Idea of Ahimsa and Asceticism in Ancient Indian Tradition

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

Page 73

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THE IDEA OF AHIMSA ....
issued on both sides, and a heated controversy ensued in the Parsi press. The reformer today has given up the practice altogether, but the orthodox continues, still most scrupulously, to use it every morning.".
Similar rituals are commonly accepted in classical Hinduism and are still current among many orthodox Hindus. The pañcagavya - five products of the cow . viz. milk, curd, butter, urine, and cow-dung or excrement (the refuse), out of which urine and the cow-dung are often in use as purifying objects in some sections on atonement or expiatory rites of the religious books of India which we have already stated above.
(d) Indus Valley : animal-killings and Tantrism :
Alsdorf attempted to trace origins of the holy-cow from the non-Aryan Indian aborigines (autochthon India). He rejected this hypothesis soon and came to the conclusion that the Indus Valley people too, were much fond of eating beef, which can be assumed on the basis of recent studies on the Indus Valley Civilisation. According to C. L. Fabri, people of the Indus Valley were much interested in bull-fighting sports, or bullsacrifices as freely as those in Creta. On the basis of the finds of animal-bones at places in the Indus Valley, we are much inclined to say with certainty that the Indus people also enjoyed beef and meat in their meals quit often".
But the problem as to why and how the holy-cow taboo of the Aryan origins became first extinct, and then emerged in the classical Hinduism, remains still unsolved and open for future discussion. Probably the earliest Indo-Iranian concept being yet extant among the Aryans of India emerged once again and was given a way with full swing gradually with the advent and spread of Mohmedan culture in India. This is a mere conjecture and it requires some historical evidences in support.
4. Cf. Alsdorf-1 pp.68-69, fn.1:- Sources : Marshall :- "Mohen-jo-Daro
and the Indus Civilization" I p.27. -.. Mackay :- “Die IndusKultur" p. 139. -.. C. L. Fabri :-“The Cretan bull-grappling sports and the bull-sacrifice in the Indus Valley Civilization" (Annual Report Arch. Survey of India 1934/5. pp.93-101). --- See also :
Schmidt-1 p.627.