Many people claim that India is the largest or second largest exporter of cow meat (beef).
Is this information correct or a elaborated hoax?
No it's totally incorrect because India is the largest exporter of carabeef (buffalo meat), not beef. According to the US Department of Agriculture, India exported over 2.5 million tonnes of buffalo meat in 2022-23, which is much more than that of Brazil. However beef from cow family is banned. Exports of cow meat are restricted in India, and cow slaughter is banned by law in maximum states. As a result, only boneless buffalo meat is exported. According to the latest data, in 2023, India exported about 1.6 lakh tonnes of buffalo meat to just one country (such as Vietnam).
The summary is, India is the largest exporter of buffalo meat (carabeef), but not of cow or bull meat, which is actually prohibited. Now let's understand the cause of this confusion? Many people relate only the meat obtained from cow family as "beef", but in India it is mainly buffalo meat, which is known as "carabeef" in international trade.
Many people also argue that beef consumption is actually prescribed in Hinduism and its scriptures, which is also a blatant lie. Before starting the explanation, we should know that the word 𝗚𝗮𝘂 has many meanings. And in several sections of our scriptures, the importance of cows and bulls are mentioned and it's also advised to protect them. Let's start from the Vedas.
> Let not the dust-spurning (war) horse reach them nor let them fall in the way of sacrificial consecration let the cattle of the man who offers sacrifice wander about at large and without fear.
~ RV 6.28.4
> (She who is) the mother of the Rudras, the daughter of the Vasus, the sister of the Ādityas, the homeof ambrosia-- I have spoken to men of understqanding-- kill not her, the sinless inviolate cow (Āditi).
~ RV 8.101.15
> Killing innocent is a terrible act. Don't kill our cows, horses, and men. You will be removed from wherever you have been established. You become lighter than the leaf.
~ AV 10.1.29
Now let's move on to the Puranas again to know about the significance of cows in our culture and the need for protecting them.
> Śrī Śuka said, "The cowherd women along with Yaśodā and Rohini ensured the (future) safety of the child (Śrī Kṛṣṇa) on all sides, against evil spirits (and such other mishaps) by performing the ceremony of waving of the cow's tail round the child and other rites with the help of the cow."
~ Srimad Bhagavatam 10.6.19
In this verse, we find that in household affairs, ladies could take charge of protecting a child simply by taking help from the cow. As described here, they knew how to wave about the switch of a cow so as to protect the child from all types of danger. It gives us an idea of so many facilities that are afforded by cow protection.
If we look into the Padma Purana, we can find that the 48th chapter of the Sr̥ṣṭi Khaṇḍa from Padma Purana is entirely dedicated to the importance of cows and bulls. One can read that chapter to understand about it.
In several sections of the Mahabharata and several other scriptures, cows are referred to as 'aghnya' (one which is not to be killed). Gau Daan (Donation of cows) is also seen as a noble job in Mahabharata.
Hope this article washes out all forms of doubts and queries regarding beef consumption in India and Hinduism.
Read this article and share among all so that the truth about beef consumption reaches all.
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