Diet in Sikhism - The Sikh Code of Conduct On The Sikh Diet

The Sikh Code of Conduct On The Sikh Diet

Leading Sikh intellectuals ruled on this issue in the 1920s—as some Sikh sects attempted to get all Sikhs to be vegetarian—and came up with the following rule or code of conduct for baptised Sikhs with regards to meat and vegetarianism:

Sikh Rehat Maryada — In the Rehat Maryada, section six, it states:

The undermentioned four transgressions (tabooed practices) must be avoided:

1. Dishonouring the hair
2. Eating the meat of an animal slaughtered the Muslim way (Kutha)
3. Cohabiting with a person other than one's spouse
4. Using tobacco.

The Rehat Maryada states that Sikhs are bound to avoid meat that is killed in a ritualistic manner e.g. Halal, Kosher, etc.

The Akhand Kirtani Jatha dispute the meaning of the word "kutha", claiming it means all meat, however, in mainstream Sikhism this word has been accepted to mean, as that which is sacrificed.