This document discusses the evolution of animal sacrifice in religious traditions from a perspective of gunas (qualities). It argues that animal sacrifice was originally done out of necessity for survival but is now an unnecessary act of cruelty (tamas) rather than bravery (rajo). As humans evolve spiritually towards sattva, there is less need to assert dominance through killing when vegetarian options are available. True spiritual enlightenment (sattva) involves non-violence and not taking lives unnecessarily through practices like animal sacrifice.

1. ANIMAL
SACRIFICE
AND
NAMASMARAN
DR.
SHRINIWAS
KASHALIKAR

2. In the process of evolution at some stage, the art, skill
and courage involved in hunting (RAJOGUNA) were
vital in view of the fact that the survival of the
individuals and the societies depended on hunting. In
the process of protecting from the predators, the
animals were killed in as much as they were killed to
satisfy the need of food. The fishing and hunting were
practiced not only without any guilt, but in fact with
some kind of pride and dignity, because of their utility
for the society!
When the mankind began to sense the influence of
unknown and unseen deities, he began to offer his food
(sacrificial animal) to the deity.
To celebrate and cheer up; the yajnas were performed
and bravery was invoked, admired, promoted and
celebrated! This is probably the logical basis of the
dignity that the sacrificial killing (RAJOGUNA)
enjoyed in yajnas.

3. The respect and honor for hunting and killing animals;
was logical also because cowardice (TAMOGUNA) in
those circumstances could have meant destruction of
the individual and the specie.
As and when the mankind evolved further, the
tradition of sacrificing animals in yajnas became
redundant and did not signify bravery (RAJOGUNA)
but signified basal, carnal, animalistic and cowardly
behavior (TAMOGUNA); in view of preferred
vegetarian food being easily available; and hence
gradually declined to almost zero.
But I was once told that the practice of sacrificing
animals as offering to their deity still goes on!
Irrespective of the region or religion; this is not
bravery (RAJOGUNA) but cold blooded risk free
cowardly cruelty; worst than mere cowardice and
hence worst than TAMOGUNA.

4. In my view this is a perverted and brutal (and not
brave) hangover of the redundant traditions and
customs belonging to the primitive stage of the
development of the society, which belonged to
RAJOGUNA and were much required in those times.
But those traditions are rendered retrogressive and
detrimental (TAMOGUNA) in the present context!
Once my friend asked, why don’t majority of the
people offer animals to the deities?
I did not have instant and satisfactory answer at that
time and thought that probably it could be blind
following of the egalitarian or god fearing tradition of
offering vegetarian food to deities.
But later I came to realize that unnecessary killing
belongs; as alluded to earlier; to worst form of
TAMAS OR TAMOGUNA (fanaticism) and those
who evolve in the course of evolution; rise from
TAMOGUNA and RAJOGUNA to SATVA GUNA

5. and choose not to opt for brutal, cruel and absolutely
unnecessary killing of cows, bullocks, sheep, goats and
other animals or birds for any purpose; eating, offering
or any other luxury!
Through probably the practice of NAMASMARAN, I
realized that as the mankind evolves, the SATVA
GUNA becomes preponderant and hence he gradually
does not need to perversely assert his bravery by
killing; especially when absolutely not required for
protection or feeding.
A SATIVK individual irrespective of his or her region
or religion; does not fancy killing harmless and in fact
loving and serving animals; ungratefully; for so called
offering and/or eating but prefers vegetarian food, for
all offerings and celebrations.