$JES 921 Book of Compassion Reverence For All Life Reference Book

Author(s): Pramoda Chitrabhanu, Pravin K Shah
Publisher: JAINA Education Committee

Page 45

7. - VARAKH (SILVER FOIL)
According to a feature article in Business India, astounding 275 tons of silver is eaten annually as foil on sweets and chyavanprash! That is a whopping 2,75,000 kilograms! (At the present market rate, that would cost a phenomenal Rs. 165 Crore or $ 40 million U.S. Dollars).
Just how is varakh made and what is it that makes its preparation and consumption so sinful?
Varakh is not derived from an animal source. However, a crucial material of animal origin, ox-gut, is used in its manufacture. This Ox-gut is obtained from the slaughterhouse.
In the by lanes of the villages of Ahmedabad (Gujarat state, India) and other cities, amidst filthy surroundings, placed between layers of ox-gut, small thin strips of silver are hammered to produce the glittering foil.
... Which is then converted
into a book.
Anox or calf is slaughtered...
... to extract its intestine...
Small pieces of silver are placed between the pages
of this book...
This thin foil or Varakh is then applied on sweets that we offer to God in temples and consume ourselves. It is also used to decorate the statues of the Tirthankars
... Which is then hit
continously to beat the silver into a thin foil or "Varakh"
The intestine (ox-gut), smeared with blood and mucus, is pulled out from the slaughtered animal by the butcher at the slaughterhouse, and sold for this specific purpose. Note that it is not a by-product of slaughter, but like everything else meat, hide, and bones are sold by weight. This is then taken away to be cleaned and used in the manufacture of varakh. The gut of an average cow, measuring 540 inches in length and 3 inches in diameter, is cut open into a piece measuring 540" long x
THE BOOK OF COMPASSION