What does Sanatana Dharma say about vegetarianism?

The question of diet in Sanatana Dharma is addressed from multiple angles -- ethical, ritual, and spiritual -- and the tradition offers nuanced guidance rather than a single dogmatic position.

The foundation of dietary guidance is ahimsa (non-violence), which the Yoga Sutras list as the first and most fundamental ethical restraint. Since eating meat necessarily involves the killing of sentient creatures, vegetarianism is considered the diet most aligned with ahimsa.

The Bhagavad Gita classifies food according to the three gunas (qualities of nature):

Sattvic foods promote clarity, peace, and spiritual sensitivity: fresh fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, dairy -- cooked and offered with love.

Rajasic foods stimulate passion and agitation: spicy, sour, salty, pungent, fried foods -- they energize but disturb.

Tamasic foods promote lethargy and dullness: stale, fermented, overcooked foods. Meat is considered tamasic in this framework.

For serious spiritual practice, particularly meditation, a sattvic diet is highly recommended -- not as a moral judgment, but as practical support for the mind's quietude.

It is important to acknowledge that not all Hindus have historically been vegetarian. Many communities in coastal regions, tribal groups, and those following certain Shakta or Shaiva traditions have traditionally included meat in their diet. The tradition is diverse.

For those sincerely committed to a spiritual path, gradually moving toward a plant-based, sattvic diet is widely recommended -- not out of guilt, but as a pragmatic acknowledgment that what we eat affects our consciousness.