View source for Animals sacrificed in the yajna were not killed. If the Vedic mantras were properly pronounced during the sacrifice, the animal sacrificed would come out again with a new life

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{{terms|"new life"|"new, rejuvenated life"|"sacrifice"}}
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[[Category:Animal Sacrifice]]
[[Category:Yajna]]
[[Category:Not]]
[[Category:Killing Animals]]
[[Category:Vedic]]
[[Category:Mantra]]
[[Category:Properly]]
[[Category:Pronounce]]
[[Category:During]]
[[Category:Vedic Sacrifices]]
[[Category:Animal]]
[[Category:Come Out]]
[[Category:Again]]
[[Category:With]]
[[Category:New]]
[[Category:Life]]
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<div id="Bhagavad-gita_As_It_Is" class="section" sec_index="0" parent="compilation" text="Bhagavad-gita As It Is"><h2>Bhagavad-gita As It Is</h2>
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<div id="BG_Chapters_13_-_18" class="sub_section" sec_index="3" parent="Bhagavad-gita_As_It_Is" text="BG Chapters 13 - 18"><h3>BG Chapters 13 - 18</h3>
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<div id="BG183_0" class="quote" parent="BG_Chapters_13_-_18" book="BG" index="119" link="BG 18.3" link_text="BG 18.3">
<div class="heading">Although animal killing in a sacrifice is recommended in the Vedic literature, the animal is not considered to be killed. The sacrifice is to give a new life to the animal.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:BG 18.3|BG 18.3, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">There are many activities in the Vedic literature which are subjects of contention. For instance, it is said that an animal can be killed in a sacrifice, yet some maintain that animal killing is completely abominable. Although animal killing in a sacrifice is recommended in the Vedic literature, the animal is not considered to be killed. The sacrifice is to give a new life to the animal. Sometimes the animal is given a new animal life after being killed in the sacrifice, and sometimes the animal is promoted immediately to the human form of life. But there are different opinions among the sages. Some say that animal killing should always be avoided, and others say that for a specific sacrifice it is good. All these different opinions on sacrificial activity are now being clarified by the Lord Himself.</p>
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<div id="Srimad-Bhagavatam" class="section" sec_index="1" parent="compilation" text="Srimad-Bhagavatam"><h2>Srimad-Bhagavatam</h2>
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<div id="SB_Canto_2" class="sub_section" sec_index="2" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam" text="SB Canto 2"><h3>SB Canto 2</h3>
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<div id="SB2623_0" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_2" book="SB" index="179" link="SB 2.6.23" link_text="SB 2.6.23">
<div class="heading">The animal offered in the sacrificial fire is, so to speak, destroyed, but the next moment it is given a new life by dint of the Vedic hymns chanted by the expert priest.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 2.6.23|SB 2.6.23, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">For sacrificial performances many ingredients were in need, especially animals. The animal sacrifice is never meant for killing the animal, but for achieving the successful result of the sacrifice. The animal offered in the sacrificial fire is, so to speak, destroyed, but the next moment it is given a new life by dint of the Vedic hymns chanted by the expert priest. When such an expert priest is not available, the animal sacrifice in the fire of the sacrificial altar is forbidden. Thus Brahmā created even the sacrificial ingredients out of the bodily limbs of the Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu, which means that the cosmic order was created by Brahmā himself. Also, nothing is created out of nothing, but everything is created from the person of the Lord.</p>
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<div id="SB_Canto_4" class="sub_section" sec_index="4" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam" text="SB Canto 4"><h3>SB Canto 4</h3>
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<div id="SB446_0" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_4" book="SB" index="123" link="SB 4.4.6" link_text="SB 4.4.6">
<div class="heading">The real purpose of a sacrifice was not to replace a slaughterhouse but to test a Vedic mantra by giving an animal new life. Animals were used to test the power of Vedic mantras, not for meat.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 4.4.6|SB 4.4.6, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">Another significant point in this verse is that there were animals for sacrifice. That these animals were meant for sacrifice does not mean that they were meant to be killed. The great sages and realized souls assembled were performing yajñas, and their realization was tested by animal sacrifice, just as, in modern science, tests are made on animals to determine the effectiveness of a particular medicine. The brāhmaṇas entrusted with the performance of yajña were very realized souls, and to test their realization an old animal was offered in the fire and rejuvenated. That was the test of a Vedic mantra. The animals gathered were not meant to be killed and eaten. The real purpose of a sacrifice was not to replace a slaughterhouse but to test a Vedic mantra by giving an animal new life. Animals were used to test the power of Vedic mantras, not for meat.</p>
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<div id="SB4524_1" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_4" book="SB" index="175" link="SB 4.5.24" link_text="SB 4.5.24">
