singhgsingh

A pure vegetarian meal served to visitors at the Gurdwara.

Guru Nanak Dev Ji squezed the dry roti from the pious Bhai Lalo's house and the fried Puri from the corrupt Malik Bhago's house.

The Panthic Sikh Rehit Maryada (Sikh Code of Conduct) makes it clear that the four Bajjar Kurehits (cardinal prohibitions) for a Sikh, which result in apostasy from the Sikh faith:

The four transgressions, which must be avoided are (1) Dishonouring the hair, (2) Eating Kuttha, (3) Intimate relationship with a person other than one’s spouse, and 4) Using tobacco (i.e. intoxicants).

The question is, what is Kuttha? While Sikh scholars have defined Kuttha in modern times to mean “meat slaughtered in the Muslim way” or “Halaal meat”, the other interpretation is “slaughtered animal†or “killed animal†(viz. meat). As a result of this difference in interpretation, some Sikhs understand the word “Kuttha†to mean Halaal meat as opposed to meat in general.

In the early 1990s when the SGPC was searching for the consensus to form the Panthic Sikh Rehat Maryada, the majority of the Panth (unlike today) ate meat or believed eating meat was acceptable, however this knowledge was not based on deep Gurbani study as most people were illiterate. There were strict vegetarians at the time, the majority being the Sikh saints, however they too did not force their view upon the masses or the Panthic scholars because eating flesh was socially accepted. The SGPC added a footnote to the word “Kutthaa” to state it meant meat slaughtered in accordance to the Muslim tradition.

Many prominent Sikhs did not sign the drafted Maryada, even though they had participated widely in various deliberations. The absence of appropriate dietary recommendations in the Maryada was one of the main reasons. Also, as noted by some Sikh scholars, proper records of Sikh history, meanings of Gurbani, influence of social circumstances and role of other religious forces were not properly understood in the late 1800s and early 1900s. In the past 60 years the common Sangat’s knowledge of Gurbani and Gurmat has increased with a wider access to understanding Gurmat through books, TV, radio, Internet, kathaa and santheyaa given at Gurdwaras. Now the majority of the Panth believes eating any type of meat is unacceptable, if the same discussions were held in regards to the Maryada then it would be certainly changed to as it should be.

Part 1 – Damdami Taksaal on Meat

Part 2 – - Damdami Taksaal on Meat

Debate on Meat and Gurmat (Part 3 of 3)

Those who eat meat are not labelled as ‘Sikhs’ or ‘Gurmukhs’ in Gurbani, rather they are called labelled deceitful:

The fundamental principle of Gurmat (the Guru’s teaching) is:

Gurbani clearly states:

Meaning of words:

Note:Through the Revealed Word of God, Bhagat Kabir Ji explains to himself to instruct the world about the prohibitions in religious discipline (kurehits). It is false to believe that this salok (hymn) only prohibits the consumption of cannabis, fish and alcohol. One has to look beyond the surface level and dive deeper into Gurbani. Guru Ji cannot make a vast list of drugs, foods and wines that one is forbidden to eat or drink. This would be a waste of time. Instead Guru ji categorises drugs, meat/flesh/killed animals and wines/alcohol under three general categories which represent all products associated and in the same category.

ਭਾਂਗ — (bẖāʼng) = marijuana, cannabis |
The category of ‘cannabis’ or ‘bhung’ includes opium, heroine, tobacco, and all drugs whether inhaled, eaten, smoked or injected through needles.

ਮਾਛੁਲੀ (mācẖẖulī) = fish |
The category of ‘fish’ includes all killed animals whether sea or land animals and allied products like egg, i.e. all meat and flesh.

ਸੁਰਾ (surā) = liquor, alcohol | ਪਾਨਿ (pān) = one who drinks |
The category of alcohol or wine includes all types of alcohol whether beer, whisky, rum, brandy, or any type of wine etc.

ਜੋ ਜੋ ਪ੍ਰਾਨੀ (jo jo prānī kẖāʼnhi) = whosoever, everyone | ਖਾਂਹਿ (kẖāʼnhi) = eat, consume |
Gurbani is not prohibiting drugs, meat and alcohol to only Sikhs. It is clear that Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji is addressing everyone, i.e. Muslims, Hindus, Christians, Sikhs and the whole world.

