Is Ayurveda Vegan?
There is a popular myth that Ayurveda is vegetarianism or vegan. While it is true that in some respects they go hand in hand, eating meat in Ayurveda is totally dependent on the individual constitution and personal health care needs. Eating meat is always a personal decision based on your morals, religious practices, individual needs and health status. So what might be the reason for the popular misconception that Ayurveda is vegan or vegetarian?
It might be because we link Ayurveda and yogic or sattvic diet together. If you check the ancient Indian scriptures or literature like the Vedas and the Puranas, a description and explanation of meat has been given.
Health Benefits of Meat as per Ayurveda
Do you know what Ayurveda says about food? The ancient classical text Charaka Samhita says this.
“The life of all living things is food; the entire world seeks food. Complexion, clarity, good voice, long life, understanding, happiness, satisfaction, growth, intelligence are all because of food.”
Like plants and grains, Ayurveda accepts meat also as a form of food. Emphasizing upon this, the ancient Ayurvedic master Charaka says that no other food excels meat in producing nourishing effects in the body (mamsam brimhananam).
Ayurveda also gives detailed explanations on meat in eight different categories which include animals, birds and fish. These are the eight categories of non-vegetarian food mentioned in the ancient classical texts.
Prasaha (animals and birds who eat by snatching)
Bhumisaya (animals who live in burrows in the earth)
Anupa (animals inhabiting in marshy land)
Varisaya (aquatic animals)
Varicara (birds moving in water)
6. Jangala (animals dwelling in dry land forests)
Viskira (gallinaceous birds)
Pratuda (pecker birds)
Properties of Meat
The classical texts give numerous elaborate descriptions of the properties of various meats, especially their Vata-reducing properties.
Those such as peacock for example were commonly used for improving the eyes, voice, intellectual capabilities, complexion, hearing and more, and were commonly used.
Goat meat was also well-known for bulking the tissues and often used as a meat-soup or even a basti (Ayurvedic enema). Goat and mutton are said to be strengthening or tonifying for the body, and so they are good for Vata people and those with severe debilitated conditions. Goat also does not cause malas or waste material in the body.
Beef is said to cure dry cough, exhaustion, chronic nasal catarrh, emaciation and excess hunger.
Charaka says that fish is in general heavy, hot in potency, sweet, strength promoting, nourishing, unctuous and aphrodisiac.
Charaka also says that good quality meats are brimhana (strengthening and building) as also balya (promoting strength). He states that meat-soups (mamsarasa) are one of the best for the body. They are sarvarogaprashamanam (alleviates all diseases) and promote vidyam (wisdom), swarya (good voice), strength (bala) of vayas (age), buddhi (intellect) and indriyas (senses) respectively.
