The caste system which is so integral to Hinduism was also not practiced in the Vedic times.+

The caste system, which is so integral to Hinduism, was also not practiced in the Vedic times. 

There is hardly any evidence of a rigid caste system in the Vedas. It is argued that the purushasukta hymn of the Rig Veda (X.90) which is often referred to in order to give a religious sanction to the caste system, was a later interpolation. The Vedas, however, speak of various classes of people, which appear to have been names of professions, and they were not hereditary.

The very concept of castes by birth, upper/lower castes, superior/inferior castes, outcastes, untouchables, Dalits, etc., is clearly prohibited by the Rigveda”.

The taboo on cow slaughter is not Vedic in origin. The taboo on cow slaughter and beef eating did not exist in Vedic times. Criteria like taboo on beef-eating or belief in reincarnation might stamp the Vedic seers as non-Hindus”. The question of whether the Vedic people practiced cow slaughter is debated among Hindu traditionalists.

The cow was a sacred animal that the authors of the Vedas sacrificed cows and ate beef on special occasions. This argument only substantiates the view that the cow was not an inviolable animal and that beef eating was not taboo in Vedic times.

As is clear from the above, several aspects that are intrinsic to the Hinduism of today, such as the doctrine of reincarnation, avatars (‘descent’) of gods, the caste system, the taboo on cow slaughter, and beef eating, were absent in the Vedic religion. It was shown by a critical study of the Vedas that the Aryans had no developed idea of a caste system. The taboo on the use of beef was shown to be of later origin, that the cow was freely killed for ceremonial and other purposes in ancient India”.

Remember:~

The taboo on cow slaughter is not Vedic in origin. The taboo on cow slaughter and beef-eating did not exist in Vedic times. Criteria like taboo on beef-eating or belief in reincarnation might stamp the Vedic seers as non-Hindus”. The question of whether the Vedic people practiced cow slaughter is debated among Hindu traditionalists. The cow was a sacred animal that the authors of the Vedas sacrificed cows and ate beef on special occasions. This argument only substantiates the view that the cow was not an inviolable animal and that beef-eating was not taboo in Vedic times.

As is clear from the above, several aspects that are intrinsic to the Hinduism of today, such as the doctrine of re-incarnation, avatars (‘descent’) of gods, the caste system, the taboo on cow slaughter, and beef-eating were absent in the Vedic Religion. It was shown by a critical study of the Vedas that the Aryans had no developed idea of the caste system, (.…) The taboo on the use of beef was shown to be of later origin, that the cow was freely killed for ceremonial and other purposes in ancient India.

Vedic Religion or Santana Dharma is distinct from Hinduism. The Vedic Religion or Santana Dharma deserves to be treated on its own as a distinct religion with its own sacred texts, rites, rules of social life, beliefs, and practices, without interlinking it with Hinduism. Perhaps it is right to maintain that the Mimamsa School, which is concerned with the investigation of the Vedic texts, their correct interpretation, and the meticulous performance of the Vedic rituals and ceremonies, has preserved and defended a part of the heritage of the Vedic tradition.

The Vedanta school may also have received a part of its inspiration from the Vedas. For the rest of the Hindu philosophical schools and religious sects, the influence of the Vedas is nominal. However, inasmuch as elements from the Vedas have influenced some aspects of Hinduism, it may be considered as one of the many factors influencing modern Hinduism.

But by no means can it be maintained that Hinduism has its direct ancestry in the Vedic religion or the Santana Dharma. Therefore, the Hinduism of Vedic times is an imagined community. Hinduism is of a much later origin, and a historical view of Indian religions would endorse a dichotomy between Vedic Religion or Santana Dharma and contemporary Hinduism.

Hinduism does not have a long ancestry as is often presumed or propagated by the Hindu ideologues. In fact, historically, religions like Buddhism and Jainism can claim greater antiquity than the Hinduism of today. Hinduism began to take a systematic form from the time of Sage Sri, Sankara (8th century A.D). In this sense, he may be considered the ‘founder’ of Hinduism but he never called it Hinduism.

Thus, Hinduism came into existence with its own code of conduct beliefs, and rituals after the 8th century. Hinduism as one knows it today is of recent origin. He states: “Hinduism did not really achieve its status as a coherent, though still baffling, religious complex until after the establishment of the British rule in India.

In discussing the Vedic Religion, it is also to be remembered that in the course of history, many non-Aryan elements entered the Vedic Religion. The Vedic Aryans freely borrowed elements from the culture and the society around them. But we cannot say with precision which are the non-Aryan elements in the Vedic Religion. Therefore, the thesis of the direct ancestry of Hinduism of today from the Vedic Religion is to be considered as a myth purported by orthodoxy.

Remember:~

The taboo on cow slaughter and beef-eating did not exist in the Vedic era.

As we peep into the annals of Indian religious history, we find: ~

Then there is clear evidence in the Rig Veda that Aryans regularly ate beef and sacrificed cows for religious purposes, which are strictly forbidden in Hinduism:~

Quoting from Rigveda, historian H. H Wilson writes: ~ “The sacrifice and consumption of horse and cow appear to have been common in the early periods of the Aryan culture.” 

