Thiruvalluvar and Thirukkural

[Yashwant Malaiya]

nanda chandran <vpcnk at HOTMAIL.COM> wrote:

>But how many Tamilians are vegetarians - which is the
>least one would expect of a follower of the way of life
>expounded by Thiruvalluvar. And the small percent of Tamils
>who're vegetarian seem more influenced by brAhmanism than
>by Valluvar.

Vegetarianism is more the result of Jainism than
Brahmanism (or even Buddhism).  Vegetarianism is not
a requirement in many Brahmin communities in the North
although it has been getting popular in many communities
in the last few centuries.

Buddhism (Thervad) allows eating of meat, but not killing
of animals. There is a verse in the Kural, that in the
opinion of some, refers to it.

Yashwant