, though at first like ripples, acquire the proportions of a sea, by reason of bad company.” Sri Krishna in his last message says: “A mental wave is never produced by anything that has not been seen or heard. So the mind of a man who controls his senses is gradually stilled and is perfectly at peace….Thus the wise man should shun evil company and associate with the holy. It is these who by their words take away the attachment of the mind.”
The Three Friends of Man
The wisdom of Vedanta says: Never trust a friend who has not been tested. The following story, The Three Friends of Man, beautifully describes who can be trusted as our true friend. In a small village there lived a pious man, virtuous and honest. One day he received a summons from the king to appear before him for judgement. The king was known for his eccentricity, unpredictability, and cruelty. The pious man became very much disturbed and afraid. He had never done anything wrong or unjust, so how could he receive a summons like this, he wondered.
The pious man had three friends: his best friend, his next best friend, and his least intimate friend. He went to his best friend, explained his fear and distress to him, and asked him to come with him to the king’s court. His best friend, standing inside the front door of his house, heard the whole matter and said: “I am afraid I cannot accompany you to the king’s court. I can only say good luck to you, my friend,” and he closed the door in his friend’s face. The pious man became terribly disappointed to realize that one whom he had always regarded as his best friend would desert him and leave him out in the cold.
He then went to see his next best friend, told him the whole problem, and made the same request of him. This friend said: “I know you to be a good man and I could never imagine your doing anything wrong. I’ll accompany you up to the palace gate, but I do not intend to enter the palace and stand before the king, because he is unpredictable and eccentric and may decide to put me in jail along with you.” The pious man became disappointed for the second time.
Sad at heart and disillusioned about human goodness, he went to his least intimate friend, from whom he never expected any help. When this third friend heard of his problem, he said to him: “I do know you to be an honest man and also I am certain that you are incapable of doing anything wrong. Don’t worry, my friend, but go home and come leisurely to the court of the king. I am going ahead to testify to the king about your honesty and goodness.” The pious man was greatly surprised at this pledge of support from a friend to whom he had never paid much attention.
The pious man in the story represents a human individual in distress, the king, death and the summons, the call of death. The palace gate stands for the graveyard. The “best friend” represents money and possessions, which say goodbye to person at death and never come out of his house to accompany him. The “next best friend” represents relatives and friends, who accompany him only up to the graveyard and then leave his dead body there. The “least intimate friend,” to whom he never paid much attention, is the memory of his good deeds, performed with selflessness for the benefit of others. The memory of his good deeds becomes his sole support in his fearful, solitary journey hereafter. Such a memory is his only true and trusted friend. The Bhagavad Gita (II.40) solemnly declares this fact and says: “in this [selfless action] no effort is ever lost and no harm is ever done. Even very little of this dharma [selfless action] saves a man from the Great Fear.” The memory of a good deed is like the messenger of Truth that escorts the soul to the realm of Truth. (Concluded)
Recently, I came across some casteist minded persons who foolishly considered themselves to be superior because of their so called “caste”. Personally, I consider “caste”, “religion”, etc. as man made terms which should not be taken seriously at all.
Do animals have caste and religion? Are we not children of the same God?
Moreover in ancient times there used to be “Varna System” based on one’s occupation and there was no concept of superior, inferior, purity, untouchability, etc. In Kalyug, this system underwent an ugly mutation and became the stupid “caste system” and “untouchability”.
This cruel caste system is the reason why there is no dignity of labour among the Indian masses especially in villages where there is less literacy.
Indian saints belonging the Bhakti Movement era never paid heed to caste system and preached all living beings as equal before God.
After coming across these casteist persons with an ugly mindset, I decided to research some more as to whether the Vedas sanction:
Varna system based on occupation with all being equal, no person or occupation considered as superior on inferior.
OR
2. Caste system based on birth with concepts of superiority and inferiority.
I know that Hindu Puranas do not endorse caste system as we have several anecdotes like Lord Shiva giving darshan to Adi Shankaracharya in Chaandaal roop/form and Lord Ram accepting and eating the already tasted fruit offering from Shabari, a so called "lower caste" woman. Lord Ram declared Shabari to be at a higher pedestal than most Rishis, ascetics, saints, seekers, etc. Lord Shiva endorsed the Advaita Vedanta egalitarian philosophy of Adi Shankar by giving darshan in so called "lower caste" appearance surrounded by four dogs.
