+ Hl3IHle

HU H HlJ 8= el8 =J3 JU

3U l=U HIl H

WHYKILLACHICKEN

BHAIJOGINDERSINGHTALWARA

Contents

INTRODUCTIONTOTHENEWEDITION................................................................................................ 4
THECONTROVERSY.............................................................................................................................. 5
IFYOUPERCEIVEGODABIDESINALLBEINGS,THENWHYKILLACHICKEN?.................................... 11
GENERALARGUMENTSINSUPPORTOFMEATEATING. ................................................................... 13
RE:ARGUMENTNO.1........................................................................................................................ 14
RE:ARGUMENTNO.2........................................................................................................................ 20
RE:ARGUMENTNO.3........................................................................................................................ 27
RE:ARGUMENTNO.4........................................................................................................................ 38
RE:ARGUMENTNO.5........................................................................................................................ 45
RE:ARGUMENTNO.6........................................................................................................................ 47

DedicatedtoGurmukhGursikhswhorefrainfromkillingofanimalsforthetasteoftongue

GRATITUDE

IowemygratitudetoBHAISAHIBMANMOHANSINGHJIof
AmericafortranslationofthisbookletinEnglish.

JoginderSinghTalwara
INTRODUCTIONTOTHENEWEDITION

ThisistheEnglishversionofthetractentitledTauKioMurgiMarai,whichwasoriginallypublished
inPunjabiinApril1995andreprintedinJanuary1998.ThebookletwaswellreceivedinIndiaas
wellasabroad.ThereadersfromabroadexpressedakeendesiretogetittranslatedinEnglishand
hencethisEnglishtranslationoftheoriginalPunjabibooklet.Myattentionwasdrawntothebook
entitledMasMaskarMurakhJhagreybyS.GurbakhshSinghJiKalaAfghana.Ihavegonethrough
itcarefullyandhavenotbeenabletofindanynewpointinit.Theoldandoftenrepeatedvague
argumentshavebeenrestatedandalmostallthesepointshavealreadybeenexplainedatsome
lengthinthisbooklet.Itwould,however,beworthwhiletoreiteratesomeofthesalientpoints
herein.

OnethingwhichisworthyofspecialmentionaboutS.GurbakhshSinghJi'sbookisthathehas
ventedouthisdeeprootedprejudicesandacrimonyagainstBhaiSahibRandhirSinghJi.The
realityisthatwheneversomeoneexhortsagainstmeateatinginthelightoftheGuru'steachings,
thosepeoplewhoareaddictedtoitstasteandcannotgiveitup,areveryupset.Intheheartof
theirhearts,theywantfullfreedom,inthisrespect.Hence,evenwhileinterpretingrelevant
Gurbaniquotationsconcerningthisissue,theywouldacceptonlythatinterpretationwhichdoes
notstandinthewayoftheirunfetteredfreedomtoeatflesh.

BhaiSahibRandhirSinghJispenthiswholelifeinanuninterruptedpracticeoftheHolyNamand
Gurbani.GurbaniwasthemainstayofhislifeandheenjoyedthetrueBlissandperfect
understandingoftheessenceoftheGurbani.Gurbanihadpenetratedintoeachnerveandporeof
hisbody.Assuch,hehadnoneedtodependonanytranslatorofGurbanitounderstanditstrue
andunderlyingmeaningaswellasitsessence.Asaresultoftheimbibementofhisverysoulinthe
Gurbani,hecametorealizethroughintuitionthattokilllivingbirdsandanimalssimplyforthe
sakeofeatingtheirfleshisundoubtedlyviolence,tortureandtyranny!Hencehetookthecourage
topreachthistruthamongtheSikhmassesfearlesslywithoutanyconsiderationastowhetherany
groupofpeopleappreciatesorcondemnsthisactiononhispart.If,asaresultofhispreachingthe
truthcontainedintheGurbani,numerousdevotees,livinginIndiaaswellasabroad,havebeen
savedfrombecomingsavagekillers,thecreditforthisgoestoGurbaniandnottoBhaiSahib.He
hassimplydonetheadmirableservicetothecommunitybyfearlesslybringingtolightthetruthof
whatGurbanisays.ApparentlyhisservicehasalreadyprovedfruitfulbytheGraceoftheSatguru.
HundredsofthousandsofdevoutSikhshavealreadybeen,andwillcontinuetobeinspiredto
escapethissinpointedoutasbelow:

oH I=U Jl3o =HlJ (HHl, Ul 9\)

Countlesscutthroatscommithomicide.

IfsomeonegetsirritatedonaccountofthisandthenletsloosehisvenomagainstBhaiSahib,he
shallnotbeabletocauseanyharmtothesanctifiedpersonalityofBhaiSahib.Haseverbeenthe
moonmuckedbyanyone'sspittingatit?Never!AloverandadmirerofGurbaniwouldalwaystest
thetruthofhisexpositionsonthetouchstoneofGurbani.BhaiSahibwassentencedforlifefor
thesakeofDharma.Duringhisinternmenthefacedboldlytheworstofheartrendingtortures
withfullfaithinthehighidealsofSikhism.Thus,hepracticallybroughtoutexplicitlythatthetrue
braverydoesnotcomefromeatingfleshtosatiatethepalate,bykillinghelplessinnocentanimals,
ratheritisanoutcomeofone'scompleteselfsurrendertotheWillofSatguruandthroughHis
Grace.
THECONTROVERSY

Thecontentionheredoesnotpertaintotheschismbetweenthevegetarianandfleshfoods.The
realpointofcontroversyiswhetheritisjustifiedtokillthehelplessanimalsmerelytoobtaintheir
fleshforeating.InthisrespecttheverdictoftheGurbaniisabsolutelyclear.Ifsomeonetriesto
twistthemeaningofGurbanitosuithiswhimsandpreferenceswiththeulteriormotiveof
creatingjustificationforone'ssinisteractsofcruelty,oneisfreetodoso.However,allsuchefforts
toescapechastisementwouldbefutile.

WhereistheconfusionaboutthemeaningoftheGurbaniline"countlesscutthroatscommit
homicide?"Itobviouslymeansthatanyonewhocommitscrueltybykillinganylivingbeingforthe
gratificationofhisownyearningsanddesires,fallsintothecategoryofcriminalsaccusedofcut
throating.BhaiSahibBhaiGurdasJiputsadirectquestiontothosewhoindulgeincutthroating
justtosatisfytheirownpalate,asbelow:

HH l Il l e J l3 =U oo (8l IeH Hl, = =, Ul 79)

Whatwillhappentothosewhoeatmeatobtainedbycuttingthethroatsofanimals?

HH l I =lU = J lc =U J=Hl (8l IeH Hl, = 7, Ul 9)
Whatfatewillbefallthosewhoeatmeatbycuttingthethroatsoflivinganimals?

THESIMPLEANDSTRAIGHTFORWARDQUESTIONIS:

Hlo 8J H uH =l uJ, ouH =JJ =3 8l oH =U Hl= =l uJ, = =JJ =H8l
(H =8l, 99O=)
Youkillanimalsjusttosatiateyourpalateandthenyouconsiderthisas'Dharma',apartofKhalsa
CodeofConduct.Then,whatwouldbe'Adharma',theCardinalsin,accordingtoyou?Ifevenafter
performingthedespicableactofkillinginnocentlivingbeings,youprojectyourselfasapiousone
(i.e.SantKhalsa)thenwhomwouldyoucallabutcher?

3 I = HH Jl8 l3
3 l=lJ HH, l3 l=U lH 0l3
(= H, H: 9, 9uO)
Iftheattireonewearsisconsideredpollutedwhenitistaintedwithdropsofblood,thenthe
personswhoconsumethebloodofanimalsintheformofflesh,howcantheirmindremainpure?

TheaboveinterpretationisstrictlyinaccordancewiththerulesofGurbanigrammaraswellasin
thecontextofthesubjectmatterdiscussedtherein.Contextuallythemeaningofthecoupletcan
beexplainedasbelow:

Iftheclothesarestainedwithblood,theclothesarepolluted.Ifthemindisstainedwithblood,
themindbecomespolluted.

ThewordHH(Mansa)intheabovecoupletistobepronouncedasHH withoutnazallisation
andNOTasHH (Mansa[n]).AccordingtoGurbanigrammarthiswordhasbeenusedhereas
Simple(withoutpreposition)Nominativecaseinpluralform.

ThevotariesformeateatingtrytopronounceitasHH (Mansa[n])andclaimthatitreferstothe
mankindinparticular,meaningtherebythathereinisacondemnationofthosewhoexercise
tyrannyupontheirfellowhumanbeings.

Eveninthatcase,wouldsomebodyexplainthatifsomeoneevenpricksanotherhumanbeing,itis
tantamounttosuckingofhisblood,thenhowthevirtualcuttingofthethroatsofotheranimalsis
notconsideredtyranny?Whatadiscriminatoryandcuriousapproach!

Crueltyiscondemnedasasininallcases,whetheritisoninnocentanimalsandbirdsoronhuman
beings.Itisaghastliersintoattemptatdenyingitorcleverlycamouflagingit.

Theabovequestionsarestraightforwardandneedstraightforwardanswers.

Somepeopleassertthattheabovecoupletcondemnsonlythosewhoclaimtosacrificeanimalsin
thenameofAllah;buteattheendproduct,meat,tosatiatetheirpalateofthetongue,and
therebytrytodeceiveGod.

Thisargumentisabsolutelyuntenable.DeceptionwithAllahoccursassoonasaselfishperson,
insteadofsacrificinghisownego,targetsaninnocentandhelplessanimalforsacrificetoGod.Sri
KabirJihadseenthisthroughhisdivineeyethattherealpurposeofthesocalledsacrificeofthe
animalstoGodisnottopleaseHim,buttogratifyone'stasteofthetongue.Thatiswhyhe
proclaimed:

H u H= oJ, Hoel3 Hlo H= o el o= Jl e, =J =U H
(oH =8l, u\=)
One(whoeatsmeattosatisfyhispalate),keepsfastsinordertopleaseAllah,but(underthe
influenceofhisyearningformeat)killstheinnocenthelplessanimals;hekeepsinviewonlyhis
selfishmotive(ofgettingandjustifyingmeatasfood)intheforefrontandthusdoesnotcarefor
thefeelingsofpainandsufferingenduredbytheinnocentanimalsthroughhisruthlessactof
killing.Whyistheman(whoisthesupremecreationofGod)pettifogging?

Themeatrelishersmaybetterhaveapeepintotheirconscienceandseeforthemselveswhether
theyarepettifoggingornotwhentheyclaimthatthrougheatingofmeattheyarenotcommitting
anyhomicide.Theygototheextentofglossingovertheirsinbytryingtojustifythisactionby
creatingafarcicaldistinctionbetweenJhatkaandHalal.Aretheynotcommittingthesinof
deceivingtheirownconscienceaswellascomminglingthetenetsoftheGurmatwithfalsehood?

LUDICROUSROWOVERJHATKAORHALAL
Towardofftheblameofhomicide,thesupportersofmeateatinghaveraisedgimmickofjhatka
orhalal.Ifonelooksintothissocalleddistinctiondispassionatelyandwithdiscerninginsight,the
realitycomesoutthattherealpointofcontentionisnottheprocesshowtheanimaliskilledbut
whetheranysuchkillingamountstohomicideornot.

IfsomecleverMuslimkillsthelivingbeingstoobtainmeatforthegratificationofhispalateand
callsitHalali.e.sacred,andanySikhcallssuchaproductasMahanPrasadi.e.themostsacred
food,itisallasham,aclearfraud.Infact,inthiswayheisnotonlydeceivinghimselfbutalsois
confusingthemasses.Theirperverteduseofthesacredwordsinsuchcasesisnothingbut
blasphemy.AccordingtotheDivineMessageconveyedthroughGurbani,suchphariseeswill
definitelyhavetoaccountfortheirsinfulactsintheTrueCourt.Letthemjustponderoverwhat
willhappentothem:

=8l Hlo H HlJ H =l, =J3 JlJ H J e=3 e8l H8 =lU J, Jl8I =U J= 9\\
(H= =8l, 9=)
"Kabir,theywhodestroylifebyforceanddeemitasHalal(sacrificedinthenameofAllah);what
willbetheirfatewhenGodtakesaccountoftheirdeedsinHisOffice?"

GurbaniclearlyspecifiesthatonecannotconvertHaram(foodobtainedthroughunholymeans)
intoHalal(sacredfood)whateverclevermeansonemayadopt.Ifsomeonetriestocoverupone's
maliciousacts(Haram)byrecitingtheholyhymnswhileperformingthem,itamountstoonlya
fraudandcannotchangetheevilintogood:

H lJ JH HlJ, Jl8 J Hl8 7 (= H, 9, 9u9)

"Ifsomeoneseasonsone'ssinfulproductwithanykindofcondiments,itdoesnotbecomepureor
sacred."

GuruNanakDevJihasalsoexplainedthefactualmeaningofthecontentiouswordsof Kutthaand
Halaletc.,toaSheikhwhorelishedanimalfoodverymuch,asbelow:

H0 =l =3l H0 H H =3 l3H =l o o H8e H 8l l8 I =l u= l=l0 HHl8

l3H J I J= H J l=u = Jl8 J I Jl= Hl8 = el elel HHl8 7 9\
(= H=l H: 9, \)
"IfTruthbetheknifeandTruthitssteel,thenitsmakeisofinfiniteglory.Andifitissharpenedon
thewhetstoneoftheDivineWord.AndkeptsafeinthesheathoftheDivineVirtue.Thenifthe
Sheikhis'killed'withthisknife,allhisbloodofGreedwillbespilt.Andinthiswayhewillbecome
Halal(Pure)andwillmeettheLordGod.Andthus,willwitnesstheblissofGod'sVisionatHis
Gate."

Theabovehymngivesaclearrebuffandbringstolighttherealitytothoseresponsibleforcreating
thisdisputeofJhatkaandHalal.Thus,itisapparentthatinsteadofcreatingafraudofJhatkaand
Halaljustforthesakeofsatisfyinghispalate,onemustbepreparedtosacrificeone'sselfi.e.ego
forthesakeoftheTruth,getridofsensualityandgreed,andinthiswaywouldcertainlybecome
Halal(sacred)himself.

MEATANDOTHERFOODS
Meateatersfurtherarguethateventhosewhoarestrictvegetarianscommithomicidewhile
eatinggrainsetc.,becauseallthesefoodsalsocontainliveorganisms.Thisargumentalsois
renderedabsolutelybaselessandoffthemarkwhenanalysedintheframeworkofGurbani's
guidelines.

Sikhismisawayoflifewhichenjoinsneithertotalattachmentnortotaldetachment.Itbelievesin
alifeofequipoisei.e.internaldetachmentinanenvironmentofattachment.Foodhasbeen
providedbytheCreator/Sustaineranditmustbeeatenforthesustenanceoflife.However,itisto
beeatentosustainlifeandnotmerelytosatisfyone'spalate.Onehastotakefoodtoenable
one'sbodytodoNamSimranandbringone'slifetofruition.VerdictofGurbanifavourssuchuse
offood:

ole 3 Jl8 ole Hlo H o = Hle (I =8l Hl, \=)

FromthePrimalLordwellsupthecornetc.Withtheenergygeneratedbyfoodgrainsinthebody,
cantherecitationoftheNambepossible.

Onewhoeatsfoodstuffs(i.e.grainsetc.)cannotbeconsideredakilleratall,justasamarried
familymanremainsareligiouspersoninspiteofbonafidesexualindulgencewithhiswifein
exerciseofthecreativeenergybestoweduponhimbytheCreatorforcontinuityofhuman
generation.Thatiswhymarriedwayoflifehasbeenclassedastopmostamongotherwaysoflife.

Ontheotherhand,ifanunscrupulousmantakesrecoursetoadultery,andyetclaimsparitywitha
marriedman,hisclaimisfarcicalandsheernonsense.Thedifferencebetweenameateaterand
graineateristhesameasbetweenareligiouslymarriedmanandaprofligateperson.

Similarly,whileaSikhcombshishair,itdoubtlesslyresultsintheremovalofsomebrokenordead
hair,butdespiteallthisheisnotconsideredanapostatebutisconsideredadevoteewhostrictly
followslifeinaccordancewiththeGursikhCodeofConduct.Asagainstthis,onewhocutshishair
justtofollowthegeneralfashionsprevalentamongstothersbecomesimmediatelyan'Apostate'.
Literallyspeakingfallofhairisthereinboththeprocessesbuttheunderlyingintentionisdefinitely
different.Intheformercase,theintentionistorespecttheKeshasandinthelatteritisadisgrace
tothem.Likewiseissubtledifferencebetweenmeateatersandnonmeateaters.

ThefollowingcoupletfromGurbanibringsforththisdifferenceevenmoreclearly,bystressingthe
needofeatingfoodgrainsetc.,andatthesametime,questioningtheeatingofanimalfleshby
humans:

=8l 8 l0l H olH3 J cl = I =c= =U 9\\ (H= =8l, 9=u)

"Kabir,sublimeisthefood,riceandpulsemixedwithdelicioussalt.
Instead,whowouldliketohavehisthroatcut(infuturelife)byeatingfleshfoodobtainedby
huntingtheanimals?

