Hindu scriptures on eating meat/killing animals
The Hinduscriptures from the oldest Vedic to all the later layers in time all advocate vegetarianism and not killing animals and certainly never offer animals in their Yajnas!
The Vedic word frequantly mentioned is Aghnya = not to be killed. This word was in particular used for cows.

Aahavaniiye maamsapratishedha (Katyayana Sutra)
That which is used in Yajna (aahavaniiya) must be vegetarian

Maa himsyaat sarvabhuutaani. (RigVeda)
No creature/animal should be killed.

Yah paurusheyena kravishaa samankte yo ashvyena pashunaa yaatudhaanah,
Yo aghyaayaa bharati kshiiramagne teshaam shirshaani harasaapi vrshcha. (RV 10.87.16)
The evil person who kills or eats the meat of a horse or cow deserves to be terminated.

Dhaanaa dhenurabhavad, vatso’syaastilo’bhavat. (AtharvaVeda 18.4.32)
Rice is named as ‘cow’ and sesame as ‘calf’.
[Just like someone saying ‘I want the meat of hazel = I want the nut of hazel]

Maamsapaakapratishedhashcha tadvat. (MiimaamsaSuutra 10.3.65)
Killing and eating meat is totally prohibited.

Dhenuvachcha ashvadakshinaa. (MS 10.3.65)
Like a cow is given (in charity) so also a horse.

Suraam matsyaan madhu maamsamaasavam krsaraudanam,
Dhuurttaih pravartitam hyetannaitad vedeshu kalpitam. (Mahabharata, ShaantiParvan 265.9)
It is only the evil-minded hypocrites who started telling that Vedic Yajnas involve intoxicants and meat eating. It is not in the Vedas.
[This comment must have been around the time, far beyond the Bharata Battle and in post-Vedic times, when many customs arrived in the Vedic Heartland, which were totally foreign to its culture]

The full AnushaasanaParvan of the Mahaabhaaratam discusses the evils of meat eating:

Akhaadannanumodamshcha bhaavadoshena maanavah,
Yo’numodati hanyantam so’pi doshena lipyate. (MB, AnushaasanaParvan 115.39)
The one who himself doesn’t eat meat but even if he gives his consent to eat meat or to kill an animal, he becomes equally sinful as them.

Ijyaayajnashrutikrtairyaa maargairabudho’dhamah,
Hanyaajjantuun maamsagrdhnuh sa vai narakabhaangnarah. (MB, AP 115.43)
The meateater who kills an animal in the name of Vedic Yajna or tells that it is a requirement of the Yajna is a sinner and he will be a person who will dwell in hell.

Aahartaa chaanumantaa cha vishastaa krayavikrayii,
Samskartaa chopabhoktaa cha khaadakaah sarva eva te. (MB, AP 115.45)
The one who brings an animal to be killed, the one who buys an animal to be killed, the one who sells, buys, cooks and eats the meat are all sinners.


Na dadyaadaamisham shraaddhe na chaadyaad dharmatattvavit,
Munyannaih, syaatparaa priitiryathaa na pashuhimsayaa. (Bhaagavatam 7.15.7)
It is Dharma that in the Shraaddha feast he should never offer meat nor should eat meat. Only vegetarian food must be offered because meat is obtained by killing.
[One can understand that in the days of this particular verse, the mainstream Hindus were confronted with people starting to eat meat]

Naitaadrshah paro dharmo nrnaam saddharmaamichchhataam,
Nyaaso dandasya bhuuteshu manovaakkaayajasya yah. (Bhaagavatam 7.15.8)
This is the best Dharma to observe for everyone that one should not hurt other beings even in his thoughts.

ManuSmriti or ManavaDharmaShastra

Manu strongly admonishes that one should never drink and should never even smell any intoxicant like wine. (MS. 11.146-149)

Manu asserts that selling, buying, cooking and eating meat is a sin which is as great as killing an animal itself. (MS 5.15)

Gaudii Paishtii cha Maadhvii cha Vijneyaa trividhaa suraa.
Yathaivaika tathaa sarvaa na paatavyaa dvijottamaih. (MS 11.94)
Yaksharakshah pishaachaannam madyam maamsam suraasavam.
Tad braahmena naattavyam devaanaamashnataa havih. (MS 11.95)
Brahmans, Kshatriyas and Vaishyas should never drink wine, liquor or intoxicants of any kinds, because intoxicants, wine, liquor and meat of animals are the food of Yakshas, Rakshasas and Pishachas (all kind of non-Vedic people or even demons). So they mustn’t consumed.