These are the answers I got from Quora on the question “Do Vedas endorse castes based on one’s birth?” :-
From my knowledge:
I know that there is a verse in Rigveda in which the poet mention separate occupations of his father, mother and himself. So all family members of that particular poet belonged to different Varnas.
From Sivakumar PonaiyurRamakrishnan:
Absolutely not.
Unfortunately, Vedas (by that extension Upanishads, Itihasas and Puranas) are the most misinterpreted texts in India today. The root cause for all this is the planned vilification and eradication of proper teachers (read Brahmins). There are many proofs, like Satyakama Jabali, Valmiki, Veda Vyasa etc. who were not brahmins (or at least one of their parents were). Yet they all get exalted position in all the narratives.
In Srimad Bhagavad Gita, which is considered the summary of all Vedic literature up to that point, Lord Krishna clearly states that the 4 Varnas were based on the work they do and their basic nature. It is not related to birth at all.
Varaha Purana talks about a story where a rishi’s wife ridicules a hunter for his meat eating habits. The hunter successfully argues that the rishi’s family himself was eating food after killing many germs and insects, hence he is accountable for it. He goes on to educate the brahmin rishi about the nature of all-pervading Parabrahman.
Sri Adisankara, in his Manisha Panchakam has also mentioned that birth doesn’t matter. It is the knowledge of Parabrahmam which makes one a Brahmin.
4000 Divyaprabhandam is hailed as “Dravida Veda”. One part of it is called “Thirumalai” (திருமாலை) composed by Thondaradippodi Azhwar. He mentions that even if one is born as a Brahmin and well versed in all the four Vedas, if he insults a devotee of Lord Vishnu based on the devotee’s birth, then he loses his Brahminism immediately.
All these point to only one thing – Varna was never considered by birth. All these wrong interpretations for Vedas and Suktas were recent creation. One has to open their mind and read these scriptures under proper guidance to realize the truth.
From Ramji Vinodh:
My answer is NO and let me explain based on my interpretation.
Most of the answers relating to society stratum is based on “Purusha Sukhtham” ( as its part of the Vedas) and the verses which is most quoted is as per below,
and the above verse explains that Brahmans comes from the mouth, Kshatriya comes from the arms, Vaishyas comes from the thighs and the Shudras comes from the feet.
So, most have fixed up a hierarchy and they consider the fact that since Brahmins comes up from the top of the body (mouth) are considered superior and Shudras who comes from the feet are considered inferior as its in the bottom of the body.
So this claim also takes the fact that anything from “Feet” is inferior.
Lets now consider some spiritual activities and/or from Purana to explain some facts.
Have you ever considered why at Thirumala Thirupathi the priest always shows a special emphasis for the lord’s feet ?
If as per the above interpretation “Feet” is considered inferior why is there is special focus for the Lord feet
Most Purana stories shows that Godess Ganga is born from the feet of Lord Vishnu.
If the above interpretation is true, then Godess Ganga is also considered inferior.
Most of writers don’t consider reading the Purusha Sukhta completely
And the interpretation of the above verse is that the whole of the earth is being sustained by the Lord’s feet, which in essense includes everyone born in this earth and not specific to people born from a particular section of a Purusha ( which is God in this instance)
Conclusion :
If privileged communities have the the misconception that you are being considered superior – Please change your opinion
If under privileged communities have the misconception that you are being considered inferior – Please change your opinion
How I read such texts and how you should read ?
Its well understood that Sanskrit scholars in India is less that 1% and mostly people fail to understand the true meaning of most of the verses and copy pasting a English translation will not serve the purpose. Just like one cannot understand a 100 page novel by reading only 10 pages and so is Purusha Shuktha as people reference one stanza and leave the rest which makes them fail to intepret the essence of the Sloka.
I have a strong opinion how can a spiritual text teach negative aspects. If you think, something is negative, I can strongly confirm that such verses and/or text have either been misunderstood and/or misinterpreted.
