Animal Sacrifice
Many learned Vedic commentators of India of the past and present agree that animal
sacrifices in India are true and actual.
Shankara and Ramanuja who were recognized as religious leaders of the past, both
recognize the practice of animal sacrifices in ancient time. In India during the Vedic period,
saints observed Nara Medhya Yagnam (Cow body sacrifice), and Ashwa Medhya Yagnam
(Horse body sacrifice).
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The great scholar P.B. Kane has written volumes of books on Indian animal sacrifices.
Mahavira and Gowthama Buddha alienated themselves from Vedic animal sacrifices. It
was during Buddhist rule in India, animal sacrifices to gods and goddesses were forbidden.
But, even then, in many villages and small towns these animal sacrifices are still followed
by people.
Many religious scholars are struggling to disprove and get away from the fact of
ancient animal sacrifices during the Vedic period.
They are seeking to write apologetic literatures, giving figurative interpretations to ritual
accounts.
There is nothing wrong in spiritualizing the sacrifice (Yogna) for Yagna (sacrifice) indeed is
the shadow of reality. At the same time one cannot deny the history of animal sacrifices in
the Vedic period.
One cannot discard the evidences of Rig Vedha 10th mandala, chapter 91 and Yazar
Vedha chapters 22, 23.
The Bible too presents the accounts of many animal sacrifices, ordained by God under the
Law of Moses. But here again, it is mentioned as shadow for the real sacrifice of God
himself.
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The real and supreme sacrifice was to take place upon the cross of Jesus Christ.
Christians do not observe animal sacrifices. They believe that the Lord and savior Jesus
Christ has fulfilled all animal sacrifices in his one and only sacrifice. My humble opinion is,
disciples of the Vedanta would make a grave mistake if they deny the old heritage of
animal sacrifices of the Vedic times. It does not mean that these animal sacrifices need to
be revived again.
All animal sacrifices both in Vedic times in India and in Old Testament times in Palestine
are shadows for the real sacrifice of God or Prajapatti
(Praja = People; Pathi = god, so God is called god of people).
The animal sacrifices are practiced even today in Indian Soil, though it is forbidden by the
Government.
Every home sacrifice many young lambs for their god. Christians will surely understand
that how the Jewish animals sacrifices has a place in Indian soil, because Jews migrated to
India especially to South India even before the birth of Jesus Christ.
People in India still believe that by sacrificing an animal, the curses and sins of their
family will be gone.
In Tamil Nadu, India, I have personally witnessed such animal sacrifices and often spoke
to the people about the parallels of Old Testament and Indian Vedic scriptures, which were
fulfilled in Jesus Christ.
For many educated people it is an eye opener.
Read the book of Moses 2, Leviticus Chapter 1" 1-9.
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Though the animal's blood is not a substitute, it was expected that man would repent and
turn away from his sinful ways by seeing the animal, which is being sacrificed on his
behalf. But mankind started practicing it just as a ritual, and thus came into condemnation.
If mankind were to be saved from this predicament, as Thertiriya Aranyaka 3rd verse says
again, "thad raktham Paramatmena punyadana baliyagam" which means that-blood
has to be through the sacrifice of God himself.
The Purusha Sukta says, there is no other way other than the sacrifice of Purusha
Prajapati. Purushao vava yagna (Chandokya Upanishad 3.16.1), God, the Purusha is the
sacrifice.
Not only by acknowledging but also by accepting this sacrifice as one's own, and for one's
own sake, the identity of one's self with the Divine Self is achieved.
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This was fulfilled in Jesus Christ when he was nailed to the cross.
"He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but entered the most holy
place once for all by His own blood, having obtained eternal redemption. Without shedding
blood there is no redemption" (Heb 9:12,22).
7. Jesus Christ's bones were not broken
In the Bible, Exodus 12:46 says that the bones of the animal should not be broken. Three
hours after crucifixion,
"when they (soldiers) came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his
legs"(John 19:33).
8. Jesus Christ rose again from the dead
"Him (Jesus Christ) God raised up the third day, and showed him openly" (Acts 10:40).
"But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept"
(1Cor. 15:20).
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your obstinacy and impenitence of heart you are treasuring up for yourself anger for the
day of anger and the revealing of the righteous judgment of God, who will reward each
person according to his deeds. Romans 2:4-6.
For there is no partiality with God. Romans 2:11.
So today if you hear His Voice, harden not your heart, but come boldly unto the throne of
grace, that you may obtain mercy and pardon. Hebrews 3:15
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given
among men, whereby we must be saved. Acts 4:12.
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One day, he realized while reciting the Shlokas about a legend Prajapati (the lord of the people) which is
mentioned in the Vedas. This historic figure was supposed to take the sins of the world and die for it. He also
had to remain sinless and a wild thorny creeper on his head. He was to die for the sins of the world and
resurrect. Sadhu Chellapa was really interested in this deity Prajapathi who is mentioned in Rig Veda as a
silent sufferer. So he started searching for him. He asked many questions to other priests and Brahmans in
the temples. He was determined to search out his Prajapathi. But he did not find any satisfactory answers. He
was only 19 years old at that time and felt very disillusioned. So he thought to himself may be there is no God
and everything is purposeless.
During this time, he met another atheist who had a long conversation with him that there is a god, but the
world has many names to this god. People say there is a Christian god, a Muslim god, a Jewish god and
thousands of Hindu gods, So it is better to believe there is no god. It makes more sense to just ignore God!
Some time went by, and his parents wanted him to get married. One of his Uncles insisted that he would
marry a good Christian girl. He did not know why he believed that, but he agreed to it. So he married and
had children. Life went on but he was not at peace, he started smoking, drinking and also went under a huge
debt. Due to his ill habits of smoking, he suffered from TB. There was no proper cure in those days so he
suffered a lot. On top of this he always had guilt in himself that he is neither a good husband to his wife or a
good father to his children. Day by day the guilt of family, disillusionment from god and the tensions of debt
led him to depression.
One day he was travelling in the train with all the problems and worries of his life and he thought of a way to
escape from it. He decided to commit suicide. He went to the door of the gushing train to throw himself
down. Right at that moment he heard a mysterious voice saying, He that conceals his sin will never prosper.
This verse struck him to his core. He felt why he heard something like this? What was the purpose? Was
there a message for him? As soon as the train stopped he got down and he saw a huge Christian gathering in
an open place. He started walking towards it, thinking that Jesus Christ is a Christian and foreign god of the
West. But he felt compelled to go there. In the meeting he heard the pastor speak about sin which he
understood very well from his knowledge of Vedas. But then, the pastor said that only Jesus Christ, who is
born of the virgin can take away the sins of world, for He alone is sinless and he is the atoning sacrifice on
behalf of all the people. Sadhu Chellapa recalled that about Prajapathi, written in the Vedas too. He could
not believe the exact connection. That night the pastor invited the congregation to come forward and accept
Jesus Christ as their Savior. He ran in front, prayed and accepted Jesus into his heart. Since that day he
started sharing his testimony and preaching the Word of God in all the places.
You can read more about him, his mission, and his audio and video preaching on his website
http://www.agniministries.org/Default.aspx. His testimony is published in a leading British magazine The
Edge. You can also listen to 10 part testimony here on youtube where he talks in detail about the Vedas and
its fascinating yet much ignored passages which may point to Jesus Christ. (The videos are set into playlist, so
you can continually watch all parts without any more clicks.)
Video testimony of Sadhu Chellappa
httpvp://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=F465B151819799F1
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