ABSTRACT
This chapter presents an overview on different aspects of the sacred cow and ahis in Hinduism. An access to different historical and cultural occurrences in context of the sacred cow and ahis amongst other things in connection to nourishment was given. The phenomenon of the sacred cow developed independently and includes cow protection and non-beef-eating. Ahis or non-violence developed later and led to a vegetarian diet. This could explain the taboos and the unique stance of cattle in India today. The bond between ahis, karman and rebirth illustrates a profound reason for a vegetarian diet in Hinduism. The tradition of sacrifice still exists in Hinduism and is an important religious act. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi as a promoter of non-violence as an adjustment of ahis was a strict vegetarian. His view on vegetarianism can be seen as a logical deduction of ahis. The examples of the sacred cow and ahis show the influence of cultural concepts on each other.
