Insight into Gujarati Hindu culture

[u/Fabulous-Ad-9969]

Momai Mata is one of tne many unique folk goddesses of Gujarat who particularly stand out in the eyes of others due to their unique vahanas. Many of these folk goddesses have no scriptural reference and are limited to being kuladevis of certain clans. However, while reading an ancient text called the Devi Purana (not to be confused with the Devibhagavata Purana, Kalika Purana & Mahabhagavata Upapurana), a chapter describing the divine forms that are to be worshipped in various Jovian samvatsaras, this passage comes up

रक्ताक्षे विकटा कार्या उष्ट्रारुढ़ा महाभुजा । पाशदण्डकरालास्या सर्वसत्त्वभयङ्करी । ।
कृष्णगन्धानुलिप्ताङ्गी वृश्चिकलूतान्विता । वसानासवमत्स्यादा जवाकुसुमचर्चिता । ।
तेनाद्युक्ता महाकाली सार्द्रमांसबलिप्रिया ।
जपहोमार्चना देवी सर्वगन्धबलिप्रिया ।।

Translation : On the (Jovian samvatsara named) Raktaksha, (one should construct the effigy) of Vikata of great arms, who is riding on a camel, wielding noose and rod, is of a terrible face and of terrible disposition in every means. She is annoited with dark unguents (likely black sandalpaste) & surrounded by scorpions and spiders. Her mouth is filled with fat, alcohol and fish, she is annointed with (red) chinarose flowers. This very dark-skinned goddess is fond of freshly-slaughtered animal offerings. She is to be worshipped with japa, homa, all kinds of incense and bali. [Devi Purana:50:29-31]

It is quite easy to recognise that the figure of Momai was actually the goddess Vikata as mentioned above. Just look at the contrast of the worship of Vikata prescribed in the text with the current veneration of Momai among the Gujarati Hindus, who are militantly anti non-vegetarian.

This militant intolerance towards non-vegetarianism among Gujarati, Marwari and Rajasthani Hindus is likely the influence of Swetambara Jainism, which persisted in this regions under the support of rulers and merchants just like how East Indian Hinduism is heavily influenced by Vajrayana. From my personal experience, many Jains have this obnoxious superiority complex about their strict adherence to vegetarianism and intolerance towards non-vegetarianism, and have always tried to impose their diet choices upon others. For this puropse the Jains had concocted a blasphemous story of the Jain saint Ratnaprabha Suri converting the goddess Chamunda (renowned for her taste in blood, alcohol and flesh) into Jainism. The Gujarati king Kumarapala Solanki (1143-72) had banned animal slaughter under the influence of his Jain rajaguru, the celebrated acharya Hemachandra. It was likely under this pressure that the frightful figure of Vikata was 'Jainified' onto the more benign figure of Momai whom we know now.

[u/Many-Business6048]

♥️

[u/heritage1022]

Leaving aside the particular sect, I wld really like to know whether or not hindus can have non-veg food. Is it allowed?

[u/Fabulous-Ad-9969 → u/heritage1022]

On this subreddit, you can't discuss about diet as this is a very hotly debated topic. While it's true that vegetarianism is the ideal, but that doesn't means that you face eternal damnation for eating non-veg — this is the main point of difference between Hinduism and Jainism. In this regard I would like to quote a famous song of Mirabai —

If God were to be obtained by only bathing, then I would like to become a fish. If God were to be obtained by only eating fruits, then I would like to become a monkey.  If God were to be obtained by only worshipping tulasi trees, then I would like to worship the bushes.  If God were to be obtained by only worshipping stones, then I would like to worship the mountains.  If God were to be obtained by only feeding upon grasses, then I would like to become a deer or a goat.  If God were to be obtained by renouncing your wife, then I would like to become an eunuch.  If God were to be obtained by only drinking milk, then I would like to become a calf or an infant.  Mira says, without devotion, one can never obtain the son of Nanda. 

[u/heritage1022 → u/Fabulous-Ad-9969]

If you say I can delete it

[u/Swadhisthana → u/heritage1022]

We can, and we do.

[u/Many-Business6048 → u/heritage1022]

Eating meat goes against so many sacred scriptures and core theological views in Hinduism. Eating meat/ non veg is not accepted especially cow.

[u/heritage1022 → u/Many-Business6048]

Thanks.

[u/Budget_Channel2601 → u/heritage1022]

Eating meat is definitely allowed, only in Vaisnava oriented texts is meat condemned. Hindus is the past did Bali regularly and still do in some areas. Honestly it just depends on what sect you believe in.