Naakrtvaa praaninaam himsaam maamsamutpadyate kvachit.
Na cha praanivadhah svargyastamaanmaamsam vivarjayet. (MS 5.48)
Anumantaa vishasitaa nihantaa krayavikrayii.
Samskartaa chopahartaa cha khaadakashchetighaatakaah (MS 5.51)
Flesh of animals is obtained only after killing him, which is a sin, and the killer of animals never enters the celestial abode.
All those involved in killing, consenting the killing, helping the killing, carrying, selling, buying, cooking and eating the meat of an animal are equally sinful as the killing of that animal.


Incorrect view of Hindus (Shraaddha ritual)

Annam tu saadhikshiiram goghrtam sharkaraanvitam. (Maasam) priinaati vai sarvaanpitrnityaaha keshavah. (Matsya Purana 17.30)
Vegetarian food prepared with pure butter, milk, sugar and curd, etc. are most pleasing to the
Pitr.

Dvau maasau matsyamaamsaena triinmaasaanhaarine tu.
Aurashnenaatha chaturah shaakunenaatha pancha vai. (MP 17.31)
Shanmaasam chhaagamaamsena trnyanti pitarastathaa.
Sapta paarshatamaamsena tathaashtavenajena tu. (MP 17.32)
Dasa maasaamstu trnyanti varaahamahishamishaih.
Shashakuurmajamaamsena maasaanekaadeshaiva. (MP 17.33)
Samvatsaram tu gavyena payasaa paayasena cha.
Rauravena cha trpyanti maasaanpanchadashaiya tu. (MP 17.34)
Vaardhranisasya maamsena trptirdvaadashavarshikii.
Kaalashaakena chaanantaa khadgamaamsena chaiva hi. (MP 17.35)

Verses 31 to 35 describe the acts of cooking and offering of all kinds of meat (fish, gazelle, sheep, special birds, goat, deer, black deer, pig, buffalo, rabbit, turtle, special deer, rhino) to Pitr, which is totally out of place and out of context, and it appears to have been deliberately interpolated. The 36th verse again goes like this:

Yatkimchinmadhusammishram gokshiiram ghrtapaayasam,
Dattamakshayamityaahuh pitarah puurvadevataah. (MP 17.36)
Apart from the cow’s milk, honey and the sweet pudding made of milk and rice and sugar with dry nuts satifies Pitr forever.



Interpolation in Aashvalayana GrhyaSutra 5 (Shraaddha)

In the end of this chapter there are 45 sutras on Shuulagava which is a ceremony to sacrifice a bull/ox for Shiva to appease him.
Everybody familiar with Shiva and Nandinii, knows that that is impossible. If Ashvalayana was a gotra of Vasishtha, as stated in the Sutras, then that is equally impossible, because Vasishtha owned Nandinii, and was famous for his protection of cows. And he was a Shaiva.

Note
It is very significant that most of the interpolated verses on eating of animal flesh is in relation to the Shraaddha ritual. The rest are in other Samskara ceremonies.
The Harivamsha an appendix to the Mahabharata describes in the Giri Utsava Varnana the sacrifice of bulls and buffaloes in the Govardhana worships. One familiar with the Krshna worship does understand the ridiculous statement.
In the Paraskara GrhyaSutra one comes across the description of a 6 month old baby who has to be fed with meat in the Annapraashana Samskara ceremony. How disgustful and obviously a horrid interpolation.

Source:
Swami Prakshananda: The True History and Religion of India
2001, Delhi. Motilal Banarsidass.
(additional remarks, changes and new order done by me)

This is a good reference to keep. This does show the tinkering with Hindu scriptures.

One must be very much aware of sudden contradictions when studying any scriptures, and must investigate the anamoly.

