Why we should not burn the effigy of Ravana and why we should not offer milk to Gods or foods which have milk in it.
As the Navratri ends the festival of Dashera will commence. Hindus everywhere will organise the burning of the effigy of Ravana. This is wrong firstly because it is against Hindu values to show such hatred to Ravana who was no ordinary man. Ravana was the greatest devotee of Lord Shiva. He was a great scholar and a maestro of the musical instrument Veena. He was well versed with 6 Shastras, namely Nyaya, Sankhya, Yoga, Vaisheshika, Purva Mimamsa and Utara Mimamsa. He had also mastered the knowledge of 4 Vedas namely Rig Veda, Samveda, Yajurveda and Atharvaveda. Lord Shiva wrote and sang the Shiva Tandava Stotra. They are 1008 verses in praise of Lord Shiva. It is also said that Lord Rama sent Lakshmana to go to Ravana and hear words of wisdom from him as he lay mortally wounded.
It is therefore very sad that a tradition has developed to burn an effigy of such a great devotee of Lord Shiva. Dashera can be celebrated without burning the effigy of Ravana. Hinduism has a history of challenging and discarding negative ideas that have crept in and we must abandon this practice.
The custom of offering milk to Gods and food made of dairy also has to stop urgently. This is because modern milk production is full of cruelty. The cow is artficially impregnated and when the calf is born it is separated from the mother. This causes immense mental agony to the mother cow. Instead of grazing the modern cows are held in sheds and fed cereals to get maximum milk out of the. Their udders become swollen and they suffer from arthritis and many other ailments. After 3 births the cow can longer get pregnant. At this point it ends up in slaughter houses. If a male calf is born it is killed straight away or raised for Beef. The milk also has blood cells as well as the puss of the cow. Dairy production involves relentless cruelty. How can milk that comes from such cruelty be offered to Gods? How can food that comes from such cruelty be offered to Gods? If a devotee does want to offer milk to Gods then he or she should offer alternative milk like Soya, Almond, Coconut or Oat milk.
I urge all temples and Hindu organisations to go Vegan. Let us abolish these 2 customs which are contrary to principles of Dharma.
Vishva Sanatan Mandir
Whitehorse Lane
Croydon has cancellled the burning of Ravana effigy. Dashera will be celebrated with joy nontheless.It is also going completely Vegan
Nitin Mehta MBE
As the Navratri ends the festival of Dashera will commence. Hindus everywhere will organise the burning of the effigy of Ravana. This is wrong firstly because it is against Hindu values to show such hatred to Ravana who was no ordinary man. Ravana was the greatest devotee of Lord Shiva. He was a great scholar and a maestro of the musical instrument Veena. He was well versed with 6 Shastras, namely Nyaya, Sankhya, Yoga, Vaisheshika, Purva Mimamsa and Utara Mimamsa. He had also mastered the knowledge of 4 Vedas namely Rig Veda, Samveda, Yajurveda and Atharvaveda. Lord Shiva wrote and sang the Shiva Tandava Stotra. They are 1008 verses in praise of Lord Shiva. It is also said that Lord Rama sent Lakshmana to go to Ravana and hear words of wisdom from him as he lay mortally wounded.
It is therefore very sad that a tradition has developed to burn an effigy of such a great devotee of Lord Shiva. Dashera can be celebrated without burning the effigy of Ravana. Hinduism has a history of challenging and discarding negative ideas that have crept in and we must abandon this practice.
The custom of offering milk to Gods and food made of dairy also has to stop urgently. This is because modern milk production is full of cruelty. The cow is artificially impregnated and when the calf is born it is separated from the mother. This causes immense mental agony to the mother cow. Instead of grazing the modern cows are held in sheds and fed cereals to get maximum milk out of the. Their udders become swollen and they suffer from arthritis and many other ailments. After 3 births the cow can longer get pregnant. At this point it ends up in slaughter houses. If a male calf is born it is killed straight away or raised for Beef. The milk also has blood cells as well as the puss of the cow. Dairy production involves relentless cruelty. How can milk that comes from such cruelty be offered to Gods? How can food that comes from such cruelty be offered to Gods? If a devotee does want to offer milk to Gods then he or she should offer alternative milk like Soya, Almond, Coconut or Oat milk.
I urge all temples and Hindu organisations to go Vegan. Let us abolish these 2 customs which are contrary to principles of Dharma.
Vishva Sanatan Mandir
Whitehorse Lane
Croydon has cancellled the burning of Ravana effigy. Dashera will be celebrated with joy nontheless.It is also going completely Vegan
Nitin Mehta MBE
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