Beef Taboo in Hinduism?

The Vedas and ancient Hindu scriptures, shows that animal sacrifice was a dominant feature till the emergence of settled agriculture. Cattle were the major property during this phase. Wealth was equated with the ownership of the cattle. A few gods such as Indra and Agni are described as having special preferences for different types of flesh. The Maruts and the Asvins were also offered cows. In the Vedas there is a mention of around 250 animals out of which at least 50 were supposed to be fit for sacrifice and consumption. In the Mahabharata there is a mention of king Rantideva who achieved great fame by distributing food grains and beef to Brahmins. Even later Brahminical texts provide the evidence for eating beef. Even Manusmriti did not prohibit the consumption of beef.

In therapeutic section of Charak Samhita, the flesh of cow is prescribed as a medicine for various diseases. It is also prescribed for making soup. It is emphatically advised as a cure for irregular fever, consumption, and emaciation. The fat of the cow is recommended for debility and rheumatism. At that time there were ritualistic animal sacrifices (like Aswamedha, Gomedha, Purusmedha, Vajapeya, etc) which involved 500 oxen, 500 male calves, 500 female calves and 500 sheep to be tied to the sacrificial pole for slaughter. Buddha condemned these mal-practices of slaughter and killing without need for food. The followers of Buddhism continued to eat flesh including beef. Emperor Ashok after converting to Buddhism did not turn to vegetarianism. He only restricted the number of animals to be killed for the royal kitchen.

With the rise of agricultural economy and the massive transformation occurring in society, this ideology took up the cow as a holy symbol and became a way of life in Mordern India that considers beef consumption a taboo for Hindus