The Myth of the Holy Cow
.jpeg) | |
| Author | D. N. Jha |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Subject | Hinduism, History |
| Published | 2001 |
| Publisher | Matrix Books, republished by Verso in 2002 |
| Publication place | India |
| Pages | 183 |
| ISBN | 978-1-8598-4676-6 |
The Myth of the Holy Cow is a 2001 book by historian D. N. Jha published by Matrix Books. The book was republished by Verso in 2002. The book aims to dispel the myth of the holiness of cows in ancient India. The author received death threats by Hindu nationalists over it and the book was later banned by Hyderabad civil court.
Overview
The book alleged that cows were eaten in ancient India. Cattle, including cows, were neither inviolable nor as revered in ancient times as they were later.[1][2]
Reception
The book was reviewed by historian of religions, David M. Knipe of the University of Wisconsin, Madison[3] and by Matthew Sayers of University of Texas, who noted it to be a "well-organized, well-focused, and concerted effort to demonstrate that the modern understanding that the cow has been sacred since Vedic times is a mistake."[4][5][6]
Attacks from Hindu nationalists
Since 2001, Jha has received death threats over his book The Myth of the Holy Cow in which he outlined the practice of eating beef in ancient India as documented in Vedic and Post-Vedic texts. Since Hindus consider the cow holy and deny the claims of beef consumption during Vedic period, the Hindu activist groups created controversy over his book.[7][8][9] The book was banned by Hyderabad civil court. [10]
See also
References
- ^ Salam, Ziya Us (5 February 2021). "Prof D.N. Jha (1940-2021), a rare historian who wore his knowledge with ease". Frontline. Retrieved 31 January 2026.
- ^ Eakin, Emily (17 August 2002). "Holy Cow a Myth? An Indian Finds The Kick Is Real". The New York Times. Retrieved 31 January 2026.
- ^ Knipe, D. M. (1 March 2004). "Review: The Myth of the Holy Cow". Journal of the American Academy of Religion. 72 (1): 263–266. doi:10.1093/jaarel/lfh020. ISSN 0002-7189. Retrieved 31 January 2026.
- ^ Sayers, Matthew (2003). "The Myth of the Holy Cow. By D. N. Jha. New York: Verso, 2002. 183 pp. $22.00 (cloth)". The Journal of Asian Studies. 62 (1): 311–313. doi:10.2307/3096214. ISSN 0021-9118. Retrieved 31 January 2026.
- ^ "The Myth of the Holy Cow (D.N. Jha)". Danny Yee's Book Reviews. Retrieved 31 January 2026.
- ^ "India's movement to protect cows is rooted in politics, not religion". The Economist. 20 December 2022. Retrieved 31 January 2026.
- ^ Reddy, Sheela (8 September 2001). "A Brahmin's Cow Tales". Outlook India. Retrieved 31 January 2026.
- ^ Mishra, Pankaj (12 July 2002). "Review: The Myth of the Holy Cow by DN Jha". The Guardian. Retrieved 31 January 2026.
- ^ "The Hindu : Beef eating: strangulating history". thehindu.com. 14 August 2001. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 31 January 2026.
- ^ Jha, D. N. (17 February 2004). "The Myth of the Holy Cow". Verso. Retrieved 31 January 2026.