Rig Veda says:~   "May the wind blow upon our cows with healing; may they eat herbage ... Like-colored various-hued or single-colored whose names through sacrifice are known to Agni, Whom the Angirases produced by Ferbvor - vouschsafe to these, Parjanya, great protection. Those who have offered to the Gods their bodies, whose varied forms are all well known to Soma." (Hymn CLXIX)  (The Rig Veda (RV), translated by Ralph H. Griffith, New York, 1992, p. 647).

In the Rig Veda: ~ Agni is described as "fed on ox and cow," suggesting that cattle were sacrificed and roasted in the fire. (RV: VIII.43.11)

Rigveda declares, “On the occasion of a girl’s marriage, oxen and cows are slaughtered” (10/85/13)

Rig-Veda states that “Indra used to eat the meat of cow, calf, horse, and buffalo. (6/17/1)” 

Hindus are not in contact with their religious history therefore, they believe their inherited beliefs as the ultimate truth.

Hindu traditionalists refuse to debate whether the Vedic people practiced cow slaughter and ate beef. They believe such a debate is irreligious.

The taboo on cow slaughter and beef-eating did not exist in the Vedic era. Cow slaughter and beef-eating are barred by Hinduism is influenced of the Bhakti movement.  The cow is always connected with Lord Krishna. No Hindu will eat beef because every Hindu believes the cow is the most sacred. 

Not all Hindus are vegetarians. Non-vegetarian Hindus eat other meat except beef.    There is no need to support cow slaughter and beef-eating, but one must know the religious history of India for his own information.

Cow slaughter and beef-eating are barred by Hinduism, but the taboo on cow slaughter and beef-eating did not exist in Vedic times. The taboo on cow slaughter is not Vedic in origin; it has been adopted from Jainism.   

Criteria like taboo on beef-eating or belief in reincarnation might stamp the Vedic seers as non-Hindus”.

The cow was a sacred animal that the authors of the Vedas sacrificed cows and ate beef on special occasions. This argument only substantiates the view that the cow was not an inviolable animal and that beef-eating was not taboo in Vedic times.

"Beef was an important part of the Vedic diet. In ancient India, cow slaughter was considered auspicious on the occasions of some ceremonies. The bride and groom used to sit on the hide of a red ox in front of the ‘Vedi’ (altar).”

Many scriptures are witnesses to such sacrifices and killings of animals for consumption. References of such commands are replete in Hindu scriptures like Manusmriti, Vedas, Upanishads, Brahmins, Grih sutras, Dharma-sutras, and others.

Quoting some references from different scriptures is imperative to bring home the point and clear the misconceptions:~

Manusmriti says: ~ “It is not sinful to eat the meat of eatable animals, for Brahma has created both the eaters and the eatables.” (Chapter 5 / Verse 30)

Manusmriti states: ~ When a man who is properly engaged in a ritual does not eat meat, after his death, he will become a sacrificial animal during twenty-one rebirths. (5 / 35)

 Maharishi Yagyavalkya says in Shatpath Brahmin:~ “I eat beef because it is very soft and delicious.” (3/1/2/21)

Apastamb Grihsutram says: ~ “The cow should be slaughtered on the arrival of a guest, on the occasion of ‘Shraddha’ of ancestors, and on the occasion of a marriage.” (1/3/10)

Vasistha Dharma-sutra writes: ~ “If a Brahmin refuses to eat the meat offered to him on the occasion of ‘Shraddha’ or worship, he goes to hell.” (11/34)

Swami Vivekananda said: ~ “You will be surprised to know that according to ancient Hindu rites and rituals, a man cannot be a good Hindu who does not eat beef”. (The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda, Vol. 3, p. 536).

Dr. Pandurang Vaman Kane says:~  “Bajsancyi Samhita sanctifies beef-eating because of its purity”. (Dharmashastra Vichar Marathi, page 180)

Sage Sankara says: ~ ‘Odan’ (rice) mixed with meat is called ‘Mansodan’. On being asked whose meat it should be, he answers ‘Uksha’. ‘Uksha’ is used for an ox, which is capable of producing semen. (Commentary on Brihadaranyakopanishad 6/4/18)

Renowned historian R.C. Majumdar says: ~ “This is said in the Mahabharata that King Rantidev used to kill two thousand other animals in addition to two thousand cows daily to give their meat in charity”. (Vol. 2, page 578) (‘The History and Culture of the Indian People’, published by Bhartiya Vidya Bhawan)

As is clear from the above, several aspects that are intrinsic to the Hinduism of today, such as the doctrine of re-incarnation, avatars (‘descent’) of Gods,  caste system, and the taboo on cow slaughter and beef-eating were absent in the Vedic religion.

It was shown by a critical study of the Vedas that the Aryans had not developed the idea of the caste system, (.…)  The taboo on the use of beef was shown to be of later origin, that the cow was freely killed for ceremonial and other purposes in ancient India”.

Looking at the above aspects,  the Hinduism of today is not the ancient Santana Dharma or Vedic religion.:~Santthosh Kumaar