I would like to thank both of the above learned persons for clearing my doubts.
There are different kinds of devotion to God and we see examples of both Seshatva and Paratantriya in the Ramayana. Seshatva is to not let anything stand in the way of the desire to serve God. Lakshmana wanted to accompany Lord Rama to the forest. Rama tried His best to make Lakshmana stay back in Ayodhya. But Lakshmana refused to be dissuaded by the Lord.
Lakshmana was keen to be with Rama and serve Him at all times. So he was prepared to refuse to obey the Lord’s request. This is an example of Seshatva, said Kidambi Narayanan in a discourse. Nammazhvar too wanted only to serve the Lord and prayed for this.
But Bharata was in a different category. No doubt he too wanted certain things, namely the return of Rama to Ayodhya and the assumption of kingship by Rama. But when Rama said He would not come back to Ayodhya and ordered Bharata to go back to the city and rule as king, Bharata implicitly obeyed his brother. He did not think of himself. He did not insist that Rama go along with what he (Bharata) wanted. This is an example of Paratantriya.
While other Azhvars prayed for being rid of repeated births and for the chance to serve the Lord, Periazhvar only sang for the Lord’s welfare, thereby demonstrating bhakti, which asks for nothing.
Paratantriya is when a person simply obeys the Lord and does not act on his own or for his pleasure.
Suppose a person possesses a doll, decorates it and looks at it thinking how beautiful it looks. Does this act of decorating give any joy to the doll? If a man who has grown saplings in his field transplants them, it is because they are under his control.
So being controlled by another superior being and not acting volitionally is Paratantriya.
Great learning brings great humility, for it exposes the extent of one’s ignorance. That is why Lord Krishna extols the vision of a true bhakta who is endowed with the knowledge of the infinite greatness of the Lord and of His all-pervading presence that inheres in the entire creation, pointed out Sri B. Damodhara Dikshitar in a discourse.
There are as many kinds of devotion as there are individuals. The average devotee is generally compassionate and affectionate to all beings, but feels a sense of differentiation between friends, enemies and so on.
The beginner in the path of devotion worships the Lord in the form of a deity or some form, but fails to accept His presence in other beings. But a true bhakta sees the Lord in all beings and also sees all beings in His Self. This vision is the culmination of jnana and bhakti and a bhakta never slips from this awareness.
It is said that once Saint Eknath, when retuning from Kashi Yatra, was moved to see a donkey almost dying of thirst on the way.
Without any hesitation, he opened a vial of Ganga water and poured it into the parched mouth of the donkey. He saw only the Lord in the soulful eyes and not the donkey.
In the case of Saint Namadev, he once chased a dog that had taken away the bread given to him by his wife, only to offer it the sugar and ghee as well which it had left behind. The dog became the Lord in front of him.
When Lord Shiva is said to have come in the form of a chandala to grace the yagna of Somasi Mara Nayanar, the Adiyar unhesitatingly offered the same hospitality he would offer others.
The Lord wants to show that in the eyes of a true bhakta, where Truth alone is revealed, there is no need for Him to come disguised.
It’s very distressing that from quite some time editorials/articles have been appearing in the so called “progressive” Indian print media that are creating impediments in the work of animals rights activists. To counter the hate propaganda against animals and vegetarians (a.k.a. people with a certain degree of compassion who choose to spare the lives of their fellow cohabitants on Mother Earth), I am elucidating the reasons on why animal killings are unjustified and these murders have long term harmful impacts on the human health and environment. Also, I request the Indian media to refrain from publishing the works of these pseudo-intellectuals who are trying to reverse the good work done by animal rights activists and let noble sense prevail in the land. Also I request the print media to give atleast as much space for op-eds in the newspapers to animal rights activists as much as you give this to animal abusers and meat promoters!
The key to ending the suffering of billions of animals each year is to educate as many people as possible and not by publishing opinions in mainstream newspapers that encourage this loathful practise of animal murder. All animals are conscious sentient living beings and they too feel pain and suffering just like humans. The next frontier for human evolution is going to be the adoption of a vegetarian or vegan diet.
