Office of the Prime Minister
South Block, Raisina Hill
New Delhi - 110011
India

Subject: Protection of the Ancient Hindu and Tribal Tradition of Bali Pratha 

Honorable Prime Minister of India,

We hope this letter finds you in good health and high spirits. As concerned citizens, we are writing to draw your attention to an important matter regarding the preservation and protection of our ancient Hindu and tribal practice of Pashubali, or animal sacrifice to the Gods.

Recognizing that the Indian Constitution guarantees freedom of religion as a fundamental right, it's important to recall that Article 25 explicitly safeguards the freedom of conscience and the right to freely profess, practice, and propagate religion. The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, has provisions exempting animal sacrifice for religious purposes, stipulating that “Nothing contained in this Act shall render it an offense to kill any animal in a manner required by the religion of any community”. Therefore, it is within these constitutional allowances that Bali Pratha finds protection. Given the permission extended to several religious communities in India to practice animal sacrifice, it stands to reason that our revered temples, like Kamakhya, Tarapith, among others, should retain this right, given their tremendous spiritual and religious significance to the upasaka-s and devotees. It is crucial to respect and preserve these ancient practices that are deeply intertwined with our cultural and religious heritage.

Furthermore, the ritual of pashubali holds a prominent position in our important Hindu scriptures, including Vedic texts. Esteemed religious leaders from vegetarian sampradayas have acknowledged this practice in their writings, even in the context of the Brahma Sutras' Adhyaya 3 Pada 1, reinforcing that this practice doesn't infringe on the principle of Ahimsa and is separate from the notion of vegetarianism. A list of scriptural references that underline the historical and religious significance of Bali Pratha are included at the end of this letter.

The veneration of Ugra deities in Hinduism necessitates adherence to certain agamas, which entail worship through unconventional elements, forming an integral part of their essential practice. Similarly, many of India's protected tribes worship kula and grama devatas in compliance with specific agamas that include Bali. These traditions, deeply rooted in their cultural identities, deserve respect and protection.

Honorable Prime Minister, we have faith that as a devotee of Ma Durga, you possess a deep and intimate knowledge of the various forms of Ma, in some of which she is known as “Balipriya”, require specific types of "guhya" worship. We earnestly hope that you will extend your constitutional protection to Bali Pratha, given its cultural and religious significance, and considering the deep sentiments of numerous devotees. We believe that you will resist any pressures exerted by neo-colonial, atheistic, or Western entities striving to dilute our sacred traditions.

We humbly request your intervention to safeguard the ancient Hindu and tribal tradition of Balipratha. Preserving our cultural and religious heritage is of utmost importance, and it is through your leadership that we can ensure the continuation of these practices while respecting the principles of our Constitution.

Thank you for your attention to this significant matter. We look forward to your support and action in preserving and protecting our valuable traditions.

 

Yours sincerely,
Concerned Hindus

 

*** 

REFERENCES:

1. 1. jānatājānatā vāpi bali pūjāṃ tathā kṛtām।
   pratīkṣiṣyāmyahaṃ prītyā vahni hōmaṃ tathā kṛtam ॥11॥ Devi Mahatmyam, Ch 12:
   (When bali and puja is offered to Durga with or without knowledge of rituals it still accepted by the Goddess Herself**)
2. Brahma Sutras, Adhyaya 3 Pada 1 of the Brahma Sutras:
   (If it be argued that rites (invoking killing of animals) are unholy, we say, no, since they are sanctioned by scriptures)
   1. Shri Adi Shankaracharya’s commentary on Brahma Sutra Ch 3 v1:
      
