INHUMAN LAWS / LAWS AGAINST HUMANITY & Sanctity of human lives vs santctity of animal?

The place you’re describing appears to be India, where the cow is revered as a sacred animal in Hinduism and is often protected or cosseted under laws and cultural norms that prohibit its slaughter in many states. 10 However, there have been numerous reported incidents of mob violence or lynchings—often referred to as “cow vigilantism”—targeting individuals, particularly from minority communities, who are accused or suspected of eating beef or involved in cattle-related activities. 11 13 17 18 19 This has led to deaths in cases where people were allegedly consuming or handling the meat of this animal. 15

IS THIS MAN B LYNCHINGS SANCTION BY FAITH OR IS IT FROM THEIR BOOKS?

No, the lynching and mob violence associated with modern cow vigilantism in India are not prescribed or justified in Hindu holy books. Hindu scriptures, such as the Vedas, Mahabharata, and Manusmriti, do emphasize the sanctity of cows and promote non-violence (ahimsa) toward them, but they focus on ethical prohibitions, spiritual consequences, or non-violent penalties like penances, fines, or social expulsion rather than advocating human-inflicted violence like lynching. 11 21 10 Such acts are more tied to historical socio-political movements, communal tensions, and modern Hindu nationalism than direct scriptural mandates. 21

Scriptural Views on Cows and Protection

• Sanctity and Non-Violence: Cows are revered in Hinduism as symbols of life, motherhood, and sustenance (e.g., providing milk, dung for fuel, and agricultural labor). Texts like the Rigveda (c. 1500 BCE) describe cows as “aghnya” (not to be killed) and condemn harming them, but this is framed within ahimsa—the principle of non-violence toward all living beings. 11 18 The Atharvaveda (hymn 8.3.25) prays for divine punishment (e.g., by the god Agni) on those who kill cattle, but it does not instruct humans to carry out violence. 11 Similarly, the Mahabharata includes debates on vegetarianism and cow protection, arguing that true sacrifice is internal (e.g., offering truth and self-restraint) rather than harming animals, and stresses respecting all life as an extension of oneself. 11 21
• Historical Context in Scriptures: Early Vedic texts, including the Rigveda and Brahmanas, actually reference beef consumption in rituals or for guests, indicating that prohibitions evolved over time (around the 4th century BCE onward) influenced by Jainism, Buddhism, and caste dynamics. 10 By the medieval period, cow veneration became more widespread, but scriptures promoted protection through personal ethics and renunciation, not aggression.

Punishments in Scriptures

Punishments for harming or killing cows are outlined in some texts, but they are spiritual, ritualistic, or legalistic (e.g., fines) rather than violent:

• Manusmriti (Laws of Manu): For unintentional cow killing, it prescribes a three-month penance or fast, or fines (e.g., half of 500 units for killing large animals like cows). 12 13 Expulsion from the community is mentioned in some interpretations, but not physical harm. 18 Other verses in Manusmriti even allow meat-eating in certain ritual contexts, stating it’s not inherently sinful. 19 20
• Other Texts: Some sources reference spiritual consequences, like condemnation to hell for as many years as hairs on a cow’s body (possibly from later Puranas like the Bhagavata Purana). 14 Verses like Yajurveda 30.18 urge not killing cows, and Rigveda 10.87.16 calls to “destroy” cow-killers, but this is poetic invocation to deities, not a command for human vigilantism. 16 21 No Vedic or Smriti text mandates death penalties or mob actions; expiation (prayaschitta) is the focus for sins. 15

Modern Violence vs. Scriptures

Cow vigilantism, including lynchings, has roots in 19th-century colonial-era movements (e.g., Arya Samaj) that blended religious symbolism with anti-Muslim sentiment, leading to riots and activism for bans. 21 This escalated post-independence and especially since 2014, often targeting Muslims and lower castes, but scholars note it’s driven by politics and nationalism, not ancient texts. 10 Figures like Mahatma Gandhi advocated cow protection through non-violence, explicitly rejecting force or bans that could harm minorities. 10

In essence, while Hindu texts revere cows and discourage harming them, they prioritize ahimsa and do not endorse the extrajudicial violence seen today.

STATUS OF MAJORITY DONT EAT COWS MEAT

Yes, the vast majority of Hindus do not eat beef, as cows are considered sacred in Hinduism and consuming their meat is widely viewed as incompatible with the faith. 3 According to surveys, less than 2% of Hindus in India (where over 95% of the world’s Hindus live) consume beef or buffalo meat, meaning over 98% abstain. 11 This is supported by attitudes in a major 2021 study, where 72% of Hindus stated that a person who eats beef cannot be considered Hindu. 10 While there are regional exceptions, such as in Kerala where beef consumption is more common even among some Hindus due to cultural influences, 12 the overall pattern holds across the faith globally.