Thus,theconclusionderivedfromtheabovecoupletofGurbani,isexplicitlyclear.Onemayor
maynotacceptit.Amazingly,whenthemeatrelishersarenotabletofindanyjustificationintheir
favourfromGurbani,theyputforwardotherquestionableandvagueargumentstoachievetheir
objectives.TheysaythatallthesequotationsfromtheGurbaniwhichcondemneatingofmeat,
areauthoredbyBhagatKabirJionly.Intheirzeal,theyforgetthattheentireGurbanienshrinedin
SriGuruGranthSahibhasthestatusof,regardlessofitsauthorship,theGURU.Iteither
emanatedfromtheGurusthemselvesorfromtheBhagats,BhattsandotherdevoteesofGodwho
hadreachedthehigheststateofGodrealisation,andtheirworkshavegainedapprobationof
GuruSahibwhothenincorporatedthesameinSriGuruGranthSahib.Thus,itisimperativefor
everySikhtoacceptthewholeBanicontainedinSriGuruGranthSahibastheWholeTruthand
nothingbuttheTruth.

ul8 Hl HJ 8e, Hl HI HJ IHl Jl8 H U = o o

(= Hl, H: =, u)
"Greatmenspeakinsomecontextbuttheirwisdomisapplicabletothewholeworld.
It,therefore,behovesagenuinedevoteeoftheGurutorespectallthedivineSayingsofGreatmen
andthusattainsselfrealization."

MEAT:A'SUPERIOR'FOOD!
Themeateaterspersistentlymaketheassertionthatthereisnorestrictiononanytypeof
eatablesinSikhism.Itisawhitelie.Aretobacco,opium,liquornotprohibitedinSikhism?Gurbani
explicitlycondemnsandprohibitstheirconsumption.Itisadifferentmatterifanyonecallsliquor
as(H-3l)'AdmixtureofFiveValuableelements'andnamesopiumas(H lu)thetreasure
ofhappiness',andthengoesonconsumingthesameincessantly.Similaristhepositioninthecase
ofmeateating.Gurbaniclearlyproclaims:

=8l I Hl H l H H l lJ
3lu 83 H =l8 3 H H3l HlJ 7==
(H= =8l, 9=)
"Kabirthosewhopartakeofhemp(anintoxicantherb),fishandliquor,
Withutterdisregardtowhateverpilgrimages,fastingsandotherreligiousritestheymayperform,
theyallgotohell."

Thus,if,inspiteofsuchcondemnatorycommandmentscontainedintheGurbani,peoplecontinue
togivethepervertednameofMahanPrasadi.e.mostsacredfood,toabovereferredcondemned
food,theyarenotonlygoingagainsttheedictsofGurbanibutarealsocommittingadeceptionby
givingthisname(MahanPrasad)toathingwhichhasbeenreferredtoinGurbaniasCarcass(=I
l8)etc.IfacommonercallsmeatMahanPrasadthenwecanonlypityhim.But,whenthe
leaders,andtheSikhmissionariesdoso,thenwecanonlylamentovertheirintelligenceand
wisdom.

PlayingtrickerywiththerealmeaningoftheGurbanimeateatersfurtherarguethattheabove
coupletsimplyprohibitstheconsumptionofhemp,fishetc.,forthoseaddictedtoliquor.Evenif
weaccepttheirinterpretation,itisnotclearthathowthingsthatareprohibitedforliquoraddicts
canbeallowedforadevoutKhalsa?

ANIMPROBABLE,IRRELEVANTIMAGINATION
Themeateatershavediscoveredanultramoderntheoryinthiscontextwhichsurpassesall
scientificresearchesofthe20thcentury.Theyclaim:

"Manhasauniquepowerwhichdoesnotexistinotherformsofcreation.Thisisthepowerof
mind.Birdsandotheranimalsarenotblessedwithsuchmarvellouslyequippedmind.Thefeelings
ofhappinessoragonyarefeltonlybythemind;thebodyonlyperceivessuchaspleasureorpain.
Devoidofmind,birdsandanimalsdonothaveanysenseofpleasureoragony.Thushowcanthey
worrywhentheyhavenomindwhichonlyiscapableofsuchfeelings?"

Thedictionarymeaningoftheword'Mind'is"theorganofthebodywhichhastheSenseof
NotionaswellasofOption;"thatwhichfeels,desiresandhasthepowertomakeachoicetofulfil
thedesires.Mindalsocontrolsallotherorgansconnectedwiththeattainmentofknowledgeas
wellaswithbodyactions;andthushasenormouspowers.Thesoulinthebodyis,ofcourse,not
affectedbysensesofpainandpleasure.However,suchfeelingsdoaffectthemind.Mindexistsin
alltypesoflifeincludingbirdsandanimals,etc.Asaresult,alllivingbeingsi.e.humans,birdsand
animalsetc.,havethesenseoffeelingsconnectedwithagonyorpleasure.Thefeelingsofloveand
hatedoexistinbirdsandanimalsjustastheseexistinhumans.Thisrealitycanbeobservedby
anyoneinthedailylife.

Justhitadogwithastick,andhewillcryoutofpain.Nowjustfondlehimandhewillbepleased
andwillexpresshispleasureandgratitudebylickingyourfeet.

Therefore,thispeculiarreasoningthatanimalsandbirdsdonothaveamind,whichonlyfeelspain
andpleasure,issheerlyhighhandednessofthemeateaters.Thisisjusttheabuseofjudicious
facultyoftheheadoftheentirecreationTheMan.

Manissuperiortotherestofthecreationsimplybecauseofhissuperiorwisdom.Evenbirdsand
animalshavewisdombuttheirwisdomisverymuchlimitedascomparedtothatofman.Man
certainlymisusesthisblessingofwisdomwhenhetriestoexterminateotherspeciesoflifejustto
satisfyhisegoorpalateofthetongue,andfurthermorewhentriestocoversuchsinfulactsby
vagueandfrivolousreasonings.Itisclearthathehasnosolidandsustainablejustificationforhis
actionsandisjusttryingtobeataboutthebush.

Intheend,Ithinkitpropertoreiteratethatthecentralpointinthiswholediscussionisnotthe
technicaldistinctionbetweenthesetwotypesoffoodbasedontheiringredients.Themootpoint
iswhetheritisjustifiedtotakelifejusttosatisfyone'spalateofthetongue.Itcansafelybe
assertedthatGurbanipermitsmantoeatnaturalfoodforhissustenancetobeabletomeditate
upontheholyNaam.Itcertainlyprohibitseatingofmeat,whichisobtainedbykillinglivingbeings
justforsatisfyingthetasteoftongue.

JOGINDERSINGHTALWARA

Amritsar
August15,1997.

IFYOUPERCEIVEGODABIDESINALLBEINGS,THENWHYKILLACHICKEN?

LIQUORANDMEATTHEPROVERBIALVICES
Fromtimesimmemorial,liquorandmeathavebeenconsideredastheproverbialvices,which
havebeeninstrumentalinbringingdestructiontonumerousfamiliesanddownfallofnationsand
empires.Inspiteofthat,cleverpeopleaddictedtotheseviceshaveeventriedtojustifytheir
consumptionandforthispurpose,theyhavenotrefrainedfromdistortingthemeaningsof
Gurbani.Forthisreason,itappearsimperativetoconsiderthismatterinthelightofGurbani,in
ordertobringtolightthetruth.

WIDECONSUMPTIONOFLIQUORANDMEATAMONGTHESIKHSWHOSEFAULT?
ItisverystrangethattheSikhcommunity,forwhomthehighestmoralstandardshavebeensetby
theGurus,sizeablenumberoutofithasnotbeenabletoescapethesevices.Thishasresultedin
thedownfallofSikhSocietysociallyandmorally.Theeminentleadersofthecommunityhavetried
toputtheblameofthisstateofthecommunityonthesocalledilliteracyandlackofeducationin
themassesingeneral,especiallyintheremoteareas.Tosomeextentitmaybetrue.However,the
onegreatestreasonisthatthemajorityofthereligiouspreachersandotherimportantpeople
engagedinthepropagationoftheSikhfaitharethemselvesvictimtothesevices.Hencethey
startedpropagatingopenlythatthesearenotprohibitedintheSikhreligion.Someseemingly
virtuouspeoplehaveevengonetotheextentofmakingofferingsofmeatandhempbeforeGuru
SahibandprayingforacceptanceofthesameandthendistributingitasPrasadortheBlessed
food.Ifsomeonedoubtstheauthenticityofthisstatement,onemaygoevennowandwitnessthis
practiceontheoccasionofHolaMohallaatHazoorSahibinNanded,andSriAnandpurSahib.Itis
beingdoneopenly.Somepeoplehaveevengonetotheextentofdeclaringthatonewhodoesnot
eatMahanPrasad(i.e.meat)isnotaSikh.Itisasheerperversitytogivesuchareverednameof
MahanPrasad(i.e.mostauspiciousfood)tothisblasphemous,abhorredandfilthymaterial.As
againstthis,intheSikhtraditionaswellasintheoldSikhliterature,thewordMahanPrasadhas
beenusedtodenotethemostsacredandsanctifiedfoodi.e.KarahPrasad.

8= lHHc =3 HJ-Hle, 8= I8 = lH 8=cl
(8l IeH Hl, =l83 =O\)
InthecongregationoftheGursikhs,somedevoteesbringsweeteatables,somebringMahan
Prasad(mostsacredfoodi.e.KarahPrasad)andsomeinviteGursikhstocelebrateGurpurbs.

l=3 0 H == l8=3 8, 0 lHl IH J
(8l IeH Hl, =l83 97u)
Sugar,ghee,flour,waterandfire,whenallcombined,theresultantproductbecomesKARAH
PRASADi.e.foodcomprisingoffiveblissfulingredients.

= Hc ol8 l l8o ol HJ He =l =l8o

(8l IeH Hl, = 7O, Ul 9O)
Theybringnewearthenpotsfilledwithwater(forfreeserviceofdrinkingwater).(Theyalso)bring
MAHAPRASAD(i.e.KARAHPRASAD)forserving(intheSangat).

JustlikemisnomerofKarahPrasad,somehemplovingpeoplehavegiventhemisnomerofSukh
Nidhan(Treasureofhappiness)tohempandliquorhasbeengiventhemisnomerofPanjRatni(i.e.
admixtureoffivepreciouselements)meaningmostpreciousdrink.Inthiswaytheyarefollowing
thepracticeofVamMargis(VamMargisasocalledreligiouscultoftheHinduswhereinmeat
andliquorareconsideredasauspiciousfoodsandunrestrictedsexhasreligioussanction).

However,suchrepugnantpracticeshavenoplaceintheKhalsaWayofLife.Bygivingavirtuous
andattractivenametoadespicablething,itsviciousnaturecannotbealtered.Thosewhoresort
tocontemptiblepracticesnotonlyhoodwinkothersbutalsobefoolthemselvesindoingso
becausetheirexplanationsarebasedonabsolutelyfalsenotionswhichlikewallofsandaresure
tocollapse:

= J0 H0 HU =3 =lo
(8l IeJ Hl, = =u, Ul 79)
Falsehoodcannotequalthetruthbyanymeans.

Evenifthefalsehoodisconcealedunderbeautifulcover,itcannotremainhidden.Falsehood
ultimatelyfadesaway.

= J0 H0 HU =3 =lo
(8l IeJ Hl, = =u, Ul 79)
Falsehoodshallultimatelyfadeaway,(Nanak)whiletruthremainsevergreen.

Thusthegistofthewholediscussionisthatbyattributingthesoleresponsibilityofthewide
spreaduseofliquorandmeatamongsttheSikhsatlargetoilliteracyamongmajorityofSikh
masses,wearesidetrackingthemainissue.ItisdefinitelytheSikhreligiousleadershipwhois
responsibleforthisstateofaffairsbecausemajorityofthembeingaddictedtothesevices,are
propagatingthesamedeliberately.

GENERALARGUMENTSINSUPPORTOFMEATEATING.

ThosewhosupportthereligiosityofmeateatinginSikhismgenerallyofferthefollowing
arguments:

(1)InSikhismthereisnorestrictiononeatinganyfood.Toeatornottoeatmeatdependson
one'sownpersonalpreferenceandtaste.AccordingtoGurmat,theonlycriterionforselectionof
foodtoeatisthatthefoodchosenshouldnotcausediseasetobodyandnotresultinpollutionof
themind.InsupportofthisreasoningtheycitethefollowingquotationfromGurbanibychanging
theactualwordingtosuittheirinterpretation:

88 H Hl o lH3 u 3 llo H HlJ 0 l==

Note:InsteadofSa(H)inthefirstline,thewordactuallyusedinGurbaniishore(J).

(2)InSikhismtheonlyrestrictionisoneatingmeatobtainedbykillingtheanimalinKosherfashion
i.e.theMuslimmethodofkillingtheanimalwhilerecitingKALMA(theMuslimholyformula).As
againstthis,thereispermissioninSikhismtoeatmeatobtainedbykillingtheanimalbyJhatkai.e.
withonestrokewhilereciting'SatSriAkal'(theSikhholyformula).

(3)InoldSikhliteraturethereisnomentionofanyrestrictiononeatingmeat.Rathermeathas
beenmentionedthereinasoneofthefoodspreparedintheLangarintimesoftheGurus
themselves.

(4)Ifkillingofthechicken,goat,partridge,quailetc.,isconsideredasslaughteroflivingbeings,
thentheothermostcommoneatableslikewheat,beans,milk,wateretc.,alsocontainliving
organisms.Therefore,thosewhoeatthesefoodscannotescapethisblametoo.

(5)Thosewhodonoteatmeat/becomecowardsorchickenhearted.

(6)Meatisaverynourishingfoodthatmakesonehealthyandrobust.

Letus,now,examineeachoftheabovementionedreasoningsinthelightofGurbani

RE:ARGUMENTNO.1

ThemeateatersoftheSikhcommunitygenerallyassertthatthereisnorestrictiononanykindof
eatablesinSikhism.Toeatornottoeatmeatislefttothediscretion,choiceortasteofeach
individual.Thisassertionisabsolutelybaseless.AccordingtotheSikhWayofLife,onlythosetypes
offoodarepermitted,byeatingwhichboth,bodyandmindbecomehealthyandfullydeveloped
whichwouldhelpinenhancingtheircapacitytodosewa(service)andSimran(meditation).

Allthefoodsandstuff,whoseusemakesthebodyandmindweakandlethargic,e.g.tobacco,
poppy,hemp,opium,liquoretc.,orwhichareobtainedbytorturingandkillingotherliving
creaturesandmakesboththebodyandmindcruelaswellasperverse,areclearlyprohibited
accordingtoGurbani:

=8l I Hl H l lJ 3lu 83 H =l8 3 H H3l HlJ 7==

(H= =8l Hl, 9=)
Allthosewhoeatfishanddrinkhemporwine,willgotohellwithutterdisregardofwhatever
pilgrimages,fastingsandotherreligiousritestheymayperform.

=8l 8 l0l H HlJ olH3 J cl = I =c= =U 9\\

(H= =8l Hl, 9=u)
Sublimeisthesimplefood;riceandpulsemixedwithdelicioussalt.Whowouldhavehisthroatcut
hereafter,formealsobtainedbyhuntingtheanimals?

Itis,thus,clearthattheconsumptionofhemp,fishandliquoretc.,negateseventhegooddeeds
donebyapersonanddegradeshimmentallyintoastateofwretchedness.Atthesametimeithas
beenmadeclearthateatingsimpleordinaryfoodforsubsistenceandmaintenanceofthebody
enhancesone'senergyorinclinationforNamSimranaswellaskeepsthebodyhealthy.When
suchidealfoodsareavailableinplenty,whywouldonecommitcrueltybykillingotherliving
beingsforfood?

Hence,inthelightof'Gurbani',thereremainsabsolutelynodoubt,andtherecanbenotwo
opinionsabouttheprohibitionoffoodsobtainedbykillingotheranimals.Gurbanihasalsoclearly
decreedthateveneatingsimpleandordinaryfoodobtainedthroughfalsehood,deceit,
subterfuge,deceptionandthroughwrongfulpossessionisequivalenttoeatingacorpse.Guruor
Pirwillonlyhelpifonerefrainsfromsuchfoodsobtainedthroughwrongfulmeanswhichareas
badascarcass.

= 8l He l8 (= H, H: 9, 9uO)
Byutteringfalsehoodmaneatscarrion.

J= l8o = UH Ho UH Il8 I l JH 3 H He l8
(= H , H: 9, 9u9)
(Nanak)another'srightisswineforhim(i.e.theMuslim)andcowforhim(i.e.theHindu).The
spiritualguide/prophetshallstandsuretyonlyifonedoesnoteatcarrion.