Namaste

All this information is very accurate and it would be interesting to how non vegetarians on this forum react to this. They said that it was done in yagnas and also Raama ate meat. This all came from wrong sources. But the fact remains majority of hindus are non vegetarians and this number is growing. Most stay away from Beef only and rest all in consumed. Here is where VHP or RSS tries to spread the correct message to all Hindus ( this does not mean that I support all their reforms).

I think the same elements , who have converted VARNASHRAMA into a Rigid caste System during 500 BC to 500 AD have also introduced such hymans and verses in Hindu scriptutres , which provided for the consumption of the meat and killing the animals.

Habits do not die so easily . It was good that all the Greeks/ BARBARIANS etc . , who invaded India before the advent of ISLAM got converted to Hinduism gradually . But since they were directly admitted as KSHTRYAS instead of SHOODRAS , therefore they have influenced the value system and every aspect and traditions of Hindu Society greatly.

This was the first stage of the CORRUPTION of Hindu scriptures and value system . The second stage Corruption was inaugrated by the Britishers like Sir Jones and Macaulay. The third stage corruption was introduced by the Pseudo - Secularists in the leadership of NEHRU. If the Final stage corruption may be introduced by the RSS etc, then I shall not be surprised. Since RSS is being controlled by the KSHTRIYA sentiments only and not by the HINDU philosophy as a whole. Kshtriya sentiments are just
a part of Hindu Philosophy but not the core.

Muslims tried to destroy the Hindu scriptures but they did not attempted to corrupt it generally . Perhaps the idiots of ISLAM were never knew that how to corrupt it .

As an outsider (an American raised without religion) I would like to ask for clarification. My husband is a Brahman Hindu from Rajasthan. I lived in the desert for 6 months completely immersed. The village Bhikhodai is almost equally mixed with Muslims and Hindus. The caste system is used in my understanding as a further answer to the question who is your father? There are Bhels subcaste of (I hate to write it) untouchable caste ( I can not recall the Hindi word for children of God which I feel is more appropriate if there must be lables, and as explained by my husband a poet subcaste of the shopkeeper caste with the surname of Dan. I understood that they are permitted to consume meat NOT BEEF. His family raised him to believe that not eating meat, garlic and onion, drinking or smoking leaves the body pure so Brahmans can perform Hindu rituals. It was also explained to me that the Rajput caste were encouraged to consume meat and alcohol so they could fight with more strength. In Bhikhodai on the way to Jaisalmer there is a temple Degrai and they sacrifice a buffalo to Goddess Durga (an avatar of Kali). Also I was told that Goddess Durga supports alcohol consumption and Lord Shiva the use of bhang. I come from a culture that is mainly non-vegetarian. This is my take on the matter (I am still in search of the PURE TRUTH which is universal without boundaries).
During human evolution when we left the trees and began competing with the carnivores on the ground certain changes occurred. Primates came from insectivores (insect eating animals) and due to the abundance of fruit in the trees became fruitiovores. When we left the trees humans were just beginning to develop into what we are today with our concept of culture and complex thinking capacities. That was alot of work to enlarge of brains and to become bipedal. Alot of changes occurred due to the new environment (savanah) and competiton with the carnivores (dog and cat like animals). As the evidence shows we became hunters and gathers which aided in our mental evolution (planning, plotting, food storage and such. Also the brain is very complex and needs alot of fuel especially to develop critical thinking capabilities and protein (whether from vegetation or meat). Okay so we evolved. Indus River Vally. Times are different, humans are different, we have complex minds. It makes sense to conserve resources when humans develop agriculture and no longer have to forage (gather). It is possible to provide the body with fuel without the completely relying on the consumption of meat as the hunter and gathers had no option but to do. As humans evolve our populations grew and set off for new areas (Europe). The two branches developed different cultures which were isolated by distance. So you have the Indus River Valley occupants who relaized hey we don't have to eat meat to survive and Europeans who had a harsher climate to agrigate and continued to hunt and consume meat. I do not believe in the debate of vegetarians today are purer or more right than non- vegetarians. Two different cultural values behind the two. A child raised in Scandavia eats meat, is taught right from wrong by culture(parents, community, schools, family and friends) leds a good life with strong moral values I DO NOT believe this person without the introduction to the IDEAS of the Indus River Valley descendents CAN NOT OBTAIN MOKSHA (FREEDOM FROM KARMA).
That is my opinion. It is not the PURE TRUTH. It is my understanding of it as I strive to evolve.
Let me know what you all think. I have to say that this is my first post and from reading several posts the majority of you are dedicated to education as to bringing about understanding which leads ultimately to change (evolution). We are today a global community.
Thank you