<div class="heading">The device used for killing animals in the sacrifice was not designed to facilitate eating their flesh. The killing was specifically intended to give a new life to the sacrificed animal by the power of Vedic mantra.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 4.5.24|SB 4.5.24, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">In this connection it is to be noted that the device used for killing animals in the sacrifice was not designed to facilitate eating their flesh. The killing was specifically intended to give a new life to the sacrificed animal by the power of Vedic mantra. The animals were sacrificed to test the strength of Vedic mantras; yajñas were performed as a test of the mantra. Even in the modern age, tests are executed on animal bodies in the physiology laboratory. Similarly, whether or not the brāhmaṇas were uttering the Vedic hymns correctly was tested by sacrifice in the arena. On the whole, the animals thus sacrificed were not at all the losers. Some old animals would be sacrificed, but in exchange for their old bodies they received other, new bodies. That was the test of Vedic mantras.</p>
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<div id="SB41325_2" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_4" book="SB" index="568" link="SB 4.13.25" link_text="SB 4.13.25">
<div class="heading">A Vedic sacrifice is not an ordinary performance. The demigods used to participate in such sacrifices, and the animals sacrificed in such performances were reincarnated with new life.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 4.13.25|SB 4.13.25, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">A Vedic sacrifice is not an ordinary performance. The demigods used to participate in such sacrifices, and the animals sacrificed in such performances were reincarnated with new life. In this age of Kali there are no powerful brāhmaṇas who can invite the demigods or give renewed life to animals. Formerly, the brāhmaṇas well conversant in Vedic mantras could show the potency of the mantras, but in this age, because there are no such brāhmaṇas, all such sacrifices are forbidden. The sacrifice in which horses were offered was called aśvamedha. Sometimes cows were sacrificed (gavālambha), not for eating purposes, but to give them new life in order to show the potency of the mantra. In this age, therefore, the only practical yajña is saṅkīrtana-yajña, or chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra twenty-four hours a day.</p>
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<div id="SB41911_3" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_4" book="SB" index="763" link="SB 4.19.11" link_text="SB 4.19.11">
<div class="heading">The animals sacrificed in the yajña were not killed. If the Vedic mantras were properly pronounced during the sacrifice, the animal sacrificed would come out again with a new life.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 4.19.11|SB 4.19.11, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">King Indra is known as śata-kratu, which indicates that he has performed one hundred horse sacrifices (aśvamedha-yajña). We should know, however, that the animals sacrificed in the yajña were not killed. If the Vedic mantras were properly pronounced during the sacrifice, the animal sacrificed would come out again with a new life. That is the test for a successful yajña. When King Pṛthu was performing one hundred yajñas, Indra became very envious because he did not want anyone to excel him. Being an ordinary living entity, he became envious of King Pṛthu, and, making himself invisible, he stole the horse and thus impeded the yajña performance.</p>
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<div id="SB41927_4" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_4" book="SB" index="778" link="SB 4.19.27" link_text="SB 4.19.27">
<div class="heading">An animal being put into the sacrificial fire should come out with a new life.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 4.19.27|SB 4.19.27, Translation and Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="trans text"><p style="display: inline;">When the priests and all the others saw Mahārāja Pṛthu very angry and prepared to kill Indra, they requested him: O great soul, do not kill him, for only sacrificial animals can be killed in a sacrifice. Such are the directions given by śāstra.</p>
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<div class="purport text"><p>Animal killing is intended for different purposes. It tests the proper pronunciation of Vedic mantras, and an animal being put into the sacrificial fire should come out with a new life. No one should ever be killed in a sacrifice meant for the satisfaction of Lord Viṣṇu. How then could Indra be killed when he is actually worshiped in the yajña and accepted as part and parcel of the Supreme Personality of Godhead? Therefore the priests requested King Pṛthu not to kill him.</p>
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<div id="Lectures" class="section" sec_index="4" parent="compilation" text="Lectures"><h2>Lectures</h2>
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<div id="Bhagavad-gita_As_It_Is_Lectures" class="sub_section" sec_index="0" parent="Lectures" text="Bhagavad-gita As It Is Lectures"><h3>Bhagavad-gita As It Is Lectures</h3>
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<div id="LectureonBG226AhmedabadDecember111972_0" class="quote" parent="Bhagavad-gita_As_It_Is_Lectures" book="Lec" index="35" link="Lecture on BG 2.2-6 -- Ahmedabad, December 11, 1972" link_text="Lecture on BG 2.2-6 -- Ahmedabad, December 11, 1972">
<div class="heading">This animal sacrifice was made not for eating the animals. It was for testing the Vedic mantra.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on BG 2.2-6 -- Ahmedabad, December 11, 1972|Lecture on BG 2.2-6 -- Ahmedabad, December 11, 1972]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">For the royal order to become nonviolent, this is not good. The kṣatriyas, when they are fighting in the battlefield, the killing is not a sin for them. Similarly, a brāhmaṇa, when he's offering sacrifice, sometimes animals are sacrificed; so that does not mean that he is committing sin. This animal sacrifice was made not for eating the animals. It was for testing the Vedic mantra. Whether the brāhmaṇas who were engaged in offering sacrifice, whether they were chanting the Vedic mantra in right way, that was tested by offering one animal and again giving the animal a new youth life. That was animal sacrifice. Sometimes horses, sometimes cows were offered. But in this age, Kali-yuga, they are forbidden because there is no such yājñika-brāhmaṇa. All kinds of sacrifices are forbidden in this age.</p>
