Hindu Law and Custom (Recht und Sitte) c9.11

c9.11

Even now in Bombay among many castes the following are considered to be the chief sins: murder of Brahmans, women and children, indulging in spirituous liquors and forbidden foods, omission of the funeral ceremonies on the death of a relative and also every intercourse with people of low caste and Muhammedans. Also the killing of a cow is considered to be a particularly grave act of murder and stealing gold is considered to be the most heinous act of theft³. Similarly in Nepal the 5 chief crimes (pañc khāt) are taken from the 5 deadly sins of the law-books, namely Brahmahatyā, Strīhatyā, Balahatyā, Gohatyā and Agamyāgamana¹. Also according to Alberuni the following were regarded as deadly sins in the mediaeval age: murder of a Brahman or a cow, drinking wine and incest, particularly with one’s own mother and the wife of the teacher². How the religious fanaticism of the Hindus always flares up in the case of a transgression of the law of diets, particularly in the case of eating beef, is well-known from Indian history; even now the society for the protection of cows espouse the cause of the cows against Muhammadans as well as Europeans.