Jhatka

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Jhatka or Chatka meat (Hindi: झटका, Punjabi: ਝਟਕਾ) is meat from an animal that has been killed by a single strike of a sword or axe to sever the head, as opposed to ritualistically slow slaughter (Kuttha) like the Jewish slaughter or Islamic slaughter (dhabihah). It is the method preferred by many Sikhs,Hindus and Christians. Jhatka is one of highly debatable topic, among different scholars and sects in Sikhism as they do not accept all or some of the Sikh Granths/Scriptures as true. But As stated in the official Khalsa Code of Conduct as well as the Sikh Rehat Maryada, Kutha meat is forbidden, and Sikhs are recommended to eat the Jhatka form of meat. Dal Nihangs state that the consumption of Jhatka meat, known to them as 'Mahaparshad',is necessary for a warrior of the Khalsa to attain 'Bir Ras', the essence of a warrior. The one and only Alternative is Shikaar meat (Meat of a Hunted Animal).

On Jhatka, Mahankosh(Punjabi language encyclopedia which was compiled by Bhai Kahn Singh Nabha) states following:
ਝਟਕਾ - jhatakā - झटका: ਸੰਗ੍ਯਾ- ਝੋਕਾ. ਧੱਕਾ. ਝੜਾਕਾ। ੨. ਸੱਤਿ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਅਕਾਲ ਕਹਿਕੇ ਸ਼ਸਤ੍ਰ ਦੇ ਇੱਕ ਵਾਰ ਨਾਲ ਜੀਵ ਦਾ ਸਿਰ ਵੱਢਣਾ।¹ ੩. ਝਟਕੇ ਹੋਏ ਜੀਵ ਦਾ ਮਾਸ.
ਝਟਕਾਉਣਾ - jhatakāunā - झटकाउणा: ਕ੍ਰਿ- ਤਲਵਾਰ ਦੇ ਇੱਕ ਝੋਕੇ ਨਾਲ ਜਾਨਵਰ ਦਾ ਸਿਰ ਵੱਢ ਸਿੱਟਣਾ. "ਆਨਹੁ ਛਾਗ ਇੱਕ ਝਟਕੈਂ ਨਿਜ ਪਾਨਾ." (ਗੁਪ੍ਰਸੂ) ੨. ਬੰਦੂਕ਼. ਆਦਿ ਸ਼ਸਤ੍ਰ ਨਾਲ ਜੀਵ ਨੂੰ ਇਸੇ ਤਰਾਂ ਮਾਰਨਾ ਕਿ ਉਹ ਤੁਰਤ ਮਰ ਜਾਵੇ./For jhatka, a Sikh while delivering the blow may utter Sat Sri Akal (True is the Timeless Lord), which is both a Sikh war slogan and a salutation, but there is no idea of sacrifice or ritual involved in such utterance, and it is not mandatory either.Sikhism does not sanction sacrificial or ritual killing.

Jhatka meat prevents antihistamine effects on your body making it a healthy choice and is hygienic as the swiftness/Jhatka lessens the time span of processing meat making it less vulnerable to external and environmental contamination thereby minimizing infection probability which is injurious to health.

On religious Sikh festivals, including Hola Mohalla and Vaisakhi, at the Gurdwara of Hazur Sahib, Fatehgarh Sahib and many other Sikh Gurdwaras,[1] jhatka meat is offered as "mahaprasad" to all visitors in a Gurdwara. This is regarded as food blessed by the Guru and should not be refused.

To enjoy meat, you don't have to torture! In jhatka, Animal or bird is slaughtered swiftly in a Single stroke directly disconnecting communication between the brain and body, minimising agony and trauma as this is Free Of Ritual Torture (FORT) and does not let the animal release any pain, stress or fear hormones AKA cortisol, dopamine and norepinephrine. Let's be compassionate and save them from shock, pain and agony.

Types of Method and Meat Permitted

WHAT KINDS OF MEATS, BIRDS AND FISH DO SIKHS EAT?

  • Animal- The best is wild boar (bairah), the rhinoceros (gainda), various kinds of deer (mrig), goat (bakara), sheep (chhattara) and hare (kharagoz).
  • Bird- The best is crane (kulang), then goose (gaz), wild goose (magh), wild duck (murgai), various undomesticated cock (karavanak jangali kukar), heron (buz), black cuckoo (kokala), and partridge (tittar).
  • Fish- The best is rohu then water chesnut (singhara saula), aloe perfoliata (khagga), shrimp (jhinga), jajhalia, and the papal [or] vahilia.

Source-PREM SUMARAG MAAS REHITNAMAI

Can Sikhs eat Beef?

The short answer is no. For example, the Sakhi Rehit Ki (dated approx 1720s) says: "A Sikh must never smoke tobacco or use it as a snuff. Using tobacco is as henious a sin, as eating beef"

It must also be noted, that slaughter of cows was never allowed in the Khalsa Raaj, this act was met with severe punishment.

Now,the more practical side. Cows are domestic animals, so all the beef sold over the world is kut'ha maas.

The solution for those who want to eat red meat is EAT DEER. Deer is 100% wild organic and 100 times healthier to eat than vaccine/steroid injected and junk fed domestic cows. Deer meat is super lean and the protein and iron much richer/beneficial.

In Domestic Animals only males are Jhatka'd.

Can Sikhs eat Fish?

Yes, but only Pole Caught Fish. Because it is a Form of Shikaar and Shikaar is Allowed.

Is Commercial Meat Allowed?

1. Sikhs observe care and compassion towards the slaughter of domestic animals. One can see living evidence of this via speaking to any elderly Nihang or Gursikh who does Jhatka and ask about the treatment of an animal. It MUST be calm and free from anxiety, stress, fear. This ensures compassion when the instant kill is done and ensures the meat is of high quality free from the effect of negative hormones/energy and fear. ALL commercial slaughter FAILS this test,so Commercial Meat is a Big No.

2. Sikhs are banned from eating KUT'HA maas. Kut'ha refers to the METHOD i.e. death by slitting the throat and bleeding the animal to death whilst still alive. ALL commerical slaughter worldwide is KUT'HA.

3. Electricity, Gas, Bolt etc, are used to make the animal unconcious, NOT to kill it. This has a hit and miss success rate. Gurmat does not support this method. Gurmat requires the animal not to be partially or fully tortured, but rather, calmed and made peaceful. Then instant unsuspecting Jhatka is performed. Killing it in the blink of an eye.

4. Sikhs Shikaar(Hunt) or Jhatka, healthy animals. Panth prakash rehit actually says Sikhs are banned from eating 'corpses' i.e. animals found dead, this is to protect us from diseases. Many commercial animals are raised in nasty, filthy, cruel, unhygienic and disease ridden conditions. Alongside they are force fed unhealthy and unnatural food, harvested at an unnatural age and pumped full of anti-biotics, growth hormones and God knows what else. That is why shikaar is always the No.1 choice, and Jhatka of healthy organic farm Animals raised With Care is the 2nd choice. As per Prem Sumarag Puratan Rehit.

More info

References

  1. ^ "The most special occasion of the Chhauni is the festival of Diwali which is celebrated for ten days. This is the only Sikh shrine at Amritsar where Maha Prasad (meat) is served on special occasions in Langar", The Sikh review, Volume 35, Issue 409 - Volume 36, Issue 420, Sikh Cultural Centre, 1988

See also