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''''Jhatka''', or '''Chatka''', (''{{transl|pa|jhàṭkā}}'' {{IPA-pa|tʃə̀ʈkɑ|IPA}}) is meat from an animal that has been killed instantly, such as by a single strike of a sword or axe to sever the head, as opposed to ritualistically slow slaughter ([[kutha meat|kutha]]) in the [[halal]] method ([[dhabihah]]).<ref name="Engineers2009"/> ''Jhatka'' is the method of meat production demanded by many [[Hindu]]s, [[Sikh]]s, and [[Christian]]s in India, while [[Halal]] is demanded by the [[Muslim]]s, and [[Kosher]] by the [[Jew]]s.<ref name="Engineers2009">{{cite book|author=Niir Board Of Consultants & Engineers|title=Medical, Municipal and Plastic Waste Management Handbook|accessdate=2 May 2014|date=2009|publisher=National Institute of Industrial Research|isbn=9788186623916|page=214|quote=Halal is the method preferred by Muslims and jhatka by the Hindus, Christians, Sikhs, etc.}}</ref><ref>Rayall, Gurbachan Singh (31 Dec 1998). Punjabi University English-Punjabi dictionary. Foreign Language Study (in Punjabi and English). Punjabi University. ISBN 81-7380-095-2. Retrieved 28 November 2010. The Sikh Rahit Maryada forbids hair-cutting, adultery, the use of intoxicants, and the eating of kutha meat.</ref> ==Etymology== ''Jhatka'' ({{lang-hi|झटका}} ''{{transl|hi|jhaṭkā}}'' {{IPA-hi|dʒʰəʈkɑ|IPA}}; {{lang-pa|ਝਟਕਾ <small>([[Gurmukhi]])</small>, جھٹکا <small>([[Shahmukhi]])</small>}}) is derived from Sanskrit word ''Jhatiti'' (झटिति) which means "instantly, quickly, at once".<ref>[http://spokensanskrit.de/index.php?tinput=jhaTiti&direction=SE&script=HK&link=yes&beginning=0 jhaTiti] Sanskrit English Dictionary, Koeln University, Germany; same definition is in Monier Williams Sanskrit English Dictionary and Apte Etymology and Dictionary</ref> ==Hindus and jhatka== {{main|Diet in Hinduism}} Historically and currently,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/seta/2004/10/21/stories/2004102100111600.htm |title=The Hindu: Sci Tech / Speaking Of Science: Changes in the Indian menu over the ages |publisher=Hinduonnet.com |date=2004-10-21 |accessdate=2010-02-03}}</ref> those [[Hindu]]s who eat [[meat]] seek jhatka meat.<ref>{{cite book|last=Das|first=Veena|title=The Oxford India companion to sociology and social anthropology, Volume 1 |url=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0195645820|accessdate=13 June 2010|volume=1|date=13 February 2003|publisher=OUP India |isbn=0-19-564582-0|page=151}}</ref> In the diversity of Hinduism, many Hindus are vegetarians or vegans from their belief in [[Ahimsa]] (non-injury, non-violence), and to minimize suffering to all life forms, but there is no binding religious dietary law in Hinduism, and the choice is left to the Hindu. Many [[Shaivite]] and [[Shakta]] Hindus, for example, offer meat and liquor as part of certain ritual worship, and then consume the meat.<ref>Bartholomaeus Ziegenbalg and Daniel Jeyaraj (2004), Genealogy of the South Indian Deities, Routledge, ISBN 978-0415344388, pages 126-127, 185</ref><ref>June McDaniel (2004), Offering Flowers, Feeding Skulls: Popular Goddess Worship in West Bengal, Oxford University Press, ISBN 978-0195167917, pages 16-18</ref> During [[Durga Puja]] and [[Kali Puja]] among some [[Shaivite]] Hindus in [[Punjab (India)|Punjab]], [[Mithila (India)|Mithila]], [[Bengal]], and [[Kashmir]], Jhatka meat is the norm for those Shaivite Hindus who eat meat. In theory, most [[Western culture|Western]] methods of animal slaughter for the purpose of meat production are done with an instant blow to the head which can be interpreted as ‘jhatka’ meat.