The Ritual Slaughter of Animals

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Mohan Guruswamy

I once visited the Kamakya temple in Gauhati a day after Dussehra. Its floor was slick with the blood of animals. The slaughter of animals in this temple is an all year activity but these days it seems Dussehra provokes an added frenzy.

Dussehra also known as Vijayadashami is observed for different reasons and celebrated differently in various parts of South Asia. In the southern, eastern and northeastern states of India, Vijayadashami marks the end of Durga Puja, remembering goddess Durga's victory over the buffalo demon Mahishasura to restore and protect dharma. In the northern and western states, the festival is synonymously called Dussehra. In these regions, it marks the end of "Ramlila" and remembers Rama's victory over the Ravana. 

 Arjuna’s victory over a Kuru  host  that included Bhishma, Drona, Ashwatthama, Karna and others at the end of a year of remaining incognito also symbolizes  the victory of Dharma) over Adharma is also celebrated this day.

As per the Shiva Purana and Devi Mahatmyah, Mahishasura, the son of demon Rambha, unleashed reign of terror on earth. When the gods intervened, Mahishasura defeated the gods and banished them from heaven. Vanquished, the gods headed by Brahma and Vishnu sought Shiva's help. As they narrated their woeful tale, an immense mass of light manifested from Shiva's left half, which was joined by similar rays that emerged from the enraged faces of gods. This mass of light transformed into a woman with ten arms-  Adishakti re-manifested as Durga to slay Mahishasura. Armed with celestial weapons of all deities and decked with divine ornaments, Durga rode into the battle field and challenged demons to battle. Mahishasura's entire army, led by demons like Chikshur, Chamar, Asiloma, Vidalaksha, Durdhara, Durmukha, Mahahanu and many more attacked Durga at once. But Durga slew all of them with unparalleled cruelty.

An enraged Mahishasura attacked Durga in the guise of a buffalo. But Durga bound it with ropes. The buffalo morphed into a lion and leapt on Durga, but she beheaded it with her sword. At this, Mahishasura began to fight in form of a swordsman. Durga pinned him down with a torrent of arrows. Mahishasura now assumed form of a giant elephant and tugged at Durga's lion. Durga lopped off its trunk with her sword and freed her lion. The elephant turned into a buffalo again and charged at Durga. Sipping from her wine cup, Durga flung her trident and beheaded Mahishasura, finally killing him.

Nice story. Very imaginative too. But it is quite silly to keep killing buffaloes now to celebrate this. It's better to kill a box of mithai with the family to celebrate the festival.

The Christians and Muslims too have festivals that are celebrated by the ritual slaughter of animals. Both derive from the same fables. In the Christian tradition God told Abraham, "Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about." (Genesis 22:2, NIV).

Abraham took Isaac, two servants and a donkey and set off on the fifty mile journey. When they arrived, Abraham ordered the servants to wait with the donkey while he and Isaac went up the mountain. He told the men, "We will worship and then we will come back to you." (Genesis 22:5b, NIV)

Isaac asked his father where the lamb was for the sacrifice, and Abraham answered that the Lord would provide the lamb. Saddened and confused, Abraham bound Isaac with ropes and placed him on the stone altar. Just as Abraham raised the knife to slay his son, the angel of the Lord called out to Abraham to stop and not harm the boy. The angel said he knew that Abraham feared the Lord because he had not withheld his only son.When Abraham looked up, he saw a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. He sacrificed the animal, provided by God, instead of his son.

Then the angel of the Lord called to Abraham and said, "I swear by myself, declares the Lord, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me." (Genesis 22:16-18, NIV)

In the Islamic tradition this test of Abraham's faith in God is celebrated with the festival of Bakrid.  The event is as follows:

One of the main trials of Abraham's life was to face the command of God to devote his dearest possession, his only son. Upon hearing this command, he prepared to submit to God's will. 

During this preparation, Satan (Shaitan) tempted Abraham and his family by trying to dissuade them from carrying out God's commandment, and Ibrahim drove Satan away by throwing pebbles at him. In commemoration of their rejection of Satan, stones are thrown at symbolic pillars signifying Satan during the Hajj rites.

When Ishmael was very young, God decided to test their faith in public. Abraham had a recurring dream, in which God was commanding him to offer up for sacrifice – an unimaginable act – his son, whom God had granted him after many years of deep prayer. Abraham knew that the dreams of the prophets were divinely inspired, and one of the ways in which God communicated with his prophets. When the intent of the dreams became clear to him, Abraham decided to fulfill God's command and offer Ishmael for sacrifice.

Although Abraham was ready to sacrifice his dearest for God's sake, he could not just bring his son to the place of sacrifice without his consent. Ishmael had to be consulted as to whether he was willing to give up his life in fulfillment of God's command. This consultation would be a major test of Ishmael's maturity in faith; love and commitment for God; willingness to obey his father; and readiness to sacrifice his own life for the sake of God.

Abraham presented the matter to his son and asked for his opinion about the dreams of slaughtering him. Ishmael did not show any hesitation or reservation even for a moment. He said, "Father, do what you have been commanded. You will find me, Insha'Allah (God willing), to be very patient." His mature response, his deep insight into the nature of his father’s dreams, his commitment to God, and ultimately his willingness to sacrifice his own life for the sake of God were all unprecedented.

When Abraham attempted to cut Ishmael's throat, he was astonished to see that Ishmael was unharmed and instead, he found a dead ram which was slaughtered. Abraham had passed the test by his willingness to carry out God's command.

This has been going on for four thousand years now. One would think that by now God would be quite convinced of his faithful's faith in him by their willingness to sacrifice animals.

( Calves are easily bound and slaughtered,

never knowing the reason why.

But whoever treasures freedom,

like the swallow has learned to fly.

How the winds are laughing, 

they laugh with all their might.

Laugh and laugh the whole day through, 

and half the summer's night.)

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♦️ Not once does humanity pause and be rationale… we are happy with customs and traditions even if they are gory.

♦️Wow. Yes indeed Mohan Guruswamy ... I couldn't agree more. Time to stop this mindless slaughter in the name of God. I'm not against killing animals to feed human beings but at an intellectual level I cannot resonate with this aspect of faiths across the world. Thank you.