Sikhs can eat anything so long as it is not ritual sacrificed.
The Sikh Rehat Maryada, or Sikh Code of Conduct strictly condems the consumption of Ritually slaughtered meat (Halal/Kosher) for Baptised Sikhs.
Sikhs can eat meat, any kind of meat. Usually, it depends on the individual how much he or she is into eating meats. Some may eat all kinds, others may favor one or the other. There is no general rule for Sikhs about what to eat and what not to, but rather depends on an individual. However, once a Sikh gets baptized he or she becomes vegetarian, that is he or she no longer eat meat or eggs.
Yes ...read on
Diet in SikhismIn Sikhism, only vegetarian food is served in the Gurdwara, but Sikhs are not bound to be meat-free. The general consensus is that Sikhs are free to choose whether to adopt a meat diet or not.[1] Orthodox Sikhs[2] believe that once Amrit is taken, Sikhs are only prohibited from eating Kutha or ritually-slaughtered (Halal, Kosher) meat.
Some sects of Sikhs-Damdami Taksal, Akhand Kirtani Jatha, Namdharis, Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha[3] and the 3HO[4]-believe that a Sikh should be meat-free.[5]
Vegetarianism and the Guru Granth SahibSikh intellectuals[6] believe that the issue of meat and vegetarianism is addressed in one section only of the Guru Granth Sahib: -
First Mehl:
The fools argue about flesh and meat, but they know nothing about meditation and spiritual wisdom.
What is called meat, and what is called green vegetables? What leads to sin?
It was the habit of the gods to kill the rhinoceros, and make a feast of the burnt offering.
Those who renounce meat, and hold their noses when sitting near it, devour men at night.
They practice hypocrisy, and make a show before other people, but they do not understand anything about meditation or spiritual wisdom.
O Nanak, what can be said to the blind people? They cannot answer, or even understand what is said.
They alone are blind, who act blindly. They have no eyes in their hearts.
They are produced from the blood of their mothers and fathers, but they do not eat fish or meat.
[7]
On the views that eating vegetation would be eating flesh, first Sikh Guru Nanak states: AGGS, M 1, p 1290.[8]-
First Mehl:
Punjabi: ਪਾਂਡੇ ਤੂ ਜਾਣੈ ਹੀ ਨਾਹੀ ਕਿਥਹ੠ਮਾਸ੠ਉਪੰਨਾ ॥ ਤੋਇਅਹ੠ਅੰਨ੠ਕਮਾਦ੠ਕਪਾਹਾਂ ਤੋਇਅਹ੠ਤà©à¨°à¨¿à¨à¨µà¨£à© ਗੰਨਾ ॥
O Pandit, you do not know where did flesh originate! It is water where life originated and it is water that sustains all life. It is water that produces grains, sugarcane, cotton and all forms of life.
On vegetation, the Guru Granth Sahib described it as living and experiencing pain: -
First Mehl:
Look, and see how the sugar-cane is cut down. After cutting away its branches, its feet are bound together into bundles,
and then, it is placed between the wooden rollers and crushed.
What punishment is inflicted upon it! Its juice is extracted and placed in the cauldron; as it is heated, it groans and cries out.
And then, the crushed cane is collected and burnt in the fire below.
Nanak: come, people, and see how the sweet sugar-cane is treated!Page 143 Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji [9]
The first Sikh Guru-Nanak Dev-said it was a pointless argument to debate the merits of either not eating or eating meat in the context of religion, as maintaining a strict diet does not make one blessed or elevate one to a superior status, spiritually or otherwise, over another.[10] Being a member of a religion incorporates not merely one's dietary customs but the entire way in which they govern their lifestyle.[11] He advocated a lifestyle consisting of honest, hard work and humility, focus and remembrance of God and compassion for all of humanity and God's creation all around, with these three key principles taking far greater precedence over one's dietary habits.
LangarMain article: Langar (Sikhism)Within the gurdwara, the Guru ka Langar (Guru's community kitchen) serves purely lacto-vegetarian food. The reason for serving vegetarian food is that the Langar is open to all. Since many faiths and persons have varying taboos on what to eat and how meat should be prepared, and since Sikhs accept these restrictions and accommodate people no matter their faith or culture, the safest option thought by the Sikh Gurus was to adopt vegetarian food for Langar. Meat was included in langar at the time of Guru Angad but then discontinued to accommodate Vashnavites.[12] The exception to vegetarian langar today is when Nihangs serve meat[13] on the occasion of Holla Mohalla, and call it MahaPrashad.