{{cn|date=December 2015}} ==Sikhs and jhatka== Jhatka meat is mandated for Sikhs, for the following reason,<ref>[http://thesikhencyclopedia.com/marshall-heritage/jhatka.html Jhatka], The Sikh Encyclopedia</ref><ref name=jhatkasikhism>[http://www.sikhs.org/meat.htm What is Jhatka Meat and Why?] Jhatka Meat, Sikhism</ref> {{Quote| According to the ancient Aryan Hindu 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. However, with the coming of Islam into India and the Muslim political hegemony, it became a state policy not to permit slaughter of animals for food, in any other manner, except as laid down in the Quran - the kosher meat prepared by slowly severing the main blood artery of the throat of the animal while reciting verses from the Quran. It is done to make slaughter a sacrifice to God and to expiate the sins of the slaughter. Guru Gobind Singh took a rather serious view of this aspect of the whole matter. He, therefore, while permitting flesh to be taken as food repudiated the whole theory of this expiatory sacrifice and the right of ruling Muslims to impose it on the non-Muslims. Accordingly, he made jhatka meat obligatory for those Sikhs who may be interested in taking meat as a part of their food. |HS Singha|Sikhism, A Complete Introduction<ref>HS Singha (2009),Sikhism: A Complete Introduction, Hemkunt Press, ISBN 978-8170102458, pages 81-82</ref><ref name=jhatkasikhism/>}} As stated in the official [[Khalsa#Code of conduct|Khalsa Code of Conduct]],<ref name="r10">[http://www.sikhnetwork.org/viewfile.php?fid=9 10 Misconception Regarding Sikhs]</ref> [[Kutha meat]] is forbidden, and Sikhs are recommended to eat the jhatka form of meat.<ref>Singh, I. J., Sikhs and Sikhism ISBN 81-7304-058-3 ''And one Semitic practice clearly rejected in the Sikh code of conduct is eating flesh of an animal cooked in ritualistic manner; this would mean kosher and halal meat. The reason again does not lie in religious tenet but in the view that killing an animal with a prayer is not going to ennoble the flesh. No ritual, whoever conducts it, is going to do any good either to the animal or to the diner. Let man do what he must to assuage his hunger. If what he gets, he puts to good use and shares with the needy, then it is well used and well spent, otherwise not.''</ref><ref>Mini Encyclopaedia of Sikhism by H.S. Singha, Hemkunt Press, Delhi. ISBN 81-7010-200-6 ''The practice of the Gurus is uncertain. Guru Nanak seems to have eaten venison or goat, depending upon different [[Janamsakhi]] versions of a meal which he cooked at Kurukshetra which evoked the criticism of Brahmins. Guru Amardas ate only rice and lentils but this abstention cannot be regarded as evidence of vegetarianism, only of simple living. Guru Gobind Singh also permitted the eating of meat but he prescribed that it should be jhatka meat and not Halal meat that is jagged in the Muslim fashion.''</ref> For Sikhs '''jhatka karna''' or '''jhatkaund''' refers to the instantaneous severing of the head of an animal with a single stroke of any [[weapon]], with the underlying intention of killing the animal whilst causing it minimal suffering.{{cn|date=April 2016}} During the [[British Raj]], jhatka meat was not allowed in jails, and Sikh detainees during the [[Akali movement]] and beyond had to resort to violence and agitations to secure this right. Among the terms in the settlement between the [[Shiromani Akali Dal|Akali]]s and the [[Punjab Muslim League#Punjab Muslim league and Unionist Party (Punjab)|Muslim Unionist government]] in [[Punjab region|Punjab]] in 1942 was that jhatka meat be continued as a Sikh Martial Heritage. On religious Sikh festivals, including [[Hola Mohalla]] and [[Vaisakhi]], at the Gurdwara of [[Hazur Sahib]], [[Fatehgarh Sahib]], and many other Sikh Gurdwaras,<ref name="Mahaprashad">''"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</ref> 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.{{cn|date=April 2016}} Some Sikh Organizations, such as the [[Damdami Taksal]] and [[Akhand Kirtani Jatha]], have their own codes of conduct. These organizations define kutha meat as any type of slaughtered meat, and eating meat, of any type is forbidden.