Vegetarianism in Hinduism

Vegetarianism in Hinduism is the practice of adhering to a vegetarian diet, a custom which arose in the later stages of the development of Hinduism and gained popularity among the priestly and upper castes due to the influence of Jainism and Buddhism. While religious texts from the Vedic period make numerous references to animal slaughter and consumption in sacrificial contexts, multiple Hindu scriptures composed during the post-Vedic period display a gradual shift towards the promotion of a vegetarian dietary ideal based on the concept of ahimsa—non-violence and compassion towards all beings.

Source: Wikipedia — Vegetarianism in Hinduism (CC BY-SA 4.0)