ਤੀਰਥ (Ŧirath) = pilgrimages |
Guru Ji is addressing everyone and not only Sikhs. For Hindus, pilgrimage is bathing at the sixty-eight sacred places revered across India. For Muslims, pilgrimage is going on Hajj, i.e. visiting Mecca. For Christians, pilgrimage is visiting Bethlehem and Jerusalem. For Sikhs, pilgrimage in a physical sense is visiting Sri Harimandir Sahib (also known as the ‘Golden Temple’) in Amritsar as well as other historical Gurdwaras in India and Pakistan, but in a spiritual sense pilgrimage means travelling from your mind to one’s soul through bathing and immersing oneself in Naam.

ਬਰਤ (baraṯ) = fast |
Hindus keep fasts on certain days related to their deities as an act of penance. Muslims observe ‘Roza’ or a fast during the month of Ramadan. Christians keep a fast or give up certain foods during ‘Lent’ (before Easter). Sikhs observe the permanent fast of not telling lies, not cheating anyone else or stealing the wealth of others.

ਨੇਮ (nėm) = (religious) routine, practice | ਕੀਏ (kī­ė) = perform, follow |
Hindus perform daily rituals (puja) and chant devotional prayers as part of their daily routine. Muslims perform five prayers (namaaz) as part of their daily routine. Christians say the Lord’s prayer as part of their daily routine. Sikhs wake up Amrit-vela (the early ambrosial hours) and repeat and meditate upon Naam (the Divine-Name) followed by reciting the five prayers of the morning, and reciting Rehraas Sahib in the evening and Sohila Sahib before bed.

ਤੇ ਸਭੈ (ṯė sabẖai) = they will all |
Again, Guru Ji talks about everyone. There are no exceptions.

ਰਸਾਤਲ ਜਾਂਹਿ (rasāṯal jāʼnhi) = become useless, there is not an iota of benefit, go to hell. |233|
Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, the Pefect True Guru, the Complete Truth, the Word of God, the Universal Truth, instructs us that if anyone (irrespective of faith or background) consumes drugs or intoxicants, eats any fish or meat, or drinks any wine or alcohol then all their pilgrimages, fasts and religious practices and prayers lose their value and become worth nothing. That person becomes worthy of hell and reaps no benefit from his religious commitments and efforts.

This salokh on ang (page) 1377 is crystal clear that a Sikh is prohibited from eating meat or any flesh. Anyone who accepts and has full faith in Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji as their Satguru will not doubt Gurbani. With one Hukam from Gurbani a Sikh accepts and obeys. On the other hand, a Manmukh would continue to ask for further proof or evidence and remain unsatisfied and unwilling to submit to the instructions of Satguru.

Cow's throat being slit for blood to slowly pour out in accordance to Islamic law.

Halaal meat is meat obtained by the Muslim method of slaying an animal.

This method of slaughtering animals consists of a swift, deep incision with a sharp knife on the neck, cutting the jugular vein and carotid arteries of both sides but leaving the spinal cord intact, while reciting religious prayers.

Muslims claim that this is the most humane method of animal slaughter.

A goat being slaughtered by a modern day 'Sanatan' Sikh.

The concept of “Jhatka” as it is known today is a Hindu one borrowed from the Rajputs who still do it today and have done it for ages before the Sikhs. Proponents of this practice explain this concept as a “Singh” cutting the head of a goat with one blow while shouting a Jaikara (the cry of “Sat Sri Akaal” (God is True). But in Gurbani we are faced with the question:

ਕਬੀਰ ਜੋਰੀ ਕੀਏ ਜੁਲਮੁ ਹੈ ਕਹਤਾ ਨਾਉ ਹਲਾਲੁ ॥
ਦਫਤਰਿ ਲੇਖਾ ਮਾਂਗੀਐ ਤਬ ਹੋਇਗੋ ਕਉਨੁ ਹਵਾਲੁ ॥੧੮੭॥
ਕਬੀਰ ਖੂਬੁ ਖਾਨਾ ਖੀਚਰੀ ਜਾ ਮਹਿ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤੁ ਲੋਨੁ ॥
ਹੇਰਾ ਰੋਟੀ ਕਾਰਨੇ ਗਲਾ ਕਟਾਵੈ ਕਉਨੁ ॥੧੮੮॥
“O Kabeer! (Tell the Mullah,) to use force is tyranny, (you grab animals and saying God’s Name you kill them) you you call this legal. (But committing this sin, have you ever thought) when your account is called for in the Court of the Lord, what will your condition be then? ||187|| O Kabeer! (Despite the Mullah eating meat, believing he is within God’s Law) eating the dinner of beans and rice is excellent, in which there is only salt. Who would cut his throat (in paying for the sin) to have meat with his bread? ||188||
(Ang 1374)