:aśvamedhaṁ gavālambhaṁ
:sannyāsaṁ pala-paitṛkam
:devareṇa sutotpattiṁ
:kalau pañca vivarjayet
:([[Vanisource:CC Adi 17.164|CC Adi 17.164]])
<p>Aśvamedha sacrifice, gomedha sacrifice, sannyāsa, and to get child by devara, husband's younger brother, these things are forbidden in this age.</p>
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<div id="LectureonBG21317LosAngelesNovember291968_1" class="quote" parent="Bhagavad-gita_As_It_Is_Lectures" book="Lec" index="67" link="Lecture on BG 2.13-17 -- Los Angeles, November 29, 1968" link_text="Lecture on BG 2.13-17 -- Los Angeles, November 29, 1968">
<div class="heading">The animals were put into the sacrificial fire. By Vedic mantra, he was given new life. But at the present moment such expert priests and brāhmaṇas are not available. Therefore it is stopped.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on BG 2.13-17 -- Los Angeles, November 29, 1968|Lecture on BG 2.13-17 -- Los Angeles, November 29, 1968]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Young woman: I have a question from Brahma-mūrti. Why did people in the past ages sacrifice animals, and how did Kṛṣṇa put a stop to this?</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Oh, yes. That I've explained just a few minutes before. The animals were put into the sacrificial fire. By Vedic mantra, he was given new life. But at the present moment such expert priests and brāhmaṇas are not available. Therefore it is stopped. Animal sacrifice is stopped. Because it is Kali-yuga. Nobody is reading, cultivating Vedic mantras. So in this age, this mantra is called mahā-mantra, chant Hare Kṛṣṇa. That's all. All Vedic mantras are now gone to hell. You see? Nobody can properly chant Vedic mantras and take the benefit out of it. But this mantra, any way you chant, neglectfully or properly, chant Hare Kṛṣṇa and the result is there. Therefore Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, nāsty eva nāsty eva nāsty eva gatir anyathā. There is no other alternative, no other alternative, no other alternative, kalau, in this age. So the Vedic mantra is now gone. This is also Vedic mantra, but this is Vedic mahā-mantra, the greatest of all mantras. Yes. So sacrifice everything and chant this mantra and go to Kṛṣṇa, back to Godhead. That's all.</p>
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<div id="LectureonBG214LondonAugust201973_2" class="quote" parent="Bhagavad-gita_As_It_Is_Lectures" book="Lec" index="68" link="Lecture on BG 2.14 -- London, August 20, 1973" link_text="Lecture on BG 2.14 -- London, August 20, 1973">
<div class="heading">Sometimes a brāhmaṇa is sacrificing, offering, performing great sacrifice, and the animal is put into the fire just to give him renovated, new life, not for killing, just to test how Vedic mantras are being properly pronounced.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on BG 2.14 -- London, August 20, 1973|Lecture on BG 2.14 -- London, August 20, 1973]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">So killing, killing is very bad, but killing for the sake of right cause of fighting, or killing in the sacrifice, they are not sinful. Sometimes in the Vedas killing is recommended, just like in the fight or in the sacrifice, but that is not sinful. Sometimes a brāhmaṇa is sacrificing, offering, performing great sacrifice, and the animal is put into the fire just to give him renovated, new life, not for killing, just to test how Vedic mantras are being properly pronounced. That will be test. When sacrifice is done, the fire is there, and old animal is put into the sacrifice, and he comes out with a new body. That means the Vedic mantras are being pronounced very properly, and it is being carried out. This is the experiment, not for killing. Although in the Vedas there are recommendation that paśu-vadha system... Just like in the modern age also, when some experiment is made, it is made on the life of the animal. But they are killed. But when there is recommendation of putting an animal in the fire, that is not for killing; that is to see that this animal has got a new body.</p>
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<div id="LectureonBG42024NewYorkAugust91966_3" class="quote" parent="Bhagavad-gita_As_It_Is_Lectures" book="Lec" index="184" link="Lecture on BG 4.20-24 -- New York, August 9, 1966" link_text="Lecture on BG 4.20-24 -- New York, August 9, 1966">
<div class="heading">When there was some animal sacrifice, an old animal would be sacrificed in the altar, but it would be given a new life. It was practically testing the Vedic mantra by the qualified brāhmaṇas.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on BG 4.20-24 -- New York, August 9, 1966|Lecture on BG 4.20-24 -- New York, August 9, 1966]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Now, Caitanya Mahāprabhu first of all inquired that the Muhammadan magistrate... They established their relation as the uncle and nephew. Caitanya Mahāprabhu became the nephew, and the Kazi, the magistrate, he became the uncle. So Caitanya Mahāprabhu addressed the uncle, "My dear uncle, why you are killing your father and mother?" So the uncle replied, "What is that? I am killing our father and mother?" "Yes. Because the cow is your mother. She gives milk. And the bull, he helps you in the agricultural fields. He produces grain. So just like father and mother—mother supplies milk and father brings grain—so they are your father and mother. How you are killing your father and mother?"</p>
