Gita and sacrifices
Question
Hi Dhananjay,
i have some doubt when reading Bhagavad Gita.
1.In chapter 3 verse 37 it is said that when kama is overly done by a person the person gets the first thought of god is it right and how is it possible?
2.It is also said that if the kama and krodha work for krishna consiousness or to the almighty then they become our friends and they are no more enemies.the example is shown as Lord Hanuman burning the lanka and displayed his anger, considered as parama bhaktha to Lord shri rama.
3.In hinduism it is considered that all living beings are children to goddess and i want to ask this question why do people sacrifice goat or hen before the temple of goddess who are considered as shakti devatas, right from the time i know i was asking everybody but there is no suitable answer from them i got the following answers:
1.some say that they are born to be sacrificed before goddess(so that her anger may converted into shanti), i read that during
Adi Shankaracharya period the goddess used to kill humans who come before her during night and for this purpose adi shankaracharya placed sri chakram and they become satvic devatas.
2.my father say that people want to eat so they sacrifice.
3.In Bhagavad Gita also it is mentioned as types of people eating vegetables and some meat(if i am wrong please correct me).
thanks,
Ganapathi.
Answer
1. This verse states that Kama (desire) and Krodha (anger) born out of Rajasic temparment are the cause of all wants and the source of all sin in this world. Desire does not lead to thought of God. The verse shows that these two are to be forsaken for eternal bliss and liberation.
2. This only means that all energy is to be directed towards God and his realization.
3. The people who perform these sacrifices try to convince themselves that they are offering meat to the concerned diety and eating the same which has become holy through worship. They assume that they will get into the good books of the diety through the offering. Such sacrifices are also made out of ignorance, for satisfying ones taste buds in the guise of God worship. No spiritually advanced God or Goddess expect such actions. It is a kind of barter system devised by them where they offer meat and expect favours in return. Nothing can be more devoid of meaning than such a concept. No merit or benefit is accrued from such behavior. Rather, one stoops deeper into Agnyana (ignorance).
Had the diety actually eaten the offered meat and left nothing to the sacrificer, none would venture again!
4. People of Rajasic nature and actions tend to eat meat while Satvic activity and thinking makes one avoid meat. For spiritual advancement and liberation, one should become Satvic and eventually raise above all the three Guna-s (traits) to become Gunateeta (beyond the three traits).
ॐ तत् सत्
(That Supreme being is the absolute truth)