Beef - Religious Prohibitions

Religious Prohibitions

Many Hindus and Indian Buddhists consider killing cattle and eating beef a sin, and Jains are forbidden to eat any kind of meat. Bovines have been highly revered as sacred to mankind in Indian culture due to the critical role of cattle, especially cows, as a source of milk, and dairy products, and their relative importance to the pastoral Vedic people allowed this special status; and this rose to prominence with the advent of the Jain tradition and Hindu Golden-age during the Gupta period. The slaughter of cattle has been likened to the matricide in these cultures, due to the idealisation of the cow providing milk and sustenance for society.In many Indian states, it has become illegal to slaughter or sell beef except in Kerala or Goa. These states have a considerable number of Christians and Hindus who consume beef.

In the Indian state of Kerala, beef is either curried or made as a stir fry called beef fry. It is mainly consumed by Christiansof Kerala. In the olden days, beef was a taboo for many Hindus but now many Hindus except the Brahmins consume beef. However, according to a 2006 survey by IBM, 45% of Brahmins are non-vegetarians and according to D.N Jha Brahmins ate beef until as late as the 19th century. He also found evidence of Hindus slaughtering and consuming beef as late as 19th century. Jha's book was a topic of controversy in India as it contradicted many Hindus' views as a cow being a holy animal.

During the season of Lent, Catholics traditionally give up all meat and poultry products as a religious act of fasting. Prior to Pope Paul VI's Paenitemini, canonical law strictly stated meat was forbidden on all Fridays, a violation of which could be a mortal sin. Pope Paul VI's revisions relaxed the policy; now, the common interpretation is that meat is only forbidden on Ash Wednesday and Fridays in the season of Lent, although the fact that some form of penance is still asked of Catholics on Fridays leads many to continue the traditional abstention from beef and poultry.

Jews refrain from eating meat and poultry (and drinking wine, among other restrictions) during The Nine Days of mourning leading up to the fast of Tisha B'Av.