Patil Bal - The History of Vegetarianism and Cow-Veneration in India

THE HISTORY OF VEGETARIANISM AND COW-VENERATION IN INDIA

For the first time, this influential study by Ludwig Alsdorf is made available to an English speaking audience, translated by Bal Patil. It focuses on two of the most pertinent issues in Indian religion, the history of vegetarianism and cow-veneration, and its historical approach remains relevant to this day

With reference to significant brahminical texts, such as key chapters of the Book of Manu, the book centres on the authors analysis of the role of Jainism in the history of vegetarianism. The author explores the history of meat-eating in India and its relationship to religious thought and custom, and searches for solutions to the problem of cattle veneration. Besides a comprehensive translation of the original German manuscript Beitrge zur Geschichte von Vegetarismus und Rinderverehrung in Indien, four important articles directly related to Alsdorfs work by Kapadia, Heesterman and Schmidt are made available in this new edition.

These additional contributions and careful notes by the editor Willem Bolle add a modern perspective to a study that remains a key reference for students and scholars of Religious Studies, Asian Studies and History

Ludwig Alsdorf (19041978) was one of the most influential Indologists of his generation. He had wide range of interests and worked on Prakrit, Apabhramsha and Pali literature, in particular on Jaina universal history and prosody His pioneering metrical analyses of ancient Indian literature prepared the ground for great advances in the dating of texts and the reconstruction of the history of Indian philosophy One of his most influential studies is the present work.

Willem Bolle is Professor Emeritus at the University of Heidelberg, Germany

Bal Patil is an independent researcher, journalist and Chairman of the Jain Minority Status Committee, Dakshin Bharat Jain Sabha, a century old Jain organization in India. He is the co-author of Jainism (1974, with Colette Caillat and A.N.Upadhye), and his English translation of Ludwig Alsdorfs Les Etudes Jaina, Etat Present et Taches Futures, edited by Willem Bolle was published in 2006. His translation of Hiralal Jains Jainism Through the Ages from Hindi into English is due for publication.

THE HISTORY OF VEGETARIANISM AND COW-VENERATION IN INDIA

Ludwig Alsdorf
Translated from German by Bal Patil
Revised by Nichola Hayton

Edited with additional notes,
a bibliography and four appendices by

Willem Bolle

LONDON AND NEW YORK

Title of the German original:
Beitrge zur Geschichte von Vegetarismus und Rinderverehrung in Indien.

Akademie der Wissenschaften und der Literatur. Abhandlungen der Geistes- und
Sozialwissenschaftlichen Klasse Jahrgang 1961Nr. 6.

Published by: Verlag der Akademie der Wissenschaften und der Literatur in Mainz in
Kommission bei Franz Steiner Verlag GmbH.Wiesbaden, 1962.

First published in German in 1962 as Beitrge zur Geschichte
von Vegetarismus und Rinderverehrung in Indien by the Verlag der
Akademie der Wissenschaften und der Literatur, Mainz, Germany

First published in English in 2010
by Routledge
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Simultaneously published in the USA and Canada
by Routledge
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This edition published in the Taylor & Francis e-Library, 2010.

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2010 Willem Bolle

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or
reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical,
or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying
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without permission in writing from the publishers.

British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Alsdorf, Ludwig, 19041978.
[Beitrge zur Geschichte von Vegetarismus und Rinderverehrung
in Indien. English]
The history of vegetarianism and cow-veneration in India/
Ludwig Alsdorf; translated by Bal Patil; revised by Nichola Hayton;
edited by Willem Bolle.
p. cm.(Routledge advances in Jaina studies; 3)
First published in German in 1962 as Beitrge zur Geschichte von
Vegetarismus und Rinderverehrung in Indien by Verlag der
Akademie der Wissenschaften und der Literatur, Mainz, Germany.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
1. VegetarianismReligious aspectsJainism. 2. Cows
Religious aspectsJainism. 3. JainismHistory.
4. VegetarianismIndiaHistory. I. Patil, Bal, 1932-.
II. Bolle, Willem B. III. Title.
BL1375.V44A5813 2010
294.5'48693dc22 2009031560

ISBN 0-203-85959-6 Master e-book ISBN

ISBN 10: 0-415-54824-1 (hbk)

ISBN 10: 0-203-85959-6 (ebk)

ISBN 13: 978-0-415-54824-3 (hbk)

ISBN 13: 978-0-203-85959-9 (ebk)