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Animal Sacrifice
Many learned Vedic commentators of India of the past and present agree that animal
sacrifices in India are true and actual.
Shankara and Ramanuja who were recognized as religious leaders of the past, both
recognize the practice of animal sacrifices in ancient time. In India during the Vedic
period, saints observed Nara Medhya Yagnam (Cow body sacrifice), and Ashwa
Medhya Yagnam (Horse body sacrifice).
The great scholar P.B. Kane has written volumes of books on Indian animal
sacrifices.
Mahavira and Gowthama Buddha alienated themselves from Vedic animal
sacrifices. It was during Buddhist rule in India, animal sacrifices to gods and
goddesses were forbidden. But, even then, in many villages and small towns these
animal sacrifices are still followed by people.
Many religious scholars are struggling to disprove and get away from the fact of
ancient animal sacrifices during the Vedic period.
They are seeking to write apologetic literatures, giving figurative interpretations to
ritual accounts.
There is nothing wrong in spiritualizing the sacrifice (Yogna) for Yagna (sacrifice)
indeed is the shadow of reality. At the same time one cannot deny the history of
animal sacrifices in the Vedic period.
One cannot discard the evidences of Rig Vedha 10th mandala, chapter 91 and
Yazar Vedha chapters 22, 23.
The Bible too presents the accounts of many animal sacrifices, ordained by God under
the Law of Moses. But here again, it is mentioned as shadow for the real sacrifice of
God himself.
The real and supreme sacrifice was to take place upon the cross of Jesus Christ.
Christians do not observe animal sacrifices. They believe that the Lord and savior
Jesus Christ has fulfilled all animal sacrifices in his one and only sacrifice. My
humble opinion is, disciples of the Vedanta would make a grave mistake if they deny
the old heritage of animal sacrifices of the Vedic times. It does not mean that these
animal sacrifices need to be revived again.
All animal sacrifices both in Vedic times in India and in Old Testament times in
Palestine are shadows for the real sacrifice of God or Prajapatti
(Praja = People; Pathi = god, so God is called god of people).
The animal sacrifices are practiced even today in Indian Soil, though it is forbidden by
the Government.
Every home sacrifice many young lambs for their god. Christians will surely
understand that how the Jewish animals sacrifices has a place in Indian soil, because
Jews migrated to India especially to South India even before the birth of Jesus Christ.
People in India still believe that by sacrificing an animal, the curses and sins of
their family will be gone.
In Tamil Nadu, India, I have personally witnessed such animal sacrifices and often
spoke to the people about the parallels of Old Testament and Indian Vedic scriptures,
which were fulfilled in Jesus Christ.
For many educated people it is an eye opener.
Read the book of Moses 2, Leviticus Chapter 1" 1-9.
Though the animal's blood is not a substitute, it was expected that man would repent
and turn away from his sinful ways by seeing the animal, which is being sacrificed on
his behalf. But mankind started practicing it just as a ritual, and thus came into
condemnation.
If mankind were to be saved from this predicament, as Thertiriya Aranyaka 3rd verse
says again, "thad raktham Paramatmena punyadana baliyagam" which means
that-blood has to be through the sacrifice of God himself.
The Purusha Sukta says, there is no other way other than the sacrifice of Purusha
Prajapati. Purushao vava yagna (Chandokya Upanishad 3.16.1), God, the Purusha is
the sacrifice.
Not only by acknowledging but also by accepting this sacrifice as one's own, and for
one's own sake, the identity of one's self with the Divine Self is achieved.
"Take and eat; this is my body. Then He took the cup, gave thanks, and offered it to
them, saying, Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the new covenant, which
is shed for many, for the forgiveness of sins" (Mat. 26: 26,27).
10. Jesus Christ was given to all
"He who did not spare His own son, but gave him up for us all, how will he not also,
along with him graciously give us all things?" (Romans 8:32)
for the day of anger and the revealing of the righteous judgment of God, who will
reward each person according to his deeds. Romans 2:4-6.
For there is no partiality with God. Romans 2:11.