Someone could argue that Guru Sahib is addressing the Muslims and in the other cases the Hindus when giving teachings of not to kill animals for food. However, Gurbani is clear:

ਪਰਥਾਇ ਸਾਖੀ ਮਹਾ ਪੁਰਖ ਬੋਲਦੇ ਸਾਝੀ ਸਗਲ ਜਹਾਨੈ ॥
“Great holy men speak the teachings by relating them to individual situations, but the whole world shares in them.”
(Ang 647)

Some Sikhs who choose to eat meat argue that one of the Bajjar Kurehits (cardinal prohibitions) is to eat Halaal meat as opposed to eat meat in general. The primary reason for this is that Halaal meat is considered a cruel way to kill an animal due to the length of time it takes for the animal to die.

Sikhs generally hold the view that the Halaal method of slaughter is indeed cruel. Other groups such as the ‘The Farm Animal Welfare Council’ (FAWC), which advises the UK government on how to avoid cruelty to livestock, hold the same view and say that the way Kosher and Halaal meat is produced, causes severe suffering to animals. In addition, the Humanists movement, which has previously called for the abolition of ritual slaughter, says ethical values should be put above religious ones.

Sikhs do believe it is good practice for society to move away from this type of ritual slaughter of an animal. But below is presented evidence from Sikh scriptures and edicts from the Gurus that encourage and promote a lacto-vegetarian diet as the best for a human being.

In Dictionary of Guru Granth Sahib by Surinder Singh Kohli on page 205 is the following entry:
Kutha: (ਕੁਠਾ) adj (from Punjabi Kohana) Slaughtered.

From Punjabi-English English-Punjabi Dictionary by Krishan Kumar Goswani Page 91
Kohnaa ( ਕੋਹਣਾ ) v To torture, to slay, to kill

1. The word ਕੁਠਾਰੁ “Kuthaar”

a) SGGS page 693:
ਬਜਰ ਕੁਠਾਰੁ ਮੋਹਿ ਹੈ ਛੀਨਾਂ ਕਰਿ ਮਿੰਨਤਿ ਲਗਿ ਪਾਵਉ ॥
bajar kuthaar mohi hai chheenaaN kar minat lag paava-o.
“I fell at the Guru`s feet and begged of Him; with the mighty axe, I have chopped off emotional attachment.”

Here word “Kuthaar” appears to mean “Axe”

b) SGGS page 714
ਕਾਢਿ ਕੁਠਾਰੁ ਪਿਤ ਬਾਤ ਹੰਤਾ ਅਉਖਧੁ ਹਰਿ ਕੋ ਨਾਉ ॥1॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
kaadh kuthaar pit baat hantaa a-ukhaDh har ko naa-o. ||1|| rahaa-o.||
“The Name of the Lord is the medicine; it is like an axe, which destroys the diseases caused by anger and egotism. ||1||Pause||”

Again the word “Kuthaar” appears to mean “Axe”

2. The word ਕੁਠਾਰਿ “kuthaar”

SGGS Page 1225 Full Shabad
ਹਰਿ ਕਾਟੀ ਕੁਟਿਲਤਾ ਕੁਠਾਰਿ ॥
har kaatee kutiltaa kuthaar.
The Lord has cut down the crooked tree of my deceit.

3. The Word ਕੁਠੇ ॥ “kuthay”

SGGS Page 1019 Full Shabad
ਅਜਰਾਈਲਿ ਫੜੇ ਫੜਿ ਕੁਠੇ ॥
ajraa-eel farhay farh kuthay.
“Azraa-eel, the Angel of Death, seizes and tortures them.”

The word “Kuttha” (ਕੁਠਾ) appears in Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji a number of times. Kuttha can have two meanings: either to butcher, kill or destroy or alternatively, it can mean meat (the product of killing, butchering, destroying). The root of “Kuttha” is “Kutthaar” or axe. A word that operates like “Kuttha” is “muthha” which refers to the act of looting and also the product of looting i.e. “the loot”. In this way, Kuttha can mean, “to butcher/ kill/ destroy” and also refers to the product i.e. “butchered meat”. It cannot by any means refer to Halal meat or Muslim meat.