ReincarnationSikhism argues that the soul can possibly undergo millions of transformations as various forms of life before ultimately becoming human. These life forms could be a rock, vegetation or a non-human animal.[citation needed] Sikhism does not see a difference between mineral, vegetation and animal.[citation needed] The only distinction made is that between these and a human. [14] In terms of the Sikh view of karma, human life is seen as being most precious, and animal, vegetable and mineral, all equally below human life. Therefore, in terms of the Sikh view, eating an animal is the same as eating a plant or mineral.[15]
Sikh intellectual viewsI. J. Singh states that throughout Sikh history, there have been many subsects of Sikhism that have espoused vegetarianism however, this was rejected by the Sikh Gurus.[16] The Sikh thinking being that vegetarianism and meat-eating was unimportant in the realm of spirituality. Surinder Singh Kohli links vegetarianism to Vashnavite behaviour.[17] Gopal Singh commenting on meat being served in the langar during the time of Guru Angad[18] Gyani Sher Singh-who was the head priest at the Darbar Sahib-comments that ahimsa does not fit in with Sikh doctrine.[19] W. Owen Cole and Piara Singh Sambhi[20] comment that if the Sikh Guru's had made an issue on vegetarianism, it would have distracted from the main emphasis of Sikh spirituality. H. S. Singha and Satwant Kaur[21] comment on how ritually-slaughtered meat is considered a sin for initiated Sikhs. Surinder Singh Kohli comments on the "fools wrangle over flesh"[22] quotation from the Guru Granth Sahib by noting how Guru Nanak mocked hypocritical vegetarian priests. Gobind Mansukhi states how vegetarianism and meat-eating has been left to the individual Sikh.[23] G. S. Sidhu comments again on how ritually-slaughtered meat is taboo for a Sikh.[24] Gurbakh Singh comments on how non-Kutha meat is acceptable for the Sikhs.[25] Devinder Singh Chahal comments on the difficulties of distinguishing between plant and animal in Sikh philosophy.[26] H. S. Singha comments in his book how the Sikh Gurus ate meat.[27]
The Sikh code of conduct on the vegetarian issueLeading Sikh intellectuals ruled on this issue in the 1920s-as some Sikh sects attempted to get all Sikhs to be vegetarian-and came up with the following rule or code of conduct for baptised Sikhs with regards to meat and vegetarianism: Sikh Rehat Maryada- In the Rehat Maryada, section six, it states:
The undermentioned four transgressions (tabooed practices) must be avoided:
The Rehat Maryada states that Sikhs are bound to avoid meat that is killed in a ritualistic manner[28] e.g. Halal, Kosher, etc.[29][30]
There are groups such as the Akhand Kirtani Jatha that dispute the meaning of the word "kuttha", claiming it means all meat, however, in mainstream Sikhism this word has been accepted to mean, as that which is sacrificed.
Historical dietary behaviour of SikhsThere are a number of eyewitness accounts from European travelers as to the eating habits of Sikhs.[31] Although there is no prohibition on Sikhs eating beef, it is clear that Sikhs as a mark of respect for their Hindu neighbours did not partake in eating beef.[32][33] To initiate Muslims into their mysteries, one traveler said the Sikhs would prepare a dish of hog's legs.[34]
According to Dabistan e Mazhib (a contemporary Persian chronology of the Sikh Gurus) Guru Nanak did not eat meat, and Guru Arjan thought that meat eating was not in accordance with Nanak's wishes. This differs from I. J. Singh's research that states that Guru Nanak ate meat on the way to Kurukshetra.[35] However, his son Hargobind ate meat and hunted and his practice was adopted by most Sikhs.[36]
Bhai Gurdas-a contemporary of the sixth Sikh Guru-wrote vaars (poems or couplets) to describe the behaviour of Sikhs at that time. One of his vaars praises the merits of goat meat:[37] The proud elephant is inedible and none eats the mighty lion.
Goat is humble and hence it is respected everywhere.
On occasions of death, joy, marriage, yajna, etc only its meat dis accepted.
Among the householders its meat is acknowledged as sacred and with its gut stringed instruments are made.
From its leather the shoes are made to be used by the saints merged in their meditation upon the Lord.
Drums are mounted by its skin and then in the holy congregation the delight-giving kirtan, eulogy of the Lord, is sung.
In fact, going to the holy congregation is the same as going to the shelter of the true Guru.
ReferencesSikhs can eat rice and wheat products. They also eat milk products but some Sikhs do not eat meat
Baptised (Amritdhari) Sikhs are not allowed to consume meat/liquor/or any intoxicating substance. Sikhs who are not baptised may or may not eat meat according to their personal preference.
Sikhs that are "full Sikh's" (Baptist Sikh) can not eat any kind of meat nor eggs. Sikhs that are normal can eat meat and eggs but they can not eat halal nor beef.
In a Sikh Gudwara they do not serve meat in their Langar as they feel it will not be fair to those who don't eat meat e.g. because of their religion. Instead they serve non-meat substances like vegetables, fruit ,ect. Sikhs don't have to not eat meat. They can eat anything really but if they are a very strict Sikh they might not eat meat because of their own interpretation of their religion. Sikhs can choose what they want to eat.
No Sikhs are not vegetarian although many choose to be. One a Sikh has taken the Amrit ceremony (a form of Sikh baptism) they are not allowed to eat Kutha meat (meat which is ritually prepared like Halal or Kosher).
Sikh's can generally eat anything and do not have any dietary taboo's. Baptised Sikhs are not allowed to eat "Kutha" meat, or meat that has been ritually slaughtered. Those Baptised Sikh's that eat meat only eat Jhatka meat or meat that has been killed quickly. Some Sikh's that follow religious sects like Akhand Kirtani Jatha, GNNSJ, Raronwale are lacto-vegetarians.
Sikhs do not believe in ritual killing and are told to refrain from eating meat killed by such rites as halal and kosher. Most Sikhs are vegetarian
Yes, Sikhs are allowed to eat meat according to their dietary guidelines. However, many Sikhs follow a vegetarian diet as a personal choice or as part of their commitment to non-violence and respect for all living beings.
They don't eat meat which makes them vegetarian.
people celebrating Maghi do not eat meat or fish for this holiday.
now adays it doesnt really matter because no one really is a true Sikh. but Sikhs are suppose to vegetarian. no meat.
Sikhs in a Gurdwara are vegetarians. Only during occasions of Holla Mohalla when Nihangs serve meat, and call it Mahaprasad.