Theactsoffalsehoodandwrongfulpossessionshavebeenregardedequivalenttoeatingofa
carrion.Thusdoubtlesslythefoodobtainedfromdeadbodiesisdefinitelycondemnedand
prohibited.Whethertheanimalslaughteredisapigoracow;whetherthebeastiskilledwhile
recitingKalmaorSatSriAkal;withaknifeorKirpan,inaslowprocess(Halat)orwithasingle
stroke(Jhatka)itbecomesacorpse(i.e.Murdar)afteritisdevoidoflife.Whentakingpossession
ofthingsbelongingtoothersbyforceorunjustmeans,isconsideredequivalenttoeatingofa
deadbody,iffalsehoodhasbeenequatedwitheatingofacarrion,thenhowcanmeatactually
obtainedfromthedeadbodies,beconsideredpermissibletobeeaten?Howcantheeaterofsuch
afoodexpecttogettheblessingsoftheGuruorPirespeciallywhenoneisopenlyandbrazenly
notonlyhimselfactingagainstunequivocalfiatoftheGurubutalsoispropagatinghiserroneous
wayofthinkingamongstothersonthepretextofGurmat?Suchapersonisguiltyofbringingbad
nametothefaithheisfollowing.

Suchpersonswhoeatmeatobtainedbykillinginnocentanimals,havebeenreferredtoasevil
spiritsordemonsorwitchesintheGurbani:

I8 J= JH =H3l He 8l8 (l3I H: , 7=)

Likeghosts,mankillsthebeastsandeatscarriontheforbiddeneat.

EventheworksofBhaiGurdasJiwhichareconsideredthekeytotheGurbani,alsoclearlyforbids
meateating:

H =l Uul 3, l=J lo =H 0I .....

H =H8l Uulo, Hlo =l8 8lo I
(8l IeH Hl, = =9, Ul \)
IfPutnareceiveddeliverance(therewasmysticalreasonforitbutherprofession)poisoningothers
wasnotgood.Similarly,ifthebutcher(Sadhna)receivedredemption(itwasduetomystical
reason,however,hisprofessionwasnotgood).Assuchoneshouldnothaveanymisconception
withregardtokillingoflivingbeings.

(AccordingtoBhagwatPuran,PuttiatriedtokillthenewlybornLordKrishnabysmearingpoison
onhersucklingnipples,butthebabyKrishnagaveabiteonherbreastwherebythepoison
penetratedintoherbloodandprovedfatalforher.Itisbelievedshegotsalvationthereby.
SimilarlySadhnawasabutcherbyprofession.HebecameatruedevoteeofGodbyvirtueofwhich
hegotsalvation.HisversesarealsoincludedinSriGuruGranthSahib.)

ThatiswhyGuruNanakDevJirefusedtoeatthedaintydishesofferedbyMalikBhagobecausehe
consideredthefoodobtainedthroughfalsehood,coercionandinjusticeasequivalenttocorpse
(He).Thus,hebroughtoutthetruthbeforethepeoplethatuseofviolencetosnatchother
people'swealthunjustlyiscondemnable,andthewealthobtainedthroughcrueltyandoppression
issinful.Therefore,thefoodpreparedoutofthewealthobtainedthroughevilwaysis,inreality,
nothingbutthebloodofthepoor,thoughoutwardlyitmaylooktemptingandtasty.

If,accordingtoGuruSahib,thewealthobtainedthroughswindlingandcheatingisequivalentto
bloodofthepoor,thenhowcanmeatwhichisdirectlyobtainedbyslaughteringthelivingbeings,
becalledMahaPrasadthemostsacredfood?Thus,itisclearthatsuchahallowednamehas
beengiventodeadbody(meat)throughthesinisterintentionsanddeceitfulconspiracyofpeople
fondofeatingmeat.

Taketheexampleoftwobirds,SwanandaCrane:
Fromtheirspotlesswhiteoutlook,theybothlookalike.Theirwhiteandsoberingcolourhavethe
samevirtuousinfluenceonothers'minds.HoweverinGurbani,oneofthemhasbeenpraised
whiletheothercondemned,simplybecauseofthetypeoffoodtheyeat.

Swanisconsideredgoodorsuperior.Why?BecauseSwan'sfoodisideal:

H= oel Jl H3l, H JH = (= H=l, H: 9, \)

InthelakearejewelsandpearlsandthesearethefeedfortheSwans.

Craneisconsideredadegenerateoroflowcaste.Why?BecauseCrane'sfoodisabhorrent:

8I =I l0 =l HIl3 Hl8 =I l8 Hl 8lo (H=l H: u, \\9)
TheCranefallsinthecategoryoffilthybirdcrowashe(Crane)feedshimselfonafilthycorpse.

ThusinGurbani,theCranehasbeenconsideredasabhorrentbecauseiteatsfilthycarcass.One
failstounderstandhowhasthisfilthycarcassbecomethe'mostsacred'(MahaPrasad)foodfor
theSikhs?HowcanoneclaimtobeatrueSikhoftheGuruevenaftereatingsuchacondemned
andabhorrentcarcassormeat?

Cananymotherallowherchildtoeatpoison?AndnonecaneventhinkthattheTrueGuru,whois
theSpiritualFatherandMotherofthewholemankind,caneveralloworgivefreedomtohis
childrentoeatsuchafilthycarcass.Itcanneverbeso.So,whenwe,whocallourselvestheSikhs
oftheGuruSahib,havestartedeatingthisfilthycarcassbygivingitthehallowednameofMaha
Prasad,thenthefollowingcoupletofBhagatKabirJiwillhituswithallitsforcejustasamother
slapsherchildtoteachhimalesson:

=8l H0 Hl3I l=o = HU lH HlJ 0=

ou 8= I8l lHU 8H 8H8lo == 9\
(H= =8l Hl, 9=7)
KabirwhatcantheTrueGurudoifhisdisciplesadoptwrongfulmeans?Notevenonewordofthe
Guruisimbibedbytheirdisillusionedmindjustasthehollowedbamboocannotretainthewind
blownintoit.

ThesupportersofmeateatingarguethatinSikhismthereisnorestrictionontheuseofanykind
ofeatables.InthisrespecttheyquotethefollowingcoupletfromGurbanibydistortingittosuit
theirinterpretation:

88 H Hl o lH3 u 3 llo H HlJ 0 l==

Note:Inthefirstlineofthiscouplet,theword"J"isgenerallyreplacedbythemeateatersfor
theword"H"forobviousreason.

TheabovereferencefromtheGurbani,inthecontextofmeateating,isabsolutelyinappropriate.
Toclearlybringtolight,thetruth,itisessentialtogothroughthewholehymncontainingthe
abovelines.ThewholeShabadisasbelow:

Hl H lH Hlo Hlo H
c 3Hl Hl 8 H e =l8
3lJ olH3 U 8= el =l8 9
88 J Hl o
lH3 u 3 llo H HlJ 0lJ l== 9 JU

3 H 3 Hel H3 e
ll lHoJl =e =l lJ luo
=H8e H3 = u H8 3 H 7
88 J Hl o
lH3 u 3 llo H HlJ 0lJ l== 9 JU

= Hl8 8 3l =c
3=H 3l =H HI 3I8e I u3
=H H l3 lHU Ic =H 3 Hl Hl3 =
88 J 0 Hl o
lH3 0lo 3 llo H HlJ 0lJ l== 9 JU

= He Hl H =l el 3l =
J=H H8l 3u =Hl J o 8J3 o
= H0 l3HJ l = 8l0 u
88 J HU Hl o
lH3 H3 3 llo H HlJ 0lJ l== 9 JU u
(lHlI HJ 9, 9-9)

TobelieveinGod'snameisallthesweetrelish.Tohearit,issaltish.Toutteritwiththemouthis
sweetsavoury.AndtosingtheGod'snameIhavemyspices.TheloveoftheUniqueLordisthe
thirtysixsortsofflavourynectars.ThisisthewayofthoseonwhomHecastsHisgraciousglance.
(l)O'Brother!Ruinousisthehappinessoftheotherdaintyfoods,byeatingwhichthebody
writhesinpainandthemindisfilledwithevil.(Pause)
MindbeingimbuedwiththeLord'sloveisthereddress,verityandcharity,thewhitegarments.To
eraseblacknessofsinistowearblueclothes,andtomeditateonLord'sFeetismyrobeofhonour.
Contentmentismywaistband.AndThyName(OLord)mywealthandyouth.(2)OBrother!The
happinessofotherraimentsisruinous;bywearingwhichthebodywrithesinpainandthemindis
filledwithevil.(Pause)
ToknowThyway(O

Lord)isthehorsesaddleandgoldcrupperforme.Torunaftervirtuesis
quiver,arrow,bow,spearandswordbeltforme.Tobehonourablydistinguishedaremybands
andlances.Thyfavouriscaste(Lineage),thegleeofotherridesisruinous.(3)OBrother!Theglee
ofotherridesisruinous.Suchridesmakethebodywritheinpainandfillthemindwithevil.
(Pause)
TheBlissoftheNameisashouseandmansionforme.Thyfavouringglanceisasfamilyforme.For
me,onlythatisthecommandwhichpleasesThee.TosaymoreaboutYouisbeyondmyreach.
Nanaksays:TheTrueLordtakesdecisionwithoutanyothercounsel.(4)O'Brother!Thepleasure
ofothersleep(i.e.restorrelaxation)ispernicious.Bysuchsleeps,thebodywrithesinpainand
themindisfilledwithevil.(Pause)

Ithasbeenobservedthatduringgeneraldiscussion,inordertosupporttheirviewpoint,meat
eatingbrothersusetheword'SAA'insteadof'HORE'inthefirstlineoftheFirstPause.Theabove
hymnhasfourstanzaseachbeingfollowedbya'Pause'.Inallthefourcasesthe1stlineofthe
PausecontainsthewordHORE(andnotSAA)meaningOTHERandthiswordhasitsownspecial
significance.

Inthefirststanza,mentionhasbeenmadeoftheidealspiritualfood(NAAM)fortheattainmentof
thestateofpermanentSpiritualBlissofmind.ThecoupletofPauseclearlygivesawarningthat,in
comparisonwiththespiritualfood,outlinedinit,allotherfoodsdevoidofNAAMareofnoavail
towardstheachievementofthisgoalofSpiritualBlissandinfacttheyleadtothedestructionof
truehappinessandbliss.

Similarly,intheotherthreestanzas,mentionhasbeenmadeoftheimperativenessofspiritual
garments,spiritualridesandspiritualsleep(meditation)etc.Attheendofeachstanzathecouplet
givenasPAUSEclearlyreassertstheineffectivenessoftheworldlymaterialgarments,ridesetc.,
towardstheachievementoftheSpiritualBliss.

ItisthusclearfromtheabovebriefexplanationofthishymnthathereinGuruSahibhasonly
comparedthetemporarypleasuresofthebodyobtainedthroughthefoods,garmentsetc.,with
theeverlastingSpiritualBlissachievedthroughNamSimran.AccordingtoGuruSahib'sdivine
insight,anythingdevoidofTHOU,isallfalse.InthetenthstanzaofAsadiVarthispointhasbeen
furtherexplained:

= H = H = H HH = H = Hl = 8HJ = Hl8 = = J
= =l8o = = = o = Hlo = 8l8l l J8 =l = J I l=Hlo
=3 l=H l =l0 eH3l H HI 0J = lH = HlU = 8 = = 83l 3u
8 = = 9 (= oH, H: 9, u\)
Falseistheking,falsethesubjectsandfalseistheentireworld.Falseisthemansion,falsethe
houseandfalseisthedweller.Falseisgold,falseissilverandfalseisthewearer.Falseisthebody,
falseistheclothingandfalseispearlessbeauty.Falseishusband,falseiswife,wholanguishesand
becomemiserable.Falseisone'slovewiththe'falsehood'wherebyoneforgetstheCreator.With
whommayonecontractfriendship,thewholeworldismortal.Falseisallthatissweetandfalseis
honey.Falsehoodhasbeeninstrumentalinthedestructionofinnumerablepersons.Nanakmakes
aprayer,exceptThee,O'myMaster;Everythingisfalseandcompletelyfalse.

HencetheendresultofthewholeexplanationgivenaboveisthatGuruSahibexhortsusthat,
insteadofengrossingourselvesinthematerialpleasuresofsenses,weshouldtrytoenjoythe
everlastingBlissbyimmersingourselvesintheNam.

Thiswillleadtoahappierandmorepeacefullifeeveninthisworld.Itisthusnotunderstoodhow
thishymncanbeputforthinsupportofmeateatingwhereasGurbaniunambiguouslydeclares
meatasfilthycarcass.Theabovediscussionmakesitamplyclearthatmeateatinghasbeen
tabooedinGurbani

DOESEATINGMEATNOTPERVERSETHEMIND?
Nonecandenythatmeatisobtainedthroughbrutalitywhichinitselfisagreatsin.So,whenone
eatsmeat,whichisproducedbytormentingothers,one'smindnaturallybecomesmercilessand
perverse.Moreover,theaddictiontomeateatingalsogenerallyleadstoyearningforliquorsand
lewddesires.Thatiswhythepeoplewhoareaddictedtomeateatingareusuallyalcoholicsas
wellaslustful.However,ourmainthemehereisregardingthebrutalforceusedforobtainingflesh
forfood.Howcanthefoodobtainedthroughcrueltyletsone'smindconcentrateonNamsimran?
H 3 I = HH Jl8 l3 H 3 l=lJ HH l3 =U lH 0l3
(= H, H= H: 9, 9uO)
Ifone'sattirebeingtaintedwithbloodisconsidereddesecratedwithdropsofbloodandisnotat
allconsideredusableforworshipormeditation,thenhowcanthemindofthosewho(byeating
thefleshoftheanimals)actuallyconsumeblood,canremainunpolluted?

Then,ifanyunscrupulousSikhboaststhattheuseofTobaccodoesnotpollutehismind,thendoes
tobacconolongerremainatabooforhim?Allknowthatthemereintakeoftobaccoinitselfisa
viceandresultsindisastrousconsequences.InthevariousRahitNamas,tobaccohasbeen
referredtoaspoison.Thatiswhytheuseoftobaccoandotherintoxicantsisstrictlyprohibitedin
Sikhism.

Flesh(meat),asfoodhasbeenadjudgeduniversallyaslustprovoking.Itisnotanaturalfoodfora
man.Itsconsumptionnaturallyresultsincontaminatingbodyandmindboth.Itisobtainedby
killingandpiecinginbits,thefleshoflivingbeings.Henceitisafoodfitonlyforcannibals,
barbariansanduncivilizedpeople.Tokillandcutintopiecesthelivinganimalsisamurderousand
homicidalactwhichinitselfisaperversity:

oH I=U Jl3o oH l =l HlJ (HHl, Ul 9\)

Countlesscutthroatscommitmurders.Countlesssinnersgooncommittingthissin(duringthe
entirelife).

Assoonasthepenchantdesireforeatingmeat,underthetemptationofthetasteoftongue,
flashesintoone'smind,one'smindbecomeperverted.He,theneitherrunstothebutcher'sshop
oractsasabutcherhimself.InfactoneissurprisedwhenonehearsfromaGursikh,thatflesh
eatingdoesnotcreateperversityinthemind.

ThesimpleandstraightpointisthatathingwhichhasbeencondemnedinGurbaniasafilthy
carcassandwhichcanonlybeobtainedthroughbrutalityandoppression,somuchsothatit
promptsonetoperformtheroleofabutcher,thenhowcansucha"food"becomepermissiblefor
theGursikhprogenyoftheGuruSahib?

RE:ARGUMENTNO.2

ThemeateatingSikhshavetriedtoexplainthat,inSikhism,onlyKUTTHAviz.thetypeofmeat
whichhasbeenobtainedbyslayinganimalsaccordingtotheMuslimway;(Kosherfashion)is
prohibited.Accordingtothem,JHATKAmeati.e.meatobtainedbykillingtheanimalwithasingle
strokeoftheweapon,whileuttering'SatSriAkal',ispermissible.

Beforeweexaminethisargument,itwouldbeappropriatetoknowdifferencebetweenthewords
'kuttha'and'jhatka'.

ThewordKutthaoccursinGurbaniasbelow:

olo = = 8= 0U= Ul l=H H (= oH, 9, u7)

They(Hindus)ononehand,eatthemeatobtainedbykillingtheanimalwhileutteringKalma
whichtheyassumeasunworthyutterance.Butontheotherhandtheyallownonetoentertheir
kitchensquare.

l3H e = J= H J 8 l=u = (= =Hl, H: 9, \)

IfSheikhiskilledwiththat(knife)thenthebloodofavaricewillbeseensplitaway.

=e H H oH8ll = =l = (H H: , 9O9\)
Thesinnersarecertainlydisillusionedbythetemptationofsin.Theangelofdeathwillseizeand
mercilesslykilleachofthem.

Inalltheabovequotations,theword'kuttha'obviouslymeanstokillmercilessly.Itsreferenceto
the'killingintheMuslimmethod
1
isjustthecreationofthevestedinterests.

Jhatka
Theword'jhatka'hasnotbeenmentionedinGurbanianywhere.Commonlyitreferstokillingthe
animalwithonestrokeoftheweaponbychanting'SatSriAkal'.

Etymologically,theword'Kuttha'hasbeenderivedfromtheroot'Kohna',whichingrammaris
pastparticipleandmeanssimplythekilled.SimilarotherwordsalsoexistinthePunjabilanguage
suchas:

Ruttha(): Theestranged.
Vuttha(=`): Thesettled.
Dhattha(U`):Thefallen.
Dittha(l`): Theseen.
Murtha(H`):Therobbed!Disillusioned.