<p>So the uncle replied that... He was also very educated, learned. He said that "In Your Vedic scripture there is cow sacrifice. So You are also killing cow." Just I am going to explain the sacrifice. Now, Caitanya Mahāprabhu explained there that that was not killing. When there was some animal sacrifice, an old animal would be sacrificed in the altar, but it would be given a new life. It was practically testing of the Vedic mantra by the qualified brāhmaṇas. So He said, "Because at the present moment there are no qualified brāhmaṇas, therefore such kind of sacrifice is stopped. Stopped." That was His explanation.</p>
<p>So these sacrifices means unless they are performed very nicely, according to the rules and regulations as they are mentioned in scripture, they will not produce the desired result. That is the way of sacrifice. Now, here it is said, brahmārpaṇaṁ brahma haviḥ. Now, where is the butter, where is the grain, and where is the qualified brāhmaṇa who can chant the mantras, hymns, very nicely, so that we can get the result? So any kind of sacrifice at the present age is impossible. It is not possible. The only sacrifice—that kīrtana, saṅkīrtana-yajña. That is possible, which you have just now tried. This was introduced, and this is recommended in Bhāgavata. This is authoritative.</p>
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<div id="LectureonBG42024NewYorkAugust91966_4" class="quote" parent="Bhagavad-gita_As_It_Is_Lectures" book="Lec" index="184" link="Lecture on BG 4.20-24 -- New York, August 9, 1966" link_text="Lecture on BG 4.20-24 -- New York, August 9, 1966">
<div class="heading">Sacrifice of animals, as stated in the Vedas, they are not for killing. They are meant for giving a new life to the animal.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on BG 4.20-24 -- New York, August 9, 1966|Lecture on BG 4.20-24 -- New York, August 9, 1966]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Now, this sacrifice of animals was protested by Lord Buddha. He deviated from the Hindu religion. Lord Buddha was born in Hindu family. He was kṣatriya. He was a king's son. But he wanted to preach nonviolence. He wanted to preach completely, to stop completely animal killing. But because in the Vedic... Of course, I have already explained that sacrifice of animals, as stated in the Vedas, they are not for killing. They are meant for giving a new life to the animal. By Vedic mantra... The Vedic mantra are so powerful that that was a test how a dead animal can get, regain new body. An old animal is sacrificed and it gets a new youthful life. That was the test. It was not meant for killing. Don't misunderstand that sacrifice. But that is mentioned in the Vedas. So people misused that sacrifice means... That sacrifice... They wanted to give evidence from Vedas, "So here is... Animal sacrifice is mentioned in the Vedas. Why we shall stop?" So Lord Buddha started his movement, completely stopping this animal sacrifice. But he knew that "These foolish men will come and give me evidence that 'Here in the Vedas animal sacrifice is recommended. Why you are preaching? Why you are preaching stoppage of animal killing?' " Therefore he completely rejected Vedas. He said that "I don't accept Vedas."</p>
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<div id="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" class="sub_section" sec_index="1" parent="Lectures" text="Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures"><h3>Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures</h3>
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<div id="LectureonSB1514NewVrindabanJune181969_0" class="quote" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" book="Lec" index="140" link="Lecture on SB 1.5.14 -- New Vrindaban, June 18, 1969" link_text="Lecture on SB 1.5.14 -- New Vrindaban, June 18, 1969">
<div class="heading">By the power of mantra, just to give evidence of the Vedic mantras, the brāhmaṇas would sacrifice a cow, old cow or old bull, in the fire and give, give him, again, new life. Now, in this age, there is no such powerful brāhmaṇa who can chant the mantras rightly and give again rejuvenation, another new life. It is not possible.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on SB 1.5.14 -- New Vrindaban, June 18, 1969|Lecture on SB 1.5.14 -- New Vrindaban, June 18, 1969]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">So Chand Kazi was also very learned scholar. He said, "Well, this cow-killing is also recommended in Your Vedas, because there is cow sacrifice." So Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied... Now, we should know it that the animal sacrifice, according to the Vedic scripture, that is not killing. That is explained by Caitanya Mahāprabhu. He said that "In the previous time, this cow sacrifice was actually being done. That's all right. But that was not for killing. That—to give the cow, the old cow or bull, a new life. By the power of mantra, just to give evidence of the Vedic mantras, the brāhmaṇas would sacrifice a cow, old cow or old bull, in the fire and give, give him, again, new life. That was... Now, in this age, there is no such powerful brāhmaṇa who can chant the mantras rightly and give again rejuvenation, another new life. It is not possible. Therefore in the śāstras, these sort of sacrifices are forbidden."</p>
:aśvamedhaṁ gavālambhaṁ
:sannyāsaṁ pala-paitṛkam
:devareṇa sutotpattiṁ
:kalau pañca vivarjayet
:([[Vanisource:CC Adi 17.164|CC Adi 17.164]])
<p>So there was nice discussion, and the compromise was that "No more Your saṅkīrtana movement will be checked by my men."</p>
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<div id="LectureonSB1514NewVrindabanJune181969_1" class="quote" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" book="Lec" index="140" link="Lecture on SB 1.5.14 -- New Vrindaban, June 18, 1969" link_text="Lecture on SB 1.5.14 -- New Vrindaban, June 18, 1969">