Namaste

In reply to
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His family raised him to believe that not eating meat, garlic and onion, drinking or smoking leaves the body pure so Brahmans can perform Hindu rituals
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That is very true. As only vegetarian food is considered SATWIC and not meat. After drinking one cannot take care of hmnself forget about others. You loose your Viveka or discriminating power and thus end up doing wrong things.

taureandevi, you make a lot of sense. I am in fact amazed by statements such as "a majority of Indians are vegetarians". I give below a link, which is some of the impressions of an American lady about India, and I must say she is giving a truthful account. Some of the things as recorded by her may not be liked by some of us (many times it takes courage to face the truth and admit the reality).
http://members.tripod.com/~jennifer_polan/india/myths.html

As I understand it, the cow came to be regarded as a very precious commodity in India since bulls were needed for ploughing the land and for pulling bullock-carts. Cows had to be preserved. The essential need of an an agicultural society gradually got transformed into a religious dictation that cows be not killed. All ancient societies evolved some social norms or religious beliefs in response to the economic conditions around them; the Hindu civilization was so much concerned about preserving cows that the cow became holy.

The Hindu civilization has survived for long and the traces of ancient practices and rituals are still to be found in the daily lives of Indians. Sacrificing goats before Goddesses has been a common practice in village fairs in India even today (though I suspect it is on the wane). Well, the villagers end up eating goat-meat in the end, so effectively it is no different from going to a Zagreb joint and hogging a steak. As long as the goats are not slaughtered in a cruel manner, I would tend not to take a very serious view of such things. I must admit, though, that a lot needs to be done in India for preventing cruelty to animals.

What I say here is not simply peculiar to dietary practices or habits of a people. When the human beings were primitive, there must also have been sex between parents and their offspring (like among cats and dogs). The strict norms of social relationships, to the extent of carrying a religious sanction, must have evolved when the notion of a 'family' took root and became essential for the sustenance and surivival of communities. However, the ghosts of the past can continue to haunt us even today - think of the cases of incest among several American families, for example.

Since you bothered to quote M. K. Gandhi at the end of your post, I wonder whether you ever heard of his explanation of why he drank sheep-milk instead of cow-milk. Well, it was, according to him, not to deprive a calf of its share of the cow's milk. Hmm! What then about the share of a lamb in a sheep's milk? Ha! Ha! When the going gets hypocritical, the hypocrites get going.

The texts about vegetarianism expresses the view of the society of those days. Many changes have occurred since.

Beef eating is of course still something not in accordance with the real spirit of Hinduism. Non-vegetarian dishes have entered many Hindu families for the last few centuries, even in Brahminical families.

What counts now is purity of mind. But I also believe in a vegetarian way for auspicious religious festivities. That's what makes us human beings differ from primitive thinking: killing an animal for own benefits to a god, is something I cannot bring in harmony with my view of God and respect for his creation, especially on those auspicious moments.

Ashvamedha and Purushamedha are not sacrifices in the sense of killings of Ashva and Purusha, as wrongly translated by the first generations of indologists (who were missionaries), but is a ritual in which Ashva ad Purusha play the central role in establishing or knowing/understanding how the balance of power respectively the division in society is. Would the Rajasuya then mean the pressing=killing of the Raja?
Medha is a word which has a cognate in Medha=Wisdom or Medhira, which means the same. (Medha comes from older obsolete mazdha, which is attested in Avestan (Ahura) Mazda, the Varuna of the ancient Iranis. No Varuna is associated with killing of animals.

The only time people are sacrificed is in the Antyeshti Yajna, or cremation ceremony.

Gomedha doesn't mean the killing of Go=cow, but it means agriculture. It is known in old Iran-Afghanistan as Gomez, which is only used in the sense of agriculture. Both cultures are cognate, so are their customs.