Everyday we kill countless organisms just through breathing or stepping, but that is much different than Kuttha. Kuttha is the meat of an animal that has been ‘butchered’ and then ‘intentionally’ eaten.

If we look at the lives of the Gurus we should try to emulate as much of them as possible because we regard their lives as ideal living, then this should be part of it.

Dr. Ganda Singh, a 20th century famous Sikh historian, collected historical edicts and commands written by the Guru Sahibs and published them in his book “Hukamnamas”. On page 64-65 a photograph of the Sixth Nanak, Guru Hargobind Sahib’s Hukamanama (edict) is given with a translation of it in Punjabi:

Historical edict hand written by Guru Hargobind Ji.

The Hukamnama clearly states:

The last line clearly says not to go near meat or fish. This can’t be just a hoax because all Hukamnamas collected issued from the bear this order. The reason for issuing such an edit proves that historically some followers of the Sikh religion have hunted for eating meat and consumed flesh. But this was not in accordance to Sikh teachings and therefore, to clear the doubts of the Sikhs. The Guru and his Sikhs hunted to defend villages and people from dangerous animals and also to give selected animals salvation who had previously been Sikhs of the Guru or had dealings with them when they were in the human life. Unfortunately, some Sikhs misunderstood this and began to hunt for killing animals for food. As a result of this Guru Hargobind Ji issued the edict above.

Mohsin Fani (1615-70), the well known historian and a contemporary of Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib, rites in his work DABISTAN-E-MAZAHIB as follows:

A modern-day Nihang removing the skin of a killed goat, contrary to Gurmat (the Guru's teachings).

The philosophical poetry (Vaars) of Bhai Gurdaas Ji, the nephew of the third Guru and close associate of the subsequent Gurus, is given the utmost respect in the Sikh religion. Bhai Gurdaas Ji poetically describes the killing of a goat for it’s meat, and explains to Sikhs the consequences of eating meat through the eyes of the Goat being killed:

Elsewhere, Bhai Gurdaas Ji says:

The Tenth Nanak, Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s “UPDESH” to Bhai Daya Singh ji which is mentioned in “SUDHARAM MARAG GRANTH” :

REASONS BEHIND NOT EATING MEAT

In the true sense neither meat or vegetables are condemnable or sinful in itself. Actually the commendable is the tyranny, violence and evil means adopted in the act of obtaining the meat, driven by one’s lustful palate and is, thus, a sinful act. Even vegetarian food obtained through foul means of bribery, extortion and exploitation is deplorable:

At Malik Bhago’s feast, Guru Nanak Dev Ji refused to eat any of the food because it was prepared through wealth snatched from the poor by force. When one kills the living beings for obtaining meat, the blood virtually flows out and the use of tyranny and oppression is obvious. Such an action is considered sinful according to Gurbani:

Simply by avoiding meat as food no one can become holy person. One can become a religious person only by leading a pious life and simply by practising the rituals or by renouncing certain foods. Religion is far more deep and is about leading towards union with Vaheguru through Naam.

Another reason linked to why a Sikh doesn’t eat meat is compassion. Mercy evaporates when we butcher and eat meat. A carrot may have life but it will never run away screaming when you go to the garden to get it. Guru Sahib is clear in Gurbani that life must sustain itself on life. There is no lack of mercy or daya (mercy) exercised when cutting a vegetable as it does not reacts to being cut. Contrast that with animals. These animals beg and cry and little calves cling to their mothers in terror when they sense they will be slaughtered.

Gurbani says:

Guru Nanak Dev Ji simply tells us that if blood stains our clothes are clothes become dirty and polluted, and the mind’s of the people who drink blood also becomes dirty. Therefore, blood is considered as unpleasant thing to drink. Blood can be obtained be killing any living being – whether man or animal through butchery, torture or slaughter. Guru Ji tells us that a cold-hearted person cannot maintain a pure mind, only a compassionate person can have a pure mind.