Information of this article has been collected from various vegan and vegetarian information sources primarily the site theveganlily.wordpress.com, the Vedas and other sites related to these texts. I am grateful to all of them for releasing this information in the public domain. All of this information has become my weapon to eliminate all false arguments which are spread for justification of animal slaughter in general and cow slaughter in particular.
One reason for collecting the information for this write-up from the Vedas is that many pseudo-intellectuals with their agenda of supporting animal slaughter (perhaps to eliminate their own guilt of murdering animals) are justifying their actions by quoting the ancient Vedas. There is nothing in the Vedas that supports animal slaughter, instead they promote compassion and sustainable living. These evil mongers are misguiding the general public by quoting texts associated with a particular religion. Not only is this purely unethical, it must be made punishable! They have coined their own biased misinterpretations of the Vedas. Please be alert and cautious from these full of hate, evil, pseudo-intellectual opinion writers and misinterpreters. The true price of every hamburger, chicken nugget, and pork sausage sold isn’t measured in dollars—it’s measured in anguish and death.
Mahatma Gandhi once said” Cow is the source of progress and prosperity. In many ways it is superior to one’s mother”.
Why we shouldn’t kill cows
Cows are gentle, loving animals who deserve to be treated with more respect as beings who we share this earth with. If given the chance to connect or bond with one of these animals, you may change your view on slaughtering them by the millions each year for our own pleasure. Hopefully, the photos attached in this write-up will bring to you one step closer to making the connection.
By adopting a vegan or vegetarian diet, you can reduce your risk of osteoporosis, heart disease, diabetes, cancer etc. You can also cure allergies and acne as well as improving sleep and boosting energy levels.
Your diet will be more friendly to the environment. You’ll be reducing your water usage as well as helping to preserve habitats and species across the world.
People are becoming more aware about how animal agriculture is unsustainable and often cruel, but it’s been proven that animal products are harmful to human health and the environment. If we don’t begin to make changes in our diets soon, we will be suffering serious consequences in just a few decades (though some of them have started to rear their head as of now).
Importance of the Cow in Hinduism and why it is extolled as a “mother” in the Vedas
The cow is considered as one of the most sacred animals in India. Millions of Hindus revere and worship it. The cow has myriad qualities. The characteristic of the cow of providing Life supporting Milk has elevated its status to the level of a Mother Goddess. Therefore, the people respect it like a Maternal Figure.
The cow was elevated to divinity in the Rig Veda. In Book VI, Hymn XXVIII attributed to Rishi Bhardwaja extols the virtue of the cow. In Atharva Veda (Book X, Hymn X), the cow is formally designated as Vishnu, and ‘all that the Sun surveys’. Throughout the Vedic scriptures there are verses which emphasize that the cow must be protected and cared for. It is considered a sin to kill a cow and eat its meat. Even today in India, there are many states in which the slaughter of cows is illegal. That is why you can find cows roaming freely all over India, even along the busy streets of Delhi and Mumbai.
Thousands of names in India are cow-related: Gauhati, Gorakhpur, Goa, Godhra, Gondiya, Godavari, Goverdhan, Gautam, Gomukh, Gokarna, Goyal, Gochar etc. They signify reverence for the cow, and our abiding faith that the cow is Annapurna (possessed of food).
The Cow as a Provider
The holy cow is perhaps the most harmless animal in the entire world. The best characteristic of a cow is that it gives so much yet demands nothing in return. As we know, there are innumerable dairy products made out of milk e.g. Butter, Ghee, Curd, sweets and what not! The Hindu rituals are never complete without Ghee and curd is considered as a lucky charm by many. Whereby, they find it essential to have it before doing something important. The cow dung is used in the making of Fertilizers that stimulate the farming process. It is also saved, to be used as fuel and produce heat and electricity. For many years, the bull was extremely important for our lives. The bull used in agriculture to till the land to produce food grains. It is sad that floored by the growing technology we have forgotten the significance of the cow in our Life.
