Mansahar Ya Vyadhiyo Ka Aagar

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Mansahar ya Vyadhiyo ka Aagar" (Meat-eating or a Storehouse of Diseases) by Upadhyay Shri Pushkar Muni Ji, based on the provided pages:

The book argues strongly against meat-eating, presenting it as a significant cause of numerous diseases and a detriment to physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. It contrasts this with vegetarianism, advocating it as a healthier, more ethical, and conducive path to holistic development.

Key Arguments and Points:

• Meat as a Source of Diseases (Zoonoses):

  • The World Health Organization (WHO) bulletin is cited, stating that meat consumption can introduce 160 diseases into the human body, many of which are fatal or incurable.
  • Animals themselves suffer from various diseases, which are transmitted to humans through the consumption of their flesh.
  • Four types of Zoonoses are described:
    1. Direct Zoonoses: Diseases transmitted directly from sick animals through meat consumption.
    2. Cyclo-Zoonoses: Diseases transmitted indirectly through an intermediate host (e.g., one animal eating the meat of another diseased animal, and then humans consuming the second animal). Tapeworm is given as an example.
    3. Metazoonoses: Diseases transmitted from invertebrates (e.g., insects) that feed on animals. Plague is mentioned.
    4. Sapronoses: Diseases transmitted indirectly through plants, soil, or water contaminated by sick animals. Larva migrans is an example.

• Nutritional Deficiencies in Meat:

  • Meat is claimed to be less nutritious than vegetarian food, lacking essential elements like carbohydrates, fiber, and vitamins.
  • Peanuts are cited as providing 570 calories per unit of weight, while the same amount of meat and eggs provide only 114 and 173 calories respectively, questioning the claim of meat being more nutritious.

• Prevalence of Diseases in Meat-Eating Populations:

  • Countries with high meat consumption, like Britain, are linked to a higher incidence of diseases such as heart attack, cancer, high blood pressure, obesity, kidney problems, constipation, liver diseases, and gallstones.
  • Japan and India, with lower meat consumption, have a comparatively lower prevalence of these diseases.
  • Australia, the highest meat-consuming country, has the highest rates of bowel cancer.

• Harmful Effects of Eggs and Cholesterol:

  • Doctors E.B. Amari and Inha are quoted as calling eggs "poison."
  • Dr. R.J. Williams suggests that while eggs might initially provide energy, they can lead to diabetes, heart disease, eczema, and paralysis later.
  • Eggs and meat are identified as major sources of cholesterol, which clogs blood vessels, leading to high blood pressure and heart attacks.
  • Intestinal ulcers, appendicitis, and rectal cancer are also stated to be common among meat-eaters.
  • Meat-eating increases uric acid in the blood, leading to gout.

• Degradation of the Digestive System and Immunity:

  • Continuous consumption of meat can cause dysentery, indigestion, and chronic constipation, which in turn leads to other diseases.
  • The human digestive system is argued to be designed for vegetarian food, not meat.
  • Meat is considered "vitamin-zero" food, leading to skin diseases like eczema and acne due to the lack of Vitamin A found in vegetables.
  • Meat-eating weakens the immune system, making individuals more susceptible to even minor illnesses.

• Impact on Mental and Intellectual Development:

  • Meat-eating is said to dull the intellect and impair memory.
  • Physical and mental development are hindered by a meat-based diet.

• Contaminated and Degenerate Meat:

  • Meat often becomes contaminated and degenerate, making it even more harmful.
  • The saying "Karela pahle hi kadva aur upar se neem chadha" (bitter gourd made even more bitter by neem) is used to describe the state of meat.
  • Salmonella infection from spoiled eggs and chicken is mentioned as a cause of food poisoning, with 12% of poultry products found to be contaminated.
  • Eggs can spoil quickly above 8°C, and in hot climates like India, identifying spoiled eggs is difficult.
  • The porous shell of eggs allows microorganisms to enter, making them disease-producing.
  • Thousands of people annually in America fall ill from consuming contaminated eggs and meat.
  • Diseased animals, including those with cancer or tumors, are often used for meat without proper testing due to commercial interests.

• Stress and Toxin in Meat:

  • Animals experience extreme fear and terror when taken to slaughterhouses, leading to the release of toxins into their blood, which then contaminates the meat.
  • The struggle and fear of animals before slaughter cause the production of "adrenaline," which mixes with the meat and causes ill effects in consumers.

• Historical Examples of Vegetarianism's Benefits:

  • During WWI, Denmark banned meat consumption, resulting in a 34% decrease in the death rate in one year.
  • During WWII, Denmark saw a significant reduction in circulatory diseases after stopping meat consumption.
  • A reduction in meat supply in Britain led to improvements in public health, including lower infant mortality and anemia.
  • These events inspired a shift towards vegetarianism.

• Meat-Eating as a Cause of Mental Degradation:

  • Diet not only affects physical but also mental and spiritual development.
  • The book classifies food into three categories: Sattvic (pure), Rajasic (stimulating), and Tamasic (impure/dark).
    • Sattvic foods (fruits, vegetables, grains, milk, nuts, butter) increase lifespan and strength, promote positive qualities like peace, compassion, and non-violence, and prevent the mind from straying towards negative impulses.
    • Rajasic foods (spicy, sour, bitter, stimulating) cause agitation, anger, sorrow, and stress.
    • Tamasic foods (stale, rotten, undercooked, foul-smelling) are associated with anger, violence, hatred, mental degradation, corruption of intellect, destruction of character, laziness, and lethargy.
  • Vegetarianism is presented as Sattvic, while meat-eating is categorized as Tamasic.
  • Mahatma Gandhi's refusal to give meat soup to his dying son is highlighted as an example of the power of conviction and the belief in the superiority of non-violence and purity.

• Character and Meat-Eating:

  • A person's diet is linked to their character and tendencies.
  • Meat-eaters are often described as cruel, angry, uncompassionate, violent, and heartless.
  • A survey of prisoners in Gwalior found that 85% of meat-eating prisoners were restless, impatient, angry, and prone to conflict, while 90% of vegetarian prisoners were peaceful, happy, kind, and sensitive.
  • Meat-eating is described as the path to "Asuratta" (demonic nature), while vegetarianism leads towards "Devatta" (divine nature).

• Conclusion and Call to Action:

  • Humans are naturally vegetarian.
  • Milk is a pure and harmless food, even for meat-eaters.
  • Meat and eggs are unnatural food substances for humans.
  • The author urges people to recognize meat-eating in its true, harmful form and abstain from it.
  • The responsibility of those who are aware is to awaken others.
  • The book concludes with a devotional song encouraging self-awareness and renunciation of worldly attachments, emphasizing the importance of Dharma, meditation, and righteous living, attributed to Upadhyay Shri Pushkar Muni.

In essence, "Mansahar ya Vyadhiyo ka Aagar" is a strong ethical and health-driven argument for vegetarianism, presented within a Jain philosophical framework, asserting that meat consumption is a root cause of physical ailments, mental dullness, and moral degradation.