Thustheword'Kuttha'literallymeansmeatobtainedbykillinganimalsandthisisprohibitedinthe
KhalsaRahitortheKhalsaCodeofConduct.Nonecandenythefactthattheanimaldoesfeel
physicalaswellasmentaltorturewhetherkilledslowlyorwithonestroke.Ofcourse,onecansay
thatthereislesstorturebykillinginstantaneouslywithonestrokethanwhilekillingslowly,butto
claimthatkillingbyonestrokedoesnot,atall,causepainandtorturetothekilledone,isonly
selfdeceit.TheverysightofthekillingoftheirfellowcreaturesintheButcher'sHouseandtheir
painrevealingshrieks,frightentheotheranimals.Andwhentheyseethebutcherwithnaked
weaponadvancingtowardsthemforkilling,theyarefrightenedtotheirdeath.Thepoorcreature
shrieksandshrieksandtrieshardtogetoutoftheclutchesofthebutcher.Hismentalandphysical
painreachesatitsclimaxwhenthebutcherforcefullyentangleshimandcutshisheadoff.

Whatanirony,thatononehand,wetortureandkillthepoordumbandinnocentanimals(dumb
inthesensethattheycannotprotestorfightagainstouratrocity)andcuttheirfleshintopieces,
andatthesametimeweclaimthattheanimalskilledthiswaydonotfeelanypainorsufferingat
all!Thishumanbigotryisperhaps,duetothefactthatallthecourtsofjusticeontheearthare
manmade.Thoughhere,inthesemanmadecourts,thepoorcreaturescannotgetjusticebut
therewillcertainlybeabsolutejusticeintheTrueCourtoftheTrueMasterofwholecreation.No
atrociousandmercilessassassincanescapethetruejusticeoftheTrueCourt,howsoevermighty
andpowerfulhemaybeintheworld:

uH l8 J=H J 8lJ H0 uH 8l0l eH l8 eHc o3H UJ 3l H=

(lHl I H: , \)
TheRighteousJudgehasthedirection(fromtheJustfulLord)"Administertruejustice.Everyevil
soulprofessinglovefordualityisyoursubject."

TheverdictoftheGurbaniiscrystalclearandappliestoallincludingthetyrants:

=8l H =lo H HH J l8 H88 el8 e=3l l=H H HJ HlJ l8 7OO

(H= =8l Hl, 9=)
Kabir,theuseofforceistyrannyandtheLordshallcalleveryonetoaccount.Whentheaccountof
actionscommittedduringlifeissettledintheDivineCourt,thenoneshallsufferstrokesof
punishmentsontheveryface.

=8l Hl H HlJ H =l =J3 JlJ H J e=3 e8l H8 =lU J Jl8I =U J= 7OO

(H= =8l Hl, 9=)
Kabir,thosewhokillthelivingbeingsperforceandcallthatrighteousassacrificeinthenameof
theLord,whatshallbetheirconditionwhentheJustfulLordtakesouthisaccountintheDivine
Court?

HlJ H3l 8=l J8l J J JHl HlJ l=HHe Jl8 l83 JlH JHl l8U =el 8=l 3 oH
=l0l Hl o= u3 luo =lJ =lJ Ul l=Hl HH l I =lU = J l3 =U J=Hl
I8 Il8l eJ J H o=H =Hl HlI ol8o H =8l HHl 9
(8l IeH Hl, = 7)
Thegoatcaughtbythelion,startedlaughingheartily.Curiouslysurprised,thelionaskedwhat
felicitymadeitlaugh.Thegoathumblystatedthatitdesiredthatitsoffspringsbecastrated(so
theiroffspringswouldnotfacesuchatyranny).BeingfedonAkkandDhatura(wildshrubsgrown
inbarrenlands)theirbodiesarecutintopieces.Whatwouldhappentothosewhocutthethroats
ofanimalsandeattheirflesh?Thefleshofthepoorinnocentgoatiseatenwithrelishandthe
fleshofthetyrantlionisunworthyofbeingeaten.Thelastlinedrawstheconclusionthat
whosoeverisbornmustdie(intheendthetruejusticewillprevail).

=J =H8l 8=l l8 Hl HH o JlH JlH 8 =Jlel u ol= J l8J Jo HH l Il
l e J l3 =U oo Hl Je =lo U ee HJ l l=Io 3 u le =l Jo
eHl l8Hlo o =lH o= I H3 Hl lI HH H Ho =l 0 oI co 79
(8l IeH Hl, = =)
Thebutcherkillsthegoat,mincesitsmeatwithtastyspicesandroastsitontheskewer.While
beingkilled,thegoatlaughsloudlyandtellsthebutcher:WhileeatingAkk(awildshrub)Ihave
sufferedthispersecution.Whatwouldhappentomykillerwhoeatsmyflesh?Boththeteethand
mouthofsuchpersonsoverpossessedwiththerelishofthetonguewillbebrokenintopieces.

Thosewhoareguiltyofadultery,usurpationandvilification,willbecomedoubletonguedsnakes
intheirnextbirths.Eventhatdoubletonguedsnakemaybetamedthroughsomecharm.However
theguruless(lI)andselfcenteredpersondoesnotlistenatalltotheGuru'sperceptandwalks
recklesslywithoutseeingthepitfallsonhisway.

Asbroughtoutabove,theGurbaniclearlyprohibitstheslaughteringofanimalsjusttosatisfythe
palateofthetongue.

Whatevermethodisusedforthepurposeviz.JhatkaorHalal,theblameofslaughteringcannotbe
refuted.Ordinarypeoplecommitthemistakeofeatingmeatthroughignoranceandlackof
knowledge.Thesurprisingthingisthattheotherwiseintelligentpeoplehavingawarenesscommit
thisblackdeedofeatingmeatjustforsatiatingtheirtaste.Totopall,inordertojustifytheirthis
sin,theyconcoctsomanyexcuses.Theyclaimthattheanimalhasbeenslaughteredasasacrifice
toGodresultinginitssalvation.TheGurbaniclearlystatesthatsuchselfishpeopleonlycarefor
thesatisfactionoftheirpalateandfillingtheirpotbellies,unmindfulofthetorturetheyafflicton
theinnocentcreatures.Therearenumeroustastyandnutritiousfoodsintheworld,whichare
availablefortheconsumptionofthesupermosthumanrace.Thenwhyshouldpeoplecommitthe
reprehensibleactbywrenchingthenecksofanimals?

H u H= oJ Hoel3 Hlo H= o el o= Jl e =J =U H
(oH =8l Hl, u\=)
AselfishimposterobservesfaststopleaseGodbutatthesametimeslayslivingbeingsforrelish.
Thushewatchesonlyhisowninterestandpaysnoheedtopangsofothercreatures.Whydoeshe
stoopsolow?

Thepityisthattheclevermeateatershavegonetotheextentofincludingthemeatobtained
throughaparticularmethodofslayingtheanimals,aspartofreligiouspractice.IntheGurbani
suchpeople'shoaxhasbeenclearlyexposed:

Hlo 8uJ H uH =l uJ ouH =JJ =3 8l oH =U Hl= =l uJ = =U =JJ =H8l

(H =8l Hl, 99O=)
Brother,youkillthelivingbeingsandconsideritasDHARMAi.e.areligiousact.Thentellhowdo
youdefineanirreligiousact?Youcallyourselfanenlightenedsage(apiousGursikh)thenwhom
wouldyoucallabutcher?

Othersmaydeny,buthowcantheSikhsoftheGuruevadetheapplicationofthisfiattothem?
ThemeaningoftheabovecoupletisbroughtoutwithparticularreferencetoaSikhasunder:
OtheSikhoftheGuru!Youkillthelivingbeingsandinordertoconcealthissin,youpretendand
propagatethisactasholy(Rahit),thenwhatelseisanunholyact(i.e.Kurahit)?Ifyoueat
somethingobtainedthroughtortureandmurderofthelivingbeings,andyetyouclaimtobea
devoutSikh(SantKhalsa),then,whomdoyoucallabutcher?

WhetheroneisaJhatkai(theprofessionalwhoslaysanimalswithonestrokewhilechantingSat
SriAkal)oraKasai(butcher)thesearetwodifferentnamesrepresentingthesameprofessionof
killingtheanimalswhateverthereligiontheymayprofess.Thesearenotregardedastitlesof
respectatall.Butthekillersandeatersofthefleshofanimalscan'twashawaythestigmaof
belongingtothisdespicablecommunity.Whatanoutrage!TheKhalsa,whowascreatedto
eradicatetyranny,hashimselfbecomeatyrantforthesehelplessanimals.Theoppressorisnever
knowntoadmittheblameofoppression.Aurangzebwasanotorioustyrant.However,hetriedto
concealhistyrannicalactionsunderthecloakofIslam.Thecleverpeoplehavealwaystakenrefuge
inthegarbofreligiontohidetheirownweaknesses.Inspiteofalltheseefforts,thetruthcannot
besuppressedforlong.Suchmalfeasancesormisdeedsdefinitelystigmatisetheirreligion.Arethe
Sikhs,addictedtothetasteoftongueformeat,notgivingabadnametoSikhismbyincludingthis
asapartoftheKhalsaRahit?

MercyisatthetopofGodlyvirtues.Itisconsideredastheprerequisiteforanyreligiousfaith.The
personalityofthemanofmercyisalwaysimpressiveandheartwarming.Hisrelationswithothers
arealwayshelpfulandsoothing.Asagainstthis,themercilesspersonisalwaysroughandvitriolic
inhisdealingswithothers.

InGurbani,thevirtueofMercyhasbeengivenaveryhighplaceaswouldbeevidentfromafew
quotationsreproducedbelow:

u uH el8o = 3 (HHl, =)
TheDharamwhichsustainstheearthistheprogenyofMercy.

oHl 3lu HI Hlo el8o = (8JHJ H H: , 9=)

Tobemercifultothelivingcreaturesisequivalentoftheablutionsinthesixtyeightplacesof
pilgrimage.ManisacceptedbyGodinrecognitionofhismercifulcharacter.

Hl H3 H8 Hlo el8o l8 l8lu 83 H l8o (IUl H: , 7\\)

Contentmindcombinedwithmercyforallmakestheholyfastaccomplished.

eU H83 Hlo 0 e l8=lH3J uO (H= HJHl=3l H: , 9=)
Amongthevirtuesoftheenlightenedpersons,oneisthattheyaremercifultoalllivingbeings.

Theotheristhattheywardoffthefivefailingsi.e.lust,anger,greed,attachment,andego.Thatis
whytheGurbanicommandsus:

HH l 3H =l Hlo HlJ Hl Hl =l =l=l (oH Hl =8l Hl, u\O)

RealisetheexistenceofCreatorineverylivingbeing,takepityonthemandgetridofselfishness
andegoascharmlesspursuits.

TheabovecitedquotationsfromtheGurbaniclearlybringoutthevirtueofmercyonlivingbeings,
asthebasicedificeofSikhism.Thequestionthenarises,howthemeateatersamongsttheSikhs
presumetohavebeenexemptedfromacceptingthisbasicprincipleoftheSikhWayofLife?
Whereistheproofofthis?Whentheprincipleofmercifullifeisapplicabletooneandall,thenis
theeatingofmeatwhichisobtainedthroughmercilesskilling,notincontraventiontothe
fundamentalsofSikhism?

DoubtlesslyMercyandCrueltyaretwocontradictoryideologies.Theformerisvaluedandthe
latteriscondemnedinSikhism.Then,whythosewhoclaimtobetheSikhsoftheGuru,
contravenethetenetsofGurmatbyresortingtoslaughteringofthelivingcreatures?

Theothernaturalquestioniswhetherthevirtueofmercyislimitedonlytohumanbeings.Isthe
restoflivingcreationdevoidoftheDivinespark?Don'ttheyhavethefeelingofpleasureandpain?

Undoubtedlyalllivingcreaturesintheuniversearemadeoffivebasicmaterialelementsandthus
pleasureandpainaredefinitelyfeltbythem.Alltheanimalsandbirdsetc.,lovetheirownlives
andthoseoftheiroffsprings,justlikehumans.ThenwhythosepeoplewhoacknowledgeGurbani
astheirEternalGurugocontrarilytothecanonsconcerningMercyandtyrannyjusttosatisfytheir
palate?

GurbaniimbibestheauspiciouspreceptofMercytowardsallbecauseallcreaturesarebestowed
withtheDivineSparkofLife.ThescripturesoftheHindusandMuslimsbothi.e.(VedsandKatebs)
putforththeeternaltruthofthepresenceofthisDivineSparkoflifeinallHiscreation.However,
theirfollowersblindedbytheoverpoweringtasteofthetongueandselfishmotives,haveignored
thisprincipleandhaveadoptedthewayofthebutchers.Thus,thefaultdoesnotliewiththe
scripturesbutwiththeiravariciousfollowers.SuchsoftspokenbutcraftyMuslimsexercisethe
pettifoggeryofslaughteringtheanimalstosatisfytheirpalateoftongueortomakegoodtheloss
ofvitalitywastedthroughtheirlicentiousliving.However,theykeeptheirsinfulandmercilessact
hiddenunderthecloakofHalal(foodpermittedbyreligiouslaw).IntheGurbanisuchfalse
assertionshavebeenrefutedloudandclear.

8e =38 =JJ H3 H l80 HU H HlJ 8= el8 =J3 JU 3U l=U HIl H 9 H
=JJ loU e8l 3 H = H H8l 9 JU =l HlU olo eJ l8Hl Hcl =U
l8HlHl =lo Hl3 H oJ3 Il =J J l=o l=o 7 l=o UH = =lo HJ ul8o l=o
HHl3 lH l8o HU le HlJ =c l=H IHJ l=o JH =8 Hl8o = 3 = = Jl
Hlo l3H = HH Hlo =lJ =8l lHl3 3 0= eH= lHU H Hlo u u
(3l Hl =8l Hl, 9=O)
CallnotVedasandtheSemiticTextsfalse;forfalseishewhogivesnotthoughttotheircontents.If
yousayGodabidesinallbeings,thenwhykillahen?(1)OMullah,youarepropagatingaboutthe
DivineJustice.(OnonehandyousayGodabidesinallandyetyoukillhenforfood),thusyou
cannotgetridofdelusionofyourmind.(1)(Pause)Youseizealivingbeingandslaughteritsbody.
Inthiswayyouhavemerelykilledtheclayandnotthesoul.Itsimperishablesoulgetsabsorbedin
theImmortalDivineEssence.Saythen,whathaveyouslaughtered?(2)Whatistheuseofwashing
yourhand,feetandmouth?AndtowhatuseisyourbowingintheMosque?(3)Towhatavailis
yourprayerandpilgrimageofMeccawhenyourmindisfullofdeceit?Thusyoustillremain
impureanddonotknowthepureLordandHismystique.Kabirsaysyouhavemissedparadiseand
aredoomedtohell.(4)(4)

Aperusaloftheabovehymnraisesthefollowingquestionstobeansweredbythemeateaters:

(i)IfyouacceptthattheDivineSparkoflifepervadesineachlivingbeing,thenwhyareyou
slaughteringit?

(ii)Thebodyoftheanimalsisalldust.WhatisthethingthathasbecomeHalalbydestroyingthe
body?

(iii)Whenyouarevileatheart(i.e.beguilingyourardentdesiretosatisfyyourtasteunderthe
cloakofreligiosity),thenofwhatuseisyourprayer(Namaz)?

Howwouldtheyreplytoabovethreequestions?Inthelaststanzaoftheforegoinghymn,the
Gurbanihasexplainedthetruthinthisrespect:

Oyou,theSupermostcreationoftheSupremeLord,youhavestartedtreadingthefalsepathof
plunderandtyrannyandhaveforsakenthetrueidealofyourlife.Youhavenotenteredinto
relationshipwiththesourceofSacredness,theCreatorandtheImmortalBeing.Instead,through
yourbarbarousacts,youhaveyourselfbecomebarbarous.Thusyouareheadingtowardsthehell
insteadoftheheaven.Why?

ThemeateatershavecreatedamythregardingthelegitimacyofJhatkaorHalal.Ifananimalis
slaughteredwhilerecitingKalma,itsmeatbecomesHalalorsacred;andiftheanimaliskilledwith
astrokewhilerecitingSatSriAkal,itsmeatbecomesJhatka.Howstrange!Meatwhichissacred
(Halal)forMuslimsisunholyfortheSikhsandviceversa.Fromthisitimpliesthatthecondemned
thingisnotthemeatbuttheHolyKalmafortheSikhsandSatSriAkalfortheMuslims.TheKalma
andSatSriAkalareboththedivinewordsindifferentlanguages.InrealityneithertheKalmanor
SatSriAkalarecondemnable.Whatdeservescondemnationiscrueltyormercilessnessinvolvedin
slaughteringanimalssimplytosatisfyone'stasteofthetongue.Whentherealintentioniswicked,
thenhowcanthematerialbecomeholybyoutwardlyrecitingsacredwordsoftheLord'spraise?
One'sactionsaretobeaccountedforintheTrueCourtonthebasisofone'sinnermostemotions
andintentionsbehindtheirdeeds.Gurbaniisveryclearaboutit.

