Dear Sir,

In reference the mischief-laden comment by the author Audrey Truschke, Beef Eating and Horse sacrifice in Vedas is a deliberate abuse of Vedic religion.

The fact however, is the Vedic Yagnas were pure satvik deeds. The Sanskrit word yagna(यज्ञ) itself means the pious worship. There was perfect vegetarianism in Vedas and Vedic Yagnas.

See the following references in Rig Veda-

1. Don’t kill any beings (Rig Veda 10/87/16)
2. In the Vedic Yagna, killing of an animal or eating meat is totally prohibited. (Mimansa 912/2/2)
3. Just like cows are given as charity in the yahya, horses are also offered in charity. (Mimansa 10/3/65)
4. Horses and cows are used only for giving in charity, but never eating their meat. (Mimansa 10/7/15)

It is common knowledge that satvik food includes- grains, cereals, vegetables, dairy products, and herbs etc., but never meat.

It is therefore, seen from above, not only meat eating, even offering the meat is avoided in the definition of Satvik food since Vedic times.

Similar references are included in the holy books of Hindus- Bhagvatam and Mahabharata. So  much so, non-violence as one of the five Yamas means avoiding hurt by thoughts, words and deeds.

The evil minded hypocrites such as Audrey Truschke have started telling that Vedic principles in yagnas involved intoxicants and meat eating; it is not in the Vedas.

Prof. Ravi Rustagi

7 Efstis Court, West Orange, NJ 07052