Vaalmeeki Raamaayan

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Notes-15

Did Raam Eat Meat

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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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Created by Sushma Gupta on 5/27/03
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Updated on
03/12/06