In case anybody had been wondering where Barry got the screed about Vedic animal sacrifice he pasted in below, it's from a site called "Karma2Grace," which purports to be interested in fostering understanding between Christians and Hindus but which includes a section called "Life Stories," composed of pieces by former Hindus who saw the light and came to Jesus.
There is no corresponding section for the stories of Christians who converted to Hinduism. The rather grotesque descriptions of Vedic sacrifice of animals quoted by Barry is immediately followed by one about animal sacrifice in biblical Judaism, which pointedly notes that, unlike the Vedic version, Jewish animal sacrifice was "temporary and symbolic"--i.e., not to propitiate the divine but to impress the Jews with the need for repentance--and links it to the Christian metaphor of Jesus as the (sacrificial) Lamb of God. No wonder Barry didn't want to cite his source. --- In [email protected], TurquoiseB <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: <snip> > You seem to be positioning yourself as someone > who knows more than just the stuff *you* were told > by Maharishi about "Vedic times." Perhaps you can > explain to us how animal sacrifice is going to be > reintroduced once Maharishi and the pundits succeed > in bringing those "Vedic times" back to us in the > 21st. century. Just to help you out, here are a > few of the rituals we have to look forward to > in this coming period of "abundance, peace and > bliss:" > > Animal sacrifice is very clear in the Vedas as a part > of the rituals. The Rig Veda has several very clear > references to animal sacrifices. In a reference to the > sacrifice of a goat it says (1.162.2) "The dappled goat > goes straight to heaven, bleating to the place dear to > Indra and to Pusan." In one of the hymns to the horse > (1.162.9-11) it says, "What part of the steed's flesh > the fly does not eat or is left sticking to the post > or hatchet, or to the slayer's hands and nails adheres, > among the Gods, too may all this be with thee. Food > undigested steaming from his belly and any odor of raw > flesh that remains, let the immolators set in order > and dress the sacrifice with perfect cooking. What from > thy body which with fire is roasted when thou art set > upon the spit distills let not that lie on earth or > grass neglected, but to the longing Gods let all be > offered." As well, the non-vegetarian aspect is clear > that when this horse was sacrificed, it was then > distributed to those who "were eagerly waiting as the > meat was tested with a trial fork and then distributed > (Rig 1.162.12ff.)." > > The Yajur Veda contains many more references to animal > sacrifices, clear and often repeated references to > animal sacrifices, mainly in association with the full > moon rite, the Soma sacrifice and its supplement. There > is an entire section of the Yajur devoted to optional > animal sacrifices (ii.1) > > The flesh of the victim was offered in part as a burnt > offering, in part eaten by the priests (who were not > vegetarians; cf. the statement by Keith in the Harvard > Oriental Series, Vol 18, Motilal Banarsidas, Delhi, > Arthur Berriadale Keith Vol I, p. cvii). > > Here are a few clear examples of animal sacrifices in > the Yajur Veda (The Black Yajur, Vol I, Banarsidas, Delhi, > A.B. Keith): "To the Asvins he sacrifices a dusky, to > Sarasvati a ram, to Indra a bull" (Yajur 1.8.21.e) > "He who hates us and whom we hate, here do I cut off his > neckĀ " (Yajur 1.3.1.c) The latter one a reference to the > symbolic and protecting nature of the animal sacrifice > that the sacrificer receives. > > Sacrifice was done with several views. First there was > simply the gift-offering. There is also a sense in which > the sacrifice gives power or a way of spiritually > carrying out something through the sacrifice such as > the severing of the heads of enemies through the gods. > Sacrifice is seen as a way of pleasing the gods and > gaining their favor in contrast to those who do not > sacrifice (e.g. Rig 1.110.7 "those who pour no offering > forth"). In the Soma offering it is the priests offering > the gods the juice that gives them pleasure and strength > to win wealth and help from the gods for those who offer > the Soma (cf. Rig 1.107 and 108). > > Sacrifice gains spiritual favor and ascendancy in divinity. > The Ribhus gained immortality through their zealous > sacrificing (Rig 1.110.4). Sacrifice was to enbue the > sacrificer with power and wealth from the gods (Rig 1.111.2). http://www.karma2grace.org/webcomponents/faq/index.asp?det=62