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Spirit|first1=Khalsa|title=Khalsa Rehat|url=https://khalsaspirit.com/Rehat.html|website=KhalsaSpirit.com|publisher=KhalsaSpirit.com|accessdate=13 March 2016}}</ref> ==Buddhists and jhatka== In Mongolian culture, it is traditional to say [[Om mani padme hum]] into the ear of the animal before slaughtering it as instantly as possible.{{citation needed|date=April 2013}} ==Christians and jhatka== In terms of slaughtering animals for food, the method of [[jhatka]] (with a single strike to minimize pain) is preferred by many Christians,<ref name="Engineers2009"/> although the [[Armenian Apostolic Church]], among other [[Orthodox Christianity|Orthodox Christians]], have rituals that "display obvious links with ''[[shechitah]]'', Jewish kosher slaughter."<ref name="GrumettMuers2010">{{cite book|last1=Grumett|first1=David|last2=Muers|first2=Rachel|title=Theology on the Menu: Asceticism, Meat and Christian Diet|accessdate=2 May 2014|date=26 February 2010|publisher=Routledge|isbn=9781135188320|page=121|quote=The Armenian and other Orthodox rituals of slaughter display obvious links with ''shechitah'', Jewish kosher slaughter.}}</ref> ==Comparison of Jhatka, Shechita, and Halal methods== All three methods use sharp knives. The Jhatka method is closer to Shechita method of meat production than the halal method. In Shechita, the animal is slaughtered by one swift, uninterrupted cut severing the trachea, esophagus, carotid arteries, jugular veins, and vagus nerves.<ref name=neville/><ref name=amyfitz/> In the Jhatka method, a swift uninterrupted cut severs all these and the spine.<ref name=neville/><ref name=amyfitz/> In the Halal method, the slaughter is done with a swift deep incision with a sharp knife on the throat, cutting the jugular veins and carotid arteries of both sides but leaving the spinal cord and nervous tissue intact, followed by a period where the blood of the animal is drained out.<ref name=neville>Neville Gregory and Temple Grandin (2007), Animal Welfare and Meat Production, CABI, ISBN 978-1845932152, pages 207-208</ref><ref name=amyfitz>Amy J Fitzgerald (2015), Animals as Food, Michigan State University Press, ISBN 978-1611861747</ref> A prayer to God is not required in ''Jhatka'' or ''Shchita'' methods with each animal commercially slaughtered, but a prayer to God (Allah) is required at the start or if there is any interruption during ''Halal'' meat production.<ref name=amyfitz/> ==Availability of jhatka meat== In India, there are many jhatka shops, with various bylaws requiring shops to display clearly that they sell jhatka meat.<ref>[http://www.ajmermc.org/PDF/MeatByelaws1963.pdf Order No. Tax/F.15(25)DLB/63] Published in the Govt. Gazette on 13-02-1965 (Part 6)</ref> In the past, there has been little availability of jhatka meat in the United Kingdom, so people have found themselves eating other types of meat,<ref>[http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=hRfkTq1ykSIC&pg=PA63&dq=sikh+halal Sikh women in England: their religious and cultural beliefs and social practices] By S. K. Rait, p. 63 Trentham Books, 2005 ISBN 1-85856-353-4</ref> although jhatka has become more widely available in the United Kingdom.<ref>[http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=Sn__pj6QjBUC&pg=PA297&dq=Jhatka+Meat++United+Kingdom#v=onepage&q=Jhatka%20Meat%20%20United%20Kingdom&f=false Food safety and quality assurance: foods of animal origin] By William T. Hubbert, Page 254 Wiley-Blackwell, 1996 ISBN 0-8138-0714-X</ref> ==See also== {{columns-list|3| *[[Ritual slaughter]] *[[Dhabihah]] (Muslim method of ritual slaughter) *[[Shechita]] (Jewish method of ritual slaughter) *[[Legal aspects of ritual slaughter]] *[[Diet in Hinduism]] *[[Diet in Sikhism]] *[[Christian dietary laws]] *[[Animal sacrifice in Hinduism]] *[[Animal sacrifice among Nihang Sikhs]] }} ==References== {{Reflist|2}} {{Hindudharma}} {{Sikhism}} {{Christianity footer}} [[Category:Religion-based diets]] [[Category:Traditional meat processing]] [[Category:Hindu law]] [[Category:Sikh practices]] [[Category:Christian behaviour and experience]]'