Animal Sacrifice in Yajñas

Read this thread to know how animal sacrifice got started in Yajñas and what Rishis thought about it.

Once Upon a time, Great and Powerful Indra decided to do Yajña, there were large scale preparations, Rishis were chanting mantras, then Indra decided to SIay animals there
Rishis stopped him, Rishis clearly told him that There is NO mention of K!lling animals in Yajñas in shastras,

K!lling animals in Yajñas is against Dharma, hence please allow Brahmins to perform it according to shastras
Rishis said, Yajña must be done with seeds, this is what Dharma says.
But Imdra had a Big ego, he refused to follow Dharma
So they went to King Vasu and asked him, who is correct, King lied that you can do yajña with anything, because if this he was punished.

(Mahabharata AshwamedhikaParva adhyay 91)
Same even is mentioned in Shanti parva 337.

Devtas wanted to k!ll Goat in Yajña, Rishis told them that Aja means seed, K!lling animals in Yajña is not allowed
King Vasu came and he said animal sacrifice is allowed, Rishis got angry and they said

"If Shastras allow animal sacrifice then we will fall down, But if shastras prohibit animal sacrifice then you will fall down"

Because 9f this King Vasu fell down proving Rishis were right.
In Anushasana Parva Bheeshma says Animal sacrifice is not allowed in Yajñas, this was started by some Dhoorta people.

Hence according to him too, It is not allowed
Also Nirukta clearly says Yajña is without Himsa.

I will make separate threads explaining about Pashu Yajñas, Pashubandh Yajñas and how animals were not harmed there and what was role of animals in Rituals.

नमो नारायणाय
Same thing in Matsya Purana chapter 143

Rishis clearly declared K!lling animals in Yajña is Adharma amd must not be done,

They Said it is GREAT ADHARMA to harm any animals in Yajñas and not in accordance with Vedas
Exactly same thing in Vaayu Purana Chapter 57

Rishis clearly said Vedas do not allow K!lling of animals in Yajñas, and also that this is Great Adharma, One must follow Vedas for Yajña hence do it with seeds
Also Muni Nārada criticizes animal sacrifice in Bhagwatam 4.25.7-8.
From all these Evidences it is very clear that Vedas do not allow K!lling of animals in Yajña.
Adding One more, Brahmanda Purana 1.2.30
Exactly same
Scriptural Reference used-

1. Mahabharata Ashwamedhika Parva Chapter 91

2. Mahabharata Shanti Parva chapter 337

3. Mahabharata Anushasana Parva chapter 115

4. Matsya Purana chapter 143

5. Vaayu Purana Chapter 57

6. Bhagwatam 4.25.7-8

7. Brahmanda Purana 1.2.30
Also see

8. Nirukta 1.8 ( अध्वरिति यज्ञ नाम ।। ध्वरिति हिंसाकर्माः, तत्प्रतिषेधः)

9. Rigveda (1.1.4), (1.19.1), (1.14.11)

10. Atharva Veda (1.4.1)

More from Religion

#BookExcerpts #Venkateshwara #Balaji

I will write a 3 part thread series with some interesting points from this book.

Part-1 : History of Tirumala & Venkateshwara Swamy
Part-2: Rituals & Prasada Procedure
Part-3: Historical records

Part-1 thread below

1/


Venkatachala Hill

Maha Vishnu wished for the mountain Krida / Krida Parvatham / Kridhachalam from Vaikunta to be brought to the earth for his avataram.

This was brought to earth by Garuda and Ananta & placed it on banks of river Swarna Mukhi

2/


This is where current Tirumala temple is located. The fact that this was transported from Vaikunta is apparently a scientifically proven fact.

The scientific dating of the sedimentary rocks have confirmed the date to be around 120 million years ago..

3/

This timeline coincides with Swayambhu Manu manvanthara of the Sweta Varaha Kalpa which is the time when Swamy descended on earth in the form of Venkateshwara Swamy.

From a survey of flora and fauna, they have found rare species of plants & animals like golden gecko..

4/

that are exclusive to this hill range only and not found anywhere else in the world.

Tirumala hills are a range of 7 hills
1. Seshachala
2. Vedachala
3. Garudachala
4. Anjanachala
5. Vrishabhachala
6. Narayanachala
7. Venkatachala --> Where temple is present

5/

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