Video of animals screaming and crying out in a slaughterhouse:

‘Meet Your Meat’ – video showing animals suffering for the sake of being killed to satisfy human appetite:

Plants have no nervous system. Plants are a life form that can’t feel pain. Animals are not as such. The word “gardener” has no pejorative connotation. The word “butcher” on the other hand stands for someone who has no mercy. If one’s heart doesn’t melt at seeing the shrieks and anguish of animals, why would it matter when a human does the same? Why is it Muslims can do Halaal on humans? It’s because they have so much experience with animals that the jerking, gasping of dying animals and blood is something usual for them. A butcher will have the heart of a butcher. A butcher can never be a ‘Dharmee’ (spiritually pious) person.

FURTHER QUOTATIONS FROM GURBANI

EATING MEAT AND HEALTH

“Doctors say eating meat is healthy – you get vitamins and good things – so there are benefits in eating meat, like with anything its about how much you eat.”

The health aspect we all know and there are lots of resources on the Internet on this issue. One site, which highlights the main risks of eating meat, is:

http://www.healthandgoodness.com/nutritiondiet/health_risks_meat.html.

Meat is disease-ridden and is a dirty thing to eat.

Gurbani tells us:

The vegetarian diet is known to be light on the digestive system and easy to digest. In modern times, medical practitioners and dieticians alike have emphasized the virtues of vegetarian diet. In the western world, vegetarian diet is increasingly becoming popular in recent years.

www.cancerproject.org
“The World Health Organization has determined that dietary factors account for at least 30 percent of all cancers in Western countries and up to 20 percent in developing countries. When cancer researchers started to search for links between diet and cancer, one of the most noticeable findings was that people who avoided meat were much less likely to develop the disease. Large studies in England and Germany showed that vegetarians were about 40 percent less likely to develop cancer compared to meat eaters.”

ec.europa.eu:
“The use of six growth hormones 17ß-oestradiol, progesterone, testosterone, zeranol, trenbolone and melengestrol acetate (MGA) for growth promotion in cattle pose a risk to the consumers, but with different levels of conclusive evidence. This is the main finding of the Scientific Committee for Veterinary Measures relating to Public Health which has unanimously adopted an opinion on potential risks to human health from hormone residues in meat and meat products. The adverse effects include developmental, neurobiological, genotoxic and carcinogenic effects.”

The only Shabad (sacred hymn) in the whole of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji that is specifically cited by meat eaters in support of eating meat is the Shabad of Guru Nanak Sahib Ji in the Vaar of Raag Malaar that revealed at Kurekshetra during a solar eclipse day, a day considered holy by the Brahmins (Hindus priests). It begins with the couplet:

The Guru is addressing a Vaishnav Pandit (scholar) who believes that he can achieve Nirvana (a state of liberation) only by avoiding meat as food and not trying to obtain the true wisdom through meditation. The Guru has stressed that only avoiding meat will not lead one to the achievement of Spiritual Bliss. Guru Sahib exposes the Pandit’s hypocrisy and double standards.

The same hymn states that everything is flesh, which is inappropriately used to argue that eating meat is okay:

The fact is that a human’s own flesh is exactly like that of meat. Observing surgery or perusing internal medicine books, one notes that we are the same substance. That’s why Guru Nanak Sahib Ji has said not to hate meat. We are meat. But at the same time we cannot eat it because it would be like eating a dead body. It’s foul and unthinkable.

Vegetarianism by itself cannot confer spiritual merit or lead to the door of salvation (mukti). Spiritual achievement depends on Saadhana or religious discipline. However, it has been observed that a vegetarian diet helps to keep a healthy body and a healthy body makes a healthy mind. To practice hypocrisy, enter futile arguments, harbour hate for others or believe salvation rests in mere rituals or practices other than meditating on Naam (the Name of the Lord) is condemned by the Guru.

http://www.sikhanswers.com/rehat-maryada-code-of-conduct/meat-controversy-in-the-panth/

CONCLUSION

The word ‘Kuttha’ used in the Sikh Code of Conduct does not refer to Halaal or sacrificial meat at all, but refers to meat and allied products as a whole. It means simply to slay or cut the animal irrelevant of the method of slaughter. The use of the word in the same sense at a number of places in Gurbani brings out this point beyond any shadow of a doubt. Accordingly, eating flesh in general (and not only Halaal) is totally prohibited for the Sikhs and is one of the four Bajjar Kurehits (cardinal prohibitions) in accordance to Gurmat (the Guru’s teachings).