While beef is strictly forbidden in Hinduism due to the cow's sacred status, pork isn't universally banned in scriptures but is generally avoided by many Hindus due to perceptions of uncleanliness (pigs eat anything, lack sweat glands, roll in mud) and cultural influence, with some communities traditionally consuming it in specific contexts or warmer regions, though the principle of ahimsa (non-violence) leans against meat-eating overall.
One of the animals sacred to the Roman goddess Diana was the boar; she sent the Calydonian boar to destroy the land. In Hinduism, the boar-headed Varaha is venerated as an avatar of the god Vishnu.
Both Judaism and Islam have prohibited eating pork and its products for thousands of years. Scholars have proposed several reasons for the ban to which both religions almost totally adhere. Pork, and the refusal to eat it, possesses powerful cultural baggage for Jews.
Sikhs who do not follow a vegetarian diet may eat meat from any animal, but are prohibited from eating any meat which has been ritually slaughtered, including halal and kosher meat products. However, some Sikhs may choose to not eat beef or pork.
Eating Pork is Prohibited in Hinduism and Islam - Dr Zakir Naik
Is eating pork a sin in Hinduism?
The specific prohibition by Hindu Scriptures is only on beef. Other animals are allowed as long as proper conditions are met and procedures followed. Halaal meat is for example not allowed for Hindus, Jhatka is. Pigs are considered unclean and many Hindus avoid eating them.
It is only in Leviticus 11:7 that eating pork is forbidden to God's people for the very first time—“… and the swine, though it divides the hoof, having cloven hooves, yet does not chew the cud, is unclean to you.” This is where and when pork in all its forms (including ham, bacon, sausage, etc.)
But this is challenged by the fact that under the Buddhist Vinaya (moral codes) meat-eating is permissible for monks. A great irony is that the Buddha himself died eating contaminated pork.
Pork is classified as najas, meaning it is inherently unclean and defiling. Consuming pork would compromise a Muslim's state of purity, making them unfit for certain religious activities. However, in exceptional circumstances such as excessive hunger or starvation, Muslims are permitted to eat pork.
In his third avatar lifetime, Vishnu appeared in the form of a colossal boar, named Varaha in order to fight Hiranyaksha. Varaha sprang out of Brahma's nostril as a tiny pig, but he grew and grew until he had reached a size sufficient to lift the entire world.
In Hinduism, this same time window is considered as Brahma Muhurta, a auspicious time before sunrise. Instead of being associated with danger, it is considered ideal for meditation, yoga, prayer, and spiritual practice.
The word Hindu is an exonym, and while Hinduism has been called the oldest surviving religion in the world, it is also described by the 19th century term Sanātana Dharma ( lit. 'eternal dharma'). Vaidika Dharma ( lit. 'Vedic dharma') and Arya Dharma are historical endonyms for Hinduism.
Even among the castes that respect this diet, mainly those of Brahman origin, the list of permitted and forbidden foodstuffs can vary considerably from one region to another, from one caste to another, with the exception of the widespread taboo with regard to beef. The consumption of eggs is no exception.
The Buddhist diet holds no place for pork or eggs, but the Dalai Lama describes how on visits home from the Potala Palace, his residency in Tibet's capital Lhasa, he would beg his parents for “illegal” morsels of both.
The top consumer of pork in 2021 continued to be China, taking into account its special economic regions Hong Kong, Macau, and Mainland China, whose consumptions were about 61, 52, and 37 kg/inhabitant respectively.
An Arabic term meaning forbidden or unlawful. In the case of Islamic finance, Muslims cannot invest in, acquire, or otherwise engage in transactions that involve forbidden products and activities such as pork-related products, alcohol, gambling, and pornography. The opposite of haram is halal.
Taken by itself, Matt. 7:6 is a weird thing to say: “Don't give holy things to dogs, don't throw your pearls to pigs, lest they trample them under their feet and, turning, tear you to pieces” (author's translation).
Unlike many other animals that are kept as livestock, pigs are not herbivores—they are omnivores and are also known for scavenging, which may have contributed to their reputation of ritual uncleanliness. Furthermore, a Near Eastern society keeping large stocks of pigs could destroy their ecosystem.
The prohibition of pork in Islam is derived from the following verse of the Glorious Qur'an: “Forbidden to you (for food) are: dead meat, blood, the flesh of swine, and that on which hath been invoked the name of other than Allah.”
Since the faith first evolved near Asia's Indus River more than 3,000 years ago, respect for animal life has been a central theme in Hindu life. While many scholars say early Hindus ate beef, most ultimately came to see the cow as a sacred animal to be esteemed, not eaten.
The goddess Shasti rides a cat, and the way cats may carry their kittens from one home to the next is often compared to a soul's journey as it reincarnates. In terms of sacred animals – all life is sacred in Hinduism. For this reason, it's a sin to kill a cat.
