Guru Nanak and the Non-Vegetarian Food

Guru Nanak challenges religious rituals and teachings about food by serving meat in a holy place, teaching that there is no inherent sin in eating either plant-based or animal-based food.

The Story

Once, Guru Nanak was travelling through Kurukshetra, a holy place for Hindus. It was the day of the solar eclipse, and many devotees had gathered to take a purifying bath in the lake, as per the traditional rituals.

While in Kurukshetra, Guru Nanak asked his companion, Mardana, to cook deer meat. After the meat was cooked, Guru Nanak asked Mardana to distribute it among the gathered devotees.

The devotees were shocked and disturbed. The idea of eating meat at a holy place like Kurukshetra was unbearable for them. They gathered together, furious, and decided to take action against Guru Nanak.

However, Guru Nanak was undisturbed by their anger. The devotees asked him to explain himself, and Guru Nanak responded calmly...

Pearls of Wisdom

1. What did Guru Nanak say to the people?

Guru Nanak said, "Only fools argue over whether or not to eat meat. They are unaware of the truth. Who defined what constitutes meat and what constitutes plants? Who decided whether eating meat is a sin or not?"

The Moral of the Story

Guru Nanak wanted to create awareness about the hypocrisies surrounding rituals. He emphasized that distinguishing between vegetarian and non-vegetarian food is not as simple as it seems, as both plants and animals are full of life. According to Guru Nanak, eating food from either source is not sinful, and such divisions are only based on human-made distinctions.

🌟 **Moral**: Guru Nanak taught that spiritual wisdom is not about rituals or the source of our food but about understanding the unity of life and the futility of unnecessary divisions.

Disclaimer: This story reflects the teachings of Guru Nanak. Please regard this as part of Sikh spiritual wisdom.