304 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
Truth Behind Vedic Sacrifices
The Brahmin demand for meat on such an unbounded scale impoverished the peasants who had to find the cows for the sacrifices and were consequently deprived of milk and its by-products, which were their staple means of livelihood.
The proof of the limits to which these blood sacrifices had been carried on can be found even to this day in the lurid descriptions of the ceremonials in the Vedas which show but scant regard for any sort of humanitarian considerations. And so when Buddha came out preaching abolition of animal sacrifices and religious ceremonials the masses to whom the new doctrines appealed both economically and ethically eagerly accpeted them and scrapped Brahminical teachings.
How did Brahminism save itself from the surging tide of Buddhism ? It straight-way gave up all the sacrificial and ceremonial part of Hinduism. The cow that was slaughtered so far was, to outbid Buddha, covered with the highest sanctity.
The meat-eating Brahmin became a strict vegetarian. Wine bibbing came to an end. Hinduism assumed a puritanical covering.
Compromise with Kshatriyas
In order to prevent the Kshatriyas going over to Buddhism the Brahmins offered them equality with themselves. There is actually a verse in one of the religious book, apart from scores of other references, observed Dr. Ambedkar, wherein it is stated that just as two policemen have to stand on two sides of a prisoner to prevent his escape so also have the Brahmins and Kshatriyas to act together to prevent the Vaishyas and Shudras getting out of their hands.
How Cow became Sanctified
The cow being sanctified, sacrificial ceremonials brought to an end and a large number of other Buddhist teachings being incorporated in Hinduism, the masses who had gone over to Buddhism, were slowly weaned back. The one great teaching