<div class="heading">In the Vedic scripture there is recommendation that animal sacrifice allowed, but that is not meant for killing. That is giving a new life.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on SB 1.5.14 -- New Vrindaban, June 18, 1969|Lecture on SB 1.5.14 -- New Vrindaban, June 18, 1969]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">So the point is that although in the Vedic scripture there is recommendation that animal sacrifice allowed, but that is not meant for killing. That is giving a new life. So when this animal sacrifice was going on simply for eating, simply for eating... Just like in a particular mission they say that "We are devotees of goddess Kālī." Their real mission is to eat meat. Therefore they have become devotees of goddess Kālī. But actually, these sacrifices were not meant, as explained by Caitanya Mahāprabhu, for killing the animals. That was to test the power, the strength, of the Vedic mantras. So Lord Buddha's movement was therefore started... When people began to eat meat like anything on the plea of Vedic sacrifice, so Lord Buddha, at that time—Lord Buddha means he's also incarnation of Kṛṣṇa—he appeared to stop this animal killing.</p>
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<div id="Festival_Lectures" class="sub_section" sec_index="6" parent="Lectures" text="Festival Lectures"><h3>Festival Lectures</h3>
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<div id="GovardhanaPujaLectureNewYorkNovember41966_0" class="quote" parent="Festival_Lectures" book="Lec" index="33" link="Govardhana Puja Lecture -- New York, November 4, 1966" link_text="Govardhana Puja Lecture -- New York, November 4, 1966">
<div class="heading">Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied, "That is not cow sacrifice. That is rejuvenation of cow. Old cows were sacrificed in the fire, and again a new life was given by the Vedic mantra. But because there is lack of such expert brāhmaṇas to chant that mantra, therefore cow sacrifice in this age is forbidden."
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Govardhana Puja Lecture -- New York, November 4, 1966|Govardhana Puja Lecture -- New York, November 4, 1966]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">So this civil disobedience movement was started first by Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Now, there was some compromising talk with the magistrate, and in that talk the Caitanya Mahāprabhu first questioned. Because he was Mohammedan, Caitanya Mahāprabhu said that "In your religion there is killing of father and mother. What sort of religion this is?" The Kazi replied, "How do you say that we are killing our father and...?" "Yes. You are killing your mother. Cow gives you milk, delivers milk. You drink the milk, and you kill the cow. Therefore you are killing your mother." So the Kazi replied that "In your Vedic literature also, I have seen. There is cow sacrifice." So Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied, "That is not cow sacrifice. That is rejuvenation of cow. Old cows were sacrificed in the fire, and again a new life was given by the Vedic mantra. But because there is lack of such expert brāhmaṇas to chant that mantra, therefore cow sacrifice in this age is forbidden."</p>
<p>So when the things are not practical, that becomes a forbidden. If you actually get the result by some spiritual or religious rituals, performance, then it is very good. Otherwise it is superstition.</p>
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<div id="Initiation_Lectures" class="sub_section" sec_index="8" parent="Lectures" text="Initiation Lectures"><h3>Initiation Lectures</h3>
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<div id="InitiationofMrganetriDasiLosAngelesJune221970_0" class="quote" parent="Initiation_Lectures" book="Lec" index="24" link="Initiation of Mrga-netri Dasi -- Los Angeles, June 22, 1970" link_text="Initiation of Mrga-netri Dasi -- Los Angeles, June 22, 1970">
<div class="heading">The sacrifice means to sacrifice one animal in the fire end give it again a new life. That was a test for the Vedic mantra, how one has chanted. It is not that sacrifice means killing.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Initiation of Mrga-netri Dasi -- Los Angeles, June 22, 1970|Initiation of Mrga-netri Dasi -- Los Angeles, June 22, 1970]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Formerly, the brāhmaṇas used to ignite fire by mantra. Yes. They did not use another fire. The mantra will ignite fire. In the Vedic age this was being done. Aruṇi. The sacrifice means to sacrifice one animal in the fire end give it again a new life. That was a test for the Vedic  mantra, how one has chanted. It is not sacrifice, means killing. The animal sacrifice mentioned in the Vedas were not for killing. It was experiment of the Vedic mantra. They would sacrifice an animal and again it will be given new life, rejuvenation. And Caitanya Mahāprabhu said to Chand Kazi that "Because in this age the brāhmaṇas are not so powerful, therefore sacrifice is prohibited. Only this sacrifice: harer nāma harer nāma harer nāma eva kevalam ([[Vanisource:CC Adi 17.21|CC Adi 17.21]]), this is..."</p>
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<div id="General_Lectures" class="sub_section" sec_index="11" parent="Lectures" text="General Lectures"><h3>General Lectures</h3>
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<div id="LectureDayafterLordRamasAppearanceDayLosAngelesApril161970_0" class="quote" parent="General_Lectures" book="Lec" index="68" link="Lecture (Day after Lord Rama's Appearance Day) -- Los Angeles, April 16, 1970" link_text="Lecture (Day after Lord Rama's Appearance Day) -- Los Angeles, April 16, 1970">