      “Now from scripture we derive the certain knowledge that the gyotishtoma-sacrifice, which involves harm done to animals (i.e. the animal sacrifice), &c., is an act of duty; how then can it be called unholy?--But does not the scriptural precept, 'Do not harm any creature,' intimate that to do harm to any being is an act contrary to duty?--True, but that is a general rule, while the precept, 'Let him offer an animal to Agnîshomau,' embodies an exception; and general rule and exception have different spheres of application”
      https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/sbe38/sbe38101.htm
   2. Sri Ramanujacharya’s commentary (Sri Bhashya) on Brahma Sutra Ch3 v1
      “For Scripture declares that the killing of sacrificial animals makes them to go up to the heavenly world, and therefore is not of the nature of harm. This is declared in the text, 'The animal killed at the sacrifice having assumed a divine body goes to the heavenly world'; 'with a golden body it ascends to the heavenly world.' An action which is the means of supreme exaltation is not of the nature of harm, even if it involves some little pain; it rather is of beneficial nature.--With this the mantra also agrees: 'Thou dost not die, thou goest to the gods on easy paths; where virtuous men go, not evil-doers, there the divine Savitri may lead thee.' An act which has a healing tendency, although it may cause a transitory pain, men of insight declare to be preservative and beneficial.” http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/sbe48/sbe48342.htm
   3. Sri Madhavacharya in his Dvaita commentary on Brahma Sutra Ch3v1
      
      “It may be said that sacrificial work involves injury to life, and as such it is productive of sin and consequently of misery, and that, therefore, it is not to be performed. But this objection is to be refuted on the ground that the injury to life involved in holy duties is permitted by the word (scripture); for the Varahapurana says, "To do harm to any life except as enjoined by scripture is really productive of sin and evil consequences; on the other hand, no evil consequences possibly arise from the act of killing permitted by the Vedas." https://archive.org/stream/BrahmasutraMadhvaEnglish/Brahmasutra%20Madhva%20English_djvu.txt
   4. Sri Baladeva Vidyabhushana in his Gaudiya Vaishnava commentary on Brahma Sutras, Ch3 v1
      
      “Because piety and impiety is known only from the Vedas’ statements, the Vedas’ order to commit violence must be understood to be actually kind and pious. Therefore the orders of the Vedas are never impure. The prohibitions “Never commit violence to anyone,” and “Violence is a sin,” are the general rules decreed by the Vedas; and the statement, “One should sacrifice an animal in an agnisomiya- yajña,” is an exception to that general rule. A general rule and a specific exception to that rule need not contradict each other. There is scope for each. For these reasons, therefore, the scriptures’ description that the fallen soul takes birth as a rice plant or similar being is metaphorical and not literal.” https://archive.org/stream/BaladevaVidyabhusanaSriVedantaSutra/Baladeva_Vidyabhusana_Sri_Vedanta-sutra_djvu.txt
3. In Vaikritika Rahasya trayas recited during Chandi Parayana, there is mention of Bali.
   
   रुधिराक्तेन बलिना मांसेन सुरया नृप।
   (बलिमांसादिपूजेयं विप्रवर्ज्या मयेरिता॥
   तेषां किल सुरामांसैर्नोक्ता पूजा नृप क्वचित्।)
   प्रणामाचमनीयेन चन्दनेन सुगन्धिना
   
   Oh king, that "DEVI" should be worshiped with devotion, by the blood drenched sacrifice , toddy , meat, ( Oh king, the puja thus prescribed with sacrifice and meat is told by excluding Brahmins. For Brahmins there is no vidhan for puja with Meat and liquor.) Salutation , Aachamana , sandal paste with good aroma.
4. Saparya padhati text of Ma Kali.
   
   यज्ञ्यार्थे पशवः सृष्टा स्वयमेव स्वयम्भुवा
   अतस्त्वां घातयिष्यामि तस्माद् यज्ञ्ये वधो वधः
   
   It essentially says that Pashu's are created for yagnya by the Brahma himself and there are to be given as Bali in a yagnya.
5. Valmiki ramayana, Bala-kanda, Sarga 14 - Ashwamedha Yagna
   Verses 30-38 details the step by step process of how Srotriya Brahmanas performed the Ashwamedha Yagna *as per scriptures* Reference : http://www.valmikiramayan.net/bala/sarga14/bala_14_frame.htm
6. Hindu Dharma, The Universal Way of Life: Voice of Guru - Pujyasri Chandrasekharendra Sarasvati Swami (Part V - The Vedas, Chapter 23: Is Sacrificial Killing Justified?)
   
   “In the concluding passage of the Chandogya Upanishad where ahimsa or non-violence is extolled you find these words, "Anyatra tirthebhyah". It means ahimsa must be practised except with regard to Vedic rites.”