z:\ ambedkar\vol 04\vol4 03.indd MK SJ YS 21 9 2013/YS 8 11 2013 110
110 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
The Yajur-Veda says :
“Oh, Deva Soma ! being strengthened and invigorated by Sura (wine), by thy pure spirit, please the Devas ; give juicy food to the sacrificer and vigour to Brahmanas and Kshatriyas.”
The Mantra Brahmana says :
“By which women have been made enjoyable by men, and by which water has been transformed into wine (for the enjoyment of men),” etc.
That Rama and Sita both drank wine is admitted by the Ramayana. Uttar Khand says :
“Like Indra in the case (of his wife) Shachi, Ramachandra saw that Sita drank purified honey called wine. Servants brought for Ramahandra meat and sweet fruit.
So did Krishna and Arjuna. The Udyoga Parva of the Mahabharata says :
“Arjuna and Shrikrishna drinking wine made from honey and being sweet-scented and garlanded, wearing splendid clothes and ornaments, sat on a golden throne studded with various jewels. I saw Shrikrishna’s feet on Arjuna’s lap, and Arjuna’s feet on Draupadi and Satyabhama’s lap.”
The greatest change that has taken place is in the diet. The present day Hindus are very particular about their diet. There are twofold limitations on commensality. A Hindu will not eat food cooked by a NonHindu. A Hindu will not eat food cooked even by a Hindu unless he is a Brahmin or a man of his caste. The Hindu is not only particular on the question of whose food he should eat, he is also particular to what he should eat. From the point of view of diet Hindus may be divided into two main classes.
(1) Those who are vegetarians.
(2) Those who are non-vegetarians.
The non-vegetarians again fall into several sub-divisions :
Those who will eat all kinds of flesh and fish.
Those who will eat only fish.
Those who will eat flesh are sub-divided into following categories :
( i ) Those who will eat the flesh of any animal except the cow.
( ii ) Those who will eat the flesh of any animal including that of the cow.
( iii ) Those who will eat flesh but not of a cow (whether dead or slaughtered) nor of chicken.
Classifying the Hindu Population from the point of view of its diet the Brahmins are divided into two classes (1) Pancha Gauda and (2) Panch Dravida.