<div class="heading">Animal sacrifice means to prove the strength of Vedic hymns so that one old animal is put into the fire and he's given again a new life, renewed life, just to show the potency of the Vedic hymns.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture (Day after Lord Rama's Appearance Day) -- Los Angeles, April 16, 1970|Lecture (Day after Lord Rama's Appearance Day) -- Los Angeles, April 16, 1970]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">In the Vedic literature there are numerous prescription of sacrifice. And in some of the sacrifices animal sacrifice is also recommended. So that animal sacrifice does not mean to kill the animal. Animal sacrifice means to prove the strength of Vedic hymns so that one old animal is put into the fire and he's given again a new life, renewed life, just to show the potency of the hymns, Vedic hymns. But in this age, Kali-yuga, those sacrifices are forbidden.</p>
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</div>
<div id="Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" class="section" sec_index="5" parent="compilation" text="Conversations and Morning Walks"><h2>Conversations and Morning Walks</h2>
</div>
<div id="1967_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" class="sub_section" sec_index="0" parent="Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" text="1967 Conversations and Morning Walks"><h3>1967 Conversations and Morning Walks</h3>
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<div id="DiscourseonLordCaitanyaPlayBetweenSrilaPrabhupadaandHayagrivaApril561967SanFrancisco_0" class="quote" parent="1967_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="1" link="Discourse on Lord Caitanya Play Between Srila Prabhupada and Hayagriva -- April 5-6, 1967, San Francisco" link_text="Discourse on Lord Caitanya Play Between Srila Prabhupada and Hayagriva -- April 5-6, 1967, San Francisco">
<div class="heading">The sacrifice of cow recommended in the Vedic śāstra means that the brāhmaṇas prove how powerful was Vedic mantra that it could give a new life to the old cows and bulls.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Discourse on Lord Caitanya Play Between Srila Prabhupada and Hayagriva -- April 5-6, 1967, San Francisco|Discourse on Lord Caitanya Play Between Srila Prabhupada and Hayagriva -- April 5-6, 1967, San Francisco]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Prabhupāda: So Caitanya Mahāprabhu first of all asked the Chand Kazi, "My dear uncle, what is your religion that you are eating your mother and father?" (laughs) So he could understand that He was attacking the cow killing process. So he said, "Well, You are just trying to criticize our cow killing, but in Your Vedic literature also I have seen that cow killing is allowed in sacrifice." Then Lord Caitanya said, "Yes. That is not killing. That is rejuvenating. That is not killing." The sacrifice of cow recommended in the Vedic śāstra means that the brāhmaṇas prove how powerful was Vedic mantra that it could give a new life to the old cows and bulls. So then Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, that "Such kind of learned brāhmaṇas and Vedic yajña is not possible in this age. Therefore cow killing..." Not cow killing. "Sacrifice by offering cow, sacrifice by offering horse, and..." Aśvamedhaṁ gavālambhaṁ ([[Vanisource:CC Adi 17.164|CC Adi 17.164]]).</p>
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</div>
<div id="1969_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" class="sub_section" sec_index="2" parent="Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" text="1969 Conversations and Morning Walks"><h3>1969 Conversations and Morning Walks</h3>
</div>
<div id="LordCaitanyaPlayToldtoTamalaKrsnaAugust41969LosAngeles_0" class="quote" parent="1969_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="18" link="Lord Caitanya Play Told to Tamala Krsna -- August 4, 1969, Los Angeles" link_text="Lord Caitanya Play Told to Tamala Krsna -- August 4, 1969, Los Angeles">
<div class="heading">Cow sacrifice is giving new life to the old cow.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lord Caitanya Play Told to Tamala Krsna -- August 4, 1969, Los Angeles|Lord Caitanya Play Told to Tamala Krsna -- August 4, 1969, Los Angeles]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Prabhupāda: Then Caitanya Mahāprabhu asked him, "My dear uncle, what is your religion that you are killing father and mother?" "Why killing father and mother?" "Oh, you are killing cow, your mother. You are drinking milk. And oxen, he produces grains for you in the field; so he is your father. The father earns for the children, so he is producing grains. And mother gives milk; so cow is giving milk. So how is your religion that the father mother killing?" Then he could understand that Caitanya is marking on the cow killing by the Mohammedans. Then he said, "Oh, this cow killing is also in your Hindu religion." Then He said, "How is that, Hindu religion cow killing?" "Oh, there is cow sacrifice." Then He said that cow sacrifice is not like this. Cow sacrifice is giving new life to the old cow. That is cow sacrifi... It is not killing. And because at the present moment the brāhmaṇas are not so qualified that they can give new life, therefore that sacrifice is now forbidden. He cited some verses from Vedic literature that cow sacrifice and horse sacrifice and to beget children by the younger brother of husband and sannyāsa, and offering oblations with meat, these things are forbidden. So that is past. This is... Now it has no significance. In this way, both of them were scholars. Then they compromised. Agreement was the Kazi gave order everyone of his descendants, that "Nobody will check this saṅkīrtana movement." So that order is being carried by their descendants still there in Nabadwip.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="LordCaitanyaPlayToldtoTamalaKrsnaAugust41969LosAngeles_1" class="quote" parent="1969_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="18" link="Lord Caitanya Play Told to Tamala Krsna -- August 4, 1969, Los Angeles" link_text="Lord Caitanya Play Told to Tamala Krsna -- August 4, 1969, Los Angeles">
<div class="heading">"In Your Vedic there is cow sacrifice." Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied, "That sacrifice is not killing. That's giving new life."