Religious Significance of the Cow
The holy cow also owes its significance to Lord Krishna, the famous deity of the Hindus. His childhood was spent in Gokul near Mathura. He was brought up in the family of a milkman, ‘Nand Baba’. Lord Krishna grew up as a cow herder in the midst of cows and ‘gopis’ (Milkmaids). He is also addressed as Govinda and ‘Gopala’ which means ‘protector and friend of cows’. Even the bull has immense value in the Hindu Mythology. If cow is the mother, then the Bull is the father! The Nandi bull, it is believed was the vehicle of Lord Shiv and the gatekeeper of Shiv and Parvati. The North Indian Temples are filled with the sculptures and images of Nandi bull. On the other hand, the ‘Kamadhenu’ cow also has tremendous religious significance. She was miraculous and gave her devotees whatever they desired. She is considered to be the mother of all cows.
Ayurvedic Significance of the Cow
Ayurveda understands the importance of a cow. It is a great exponent of the ‘sattvic’ qualities of milk and the dairy products. Yogurt, Butter Milk, Organic Milk, ghee and other milk products are not only nutritious but provide calcium and Protein to the Tissues. Ghee and cow dung used in ‘Yagna’ fire ceremonies complete the ritual but at the same time, it helps to purify the air. Ayurveda also believes that some diseases cannot be healed by medicines alone and they propagate ‘Panchamrit’, a drink that is supposed to be blessed to heal. It is ‘nectar of gods’ made of 5 items – yogurt, ghee, honey, sugar and milk. It is distributed at the end of religious ceremonies. It is said that the ‘Panchamrit’ fills a person with divine energy and heals him from within.
Conserve the Cow
The cow plays such an important role in our lives yet we fail to acknowledge its significance. It is said our ‘Bapu’ Mahatma Gandhi became a vegan because the cows were being ill treated. It is sad that since the cows are harmless, we have stopped caring about them. It is time, we came out of our cocoons and started thinking about our real ‘care takers’. It is imperative to save and maintain them or the time is not far when they will be extinct. We cannot undermine their importance. Just imagine the circumstances if our children are deprived of the nutrition provided by the cow and the condition of our crops in the absence of cow dung! It is time for action!
Our West-influenced pseudo-intellectuals sneer at the mention of the cow. The same intellectuals first sneered at yoga. Now it is a fashion to do pranayama at cocktail parties The arguments in the West for cow slaughter are no more uncontested. They also sneered at our sanyasis as `godmen’. Now they flock to ashrams with their white friends ever since the Beatles. Who knows, they may soon have a cow in their backyards.
Let us come forward and volunteer for cow service. Cow service is also considered to be a sanctifying act! Let us help with our body and soul. We can serve by working in the cow shed (Gau-shala) or giving land for cow ranging and cow rehabilitation. Whatever way we feel, we should save the cow, for our children, for humanity. The cow is the symbol of the divine gift of earth. Come, let’s save it!
What the law says
Article 48 of the Indian Constitution says: ‘The State shall endeavour to organise agriculture and animal husbandry on modern and scientific lines and shall, in particular, take steps for preserving and improving the breeds, and prohibiting the slaughter of cows and calves and other milch and draught cattle’. During the First War of Independence in 1857, when Bahadur Shah ‘Zafar’ was installed as emperor by the Hindus in Delhi for a brief period, his Hindu prime minister, on the emperor’s proclamation, made cow killing a capital offence. In Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s kingdom, the only crime that invited capital punishment was cow slaughter.
When the Constitution itself mentions about prohibition of slaughter of cows, then why is this ruckus being created by the very people who used to become constitutional ayatollahs at every other issue in the Indian polity and rake up a copy of the Indian constitution? Why this hypocrisy?
What the texts associated with Lord Krishna say
Lord Krishna, one of the most well known of the Hindu deities is often depicted playing his flute amongst cows and dancing Gopis (milkmaids). He grew up as a cow herder. Krishna also goes by the names Govinda and Gopala, which literally mean “friend and protector of cows.” It is considered highly auspicious for a true devotee to feed a cow, even before eating breakfast oneself.
Even after knowing Krishna’s life, we overlook the importance Krishna gave to the cows. There were two instances where Krishna has tried to convince us of how one can win Krishna by serving a cow.
Mata Yashoda took Krishna to cow and prayed cow for Krishna’s well-being, when she saw Krishna being attacked by the demon Putana. Krishna’s parents knew that protecting cow alone can bring health, wealth and prosperity. Mata Yashoda told us that cow protects us from ill-will and negative energies.
