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Is Ashwamedha performed by Rama false?

[Shri Guru Datt asked: About the point ‘Veda says to kill the animal nature present in yourself but not the actual animal in yajna (Manyuhpashuh…)’, I think agreeing that ‘Yagas were actually involved animal sacrifices’ does not in any way bring disrepute to Hinduism. On the contrary, if Yagas were animal sacrifices and later Hindus became vegetarians, it only shows the innate quality of Sanathana Dharma transforms itself to a higher level in pursuit of Dharma, that is righteousness. Ashwamedha by Rama is false or wrong or junk? According to You, is Ashwamedhika Parva in Mahabharatha just a concocted story then? Or because Bhagawan Vishnu was there as Krishna, they could perform the real Yajna and not a 'model experiment'?]

Swami Replied:- These historical scripts contain lot of insertions and deletions to misrepresent the logical justice. Let us not bother about the past India and present India regarding non-vegetarian food since the insertions can twist and misrepresent the real history also. Justice and sin are beyond time, place and history. To kill a living being for food, especially, when there is alternative vegetarian food is the climax of injustice in anytime, at any place and in any religion. The Veda clearly says that the animal nature shall be slaughtered and not the animal. The Veda also says that the desire shall be burnt and not the ghee in the sacrifice (Manyuḥ paśuḥ kāma ājyam). When the concepts are clarified in such a clear way, trying for misinterpretations is horrible!

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