Some may try to argue that in olden days animals were sacrificed during Sacrifices (Yajnas And Yagas) and Yagas (sacrificial rites). But they are not correct. Only a few ignorant Pundits (scholars) and misguided elders used to indulge in animal sacrifice. But those who recognised the inner meaning of this ritual used to give prime importance to the sacrifice of the beastly qualities in man while performing such religious ceremonies. The sum and substance of the various religions observances is to destroy the animality in man. (SSS Vol.25, p. 82)
People used to celebrate sacrificial rites (yajnas) in ancient times, and they sacrificed animals (pashu) in these rites. But the animal is only a symbol. It was not the dumb creature that had to be cut to pieces. The animal leads a life of sacrifice, even without its career being completed at the sacrificial pole! The animal that has to be disemboweled and offered is different.
In the spiritual vocabulary, animal means ‘the body-consciousness’, ‘the I-consciousness’, and this is what has to be slaughtered. The Lord is known as Govinda. Pashupati means the Lord of all individuals (jivas), pashu meaning individual; and Govinda means the guardian of cows or individuals, ‘go’ meaning individual. The tending of cows is a symbolic play of Krishna to indicate His mission of tending individuals.
The scriptures (shastras) have profound inner meanings. The aim of dharma is to make the individual (jiva) give up attachment to external nature and the illusion that it causes and to make it realize its reality or rather, un-realize what it has now taken as real so that it may stand revealed in its genuine identity.
These meanings must be learned by young and old. Take, for instance, the Shiva Temple. Right in front of the idol of Shiva is the image of Nandi, the bull. You are told that the sacred bull is the vehicle (vahana) of Shiva, and that is the reason for its being there. But, really speaking, the bull (pashu) represents the individual (jiva) while the lingam is the symbol of Shiva. ‘No one should pass between the bull and the lingam, the individual, and the Shiva,’ it is said; for they are to merge in one. Shiva has to be seen through the two horns of Nandi, they say. When asked the reason for this procedure, people reply, ‘Well, it is holier than other methods of viewing the lingam.’ But the inner meaning is, ‘You must see the Shiva in the individual’ —the bull Pashu and Shiva (Pasupathi) are one.
Nandi and God (Ishvara) become the Lord of individuals (Nandiswara). Both are only two ways of referring to the same entity. When in bondage, it is Nandi; when the bound becomes free and union with God is achieved, it is God. It is worshipped and is entitled to be so honoured. The true sacrifice (yajna) occurs when the bull (pashu) is offered to the Lord of animals, Pasupathi, and its separate identity is cast away. The significance has now been forgotten.
Today, these symbolic acts have changed beyond recognition. The practices of today and the principles of yesterday are far apart. Even the smallest detail of secular life has to be inspired by the higher ideal of spiritual fulfilment. Then, even simple folk can be led step by step toward the goal. When you do not discriminate the process and purpose of every act, but still go on doing it, it becomes a funny fossilized version. Once, even Prahlada said, ‘Since it is difficult to destroy egotism, man finds it easy to destroy this dumb animal as a substitute. Animal sacrifice is the manifestation of the quality of inertia (tamo guna); it is the path of bondage. The sacrifice of the animal of egotism is the pure sacrifice (sathwic yajna) on the Godward path of liberation.’
Thus, the highest goal (paramartha) of those ancient days is turned into the fool’s goal (paaramartha) of these days! Every one of the ancient practices, which were once full of meaning, has grown wild beyond recognition. Branches have shot out in various directions. It is now impossible to pluck the tree by the roots and plant a new one. So, the existing tree has to be trimmed and trained to grow straight. The highest goal has to be constantly remembered and not diluted into the lowest. (DV, pp. 7-9)
Jesus opposed the practice of animal sacrifice in Jerusalem. As a result, he had to face strong opposition. People who help mankind are put to harm. (SSS Vol.31, p. 467)