Jl Jl =lJ l3 =c =H=lJ lJe Hu J8l (HJl H: u, =7)

TheywhoutterGod'sNameandpracticedeceit,theirmindcannotremainpure.

8e Hl Hll 8l Hlo =J3 HI l = 9O (IUl H: , 7O9)

OnerecitesVedaswithsweetvoicebutatthesame,hedoesnotshirkkillingthesentientbeings.

Thespillingofthebloodoftheotheranimalsforone'sownselfinterestisanabominableactand
isthusavice.Howcanamind,whichisfullofsinisterthoughtwaves,becomepure?Andwithout
thepurityofmind,howNamSimranispossible?ThatiswhyGurbaniclearlydecrees:

= U el8 = lel J Hl J o=l le=H l = oH =J 9

(H= H: 9, 9uO)
Nanak,uttertheNameofGodfromyourmouthwithtruthfulheart.Otherwiseallyouractionsare
merelypretentiousdisplayandarefalse.

Allreligiousactivitiesinvolvingmeditation,austeritiesandselfcontroletc.,areaimedatpurifying
themind.Butifmindisfullofdeceitandunderitsinfluence,onegoesoncommittingvices,then
allhisseeminglyreligiousobservancesarenothingbutahoax.Andsuchaperson'sposition
becomesridiculous.KabirJisarcasticallyreferstosuchdoublefacedapproachinlifeasunder:
HU le HlJ =c l=H IHJ l=o JH =8 Hl8o = (3l Hl =8l Hl, 9=O)
TowhatavailisyourprayerandpilgrimagetoMeccawhenyourmindisfullofdeceit?
AndthatiswhyGuruSahibinstructs:

o3l =c 0==J H IlHJ lJ=c =H=J Jl =l Jl =..... (c l8 H: u, \\)

OtheSikhsofmyGuru!Renounceyourmind'sdeceitandundeceitfullyperformyourLordGod's
service.

Totrytocoverone'ssinisteractsbydeceitfulmeans,ispartofhumannature.However,evenif
onemaynotadoptdeceitfulmeanstoconcealhisinternalsins,eventhenthesinfulthoughtsin
one'smind,defileit.Howcanoneremainunpollutedinsuchastateofmind?

H 3 I = HH Jl8 l3 H 3 l=lJ HH l3 l=U lH 0l3

(= H, H: 9, 9uO)
Ifagarmentbecomesprofanewithstainsofbloodonit,thenhowcanthemindofthosewhosuck
thebloodintheformofslaughteredanimalmeal,caneverremainundefiled?

Inordertointerpretthiscoupletintheirownsupport,themeateatersreadthewordMansa
(HH)asMansa(n)(HH)i.e.withnasalisationofitslastvowel.Andthentheytranslateitas,
"Thosewhosuckthebloodofhumans,i.e.thosewhocommittyrannyonhumans."Sucha
contortedexplanationisdevisedtomeettheirdesiredinterpretation.Inthiscouplet,thesimile
givenisabsolutelyexplicitwithoutanyillusion:"thebloodstainsmakethegarmentpolluted.The
spillingofthebloodoflivingbeings,toobtaintheirfleshforeating,pollutesthemind."

Thosewhosupportmeateating,aredoinggreatinjusticetothemselvesaswellastheinnocent
Sikhmasses.Mayweaskthemasimplequestion?Ononesidetheyconsiderevenordinary
oppressiononhumanbeingsasequivalenttosuckingoftheirblood.Ontheotherhandtheykill
theanimalssimplytoeattheirfleshandthusliterallyconsumetheirblood,yetdenythecommittal
oftyranny.Thesocalledmanmadeandmancontrolledsocietymaybeoverlookingman's
atrocitiesonanimals,buttherewillbenoescapeforthekillersintheTrueCourtoftheAlmighty
Lord.Thereonlythetruthwillprevail.

Thediscussiononthistopicwouldberatherincompleteifmentionisnotmadeofanothervery
importantandinterestingpoint.Itisahardfactandeverybodyknowsthat,whileslaughteringthe
animalsinthetoday'sslaughterhouses,neithertheKalmanor'SatSriAkal'isutteredbythe
professionalbutchers.Instead,theygoonsingingvulgarsongsandtalkingaimlessly,even
exchangingabusivelanguageamongstthemselves.Themostinterestingthingisthatthevotaryfor
meatgooneatingfleshwithoutdiscriminationshelvingallsocallednotionsofJhatkaorHalalto
sanctifyit.Thus,thereends,eventhesocalleddistinctionbetweenJhatkaandHalalmeat.Well
thatisO.K.,becausethispracticeotherwisewasnothingbutatotalsham.
RE:ARGUMENTNO.3

Themeateatersputforththefollowinghistoricalevidencesintheirfavour:

a.MeatusedtobeservedinthelangarofGuruAngadDevJi

b.AtKurukshetra,aprincepresentedthefleshofadeerhuntedbyhimtoGuruNanakDevJi,who
gotitcookedthereonthedayofSolarEclipse.ThisprovokedadiscussionbetweentheVaishnav
BrahminsandPandasononehandandGuruSahibontheother.AhymnexistsinSriGuruGranth
Sahibinthisreference.

c.GuruSahibhasbeenhunting.IfmeatwasprohibitedinSikhism,whatforthispursuitof
hunting?

Letusexaminethesepoints.

ItisanestablishedfactthatSikhHistoryhasbeencommingledandadulteratedwithanumberof
fallaciesbycertainantiSikhelementsaswellasignorantSikhwriters.Intheintroductiontohis
bookGurmatMarland,BhaiKahnSinghhasgivensomeconcreteinstancesofsuchillconceived
statementsasbelow:

"TheSikhwritershavefollowedthepreceptofotherreligiouswritersingivingthereligiouscolour
tosocialandpoliticalsubjects.Withoutinvestigatingtheyhaveincludedcertainabsolutely
baselessanecdotesinourhistory,whichleadusawayfromthetruepathofGurmat.Itisthus
naturalthatweoftenfindsomecontradictorymaterialinourliteraturewhichonlycauses
confusionandmakesitdifficultforustojudgetheirauthenticity.However,whenweuseour
intelligenceandtestthematerialonthetouchstoneofGurbani,weareinapositiontodiscard
thoseportionswhicharecontrarytotheprinciplelaiddowninGurbaniandcanacceptthose
whichareinaccordancewithit.Inthiswayallconfusionsareclearedandweareabletofollowthe
truepathofGurmat."(GurmatMartandpage1,2)

AfewexamplesofsuchantiGurmatanecdotesinsuchwritingscitedinGurmatMartandbyBhai
KahnSingharereproducedbelow:

(i)Inthe2ndChapterofGurbilasofPatshahi6,ithasbeenstatedthatwhenthechild(Guru)
Hargobindjihadsmallpox,theworshipofGoddessDurgawasdoneforsevendaysusingcoconuts
andotheraccessoriesbyaBrahmin.ThegoddessDurgathenbecamepleasedandgaveher
blessing.ThesamestorywasthenrepeatedbyBhaiSantokhSinghJiinGurPartapSurajRas3#
12.Asagainstthis,SahibGuruArjanDevJi,thereveredfatherof(Guru)HargobindSahib,writes
somethingtotallydifferentinthisrespect:

He He Jl H 8= o Hl3 l= J8l l8o I8 Jl 8l 9

(Hl H: , 7)
EverandEvertheDivineNamehadbeenchanted.TheLordHimselfsavedthechildren.
TheLordthuswardedoffthesmallpox.ThusallthetroubleswereremovedthroughtheGod's
name.

(ii)InSriNanakParkashitismentionedthatSahibGuruNanakDevJiarrangedafeastfor
BrahminsaccordingtoHinduritesforthebenefitofhisdeadancestors'souls.Thisassertionis
totallyunacceptablebecauseGuruNanakDevJihimselfcondemnstheSaradhasamereshamor
heterodoxy:

l8= =l J lHl 8JH =lc l l8 = l 8HlH = =8J lclH lJ u 7

(oH H: 9, =\)
SomebarleyballsareformallyofferedtoancestorsandotherstoGods;butitisthePanditwho
kneadsandeatsthem.NanaksaysthatthefoodoftheGod'sNameneverexhausts.

(iii)AccordingtoBhaiSukhaSingh'sworkGurBilasCh.10,BrahminDattaNandofUjjain
performedtheworshipofDurgagoddessonthebehestofSahibGuruGobindSinghJi:

U Hl Ie Ie U l= Hl Hl H =lJ 80 l8H HU! l8J l= o8 =lH I l eJ

HlJ elH 7 8= H3 =lJ H3 =l = e 8l HI l 79

Accordingtotheabovenarration,onGuruSahib'sentreatiesGoddessDurgablessedhimwiththe
Sword.

SimilarassertionhasbeenrepeatedinSakhiNo.25ofMehmaParkash:

= JH Hl3I H3 8l H l8o =H H3 Ic u H3 HI u (=7)

TheSatguruperformedtheHavan,theMata(thegoddessDurga)washighlypleased.She
appearedwithaflashofDivineLight.Hailthegoddess!

ThesamethinghasbeenreiteratedinGurPartapSurajinRut3No.4.BabaSumerSinghwritesas
underinGurPadPremParkash:

HJ 8l Hl JH Hl Ic = 38 ell lH HJH HH c HUe ol3 0ll

(IHl3 H3, 0, , H, )

ThisquotationimpliesthattheBraveHanumanappearedandpresentedtheKachhehra
(underwear)toGuruSahibtobeincludedintheSikhCodeofConduct.

(iv)GurBilasPatshahi6statesinch.18thatGuruHargobindSahibusedtoconsumehemp:

H8 HH le ol JU Hl I l8Hlo =U (l8Hlo-hemp)

(v)BhaiSukhaSinghinGurBilasPatshahi10writesinCh.10and16thatGuruGobindSinghused
toconsumevarioustypesofintoxicantshimselfandgavethesetoothersalso:

l8Hlo u3 oH HI= o = l o= leo= (u3-opium)

Hle l8Hlo lH8l 0lH3 lH II 8l (Hle-liquor)
lH c =l= el H =l =l U0 8l

(vi)GurPartapSuryaRut3,Ch.4statesthatGuruSahibusedtoconsumeopiumaftercrushingit
alongwithalmondsandvariousotheraromaticedibles.
olu= HIu HJ= HI 8J I 8eH HlJ3 I 8 =I lH0 =l HU I8 U3
He 8l () U3 3u Hl3I =l8 (\) (3e- opium)

TheninRut3Ch.21,BhaiSantokhSinghmentionsthatGuruGobindSinghaskedthedrinkof
hemptobepreparedonlargescaleforthesoldierspreparingforbattleasthiswasthebestofthe
intoxicantswhichwasfavouriteofMahesh:

U 3 Hl H8= U0 Jl8 H =l eI Ue lH= Jl8 H8 oUu ul He= 0Jlo3 oe Hl
(=\) H Hle= 3 l8Hlo ol =Ul= HJH ole l8J 8l (u)

BhagwanSinghRahitnamia,onthebasisofRahitnamasobtainedfromKhatriSinghsofChainpur
Bhabhua,writesinhisworkVimalBibekVaridhthatthosewhotakehemp,areabletofight
bravely:

o0lo H 3u H H o o

ThenmisquotingBhaiSahibManiSinghJi,hestates:

"AfterbestowingAmrittothewholesangatandequippingthemwithweapons,hebadethem
farewellbyaskingthemtotakesomeintoxicants.AccordinglySikhsstartedtakingintoxicantsand
manyofthemwereabletoachieveconcentrationofmind."

Note:Whatabeautifulwaytoachieveconcentrationofmind!DotheSikhsachievethisstateof
mindbyservice;practiceofGurbani,disinterestedbenevolenceorbybecomingdullardthrough
intoxication?(GurmatMartand,pages15,16,17)

Theaboveareonlyafewofthefallaciousexamplestobringoutthepoint.Citingmoresuch
examplesresultsonlyinmoreandmoreofselfridicule.Suchinterpolationsinourhistoryhave
beenmadeintentionallybyantiSikhandantiGurupeopleofthattime.Thelaterhistorywriters
insteadoftheiranalyticalexaminationinthelightoftenetsofGurbani,haverepeatedthese
incidentsbluntly.Itisalsopossiblethatsomeofthesehistoriansthemselvesmayhavebeen
addictedtotheseintoxicants.Inanycase,suchwritingstendtonullifytheGurmatprinciplesand
maketheSikhHistoryalaughingstockandunreliable.

ThatiswhyitismostessentialtoscrutinizeandrectifytheerrorsincludedintheSikhhistoryinthe
lightofGurbani.ThewellwishersofthePanthhavebeencryinghoarseforthisworksincelong.
AnyHistoricaleventiffoundtobeincongruouswiththespiritofGurbanimustbethoroughly
lookedintoforcorrection.

Thenhowcansuchhistoricalcanardsberelieduponinjustificationwithregardtoadmissibilityof
meateating?ThesereferencesarecontradictorytotheidealsofGurbaniaswellasother
anecdotesinSikhhistorywhereintheprincipleof'Mercyonlivingbeings'hasbeenstressedupon.
Afewofsuchhistoricalevidencesaregivenbelow:

GURUNANAK'SPRECEPTTODEVLOOTTHEDRAGON
luH 3HJ olH (HH) =
=J HH lJ3 Hl= J
=l3= le 3lJ J IH8l
I lHl =l ll3 08l
Hl H = H HU
olH l3lJ 3H=U (9\)
Hu H H HJ
e=3 HJ l3J o
lJH Jl Hl= =l =lH
Hl3I H HJ e lH (7O)
(Hl I = =H 8u, oluol8 uu)
Firstly,yougiveupmeateatingforwhichyouresorttokillingofthelivingbeings.
SetexamplesforpractisingGuru'swayoflife.
TheMasterspentanumberofdaysthereandsetexampleforpractisingGuru'swayoflife.
HemadethedragonstorecitetheName.
Andalsomadethemgiveupmeateating.
SudharSain,theGreatandDevlootresolvedthisintheirmindsthathomicideoflivingbeingsbe
notdoneratheritshouldbereplacedbymeditationonNamrevealedbytheGuruforthe
eradicationofallillsandsufferings.
(SriGuruNanakParkash,1
st
Vol.,Ch.44)

DISCOURSEATMEDINA
IU H o3 HIlo H, Jl8 J= Il8
3J l JH J, = l3 l3 .....
H l80 H=, H l3 =
l8 Hl8 el8 el, l3J l H=
H8l H He J, HlJ= H ==l8
l l8J JH J, l3J l =l8
HH IJ J, Hl =lo J
Hl = JH J, l3H 3 Jl8 H=
(HH Hl 8l 8)
Cows,buffaloesandhenetc.aremeekandhelplessanimals.Tocutthemwithknifeisasinfulact
andconsumptionoftheirmeatmakestheeaters"polluted".
Theywhokillthehelplessanimalsandsaythishasbecomesacred.
ItisagainsttheGod'swill.TheknifeofLordwillbefallonthem.
Whateverisdeadiscarcass(Murdar).
Eatingofwhichissinful(Haram).
Flesheatingisasin.
TheuseofforcetokillissinfulwhetheronecallsitHalalorHaram.
Suchactsleadtoone'sdownfall.
(JanamsakhiBhaiBala)

PRECEPTTOSHEEHANUPPAL
SheehanUppalwasleadingaflockofonehundredhegoats.GuruAngadDevJiaskedhimits
purpose.Sheehanrepliedthattheseweremeantforpreparationofmeattofeedthemarriage
partyofhissonaccordingtotheprevalentcustom.ThenGuruJisaid:

l83 Hl= lJH = l8H o lH u o8 3 HIH HlolJ =l8 o3 HJ e

= 8 elJ HH HH = e3 3J 0= Jl8 HJl8 H II HI = oe lJ 3lJ
8 H= \ uH l8 H8 =l J J HJ e J H Hl I =J = U0 lHH 3 Jl8
Hl= H=
(I 3 HH Iu, H 9, oH 7)
Bykillingsomanylivingbeings,Youaretakinguponyourselftheresponsibilityofthissin.(7)Of
courseyouwouldnowbepleased(toentertainyourguestsinthisway).Intheend,however,you
aredestinedtoundergoterriblesufferingsinthehell.Whentheangelsofdeathwilltortureyou.
Noneofyoursonsorrelativeswouldbeofanyhelptoyouthere.(8)Thoseforwhomyouare
committingthissin(ofslaughteringanimals)Theywillnothelpyouthereevenabit.Nowallyour
relativeswillenjoymeateatingbutyouwillhavetofacetheadverseconsequencesallalone.(9)
WhenDharamRajtakestheaccountofyourdeeds,Youwillbefacedwithterribletroubles.Sri
Guruadvisedhimtodevisesomemeanswherebykillingoflivingbeingsbeaverted.
(GurPartapSuryaGranth,RaasI,Ch26)

HUKAMNAMASOFSRIGURUHARGOBINDJI
Hukamnama#6,page12

=3 =3 =0l I 3Hl H
I I H HH H= HI3
el =H I l =I HI3l e
HI JI l8= eHl lJ HH Hl e
Jl o HI3 el 0ll J3l J=l=3 H
HH J8l HI3 H8l3 l8=H H-
l3 JJ l3= J H IeH I J
== l8 eleo J HIl3 Ul
I el l Hl Jl8 HI3l e HI JI
HIl3 o l=l0 l8=3 =
HIl3 el l Hl I el e Je Jl8 H8 H
3 Jl H l8=3 Hlo J
oI == el Ju l =H Jl8 UJ
H = =lJ Hl !
YoureciteKartar!Kartar!
TheGuruwillprotectyourhonour.
ChantrepeatedlyGuruGuru.
Thenyourlifewillbeblessed.
GuruwillfulfilthedesireoftheSangat
Sangatwillgetgoodmeansoflivelihood.
Liveinlovewithonlyonewife.
DONOTEVENCONTEMPLATETOCONSUMEFLESHANDFISH.
Sangat'sletterreceived.Cametoknowtherealities,
Sangatshouldremainincompleteunison,andwithtendernesswithoneanother.
HelpGurdasandprovidehimwithmeansoflivelihood.GuruispleasedwiththeSangatandthey
willalsobeblessedwithgoodmeansoflivelihood.
Sangatshouldliveinharmony.Gurualwayshelpstheweak.Allaremyownscions.Liveallin
concord.
HeretoforethesituationherehasbeenwrittenandsentthroughLADI.Sendallthecollections.

