Notes-15
Did
Raam eat meat?
There
is a controversy about this issue that did Raam eat meat? Vaalmeeki
Raamaayan clearly says that they - Raam, Lakshman and Seetaa, did eat meat.
First of all they were Kshatriya - they should eat meat, but since their image in people's
mind is of God, common people cannot think of that they could eat meat. Here
are some references from Raamaayan:
(2/52,
2/55)
While crossing River Gangaa and Yamunaa, Seetaa promises to offer them
buffalos etc after they have returned safely from their exile. Although a
vegetarian can also make such offering but this kind of offering is more natural for meat
eaters.
(2/55/33)
"They killed several deer and ate them in Yamunaa's Van."
Although it is not understandable that how could they eat meat in Van as
they were allowed to eat only fruits, flowers, roots, and Kand etc which they
had been stressing all the time, since their beginning of exile,
at Guh's place, at Bhardwaaj Muni's Aashram etc. But still this Shlok is
there.
(2/104)
When Bharat Jee comes to see Raam in forest, and Kaushalyaa passes nearby
Mandaakinee River, she sees Ingudee (fig) fruits on the bank, she says "They
must have been offered by Raam to His Pitar. But is this the food to be offered
to our Pitar? But what to do, whoever eats whatever, he offers the
same." This means they were eating some other kind of food at home.
[3/73/14-16]
Here when Kabandh guides Raam to Pampaapur, he tells that there were very
sweet fish in Pampaa Sarovar. And Lakshman will offer those to you after
proper processing them.
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