Know Your Hindu Neighbor: Why Cows are Sacred for Hindus and Why They Don’t Eat Beef

If you have a Hindu neighbor, colleague, or friend, you may be wondering why they don’t eat beef. Many of them don’t eat any meat but you may be shy to ask why is it so. This article will try to address your question.

Hinduism has a deep and multifaceted respect for nature, evident in its scriptures, philosophies, and practices. Here are some key aspects of this respect:

• The Divine in Nature: Many Hindu texts depict nature as a manifestation of the divine. The concept of Brahman, the ultimate reality, is seen as permeating all of creation, including rivers, mountains, trees, and animals. This imbues nature with an inherent sacredness.
• Stewardship, not Domination: Hinduism promotes the concept of trusteeship for the Earth. Humans are seen as having a responsibility to care for nature, not dominate or exploit it. This is reflected in practices like sustainable living and avoiding waste.
• Reverence for Natural Elements:  Specific aspects of nature are often revered and personified as deities. For instance, the Ganges River (Ganga) is considered a holy entity, worshiped as the Goddess Ganga. Similarly, mountains, forests, and even the Sun and Moon are venerated.
• Harmony and Balance:  Hinduism emphasizes living in harmony with nature.  The concept of Dharma, righteous conduct, includes respecting the natural order and avoiding actions that disrupt its balance.

Here are some examples of how this respect for nature plays out in practice:

• Vegetarianism: The ahimsa principle of non-violence often leads Hindus to adopt vegetarian diets, minimizing harm to living creatures.
• Sacred Groves: Some Hindu communities preserve sacred groves of trees, protecting them from development and deforestation. Hindu temples adopted local flora and protected them. 
• Rituals and Offerings: Hindus perform rituals to honor natural elements, seeking blessings and expressing gratitude for nature’s bounty. These rituals and offerings are made near water sources like rivers, lakes, and oceans. 

Hinduism is a diverse religion with various practices. However, this deep respect for nature is a common thread woven throughout many Hindu traditions.

It’s important to note that not all Hindus are vegetarian, and practices can vary by region and tradition. However, abstaining from beef is very common. Many Hindus choose a Lacto-vegetarian diet, which includes dairy products but excludes meat, eggs, and fish. This aligns with the concept of ahimsa and reverence for cows.

Overall, the reasons behind Hindus not eating beef are rooted in the religion’s core principles of non-violence, respect for life, and the special reverence given to cows.

Cows are highly revered and considered sacred in Hinduism for a number of spiritual and practical reasons:

• The Sacredness of Cows: Cows are highly revered in Hinduism (further details later in this document). They are seen as symbols of life and motherhood, with connections to the divine and a way of life that is based on non-violence (ahimsa). Because of this reverence, harming or killing a cow, including for food, is seen as wrong.
• Connection to the Divine: Cows are associated with several Hindu gods and goddesses. Deity Krishna, a particularly important figure, is often depicted as a cowherd. Other deities have connections to cattle as well. For instance, Nandi, the bull, is the Vahana (sacred mount) of Deity Shiva.
• Symbol of Sustenance: The cow is seen as a symbol of Mother Earth, providing nourishment through her milk and representing life itself. They are seen as embodying selflessness. Just like Mother Earth provides sustenance, cows give milk, a vital source of nourishment for many cultures. Cow milk is essential for raising children and for many dairy products that are part of the Hindu diet. This milk is seen as a gift, similar to how the earth provides food through crops and vegetation.

• Non-violence and Ahimsa: Hinduism promotes non-violence (ahimsa) and a vegetarian diet. A core principle in Hinduism is ahimsa or non-violence towards all living beings. Cows, seen as gentle and harmless creatures, represent this ideal. Protecting them reinforces the concept of compassion.
• Economic Importance:  Throughout history, cows have been integral to agriculture. They plow fields, provide manure for fertilizer and are a source of leather for clothing and tools. Their well-being is directly tied to human prosperity.

Hindu scriptures mention the significance of cows. Here’s a look at a few:

• The Vedas: These ancient texts, considered the foundation of Hinduism, mention cows as symbols of abundance and providers of sustenance. The Rigveda, for example, refers to cows as “unslayable”. (RV. 6-28-3 6-28-4 8-101-15 10-87-16)
• The Puranas: These collections of history and divine pastimes often portray cows as divine or semi-divine beings. The Kamadhenu, the wish-granting divine cow, is a prominent example found in the Puranas. 
• The Srimad Bhagavatam, a revered Hindu scripture, emphasizes the importance of cows in several ways:

• The Bhagavatam portrays cows as gentle creatures that provide essential nourishment through their milk. In a way, the Bhagavatam highlights the cow as a representation of Mother Earth herself, sustaining life (Srimad Bhagavatam (SB) 1.17.3).
• It mentions that great sages and ascetics would live solely on milk, suggesting its purity and connection to a higher state of being (SB 1.17.3).
• The Bhagavatam promotes the use of Panchagavya, the five sacred products derived from the cow – milk, yogurt, ghee, cow dung, and cow urine. These products are considered to have medicinal and spiritual significance, used in rituals and daily life (SB 8.8.11).
• The text mentions that protecting cows (go-raksha) is dear to Deity Krishna and a mark of a civilized society (SB 3.5.7). 

Similarly, you won’t be surprised to know that, the vast majority of Americans have great love and bonding with horses. Some of them respect horses to the extent Hindus have for cows.

The bond between horses and Americans runs deep, shaping the country’s history and influencing how they view these animals today. This connection helps explain why horse slaughter for human consumption is uncommon in the U.S.

A Deep Historical Connection:

• Partners in Exploration and Settlement: Horses played a vital role in American westward expansion. They were crucial for transportation, herding cattle, and working the land. This reliance fostered a strong bond and respect for horses.
• Cultural Symbolism: Horses became ingrained in American culture, symbolizing freedom, independence, and the pioneering spirit. Think of iconic figures like cowboys or cavalry riders.

• From Work Animal to Companion: With advancements in technology, horses transitioned from working animals to valued companions. Many Americans see them more like pets than livestock.
• Safety Concerns: Medications used on horses sometimes raise concerns about their meat being safe for human consumption. This adds another layer of discouragement.
• Legislative Hurdles: While not illegal, the U.S. government doesn’t allocate funds for horse slaughterhouse inspections. This effectively makes domestic horse slaughter impractical.
• Alternatives for Unwanted Horses: A network of sanctuaries and rescues has grown to provide care for unwanted horses, reflecting the desire to find them new homes rather than send them to slaughter.

The deep historical connection between horses and Americans, along with cultural shifts, safety concerns, and legislative obstacles, all contribute to the rarity of horse slaughter for food in the U.S.

Now you should be able to understand why your Hindu neighbor, colleague, or friend doesn’t harm cows. For them, the cow represents purity, life, and the circle of giving and receiving that sustains the world. Hindus revere and respect cows, and harming them goes against their core principles.