Hukamnama#9,page15
8l H 8l IeH 8l HIl 8l Hl3 8l leo
I I H HH HH H= HI3 el =H l JI
HI3l e HI JI HI3l =l = H JI I el
olIo Jl8 =l3 = l8= eH l HI3 J HH
Hl e Jl o= 8 el HIl3 I e H Jl8
Ul3 I el olIo Jl8 8l H 8l H 8l IeH 3H
H = H el = =l.....
BhaiJapoo,BhaiGurdas,BhaiMurar,BhaiJat,BhaiDyala!GoonrepeatingGuru!Guru!
Yourliveswillbeblessed.Sangatsdesireswouldbefulfilled.Sangatwouldbeblessedwithmeans
oflivelihood.TheGuru'scommandis"goonsingingpraisesofGod".Liveinhumilitytoone
anotherandinunison.
DONOTEVERCONTEMPLATETOCONSUMEFLESHANDFISH.
TheSangatoftheEastisGuru'sKhalsa.ThereafterGuru'scommandisforBhaiJapooandBhai
GurdastoremitcollectionsoftheEast.

InSudharamMarg,SriGuruGobindSinghJiisstatedtohavesermonisedasunder:
Onewhodoesnotcommitthefollowingfivedeeds,achievessalvationwhilelivinginthisvery
world:

Doesnotsteelothers'wealth.
Doesnothaveextramaritalrelations.
Doesnotslanderothers.
Doesnotgamble.
Doesnotconsumemeatandliquor.

Theabovescripthasalsobeenseenwrittenontheflyleavesofanumberofoldhandwrittenholy
volumes(manuscripts)ofSriGuruGranthSahib.

Withrespecttomeateating,themainthingwhichisantiGurmatisthecommittingofatrocityon
innocentlivingbeings.Tocommittyrannyonanylivingbeingundergreedandtemptationis
symbolicofsavageryinthehumans.TherearenotwoopinionsonthefactthatGurbanidefinitely
prohibitstheuseofviolenceandlaysstressonshowingMercyonalllivingbeings.Quiteafew
quotationsfromGurbanihavebeenquotedearlierinthepreviouschapterinthisrespect.
Somewritersofhistoryhappenedtowriterecklesslythatfishandfleshusedtobecookedinthe
communitykitchenofGuruAngadDevJi.Onpages4546anteanhistoricalanecdotehasbeen
referredtowhereinSriGuruAngadDevJidissuadesSheehanUppalfromkillinganimals.Hewas
madetounderstandthatslaughteringoflivingbeingsisasinfulactforwhichonehastobe
accountedforintheend.

Whatasurprise!Somewaywardpersonhasgonetotheextentofstatingthatmeatandfishused
tobecookedandservedintheLangarofSriGuruAngadDevJi!BhaiSattaandBhaiBalwandwere
bardsintheDarbarofGuruAngadDevJi.IntheballadcontainedinRamkaliRagofSriGuru
GranthSahib,theymentionimportantdaintydisheswhichusedtobeservedintheLangarofSri
GuruAngadDevJiasunder:

(U) I eUl3 =lo H olH3 ll l=ol (= H=l 80l 3u H3 =l, \)
InGuru'skitchen,isserved,sweetricepuddingpreparedwithbutteroilandwealthisgiventothe
needy.

(o) l3 H8l 3lo l=U He (= H=l 80l 3u H3 =l, \)

Everinthykitchenareservedpreparationsofbutteroil,refinedwheatflourandsugar.

Onthebasisoftheabovequotationsofthecontemporarybards,itcanbestressedthattheso
calledhistoricalevidenceunderreferencehasbeeninterpolatedintentionallybysomeantiSikh
elementsorsupportersofmeateating,underawellplannedconspiracy.Inhistoricalworks,
thereareanumberofselfcontradictoryaccounts;someinsupportof,andtheothersagainst
meateating.Thismakessuchhistoricalworksvagueandridiculous.

Similarly,theanecdoteofcookingoffleshofdeerduringthevisitofGuruNanakDevJiat
Kurukshetraontheoccasionofsolareclipseisalsoputfortherroneouslybymeateatersintheir
support.

OnlythemysticSatguruknowstherealimportofhismysteriousways.Howeverinorderto
understandthemysterybehindthisanecdote,thedecidingfactorinthiscaseisGurbaniuttered
bytheGuruonthatoccasionandwhichisalsofoundinSriGuruGranthSahib.Therelevanthymn
isadducedbelow:

H= H: 9 lJ HHJ llHo HH oel =H HlU l8 HH HlJ lHlo J 0H 3 HH HHJ

8Jl =lUo HH HH lIH HJ HH = Hl HH =l HH oel HH = Jo =lolJo =l
ol8o HH HHJ Jl HH UH HHJ H H= Hl3Il lHlo J=H 8lo 3 = o= lH ol c
J 0lo = 80l l8H 9
H: 9 HH HH =l H I lIo luo Jl H =U HH =U HI =J= l=H HlJ HH
I Hl JH HI =l8 e=l3o =l 8 HH l 8lH = =lJ 3l HH = =l =
le=lJ lIo luo Jl H = ou lHU l=o =Jlo =J =lJo 8 ou Hl8 lH ou =H=
l3H le lH 0 Jl H3 l3 =l =3 l Hl HH Jl l8H3l H llH H Uu Hu
=HJl HHJ lH HHJ HH JH HH = lIo luo = H Jl 03 =J= 8J =
HH He HoHl = = HH 0I Hlo H3 Hl HHJ J8 Hll8 l8o =H o lJ 3lH
lJ ou I lH = HHJ lH HHJ HH JH HH = lIo luo = H Jl 03 =J=
HH l HH =38l 0J HlI HH =H HlH =lH =lolJ HJ= Uu HH HH l8H3l
lHlJ HHJ l3HJ H3 H Ul8 leHlJ l= He 3 U = e ee l= HlI e
eJ 8J lu ol 8 = 88 lHo 3 H Jl Jl l=uJ HH U
3l8oJ o =He =J 3l8oJ I 3o o JU 8J l8lu J 3o 8J3 l8= 83 H l H=
HloHl = =J l=0 7
(= H= =l HJ 9, 97\\-\O)
SlokMohalla1.
Manisfirstconceivedinfleshandthenabidesin(thewombof)flesh.Whenheisinvestedwithlife
hegetsflesh(intheformoftongue,gums,palateetc.)inthemouth.Hisbones,skinratherthe
entirebodyarenothingbutflesh.Whenheistakenoutofthewombofflesh,hesuckstheteatsof
fleshforhisfeed.Hehashismouthofflesh,tongueoffleshandhebreathsinthebodyofflesh.
Whenhegrowsup,heismarriedandbringshome(thewifeformedof)flesh.Flesh(intheformof
offsprings)isproducedfrom(theparents'bodyof)fleshandalltherelationsofmanare
establishedthroughflesh...ItisonlywhenonemeetswiththeTrueGuruheimbibesthe
knowledgeofLord'sWillandthenaloneheisputontherightpath.Nanaksays,byone'sown
effortsonecannotbereleasedthroughmerediscussionbutisruined.

Mohalla1.
ThefoolsquarrelovertheinterpretationoffleshandknownotGod'sgnosis(DivineWisdom)and
insight.TheyknownotwhatiscallednonvegorvegorintheconsumptionofwhatdoesSin
consist.'Yajnas'and'havans'(fireworship)areperformedandtherebyrhinosarekilledand
offeredassacrificialfoodtopleasegodswhoarebehovedtobeaddictedtoit.Theywhoabandon
meatandcannotwithstanditsveryflavourwhilesittingnearit,devourmeninthedarknessof
night.They,infact,practisehypocrisyandmakeashowofittopeople(todeceivethem)butare
devoidofGod'sgnosisanddivineinsight.'Nanak'whatcanbesaidtotheblindperson(viz.
devoidofinnereye)whocanneitherexplainnorunderstandwhatissaidtohim.Healoneisblind
whoperformsdeedsdevoidofwisdomandwhohasnoinsight.Thosewhoseformationisfromthe
bloodoftheirparents,(theyclaimpuritysimplybecause)theyeatnotfishandflesh.Whenman
andhiswifeassembleatnighttheretheycohabitwithflesh.Infleshweareconceived,fromflesh
wearebornandourbodiesareformedofflesh.OPandit!Youdonotpossessdivinewisdomand
insightandyetyouclaimtobeashrewdperson.Olearnedman!(Whataparadox!)Youconsider
fleshofhomegoodandoutsidefleshbad.Allcreatureshavesprungfromfleshandthesoulhas
takenitsabodeinflesh(ofthewomb).Thosewhose,Guruisdevoidofinnereye,eatwhatisun
worthyofeatingandabandonorrejectwhatiswortheating.Infleshweareconceived,fromflesh
wearebornandourbodiesareformedofflesh.OBrahmin!Youdonotpossessdivinewisdom
andinsightandyetyouclaimtobeashrewdperson.FleshhasamentioninthePuranasasalsoin
SemiticTextsandfleshhasitsexistenceinallthefourages.InYajnasandmarriagefunctions,flesh
appearsinvariousforms(viz.fleshformedmenandwomenasalsofleshofrhinosassacrificial
foodforgods)whichadornsthefunctions.Women,men,kingsandemperorsallspringfromflesh.
Iftheyareseengoingtohell(simplyfortheirbeingformedofflesh)whatisfuninaccepting
charitiesofferedbythem?JustseethisinjusticewhattheAlmsgivergoestohellandthereceiver
goestoheaven.OPandit!Youdonothavethetruewisdomyourselfbutyouimpartinstructionsto
othersandyouclaimtobewise.OBrahmin!Youknownotwhencefleshhassprung.Fromwater
areproducedcorn,sugarcaneandcottonandfromwaterhasalsosprungallthethreeworlds.
Watersays,'Iamgoodinmanyways'butdivergentarethevariousfacetsofwater.Nanaksays
thisphilosophy:"Abandoningalltherelishes(producedbywater)onebecomesarealascetic."

Afterminutestudyoftheaboveslokas,itbecomesapparentthattheseslokasdonotgiveany
indicationinsupportofmeateatinganywhere.Theessenceofthedoctrinalpointsemergingfrom
theseisasunder:

(i)Itisfutileanduselesstoexpressone'sdisgustjustbyhearingtheverynameoffleshas
blasphemous.Thehumanbodyitselfisnothingbutflesh.Itisbornfromfleshanditsallorgansare
madeofflesh.

(ii)Rightfromthetimeofconceptioninthewombofthemotheruptothefulldevelopmentofthe
bodyandfinallyuptoitsfinalextinction,humanbeingsencounterfleshinmanyformsinits
internalaswellasexternalactivities,e.g.,Wombofthemother(whereinoneabodesfornine
months),theumbilicalcord(whichconduitsnourishmentfromthemother'sabdomen),thebreast
(forsuckingthemilk),mouth,tongueetc.Whenonegrowsuponeismarriedtoflesh(i.e.wife
comprisingofflesh),fromwhomisagainbornfleshinformofsonsanddaughters.

(iii)Thetypeoffleshreferredtoaboveisfleshnodoubt,butthistypeoffleshcomesintouseasan
instrumentforensuringthebiologicalandphysiologicalfunctioningofthebody.Thisdoesnot
involveanytyranny,violenceorsinfulactionofanytype.Everybodyknowsthatwombofthe
mother,umbilicalcord,teats,mouth,tongue,wife,daughtersandsonswhichallareconnected
withhumanwayoflifeatdifferentstages,areallmadeofflesh;butthepointofconsiderationis,
doesanyoneevereatsuchsortofflesh?Therealpurposeoftheslokasquotedhereistoridthe
VaishnavPandit'smindofthehatredtowardstheliteralnameofflesh.Atthesametimethetruth
hasbeenbroughtoutthatonecannotgetridoftheflesh(i.e.thecycleofbirthsanddeaths)
throughone'sowneffortsandcontrivances.ItisonlythroughtheTrueGuru'sgracethatonecan
trulyunderstandtheDivineWillandthengetridoftheflesh(i.e.cycleofbirthsanddeaths).

(iv)Itisfoolishtostartbittercontroversyoverflesh,withoutgraspingthetrueknowledgeand
insight.WithoutthetrueknowledgetobeobtainedfromtheTrueGuru,onecannotunderstand
whatisfleshandwhatisvegetableandconsumptionofwhatinvolvessin.Inthetruesense,
neitherthefleshnorthevegetableiscondemnable.Actuallycondemnableisthetyranny,violence
andevilmeansadoptedintheactofobtainingthemeatwhichareoutcomeofone'slustfulpalate
andis,thus,asinfulact.Eventhevegetarianfoodobtainedthroughfoulmeansofbribery,
extortionandexploitation,isdeplorable:

J= l8o = UH Ho UH Il8 (= H, H: 9, 9u9)

(Nanak)Grabbingtherightfulshareofothersisswineforhim(theMuslim)andcowforhim(the
Hindu).

8J 0 =l u lo= H3 e lJ ol c= (Hl Hl =8l Hl, )

Practicingfoulmeansthemancapturesanother'swealthwhichhesquandersonhiswifeand
sons.

lH lH e =H3 8l = H 3 l e8l (H H: 9O7O)
YouaresnatchinggoodsbelongingtoothersbuttheomnipresentGodisconstantlywatchingall
youractivities.

AtMalikBhago'sfeast,GuruNanakDevJirefusedtopartakedaintydishesbecausethesewere
preparedthroughwealthsnatchedfromthepoorpeoplebyforce.Whenonekillsthelivingbeings
forobtainingmeat,thebloodvirtuallyflowsoutandtheuseoftyrannyandoppressionisobvious.
CertainlysuchanactionisbrutalandisthussinfulaccordingtoGurbani:

oH I=U Jl3o =HlJ oH l =l HlJ 7\ (HHl)
Countlesspeoplearethecutthroatswhocommitmurders.Numberlessarethesinners,whogo
oncommittingthisparticularsin.

(v)Simplybyavoidingfleshasfoodnoonecanbecomeholy.Onecanbecomeareligiousperson
onlybyleadingapiouslifeandnotsimplybypractisingtheritualsorbyrenouncingcertainfoods.
Thedefinitionofreligiouslifeisveryextensiveanddeep.However,basicallyitcanbedefinedas
havingfullfaithintheCreatorandheadingtowardscompleteunisonwithHimthroughNam
Simran.
H8 uH HlJ HHc uH Jl = H Hl lH =H (IUl H: , 7)
OfalltheDivineVirtuesthetopmostisNamSimranandNamSimranistheonlypurifying
religiousdeed.

Othervirtuousdeedse.g.truthfulliving,contentment,mercy,nonattachment,renunciation,
goodwilltowardsothersetc.,areveryessentialandnoblequalitiesofman.However,theirgraceis
enhancedonlyinconjunctionwithNamSimranjustasamarriagepartylooksgloriousonlyinthe
companyofthebridegroom.Infact,allthesevirtuesemanateonlyfromNamSimranandwithout
NamSimran,theylosetheirsignificancebecauseinthatcase,theytendtocreateego.
Itisimportanttocultivateoneormoreoftheabovementionedvirtues.However,onecan
becomeafullyreligiouspersononlyifhealsoadherestotheNamSimran,themostimportant
basisofallthevirtues.WithoutNamSimran,allotherqualitiesarereducedtofalseostentation.If
azeroisplacedafteranynumeral,itsvalueisincreased.Butallaloneitisamerezero.

