Kutha (Kuttha) meat is defined as "meat of animal or fowl slaughtered slowly, or slaughter which sanctifies meat", contrarily, Halal and Kosher methods being examples of the latter. It has been more broadly defined as "killing an animal with a prayer", or as "a sacrifice to God", or meat prepared through "unnecessary ritualism".
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The Sikh community views this method of killing animals negatively and forbid adherents from consuming such meat. Hindu philosophy views Kutha as a means of repression and an inhumane non-Aryan way of killing animals for human consumption.
Hinduism
During Mughal rule, Hindus viewed Kutha meat as creating "spiritual weakness among Hindus". Also, according to the anti-Hindu oppressive Mughal law of the time, "Hindus were neither permitted to keep weapons at home nor allowed to cook and eat any form of meat". Hence, many Hindus will not eat Kutha meat. In addition to this, according to the ancient Aryan Vedic tradition, "only such meat as is obtained from an animal which is killed with one stroke of the weapon causing instantaneous death is fit for human consumption".
Sikhism
Eating kutha meat for a baptised Sikh is considered to be one of the Four Cardinal Sins. These four sins are part of the Sikh Code of Conduct (Rehit Maryada). The undermentioned four transgressions (tabooed practices) must be avoided:
- Dishonouring the hair
- Eating the meat of an animal slaughtered the Muslim way or the Jewish way (Kutha)
- Cohabiting with a person other than one's spouse
- Using tobacco
The reason for Sikhs avoiding Kutha "does not lie in religious tenet but in the view that killing an animal with a prayer is not going to ennoble the flesh." Guru Gobind Singh (the tenth Sikh Guru) also instructed Sikhs not to eat Kutha meat in order to boycott the Moghul Empire.
Lacto Vegetarianism in Sikhs
On the other hand, many Sikhs are lacto-vegetarian. According to many Sikhs, Sikh Gurus and the Guru Granth Sahib, only prohibited the excuses of inhabitants who eat meat and they never granted eating meat.
Two of the biggest Jathebandis (loosely translated as Sects) in Sikhi, the Akhand Keertani Jatha and Damdami Taksal are strict lacto-vegetarians.
Following quotes from the Guru Granth Sahib are interpreted to show that diet of Sikhs are vegetarian.
ਬੇਦ ਕਤੇਬ ਕਹਹੁ ਮਤ ਝੂਠੇ ਝੂਠਾ ਜੋ ਨ ਬਿਚਾਰੈ ॥ ਜਉ ਸਭ ਮਹਿ ਏਕੁ ਖੁਦਾਇ ਕਹਤ ਹਉ ਤਉ ਕਿਉ ਮੁਰਗੀ ਮਾਰੈ ॥੧॥
Do not say that the Vedas and other holy books are false. Those who do not contemplate them are false. You say that the One Lord is in all, so why do you kill chickens? ||1||
ਮਾਸੁ ਮਾਸੁ ਕਰਿ ਮੂਰਖੁ ਝਗੜੇ ਗਿਆਨੁ ਧਿਆਨੁ ਨਹੀ ਜਾਣੈ ॥ ਕਉਣੁ ਮਾਸੁ ਕਉਣੁ ਸਾਗੁ ਕਹਾਵੈ ਕਿਸੁ ਮਹਿ ਪਾਪ ਸਮਾਣੇ ॥
ਗੈਂਡਾ ਮਾਰਿ ਹੋਮ ਜਗ ਕੀਏ ਦੇਵਤਿਆ ਕੀ ਬਾਣੇ ॥ ਮਾਸੁ ਛੋਡਿ ਬੈਸਿ ਨਕੁ ਪਕੜਹਿ ਰਾਤੀ ਮਾਣਸ ਖਾਣੇ ॥
ਫੜੁ ਕਰਿ ਲੋਕਾਂ ਨੋ ਦਿਖਲਾਵਹਿ ਗਿਆਨੁ ਧਿਆਨੁ ਨਹੀ ਸੂਝੈ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਅੰਧੇ ਸਿਉ ਕਿਆ ਕਹੀਐ ਕਹੈ ਨ ਕਹਿਆ ਬੂਝੈ ॥
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.
ਕਬੀਰ ਜੋਰੀ ਕੀਏ ਜੁਲਮੁ ਹੈ ਕਹਤਾ ਨਾਉ ਹਲਾਲੁ ॥ ਦਫਤਰਿ ਲੇਖਾ ਮਾਂਗੀਐ ਤਬ ਹੋਇਗੋ ਕਉਨੁ ਹਵਾਲੁ ॥੧੮੭॥
ਕਬੀਰ ਖੂਬੁ ਖਾਨਾ ਖੀਚਰੀ ਜਾ ਮਹਿ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤੁ ਲੋਨੁ ॥ ਹੇਰਾ ਰੋਟੀ ਕਾਰਨੇ ਗਲਾ ਕਟਾਵੈ ਕਉਨੁ ॥੧੮੮॥
Kabeer, to use force is tyranny, even if you call it legal. When your account is called for in the Court of the Lord, what will your condition be then? (187) Kabeer, the dinner of beans and rice is excellent, if it is flavored with salt. Who would cut his throat, to have meat with his bread? (188)
ਕਬੀਰ ਭਾਂਗ ਮਾਛੁਲੀ ਸੁਰਾ ਪਾਨਿ ਜੋ ਜੋ ਪ੍ਰਾਨੀ ਖਾਂਹਿ ॥
ਤੀਰਥ ਬਰਤ ਨੇਮ ਕੀਏ ਤੇ ਸਭੈ ਰਸਾਤਲਿ ਜਾਂਹਿ ॥੨੩੩॥
Kabeer, those mortals who consume marijuana, fish and alcohol - no matter what pilgrimages, fasts and rituals they follow, they will all go to hell. ॥233॥
Jhatka
The method some Sikhs and Hindus use to slaughter animals is Jhatka, which is seen as the opposite to Kuttha.