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lord Caitanya Play Told to Tamala Krsna -- August 4, 1969, Los Angeles|Lord Caitanya Play Told to Tamala Krsna -- August 4, 1969, Los Angeles]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Govinda dāsī: Did he stop this cow killing thereafter? After talking with Caitanya Mahāprabhu?</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: No. Because that is their religious ceremony. Caitanya simply criticized their process, but he replied that "In Your Vedic there is cow sacrifice." Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied, "That sacrifice is not killing. That's giving new life." So that much.</p>
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</div>
<div id="1972_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" class="sub_section" sec_index="5" parent="Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" text="1972 Conversations and Morning Walks"><h3>1972 Conversations and Morning Walks</h3>
</div>
<div id="RoomConversationwithMaharishiImpersonalistsApril71972Melbourne_0" class="quote" parent="1972_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="12" link="Room Conversation with Maharishi Impersonalists -- April 7, 1972, Melbourne" link_text="Room Conversation with Maharishi Impersonalists -- April 7, 1972, Melbourne">
<div class="heading">According to Vedas, animal can be killed in sacrifice. That also to give a new life. But people misinterpreted and they began to kill animals like anything with the evidence, "In the Vedas animal killing is sanctioned."
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Room Conversation with Maharishi Impersonalists -- April 7, 1972, Melbourne|Room Conversation with Maharishi Impersonalists -- April 7, 1972, Melbourne]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Prabhupāda: Lord Buddha appeared... He also appeared in India. Why? He was also Hindu. He was kṣatriya, king. He promulgated this philosophy, ahiṁsā, when there was unnecessary killing of animals. According to Vedas, animal can be killed in sacrifice. That also to give a new life. But people misinterpreted and they began to kill animals like anything with the evidence of..., "In the Vedas animal killing is sanctioned." So Lord Buddha appeared, just being compassionate to the poor animals. Sadaya-hṛdaya-darśita-paśu-ghātam. Sadaya. He became very compassionate, that "All these poor animals are being killed unnecessarily." So he promulgamated a new type of religion-ahiṁsā paramo dharmaḥ. "Don't commit violence. If I pinch your body, you feel pain. You should not pinch others." That is his religion.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="1974_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" class="sub_section" sec_index="7" parent="Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" text="1974 Conversations and Morning Walks"><h3>1974 Conversations and Morning Walks</h3>
</div>
<div id="RoomConversationwithProfRegamayProfessorofSanskritattheUniversityofLausanneJune41974Geneva_0" class="quote" parent="1974_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="97" link="Room Conversation with Prof. Regamay, Professor of Sanskrit at the University of Lausanne -- June 4, 1974, Geneva" link_text="Room Conversation with Prof. Regamay, Professor of Sanskrit at the University of Lausanne -- June 4, 1974, Geneva">
<div class="heading">In the Vedas, animal sacrifice is recommended for certain purpose, to test the proper chanting of Vedic mantras. The animal was not killed. The animal was put into the fire. Then again it would come out with new life.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Room Conversation with Prof. Regamay, Professor of Sanskrit at the University of Lausanne -- June 4, 1974, Geneva|Room Conversation with Prof. Regamay, Professor of Sanskrit at the University of Lausanne -- June 4, 1974, Geneva]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Prabhupāda: Just like in the Christian world the order is not to kill, but still, they are killing. So this misuse of scriptural injunction is always going on. A class of men there are who abuse the scriptural injunctions and go on with their own motive. So there was a period when people, under the protection of Vedas... Because Vedas, animal sacrifice is recommended for certain purpose, to test the proper chanting of Vedic mantras. The animal was not killed. The animal was put into the fire. Then again it would come out with new life. That is the proper chanting of the Vedic mantras. So for that purpose, animal sacrifice... Just like in biological laboratories, they experiment on the body of animals, frogs, guinea pigs. Similarly, a similar experiment was made, how the Vedic mantra is being properly chanted. The test was that animal should be put into the fire, and if the Vedic mantras were properly being chanted, then that animal would come with a new body. So an old cow or bull was put and he would come with fresh body. That was the purpose. Now later on, they began to eat meat by so-called animal sacrifice. In that period Lord Buddha appeared. About him it is, description is there, sadaya-hṛdaya darśita-paśu-ghātam. The Lord became compassionate on the animals, as they were being killed unnecessarily. So Buddha, Lord Buddha, his only mission was to stop the sinful activities of animal... Ahiṁsā paramo dharmaḥ. He was teaching that.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="RoomConversationwithdevoteesaboutTwelfthCantoKaliyugaandConversationwithGuestJune151974Paris_1" class="quote" parent="1974_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="119" link="Room Conversation with devotees about Twelfth Canto Kali-yuga, and Conversation with Guest -- June 15, 1974, Paris" link_text="Room Conversation with devotees about Twelfth Canto Kali-yuga, and Conversation with Guest -- June 15, 1974, Paris">