Jl l8 o= l=o l8u H 3 HHH =H =H l8lJ U HH 9 JU H 3 HHH HlJ
J3 l3 = oU l8o oI 0 oU J 8l UJ =lH ol8o 9
(IUl H HJ , 79)
WithoutruminatinguponGod(i.e.NamSimran),allotherperformancesareinvain.Merelip
recitation,penance,selfausterityandotherritual.sareallsnatched(astaxbytheJamraj)atthe
outset.(Pause).Hewhoobservesfasting,dailyritesofaustereobstinencecannotgetevena
pennyinreturn.Inthedomainfollowingdeath,thecurrencyisdifferent.Theseritualsareofno
availthere(intheTrueCourt).

ThesourceofholinessorpietyisnothingelsebutNAM.WithoutNamSimran,oneremains
impureevenifoneperformsallothersocalledvirtuousdeedsspecifiedabove.Then,ifahuman
beingwhoisbasicallyformedofbloodandsemen,contendsthatheispioussimplybecauseofhis
avoidanceoffleshandfishasfood,thatclaimisabsolutelyfalseandfarcical.

(vi)Aninterestingparadox!Ononehandthey(VaishnavBrahmins)makeashowofbeingstrict
vegetariansandontheotherhand,theykilltherhinosandperformtheyajnasinordertoplease
thevariousgods,knowntobeaddictedtoflesh.Ononehandtheyclaimrestraintfromuseof
fleshofanimalsbutintheiractualdealingstheydonothesitatetodevourthehumansina
differentway.Withallthis,aretheiractionsanythinglessthanasheerfraud?

(vii)Men,women,kingsetc.,allhavebasicallysprungfromfleshandareformedofflesh.Iffleshis
condemnable,thenallfleshformedpeoplewouldbedestinedtohell.Thenhowcanallthosewho
claimtobevegetariansbutdependfortheirlivelihoodonalmsgivenbysuchmeateatingpeople,
canhopetogotoheaven?HereGurujiisdepictinginconsistenciesinpracticeofVaishnav
Brahminsandmakingamockeryofthese.

(viii)Allprovisionsavailableinthisworldareproducedfromwaterwhichisconsideredasthebasis
foralltheproducts.Waterhasvitalforceforeveryoneandeverythingandhenceitisalaudable
element.Asalsoareallotherthingsproducedfromwater.However,ifoneusestheseproducts
recklesslyunderthefitofone'srelish,thentheconsumptionoftheseverygoodproductscauses
harmandthebodywritheinpainandthemindisalsoprofaned.Hence,onlythatpersoncan
attainthepositionofaSaintwho,throughNamSimrati,canriseabovethesensualpleasures.

Thusfromtheabove,itbecomesevidentthatthishymnreallyaimsatremovingmisgivingsinthe
mindsofVaishnavPanditsregardingtheirsocalleddefilementwiththemeretouchofflesh.Andit
alsoexposesthehollownessoftheselfcontradictoryandfalsebeliefsandinconsistenciesintheir
religiouspractices.Theclaimofthemeateatersthattheuseofthishymninprovidingjustification
foreatingmeatis,thus,totallyillconceived.

TherearesomeanecdotesmentionedinhistoryregardinghuntingexpeditionsoftheGuruSahibs.
Meateatersbankuponthesehistoricalnarrativesintheirsupport.However,ifwelookintothese
incidentsinsomedepththenitbecomesevidentthathuntingbytheSatguruJiwaspractisednot
forobtainingfleshforfoodbutforsomeotherhigherpurposes:

a.Topractisethearmsforselfdefenceagainstanyeventuality.

b.Toridpeopleofcarnivorousanimalsliketigers,bearsetc.

c.Tocausesalvationofthesoulsofpersonswhotookbirthintheformofvarioustypesofanimals
asaresultoftheirprevioussins.

InallthestoriesconcerninghuntingofanimalsbytheGurus,oneortheotheroftheabove
mentionedpurposesisbroughtoutandhintedinhistoricalnarratives.Itisveryappropriateto
mentionherethatGuruHarRaiSahibalsousedtogoonhuntingexpeditions.Itisahistoricalfact
thathehadgivenclearinstructionstothehuntingparty,nottokillanyanimal.Hismainpurpose
wastocatchailingandwoundedanimals,treatthemwithcare,andreleasethemintheforest
aftertheyrecovered.Suchhuntingwasnotundertheinfluenceofavariceetc.,butwasprompted
bytheinstinctofbenevolence.

RE:ARGUMENTNO.4

Themeateatingbrothersgenerallyresorttotheargumenttoreinforcetheircasethat,like
animals,allfoodgrains,vegetablesetc.,alsocontainlivingorganisms.Thus,bothvegetarianand
nonvegetarianfoodsareatpar.

Ifweconsidertheabovecontentioninsomedepthandwithanunbiasedintention,thedifference
betweentheabovetwokindsoffoodsbecomesclear.

DIFFERENCEBETWEENACTIVELIFEANDENERGYFORLIFE
Thewholecreationcanbebroadlyclassifiedintotwomajordivisions:Creaturesbestowedwith
activelifeandthosewhichareinanimate.Creatureswithactivelifearehumans,animals,birds
etc.,whopossessthesenseoffeeling,thinkingpowerandsentiments.Theothercreation
consistingofcommoditiesofvarioustypesfallinthecategoryofinanimatebeings.Thedifference
isselfevident.

Ifwegiveabitmorecarefulandanalyticalthoughttoit,wefindthatthewholecreationhas
sprungfromfoursources:

a.througheggs
b.throughplacenta
c.outoffilth,and
d.fromtheearth

Thecreationcoveredunderthefirstthreecategoriespossessesactivelifewhereasthatproduced
fromthelastcategorycontainsonlyenergyforlifeinsteadofactivelife.Andthereisaworldof
differencebetweenactivelifeandmereenergyforlife.

Theplacewherefoodgrainsaregroundedisalwayscalledagrindingmill,whereastheplace
whereanimalsarekilledforobtainingmeatiscalledaslaughterhouse.Why?Simplybecausethe
grainscontainonlyenergyforlifewhereasanimalshaveactivelife.Thisdifferenceincharacteristic
formsthebasisofnomenclatureofthesetwoplaces.

ATTACHMENTANDRENUNCIATION
Beforethebirthofachild,milkisautomaticallyproducedandisstockedinthebreastsofthe
motherasanaturalprocess.ThismilkiscreatedbytheCreator,asanaturalsourceof
nourishmentforthechild.Nodoubtthemilkdoescontainmicrobesandgerms.Doesthechild
becomeaborncriminalbysuckingmother'smilkcontainingthemicrobes?Absolutelynot!By
havingthisnaturalfood,nonecanbecomeacriminal.Howcanthehumanlifel>esustained
withoutfood?Gurbaniclearlystates:

lJ e 3 lH= HHJ l e 3 H3 U (H H: , 9=O)

Firstlythouprovidedsustenance;afterwardsthoucreatedthebeings.

Thecreatorhasprovidedfoodforoneandall.Eatingisforthesakeoflife.Asthechildgrowsin
age,themilkinthemother'sbreastsstartsreceding.Natureprovidesteethtothechildtoenable
himtoeat.Whattoeat?NaturalfoodcreatedbytheLordforthispurpose:

ole 3 Jl8 ole Hlo H o = Hle 9 JU (I =8l Hl, \=)
FromthePrimalLordwellsupcornetc.,Thenalone,cantheNameberepeated,ifthemortals
consumetheenergygivinggrains.

Sikhismisneitherapathoftotalrenunciation,northatoftotalattachment.Itisawayof
moderation(Sehaj).However,attachmentalsohastobewithinreasonablelimits.Beingso
engrossedinattachments,totheextentofforgettingone'sgoaloflife,leadstoperversion.To
abstainfromfoodasanactofrenunciationisantiGurmat:

o 8Jl H J=lJ 3ll = HlJ ol =lJ 7 lJ o =lJ HJIl UlJ
= (I =8l Hl, \=)
Themanwhoabstainsfromgrainsloseshishonourinthetrippledomainedworld.(2)Thosewho
abandongrains(naturalfood)reallypracticehypocrisy;theyneitherfallinthecategoryofa'bride'
northatofa'widow'.(3)

TonourishthebodytoenableittodoNamSimran,isordainedbyGuruSahib:

=lc =HlJ 0l8e H H I = H lHHlo l3H eJl =U l 7

(= l8JI, H: , u)
WiththetongueshouldberepeatedLord'sName.SothatthelotusfeetoftheLordmaybe
imprintedonthemind.'Nanak'thehumanbodyshouldbesonurturedthatcontemplationofNam
maybepossible.

Onthepretextofnourishmentofthebodyandprovidingstrengthandenergytoit,peoplekill
animalsforpurposeoffood.Thisreflectstheirengrossmentwithattachment.Toabandongrainor
cornfoodistotalrenunciationandtoeatanimalfleshforfoodisextremeattachment.Bothare
againsttheteachingsofGurmattotheirextreme.ThepureGurmatwayoflifeistoadopt'SEHJ'
(themiddleway)i.e.renunciationwithintheattachmenttolife.

PureWayofLife
Lust,anger,greed,infatuationandconceitarefivemostpowerfulpsychologicalinstinctsinmind
andarecertainlyessentialfortheprogressoftheindividualaswellasthesociety.Aslongasthese
remainwithinlimits,thesehelpinoverallprogressandareconsideredasinvaluableassetsforthe
mankind.Gurbanibringsoutthispointclearlyasbelow:

=H =u el8 =J 8H IJ u3l 8l lHU IJ l3U 3H H =J l=3 Hlco H8 =

(8H3 H: 9, 779)
Makebothlustandwrathyourhandbarsandtherebyloosenyourfield(ofmind)O'Brother.

Themoreyouhoe,themorethepeaceandprosperityyougetbecausetheresponsibilityordained
bytheCreator(towardsprosperityofselfandthesociety)cannotbeaverted.But,whenuseof
abovenaturalinstinctscrossesreasonablelimitsandbecomesuncontrollable,thesebecome
perverseandsinful.Andthisultimatelyleadstothedeclineofhumangloryandpower.

=H = =l8o =U I lHU =0 HJI U (H=l H: 9, Uo=, \=7)

Asboraxmeltsgold,solustandangerwastethebodyaway.Itisaverysubtlepoint,by
understandingwhichoneachievesspiritualpeaceinlife.Otherwiselifebecomessinful,diseased
andafflictedwithgrief.
Medicallyspeakingthediseaseinbodyiscausedbyunreasonableexcessordecreaseofany
elementinthebody,howsoeverimportantandusefulthatmaybe.Forinstance,areasonable
proportionofacidinthestomachismostessentialfortheproperdigestionoffoodandits
conversionintobloodandsemen.Butontheotherhand,excessofthesameacidbecomesa
disease(Acidity).

Thustheobviousinferencethatnaturallycomesoutisthatitisimperativeformantoeatproper
foodprovidedbynature.Asagainstthis,itissinfultokilllivingbeingsunderthepressureofone's
relishorone'simpulsetoreplenishtheenergylostthroughlicentiouswayoflife.Thisindicates
degradationoflifestyle.

FOODANDSUTAKIMPURITY
Likethefanaticallyhabitualmeateaters,theBrahminshavealsotriedtoconfusetheinnocent
masseswiththeirdoctrineofsutakimpurity(i.e.impuritysaidtobeassociatedwithbirthinthe
house).GuruNanakDevjihasclearlyexposedthiserroneousbeliefinthe18thslokaofAsaki
Varusbelow:

H= H: 9 H =lJ H3= Hlo H 3 H3= Jl8 IJ o3 =l oel =l Jl8 H3 e o = Hlo

8 =l8 lJ l HlU J lH3 Jlo H =l8 H3= l=U =l lo H3= = Hl8 =
H3= 8= U3 lIo U3 ul8 9

H: 9 H = H3= J lHJ= H3= = ol H3= = l3o u =l H3= =l
l838l lJ = JH oeHl 8u HH l HlJ 7

H: 9 H H3= H J eH I Hl8 HH H J=H J o= Hl8 l l=3 J le3
lH= H8lJ = lHl IHl 8lo l3 H3= lJ =

SlokM.l.
Ifwebelieveinsutakimpurity,thensuchanimpurityoccurseverywhere.Insidecowdungand
woodarefoundworms,Nograinofcerealsiswithoutlifeinit,Water,thebasicelementislifein
itself.Wherebylifeissustained.Howcansutakbewardedoffwhich(accordingtoBrahmnicbelief
isoccurringeveninthekitchen.(Nanak)sutakimpuritycannotberemovedlikethis.Itcanbe
removedonlythroughDivineWisdom.

M.l.Themind'ssutakisavarice,thetongue'sfalsehood.Theeye'ssutakiscovetingothers'
womens'beautyandothers'wealth.Theear'ssutakislisteningtoslander.(Nanak)bysuch
practicestheotherwisepioussoulgoesinbondstotheValleyofDeath.

M.l.Entirebeliefinsutakisillusionandresultsinattachmenttoduality(i.e.worshipofotherthan
God).BirthsanddeathsaresubjecttotheLord'scommand,andthroughDivineWill,everyone
takesbirthanddies.FoodandwaterthattheLordhasprovidedforsustenanceofHiscreationis
allpure.(Nanak)thosewhohaveperceivedthissecretthroughtheGuru'swill,arenotaffectedby
sutak(impurity).

ThefirstfourlinesoftheaboveslokarefertothetheoryofSutakimpuritypropoundedbythe
Brahmins.Italsoexplainsthedoctrinalpointthatifweacceptthistheoryofsutakimpurity;all
livingbeingsmustbeconsideredassinnersandimpurebecausetheyeatgrainsandcerealsas
theirfood.
Thefifthlineposesaquestionastohowcanonebesavedfromthisimpurity.Thenextlines
provideanswertothisquestionthatwecanescapethisimpurity(sutak)onlythroughDivine
KnowledgeandwisdomderivedfromtheGuru.

Thesecondslokaexplainstherealimpuritiesvitiatingthehumanbeings.Ithasbeenbroughtout
thatthemindisimpurebecauseofgreedandavarice.Thetongueisimpurebecauseoffalsehood.

Theeye'simpurityliesincovetingothers'women'sbeautyandthatoftheearsinlisteningto
slanderoustalksaboutothers.Man,engrossedwithsuchimpurities,fallsinthedeathnooseof
theYamahtheangelsofdeath.

Intheend,GuruSahibexplainstheessenceofthewholediscussionthatthetheoryofsutak
impurityofthehousecausedbythebirthofachildisallafallacyandleadstothepathofduality.

ThecycleofbirthanddeathiscontrolledbyHisWill,andthefoodmadeoutofgrainsandcereals
iscompletelypureandappropriate.FoodhasbeenprovidedbytheMercifulSustainer,theLord
God,forthesustenanceofhumanity,anditsconsumptionisnotatallsinful.Toassumethatthis
sanctionofGurbaniinrespectofnaturalfoodstuffsimpliespermissionforeatinganimalfleshis
absolutelycontrarytothequintessenceoftheGurbani

ThedevoteesofGodhavealwaysbeseechedHimforvirtuousfoodfortheirsustenanceandithas
beenmentionedintheGurbani:

Il3 =lH UJ H ol lH
JU HIU H3 H Jl l=Hl = e 9
Hu =Hl 8 3H HI ol eJ 3 =U HI JU
el8 H HIU 0 U =lU HlI
ou H HIU e H =U eU =3 lH= 7
c HJU 0U8l lHJ o= 38l
U =U HIU lu 3l Il3 = H ulu =
H Jl =l3 8 3l Il3 = H ulu =
=lJ =8l H Hlo H Hlo 3U Jl Hlo u 99
(Hl Hl =8l Hl, )
Withstarvationnodevotionispossible,
HeretakebackthisrosaryofThine,O'Lord,
seekonlythedustofthefeetoftheholy,
AndIowenothingtoanyone.(1)
OLord!HowsublimeanddevoidofformalityismyrelationwithYou,
ThatifYoudonotgrantmemynecessitiesoflifeYourself
ThenIdonothesitatetobegforthesamefromThee,(pause)
TwoseersofflourIaskfor
Aquarterseerofgheewithapinchofsalt.
HalfaseerofbeansIseek
Onthisprovisionfeedmetwicedaily.(2)
AfourleggedcotIseek
Withpillowandmattress.
IaskforaquiltasacoveringtosafeguardfromcoldSothatThyslavemayperformThydevotional
servicewithlove.(3)
NothinghaveIsoughtoutofgreedThynameonlybefitsme.
SaysKabirwhenone'smindhasacquiredfaith,
Onesurelywitnesseshispresence.(4.11).

Note:Thetranslationoftheopeningcoupletiscontroversial.

I 3 o3 H H 3Hl Il3 =3 l3 = =H H=3 9 JU el Hlu HIU =lU

JH Hl = l3 HlU lo e l= oH HIU H3 Hl = 9 IU H HIU =Il l8=
3Hl 3l 0Il = =l IlJl 0Il H u = HIl 7 u
(uHl Hl u Hl, Hl, \)
LordThydevotionalworshipissuchthatThosewhoareThydevotees,Thoufulfiltheirobjectives,
(pause)Ibegforlentils,flourandsomegheeWherebymyheartmaybeinastateofecstasywith
Thyworship.Ialsoseekfootwearandgoodclothingandgraingrownoverwellploughedland.(1)
AmilchcowandbuffaloIaskfor,AsalsoagoodArabianmare,ThyslaveDhannabegsalsofora
faithfulanddevoutwife.