That was the first instance where we were guided by Krishna about protection of cows. The second incidence was when the King of heaven: Indra wanted to kill the people of Vrindavan, when he came t0 know that they have stopped worshipping him. It is regarded as the First sinful act of person blessed with transcendental qualities-“Dev aparadh”.
The merciful Krishna instead of giving any curse or personal punishment to King Indra took the effort of lifting the Goverdhan for seven consecutive days. Despite the fact that Krishna and his men were troubled, Krishna forgives Indra as he donated Surbhi cow to Krishna. This shows us How Krishna was in the awe of cows. Krishna always taught about importance of cows through his actions. His love for cows is also seen from his two names “Gopala- the protector of the cows and Govinda- “one who brings satisfaction to the cows”
In the 11th (11.11.43) Canto of Shrimat Bhagwatam Krishna told his beloved cousin Udhava that he can be worshiped by offering cow grass and other suitable grains. Worshiping cow is equal to worshiping Krishna.
Bhagwat Geeta tells us about the importance of being in”Satva guna”, Satva guna brings us peace and happiness and worshiping cow increases our satva guna. Drinking cow milk blesses us with Divine consciousness and Divine energy and fills our body with transcendental qualities (sattvikta).
The product manufactured from cow milk helps us purify our body and purify our thoughts which in-turn helps us to perform right actions.
By feeding grains and by offering puja to the cows, one can receive extraordinary spiritual benefits. Serving and protecting cow pleases God and Demi-gods present in the cow and it takes us closer to the Supreme personality of God.
According to Skanda Purana, “One can demolish all his sinful acts by simply offering respect to the cows”. If we maintain and serve a cow in nice manner then we can not only catch Krishna’s attention and but we can please Krishna as well.
Krishna is kind with those who save cows and protect them. He is delighted by any effort done to serve a cow and he never even forgets us if we benefit cow.
As an animal cow is very lovable, simple and gentle, what we can do to serve her is we can buy grain for her, feed her every time we get an opportunity and we can donate the cow to an institution where they are treated with utmost care.
Mahatma Gandhi once said” Cow is the source of progress and prosperity. In many ways it is superior to one’s mother”.
Impact on the environment
“Raising animals for meat as food generates more greenhouse gases than all the cars and trucks in the world combined”. Ten of billions of animals farmed for food release gases such as methane, nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide through their massive amounts of manure. “The released methane”, the report says, “has 23 times the global warming potential of CO2″. For these animals to graze, virgin forests are cleared. The livestock industry also needs vast stretches of land to raise mono-crops to feed the animals. The CO2 that the trees and plants store escapes into the air when they are destroyed.
Growing fodder implies heavy use of synthetic fertilizers produced with fossil fuels.
While this process emits a huge amount of CO2, the fertilizer itself releases nitrous oxide (3) — a greenhouse gas that is 296 times more potent than CO2. Alarming though these facts are, all that people have to do is to avoid red meat. There will be no need to breed millions of animals for daily slaughter. The animal population will consequently decline.
A single individual by not consuming meat prevents the equivalent of 1.5 tonnes of CO2 emissions in a year. This is more than the one tonne of CO 2 prevented by switching from a large sedan to a small car. So there are a number of reasons to be a vegetarian. People who eat meat think a pure vegetarian diet is optional. But now they have no choice if they are alive to what is happening to this life-bearing planet. There is no justification for eating meat, given the devastating consequences for the planet. A new fervour for a cow renaissance is necessary. It is constitutional (for India) and we should defend it with all our might.
Some videos (that will tear your soul):
Animals are sentient and do know they are going to die. This is one of the most heart breaking videos. The video shows a bullock on death-row hearing a fellow bullock die before he too is killed . It doesn’t show blood or the bullocks’ deathblows but does show how this bullock reacts to what we do to him. He is terrified.
We have no valid reason to do this to other animals who feel and care about what happens to themselves. You can see how this one animal just doesn’t want to go in there because he knows death awaits him. How heartbreaking:-
ऋभु वशिष्ठ (Ribhu Vashishtha) 