<div class="heading">That animal sacrifice was not meant for eating. Just to give them new, rejuvenated life by the Vedic mantras, to test that whether Vedic mantras are being chanted properly. And because at the Kali-yuga there is no such expert brāhmaṇa, all sacrifices are forbidden.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Room Conversation with devotees about Twelfth Canto Kali-yuga, and Conversation with Guest -- June 15, 1974, Paris|Room Conversation with devotees about Twelfth Canto Kali-yuga, and Conversation with Guest -- June 15, 1974, Paris]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Yogeśvara: Now, one thing is that we accept Buddha as incarnation of Kṛṣṇa on reference from Vedas, but Buddha denied the value of the Vedas.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: That is... When we pray, offer pray, it is stated that that is his, one of the qualifications. Sada... Nindasi. Nindasi yajña-vidher. The animal sacrifice is recommended... Some of the sacrifices or all of them... So that animal sacrifice was not meant for eating. Just to give them new, rejuvenated life by the Vedic mantras, to test that whether Vedic mantras are being chanted properly. And because at the Kali-yuga there is no such expert brāhmaṇa, all sacrifices are forbidden. So later on, as they deteriorated, they began to offer sacrifices, and if anyone wants to stop it, they will say, "Oh, it is recommended in the Vedas." Just like these rascals, Christian: "Oh, Christ ate fish. Therefore we must maintain slaughterhouse." Just see how rascal they are. Supposing Christ ate somewhere fish. Therefore they would maintain regularly slaughterhouse of cows. This is their brain.</p>
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</div>
<div id="1975_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" class="sub_section" sec_index="8" parent="Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" text="1975 Conversations and Morning Walks"><h3>1975 Conversations and Morning Walks</h3>
</div>
<div id="GardenConversationwithProfessorsJune241975LosAngeles_0" class="quote" parent="1975_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="109" link="Garden Conversation with Professors -- June 24, 1975, Los Angeles" link_text="Garden Conversation with Professors -- June 24, 1975, Los Angeles">
<div class="heading">Chand Kazi said it that "In your Vedas the cow sacrifice yajña is there." Then Caitanya Mahāprabhu explained, "This sacrifice is not for eating. It is giving a new life. To test the Vedic mantra."
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Garden Conversation with Professors -- June 24, 1975, Los Angeles|Garden Conversation with Professors -- June 24, 1975, Los Angeles]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Dr. Pore: Are you saying that you should never kill a cow but that you sometimes can kill a person?</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: When you can give life. There is sometimes cow sacrifice yajña. The cow sacrifice yajña means an old cow, he is sacrificed in the fire, and by Vedic hymns he is given again new life. To test the potency of the Vedic mantra, an old cow is sacrificed and by mantra he is given again new life. Not for killing and eating. That was discussed between Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Chand Kazi, Mohammedan magistrate. Those who have read Caitanya-caritāmṛta will find. So the Kazi was challenged by Caitanya Mahāprabhu that "You are killing cow and bulls. What is your religion? You are killing your father and mother." Then, he also was learned man, he said it that "In your Vedas the cow sacrifice yajña is there." Then He explained, "This sacrifice is not for eating. It is giving a new life. To test the Vedic mantra." That is discussed in Caitanya-caritāmṛta. That is a different case.</p>
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</div>
<div id="1976_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" class="sub_section" sec_index="9" parent="Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" text="1976 Conversations and Morning Walks"><h3>1976 Conversations and Morning Walks</h3>
</div>
<div id="EveningDarsanaJuly111976NewYork_0" class="quote" parent="1976_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="205" link="Evening Darsana -- July 11, 1976, New York" link_text="Evening Darsana -- July 11, 1976, New York">
<div class="heading">Caitanya Mahāprabhu explained that sacrifice was not meant for eating. That was meant for renovating new life.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Evening Darsana -- July 11, 1976, New York|Evening Darsana -- July 11, 1976, New York]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Indian man (6): Aśvamedha-yajña, all these things, and before that...</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: That is now prohibited.</p>
:aśvamedhaṁ gavālambhaṁ
:sannyāsaṁ pala-paitṛkam
:devareṇa sutotpattiṁ
:kalau pañca vivarjayet
:([[Vanisource:CC Adi 17.164|CC Adi 17.164]])
<p>If you refer to śāstra, the śāstra says in Kali-yuga these should be avoided. At that time, when there was aśvamedha-yajña, gomedha-yajña, that was not for eating. That was to prove the strength of Vedic mantra, how the animal was put in the fire and again gave him a new life. So where is that Vedic chanter, Vedic brāhmaṇa, yajñika brāhmaṇa? There is no such things, powerful brāhmaṇa. Therefore it is to be avoided. And that was not for eating purpose. To put one old animal in the fire and again he comes back with new life, that was the purpose. This question was raised by Chand Kazi to Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Caitanya Mahāprabhu challenged him, that "What is this your religion, you are killing your father and mother?" So he referred to this, that in..., "Formerly they were sacrificing cows in Your śāstra." So Caitanya Mahāprabhu explained that sacrifice was not meant for eating. That was meant for renovating new life. That is not for eating.</p>
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