TheabovequotationsfromtheGurbanileaveabsolutelynodoubtthatonedoesnotcommitany
sinfulactbyeatingthistypeoffoodconsistingofgrains,cerealsetc.Rather,eatingofsuchfoodsis
imperativeforthesustenanceoflifeandworshipoftheLord.

Thereisabigdifferencebetweenthedietoffoodgrainsandthatofanimalflesh.Toplacethemat
parwitheachotherisnothingshortofinjustice.Thefollowingtwoexampleswouldelucidateit
further.

A)HairTheirupkeepvs.sacrilege
Keshas(i.e.Hair)areofparamountimportanceinSikhism.Theseareconsideredasaninsigniaof
GuruSahib.ForthisreasonitismandatoryfortheSikhstopayduerespecttohair,nourishand
keeptheminabefittingway.Forthisverypurpose,theSikhsareordainedtocombthehairtwice
dailyi.e.morningandevening:

== e ==3 = I 0 = 8u8l e3 l3 = e 8 Hl (lJ3H 8l e Hl)

Onewhocombsthehairtwotimes,androllsturbanaccuratelysettingitsfolds;andcleansethe
teethdailywithatwig,neverfacesanyplight.

Nowwhilecombingthehair,itisnaturalthatsomedeadorbrokenhaireitherfallsofforcome
alongwiththecomb.Inanothercase,somepeopleundertheinfluenceoftheprevalentfashion
removetheirhairwithscissors,bladeorrazor.Inboththesecases,thelossofhairisthere.
However,combingofthehairisapartandparceloftheKhalsaRahit(CodeofConduct)forcareful
upkeepandmaintenanceofhairandhenceitisapraiseworthyact.Asagainstthis,theremovalof
hairbyusingscissors,razorsetc.,isacardinalsinandisstrictlybanned.Theformerispartofthe
Do'swhereasthelatteroneislistedamongtheBigdon'tsalthoughthehairgetsremovedinboth
thecases.

B)Attachmenttoone'sweddedwifevs.fornication
Sikhsattachprimaryimportancetofamilylife.OurGuruswereallfamilymen.Inthehistoryof
GuruHargobindSahib,heissaidtohavedeclaredthat'Wifeisasymboloffaith'.HoweverGurmat
stressestheGursikhfamilymantohaveanexemplarycharacter:

8= l H3l Jl8 l ul = \ (8l IeH Hl, = )

Onewholimitshismarriagerelationstoone'sownwifeandconsidersotherwomenasdaughters
andsisters,isconsideredacelibateperson.

TohaveillicitmaritalrelationsisconsideredoneofthecardinalsinsinSikhismandis,therefore,
mandatorilyprohibited:

lH l = HI J 3H l3 8UUJ l =l HH l H J HUJ 9 (3HJl9O)

Onemaygoonenhancinghisloveforhiswife;however,oneshouldnotcopulatewithothers'
wiveseveninone'sdream.(Patshahi10)

l3o =l HlJ H8l 3 HlolJ (=J H: , 9=7)

Thosewhogooutwithothers'womenfolktoflirt,aresortedoutaspatits(thedegradedones)in
theTrueCourt.

JU l3H =l =Hl8o l e l H= u (8l IeH Hl, = 97)

Iamallsacrificetohimwhodoesnotgonearanother'swife(withpollutedmind).

8cl = 8cl H l8H3l = H3 8 ol l8H3l H 3 J8l J3H I = lH H8l

(lJ3H 8l eH lH= Hl)
Onemustconsideranother'sdaughterasone'sowndaughterandanother'swifeasone'smother.
Onewholovesonlyone'sownwifeisconsideredaGursikhcommittedtotheSikhCodeof
Conduct.

Ifamorallydepravedpersonwhodoesnothesitatetogoinforillicitmaritalrelations,claimsthat
thereisnodifferencebetweenhimandafaithfulmarriedmanbecausebotharehavingsexual
relationswiththewoman,thenGurbaniimmediatelyhitssuchapersonwithfullforceasbelow:

I3 =3 HlI H 8 J==8 Hl8 l8Hl Jl HlU l8 IlJ 33 uH Il l8 9

=l8 lIlJ Hl8 =0 = =lH Iu 3H Jl HlU uHl8 9 JU
(H H: , 9OO9)
OnedoesevildeedsinsecrecybutHe(theLord)iseverwithhim;thusonecandeceiveonly
humanbeings.ForgettingtheLordthouindulgestinevilpassions,Thoushallbemadetoembrace
hotpillars(1)OMan,whygoestthoutoanother'swoman?Ofilthyrigidheartedandlustfulass,
haveyounotheardoftheRighteousJudge?

HH HI l8Hlo lHU J 3H Jl l8J lIJ (oH H: , uO=)
Flirtingwithanother'swomanisjustlikebiteofapoisonoussnake.

Itis,thus,clearfromtheabovediscussionthatleadingafamilylifeisinperfectaccordwiththe
LawofNatureforthecontinuityofthehumanraceand,therefore,itisthesacredactivitythatis
absolutelypermissibleintheGurmatWayofLife.Ontheotherhand,adulterywithotherwomen
isavileactionthatleadstodegradationofhumansociallifeand,therefore,isstrictlyagainstthe
instructionsofGurmat,althoughinbothcasessexualintercourseisinvolved.

Thedistinctionfoundintheremovalofhairbycombingononehandandthatbyusingrazor,
scissorsontheotherhandandthedistinctionobservedbetweentwotypesofsexrelationsone
withexclusivelytheweddedwifeandotherwithanother'sspouse,thesamedistinctionisseen
betweentwotypesoffoodviz.,thefoodofgrains,lentilsetc.,andthatacquiredfromthefleshof
livingbeings.Theformerisquitearighteouswhereasthelatterisanabominablevice.Theseare
allverystrongexplanationsofthedifferencebetweenthesetwotypesoffoodbutthe
imperviousnessofthose,fondofmeateating,wouldnotacceptanyreasoning,howsoeversound
itis.Itis,however,selfevidenttoallrationalthinkers.

Sofar,anefforthasbeenmadetoexplainthedistinctionbetweenthefoodobtainedfromgrains
andthatfromanimalflesh.Itisunfairtoequatethetwo.However,inspiteofthemostpertinent
andsolidlogicinthisrespect,therealsatisfactioncanonlybeattainedthroughtestimonyfrom
theGurbani.InGurbani,vegetarianfoodhasbeencommendedasabsolutelyjust.Asagainstthis,
foodoffleshhasbeenclearlycondemned.Whentwotypesoffoodhavebeenmentionedatthe
sameplace,commendingoneandcondemningtheother,thenwhatmoreclarificationisneeded
inthematter?

InGurbanithereexistsopensupportofgrainfoodandclearcondemnationofflesheating:

=8l 8 l0l H HlJ olH3

J cl = I =c= =U 9\\
(H= =8l Hl, 9=u)
(Kabir)sublimeisadishofKedgereemadedeliciouswithsalt.

Whowouldthenliketohavehisthroatcutforfoodoffleshobtainedbyhuntingtheanimals?Thus
theGurmatstandinthisrespectisabsolutelyapparent.Ifsomeonegoesondenyingtoacceptthis
truth,whatelsecanbedone?
RE:ARGUMENTNO.5

"ManbecomesbravebyeatingJhatkameat."

Braveryisnotassociatedwithmeateatingatall.Itisanimpulsesproutingfromthespiritofself
sacrifice.Thetyrantssacrificeothersfortheirselfishmotives.Thereallybraveareeverreadyfor
selfsacrificeforthesakeofanoblecause.Weareallwellawareoftheexemplaryholybattles
foughtbytheKhalsahordeagainstthetyrantMughalarmies.Ononehand,theMughalsoldiers
wereknowntobehabitualeatersoftonewholefattailedrameach;ontheotherhand,inthe
armyoftheGuru,therewereSikhsoldierswithcomparativelymuchlesserbuiltbodiesandwho
weresurvivingonhandfulofgramsorothercoarsegrains.However,theywerementallyvery
strongandbrave.Thesebrave,seminourishedSikhshadbeenblessedwiththepowerofthe
NamAmritbywhichtheynotonlygaveaverytoughfighttotheMughalsbutveryoftendefeated
them.

Ifthemeateatingwerethebasisofbravery,thentheKhalsaarmieswouldneverwithstandthe
onslaughtoftheMughals.However,thesecretofrealbraveryliesinthestrengthofthespirit
leadingonetoselfrealisationandthentoselfsacrifice.

Thepowerlessandweakpersoncanbeintimidatedbyanyperson.Realbraveryistestedonly
whenoneisfacedwithastrongerone.Whenthosewhokillthepoorpartridges,quails,chickens
andgoatsfortheirfood,andtherebyclaimtobebrave,theirclaimisonlyludicrous.Therealityis
justtheopposite.Byeatingtheweakandhelplesssmallcreatures,humanspiritbecomesweak
givingwaytocowardice.Whenthebutchercatchesholdofthefowlsoranimalsforkilling,they
becomescaredoutoffrightandtrytheirbesttoescape.Atthetimeoftheirdeaththeyare
overcomebyfearandhelplessness.Whenapersoneatsthefleshoftheanimalswhodieinthis
stateofmind,fullofobjectionandfear,howcanthespiritofbraverydevelopintohismind?

Thereisawellknownsaying"HH o 3H H"whichmeansthatthestateofone'smind
dependsuponwhatoneeats.Byeatingthefleshofthetimidandweakanimals,onlytimidness
andchickenheartednesscandevelopinaperson.Therealspiritofbraverycanbeachievedonly
throughtheGuru'sWord:

H =U Jl I I l8H HI HlJ H =Jlo3 J H

(uJl H: , \O)
Healoneiscalledbraveinthisworld,whoisimbuedwithGod'sLove.

Gurbanifurtherhighlightstherealqualitiesofthereallybravepeopleascomparedtothoseofthe
socalledphysicallystrong,thusleavingnodoubtandapprehensioninone'smind:

H 8lJ ololJ oJ=l HlJ e =lJ ou o l eH l0 H=lJ ol3 =u lHU
oJ= e oI l e =lJ Jl HlU oJ= =8l =e =l= H=lJ oJ= H8 H l=I3l
I8 Hl HHlJ l=l o=lJ \
(H = H: =, 9O\\)
Theyarenotcalledthebrave,whodiewhileinspiritofprideandthussufferpain.Thosespiritually
blindpeopleknownottheirown'Selfandareputrefiedintheloveofsomethingelse.Inthespirit
ofgreatwraththeyfight,buttheywritheinpainhereandhereafter.TheVedasarealso
proclaimingloudthattheReverendLordlikesnotpride.Thosewhodieofegocannotattain
salvation.Theydieandarebornagainandagain.

Therealtestofthebraveryliesinthespirittodieforthecauseoftheweakandtheoppressed:

H H lJ0lo H el = J3 (H H= =8l Hl, 99O)

Thetrulybraveisonewhodiesinthedefenceofthehumble.

Onewhomercilesslykillstheweakandtheoppressed,i.e.themuteandinnocentanimals,birds
etc.,simplyforthesatisfactionofthetasteofhistongue,orwhotriestoreplenishthebodily
energylostthroughhislicentiouswayoflife,bysuckingtheirblood,andthenboastsofhis
bravery,onlyrevealsthebankruptcyofhisintelligenceandnothingelse.

RE:ARGUMENTNO.6

"Meatisanourishingfoodleadingtodevelopmentofarobustbody."

Thesubjectrelatingtonutritionalvalueofthenonvegetarianfoodsfallsinthesphereofmedical
science.Themedicalviewsinthisrespectarevaried.Somedoctorsareoftheopinionthatfleshof
animalshasmoreofAclassproteinsandthustheirintakehelpsinbringingstrengthtothebody.
Ascontrarytoit,theothermedicalviewisthatthefleshasfoodisunnaturalforthehumanbody.
Itsconsumptionbyhumansleadstothedeteriorationoftheirgums,digestivesystemandblood
pressure.Hereunderaregivenafewofsimilarmedicalopinions:

"Meatisanunnaturalfood.Itsconsumptionleadstoanumberofdiseasese.g.fistula,tuberculosis
etc.Atthemomentmeateatingisknowntobethecauseof99%ofthediseasesintheworld."
(Dr.JosephOldField)

"Meateatingleadstoheadache,constipation,heartlesion,lossofvitalityandanumberofother
disorders."
(Dr.W.H.L.Chen)

AFistulaspecialistDr.Wellwritesinhisbookthateveryyearabout255millionpeopleinthe
wholeworlddieofFistula.TheirnumberinEnglandandWalesisasmuchas30,000.Andthe
majorreasonbehindistheirhabitofmeateating

However,medicalopinionskeepchangingeveryday.Inpracticewecanseethatneitherallthe
flesheatersarehaleandheartynorallthevegetariansareunhealthy.Thetruthisthatflesheaters
maylookmorefleshyandplumpbutthenonflesheatershavebeenobservedtopossessgreater
strengthofbodyandmindtoencounteradversities.

Tosomeextent,itisessentialtoacceptandadoptthemedicaladviceforthemaintenanceofthe
healthofthebody.However,onlythisearthenvesselisnotthebody.Therealbodyisa
componentoffivematerialelementswiththeDivineSouldwellinginit.Andthissoulisthetop
mostimportantpartofthebody.Withoutit,thebodycannotexist.Whereasitisessentialto
maintainthehealthandstrengthoftheoutwardbody,itissimultaneouslythebasicresponsibility
ofmantomaintainthestrengthofhissoul.Thusonlythattypeoffooddeservestobeclassedas
nutritional,whichstrengthensbodyandmindorsoulboth.

Theresearchandknowledgeofthemedicalscienceislimitedtotheearthenbodyonly.Theyhave
noknowledgeaboutthesoul.Thustheirrecommendationspertainonlytooutwardmaterialpart
ofthebody.Togetthefleshfood(meat)thekillingofanimatedbeingsisinherent.Thisbarbarous
actionresultsindeprivingthemindofitsdivineandnoblequalitiesandhenceitbecomesweak
andtimid.Thebodywithatimidmindisworthlessinspiteofitsrobustphysicalstructure.
ItisalwaysworthwhiletogetlightonlyfromtheGurbanionvariousaspectsofthefleshfood.The
verdictofGurbaniis:

J= l8o = UH Ho UH Il8
I l JH 3 H He l8
(H: 9, H =l =, 9u9)
Nanak,tograbwhatbelongstoanother,isthefleshofswineforone(theMuslim)andcow'sflesh
fortheother(theHindu).

Thepreceptorandtheprophetshallintercedeonlyforhimwhoeatsnotthecarrion.
Tograbandgulpwhatbelongstoanotherisasinfulact.Thewealthobtainedthroughbriberyand
lootmaybeworthwhileforthebody,butfortheGursikhs,theusurpingofanother'srightis
strictlyforbidden.

ComparedtothebreadofthecoarsegrainspreparedbyBhaiLalo,thedaintydishesgotprepared
byMalikBhago,werenodoubtmuchmoredeliciousandnutritional.ButthepreacheroftheTrue
Dharma,GuruNanakDevJi,acceptedthecoarseandsimplefoodofBhaiLalo'struthfulearnings
andrejectedthesumptuousdishesofferedbyMalikBhago.ThereveredGuruplacedhisdoctrine
ofchastitybeforethepeopleandmadethemrealizethatthesimplefoodpreparedofBhaiLalo's
honestandtruthfulearnings,waspurerincomparisonto'milk'andothersumptuousdishesof
MalikBhagopreparedofthemoneyforcefullygrabbedfromthehelplessandthemeek.Therich
andtastyfoodsofMalikBhagowerebasedonthebloodoftheinnocentsubjects.Whatanirony,
theSikhswhoclaimtobethefollowersofGuruNanak,havestartedsuckingbloodinsteadofmilk.
Lootandextortionmeansgrabbingbybruteforcethepossessionsoftheothers.Iflootor
extortionisacrimeequivalenttosuckingblood,howcanitbejustifiedtodeprivetheinnocent
animalsoftheirrighttolivejustforthesakeofstrengtheningone'sbodyorandsimplytosatisfy
one'stasteofthetongue?Afterusurpingothers'rightsandeatingcarrion,ifonehopestoget
intercessionfromthePreceptorortheGuru,itisallselfdeception.

Gursikh'swayoflifeistodoawaywithtyrannyandimbibethevirtueofcompassion:

HH l 3H =l Hlo HlJ Hl Hl =l =l=l (oH =8l Hl, u\O)

RealizeGod,bearcompassioninthyheart;Subdueegowhichisuseless.

l=l3 l=l3 =l uH el lc = l8 =Jl (8l IeH Hl, = 9, Ul =)

AGursikhearnsatruthfulliving,andshareshisearningswithothers.

=l l8 l= JuJ el8
= J lJ Hl8 (= HI, H: 9, 97u)
'Nanak',whoeatswhatheearnsthroughhisearnestlabourandsharesitwithothers,healone,
knowsthetruewayoflife.