Holy Cow: The Hare Krishna Contribution to Vegetarianism and Animal Rights [Kindle Edition]

Steven J. Rosen (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Hinduism scholar Steven Rosen explores the world of the Hare Krishna movement, which has been instrumental in raising awareness of vegetarianism and the plight of animals in the United States. Holy Cow begins by introducing the Hare Krishna movement and of its colorful singing and dancing, its book distribution program, and especially its restaurants, sacred food distribution, and delicious vegetarian cuisine.

Rosen returns to the early days of Indian culture, to a time when daily life was based on Vedic principles and scriptural wisdom, and shows how vegetarianism and animal rights were endorsed by the Vedic texts. Rosen reveals how a tension was created by a concomitant endorsement of animal sacrifices in ancient Indian culture, a tension that led in part to the beginnings of Jainism and Buddhism.

Rosen then examines the rise of Vaishnavism—the worship of the god Vishnu, or Krishna—and how Vaishnavites were sympathetic to vegetarianism and animal rights, showing the link between the contemporary Hare Krishna movement (ISKCON), founded in the 1960s, and the ancient Vaishnavaites and all that they have accomplished in between. Rosen looks at the "Food for Life" program, the restaurants and cookbooks, and the various forms of writing about vegetarianism and animal rights. The book also includes recipes for those who wish to taste Krishna.

In conclusion, Rosen illustrates how deeply Hare Krishna devotees have influenced the contemporary vegetarian movement and its call for ahimsa, or nonviolence, toward all living beings.

About the Author

Steven Rosen is the author of some twenty books on Hindu-related subjects. He is an initiated disciple of Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada and the editor-in-chief of the Journal of Vaishnava Studies, a peer-refereed academic journal that focuses on the culture and philosophy of Vaishnava-Hinduism. He lives in upstate New York.

Product Details

• Format: Kindle Edition
• File Size: 2638 KB
• Print Length: 241 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1590560663
• Publisher: Lantern Books (April 30, 2004)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
• Language: English
• ASIN: B003UTTYG4
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #171,942 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
  • #30 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Nonfiction > Science > Nature & Ecology > Animal Rights

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great perspective, May 21, 2005

By 

Carey Hart "Careygirl" (New Jersey, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Holy Cow: The Hare Krishna Contribution to Vegetarianism and Animal Rights (Paperback)

If you really want to learn more about the Vaishnava tradition of vegetarianism, this book is for you. It offered a great perspective on the history of vegetarianism in India as well and also compares and contrasts different religions and their thoughts on eating meat. If you're not so much into religion, then this book would also appeal to you as it speaks from the heart on animal kindness and reverence. A great read.