Kutha meat

Kutha (Kuttha) meat is defined as "meat of animal or fowl slaughtered slowly as prescribed by Islamic law."[1] It has been more broadly defined as "killing an animal with a prayer"[2] or "a sacrifice to God" [3] or meat prepared through "unnecessary ritualism".[4]

There are two views on Kutha meat, the Sikh view, which sees Kutha as that which has been "sacrificed", and the Hindu view, which views Kutha as a means of repression, and a non-Hindu Aryan[5] method of slaughter.

Contents

Kutha and Sikhism

Eating Kutha Meat for a baptised Sikh is considered to be one of the 4 Cardinal Sins.[6] These 4 sins are part of the Sikh Code of Conduct (Rehit Maryada). In the Rehit Marayada [6] Section Six, it states: The undermentioned four transgressions (tabooed practices) must be avoided:

  1. Dishonouring the hair;
  2. Eating the meat of an animal slaughtered the Muslim way (Kutha);[7]
  3. Cohabiting with a person other than one's spouse;
  4. Using tobacco.

The reason for Sikhs avoiding Kutha "does not lie in religious tenet but in the view that killing an animal with a prayer is not going to ennoble the flesh."[2] There is another view that Guru Gobind Singh (the tenth Sikh Guru), instructed his Sikhs not to eat Kutha meat in order to boycott the Moghul Empire.[8][9]

Kutha and Hinduism

During Mughal times Hindus viewed Kutha as creating "spiritual weakness among Hindus".[9] Also according to Mughal Law of the time, "Hindus were neither permitted to keep weapons at home nor allowed to cook and eat any form of meat".[9] As a result of this, many Hindus too will not eat "Kutha". In addition to this according "to the ancient Aryan Hindu tradition, only such meat as is obtained from an animal which is killed with one stroke of the weapon causing instantaneous death is fit for human consumption".[2]

Jhatka

The prescribed method of slaughter for animals for Sikhs and Hindus[10] is Jhatka, which is seen as the opposite to Kutha.

See also

References

  1. ^ Rayall, Gurbachan Singh (31 Dec 1998) (in Punjabi, English). Punjabi University English-Punjabi dictionary. Foreign Language Study. Punjabi University. ISBN 81-7380-095-2. http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/8173800952. Retrieved 28 November 2010. 
  2. ^ a b c [|Singh, I. J.] (Oct 1994). "15 Food Taboos in Sikhism". Sikhs and Sikhism: a view with a bias. University of Michigan: Manohar,. p. 71 to 75. ISBN 8173040583. http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/8173040583. Retrieved 23 November 2010. 
  3. ^ Sikhism, A Complete Introduction, Dr. H.S.Singha & Satwant Kaur, Hemkunt Press ISBN 8170102456; Paperback; 2009-05-30
  4. ^ Mosher, Lucinda (1 June 2005). "4 Distance". Belonging (Faith in the Neighbourhood) [Paperback]. Church Publishing Inc. p. 108. ISBN 1596270101. http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=HrFYN3IEJ6wC&pg=PR10&dq=Belonging+(Faith+in+the+Neighbourhood)&hl=en#v=onepage&q&f=false. Retrieved 24 November 2010. 
  5. ^ Singha, By Dr. H.S. (30 May 2009). "7 Sikh Traditions and Customs". Sikhism: A Complete Introduction. Sikh Studies. Book 7 (Paperback ed.). New Delhi: Hemkunt Press. p. 81. ISBN 9788170102458. http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=nRodBu9seiIC&pg=PA3&dq=Sikh+Studies,+Book+7++By+Dr.+H.S.+Singha&hl=en&ei=ryXuTPzbJpSFhQfjh_WSDA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CDIQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=Sikh%20Studies%2C%20Book%207%20%20By%20Dr.%20H.S.%20Singha&f=false. Retrieved 25 November 2010. 
  6. ^ a b Dharam Parchar Committee (July, 1997.). "Sikh Reht Maryada Section Six" (in English and Gurmukhi). Shiromani Gurdwara Parbhandak Committee, Amritsar. pp. Article XXIV p.. Archived from the original on 22nd November 2010. http://www.sgpc.net/index-nm.html. Retrieved 22 November 2010. 
  7. ^ Mansukhani, G.S (30 May 2009). "76 What is the Sikh attituted to non-vegetarian food.". Introduction to Sikhism (Paperback ed.). Hemkunt Press. p. 87. ISBN 8170101816. http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=5_SirMuPr54C&pg=PP1&dq=Introduction+to+Sikhism+G.S+Mansukhani&hl=en&ei=Fj3uTIW_BI26hAfxzszBDA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCoQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false. Retrieved 25 November 2010. 
  8. ^ "Nutrition". Vegetarian World Wide. May 10, 2008. p. 1. Archived from the original on 22nd November 2010. http://www.vegetarian-worldwide.com/nutrition/nutrition/. Retrieved 22 November 2010. 
  9. ^ a b c SINGH LAMBA, PUNEET (Sep. 1, 2003). "Kala Afghana on Non-Vegetarianism". Kala Afghana. THE SIKH TIMES. p. 1. Archived from the original on 22nd November 2010. http://www.sikhtimes.com/books_090803a.html. Retrieved 22 November 2010. 
  10. ^ "The Hindu : Sci Tech / Speaking Of Science : Changes in the Indian menu over the ages". Hinduonnet.com. 2004-10-21. http://www.hinduonnet.com/seta/2004/10/21/stories/2004102100111600.htm. Retrieved 2010-02-03. 

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