So today if you hear His Voice, harden not your heart, but come boldly unto the
throne of grace, that you may obtain mercy and pardon. Hebrews 3:15
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven
given among men, whereby we must be saved. Acts 4:12.
Chellappa went to the temple to eat the food which was offered to the idols; he liked the temple
and especially food. So every day, he would go to the temple to eat and while eating he would
listen carefully to the shlokas recited by the priest of the temple. Soon he memorized many of the
shlokas by heart. One day the priest saw and heard him reciting the same shlokas and was very
impressed. He asked the young boy to come and help him in the duties of the temple. He readily
accepted because that meant more food during the day and no starvation. Slowly people noticed
him at the temple reciting shlokas and were very impressed. His fame grew and people also
offered him gifts and food.
One day, he realized while reciting the Shlokas about a legend Prajapati (the lord of the
people) which is mentioned in the Vedas. This historic figure was supposed to take the sins of
the world and die for it. He also had to remain sinless and a wild thorny creeper on his head. He
was to die for the sins of the world and resurrect. Sadhu Chellapa was really interested in this
deity Prajapathi who is mentioned in Rig Veda as a silent sufferer. So he started searching
for him. He asked many questions to other priests and Brahmans in the temples. He was
determined to search out his Prajapathi. But he did not find any satisfactory answers. He was
only 19 years old at that time and felt very disillusioned. So he thought to himself may be there is
no God and everything is purposeless.
During this time, he met another atheist who had a long conversation with him that there is a
god, but the world has many names to this god. People say there is a Christian god, a Muslim
god, a Jewish god and thousands of Hindu gods, So it is better to believe there is no god. It
makes more sense to just ignore God!
Some time went by, and his parents wanted him to get married. One of his Uncles insisted that he
would marry a good Christian girl. He did not know why he believed that, but he agreed to it. So
he married and had children. Life went on but he was not at peace, he started smoking, drinking
and also went under a huge debt. Due to his ill habits of smoking, he suffered from TB. There
was no proper cure in those days so he suffered a lot. On top of this he always had guilt in
himself that he is neither a good husband to his wife or a good father to his children. Day by day
the guilt of family, disillusionment from god and the tensions of debt led him to depression.
One day he was travelling in the train with all the problems and worries of his life and he thought
of a way to escape from it. He decided to commit suicide. He went to the door of the gushing
train to throw himself down. Right at that moment he heard a mysterious voice saying, He that
conceals his sin will never prosper. This verse struck him to his core. He felt why he heard
something like this? What was the purpose? Was there a message for him? As soon as the train
stopped he got down and he saw a huge Christian gathering in an open place. He started walking
towards it, thinking that Jesus Christ is a Christian and foreign god of the West. But he felt
compelled to go there. In the meeting he heard the pastor speak about sin which he understood
very well from his knowledge of Vedas. But then, the pastor said that only Jesus Christ, who is
born of the virgin can take away the sins of world, for He alone is sinless and he is the atoning
sacrifice on behalf of all the people. Sadhu Chellapa recalled that about Prajapathi, written in
the Vedas too. He could not believe the exact connection. That night the pastor invited the
congregation to come forward and accept Jesus Christ as their Savior. He ran in front, prayed and
accepted Jesus into his heart. Since that day he started sharing his testimony and preaching the
Word of God in all the places.
You can read more about him, his mission, and his audio and video preaching on his website
http://www.agniministries.org/Default.aspx. His testimony is published in a leading British
magazine The Edge. You can also listen to 10 part testimony here on youtube where he talks in
detail about the Vedas and its fascinating yet much ignored passages which may point to Jesus
Christ. (The videos are set into playlist, so you can continually watch all parts without any more
clicks.)
Video testimony of Sadhu Chellappa
httpvp://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=F465B151819799F1
My notes:
"yas tarken anusandhate , sa dharmam veda na itar " : manusmriti "scrutinize your faith and
knowledge on logic dont accept otherwise "
Gayatri mantar:
Trivedari in Upanishd:
Puja mantra: