Idea of Ahimsa and Asceticism in Ancient Indian Tradition

Author(s): Bansidhar Bhatt
Publisher: B J Institute

Page 71

62
THE IDEA OF AHIMSA ....
śvasa-kasa-pratiśya ya-vișa ma-jvara-naśanam / śramåtyagni-hitam gavyam pavitram anilåpaham // (vs.89).
"Beef is holy and refringerant, prove curative in dyspnoea, catarrh, cough, chronic fever and in cases of a morbid craving for food (aty-agni) and destroys the deranged vayu." (from Alsdorf-1 p.62, fn. 1).
Again, in the same work (sarira-sthana Ch.3. vs.25), pragnent women are advised to consume beef to have their progeny especially a son strong and enduring all difficulties. These medical works may be assigned a period ranging from the 1st cent. upto the 10th cent. of our era. Bhavabhuti (ca. 7th cent. AD) following the extent law-books - dharma satras - describes a luxurious feast with beef items, which was specially arranged by the sage Valmiki in honour of the distinguished guest - the sage Vasistha who visited his hermitage'.
(c) Cow-products and Zoroastrianism :
But the kine-killing in general is counted in the Manusmrti Ch.11 among some minor offences (vs.59), it is also stated that a man wishing to purify himself should take kin interest in protecting cows and brahmins, even at the cost of his own life (vss.78-79), he should eat and drink the cow-products, viz. milk, urine, butter, etc. (vs.91), a man killing a cow should bathe himself with cow-urine for two months (vs.109) and observe certain vows following normal activities of a cow (go-vrata, "bullvow")2. The panca-gavya (five cow-products) is a purificatory substance against offences, such as, stealing some objects or eatable or fruits or flowers, etc. (MS 11.165, also cf.vss. 212 fol. server penances and the panca-gavya).
1. Cf. Uttara rå macarita, Canto 4: beginning: Saudhataki :- mae una jän idam vaggho va vio vă esotti / ... jena
para vadidena jevva så vara i kavila kallani mada madaia / Danda yana : sa-mamso madhu-parka ity amna yam bahu-manya mä nah
śrotriya yabhyatata ya vatsatarim ma ho kşam va ma hajam và nirva panti
grha-medhin ah / tam hi dharma sutra-karaḥ samā mananti / (Cf. ŚB : 3.4.1.2; VDS: 4.8; $kh. GS: 2.15.1). 2. For the details about the go-vrata, see : " Cynics and Pasu patas"
by Daniel H. H. Ingalls (The Harvard Theol. Review 55, Harvard 1962, pp.281-298, espseiclly p.295) -- see also : Kalidasa's Raghuvamsa Canto 2. Kalidasa's time ca. 5th cent. AD.