Guest guest Posted July 8, 2003 Report Share Posted July 8, 2003 Namaskarams! Shastras have been laid only for the realization of the self and any hinderance to this process have to be kept away. Its true that what ever we eat have a direct bearing on our thoughts and these thoughts influence our action It is also said that "Sudham Bhagavodasa annam! Shdham Bagirathi Jalam Shudham vishu pada dhyanam" Shudam Ekadai Vratham" Sudham Bagavadasa annam - Food is to be taken either swayam bagam or prepared by Bhatas and only after offering to Lord. What we eat at home is "Sadam" and what we get as offerings from Goddess is "Prasadam" - There is a lot of difference between Eating Sadam and Eating Prasadam. Of what we eat, some % goes to the Blood stream for the body, certain % comes out as waste and a good % goes into "mind" as thought form. Therefore in order to maintain cleanliness of mind and body, its important not to eat out at all.. That is why in those days (followed in some houses even now)the lady of the house while cooking recite slokams like lalitha sahasranamam or vishu sahasranamam and the food they make is awesome and i have personal experiences on this count! Food defintely taste better when such people cook. But is there a way out in this jet-setting corporate life where people travel to overseas/domestic to maintain strict anushtana on food habits? I would request the learned scholars in this group to give their experiences/suggestions on "how to maintain anushtanam - eating habits , Nitya Karmanushtanam like sandya, and other japams ,etc.. esp for frequently travelling corporate people. Thanks Ramakrishnan -- In , Ganesh Prasad <bjganeshprasad> wrote: > Hariom, > > While I agree with the undersigned on the subject > matter being discussed I wanted to point out a strange > paradox. > > The shastras have ordained para anna niyama to a > grihastha and Vanaprasti. The rule does not apply to a > brahmachari and sanyasi. > > Bodhayana and Apastamba mention that a brahmachari and > sanyasi should accept biksha from all the varnas > (chaturvarnanam baikshet..) > > Growing change in orthodoxy has changed this rule and > today it is not followed at all. > > A sanyasi and brahmachari (in the traditinal sense) > because of their tapas and jnana are supposed to burn > any sins coming into contact with them. > > In fact the only relaxation given to a brahmachari is > yateshta biksha or eating as much he wants. Some of > the other rules which are similar to both sanyasi and > brahmachari illustrate the tapas they are > traditionally ordained for: > > 1. No footwear, no honey or honey based products; > > 2. No umbrella in the rain and cold water bath; > > 3. Eka vastra dharana; > > 4. Brahmacharya; > > 5. Sleeping on the floor; > > 6. Not sleeping in the afternoon and to be awake > during sunset and sunrise; > > 7. A sanyasi should in addition lead his life doing > chandrayana vrata; > > 8. Travel by foot only etc..... > > Well, how many are there who do it today and those who > do are really blessed souls!! > --- ganapathy = = vijaya <srividya101> > wrote: > > Sub : Para Annam and Swayam Bhagam > > > > The scriptures ordains certain Achara, anushtanam > > for certain communities specifically and for others > > whose only objective in life is to seek eternal > > happiness. > > > > One of these is the Para anna Niyama. Para anna > > means that such an individual seeking mumkshutvam > > sholud not eat out other than the food cooked by his > > wife. > > > > This rule exists because : > > > > Our body exists because of food (Anna maya Khosha ) > > and the nature of food one consumes influences the > > mind of the individual who is already born with a > > mix of satva, rajas and thamas . Each of the variety > > of food consumed is classified as satvia,rajasic and > > thamasic and the respective food when consumed > > contributes to satva rajas and thamas. Similarly the > > thoughts of the person also goes into the food while > > preparing it and this influences the person who is > > consuming that food. > > > > To get the Ekagra Chitta, we should also control our > > sense of taste. when you eat out or go to parties > > you crave for certain items and certain items > > prepared in certain ways and by certain individuals > > or families who are expert in making that particular > > Cuisine . In the process one loses control over his > > sense -- the sense of taste. > > > > The food which are prepared should not only be clean > > and hygenic but also the individual preparing it > > must be clean by taking bath before cooking, clean > > the kitchen ,vessels before cooking, should pray > > while cooking, should know the significance of the > > philosophy of Para Annam -- the cook should also not > > use substances which are thamasic and rajasic in > > nature like sourness,spicy substances etc. So the > > best person Could be only the wife who is solely > > concerned on the welfare of her husband and family. > > > > When the wife dies the husband should consume food > > cooked by him only. This is called Swayam Bhagam and > > by doing this he protects the achara of Para annam. > > > > There are rules as to the quantity of food one > > consumes, the time when the food should be consumed > > and what one should not eat and the days when one > > should fast etc which is not the subject matter > > here. These rules can be strictly followed when wife > > cooks for the family. Even the food cooked by > > brothers and sisters are prohibited to be consumed. > > > > > > As we can not trust and as it is not practical to > > observe these rules outside -- Eating out is > > prohibited. > > > > This mail does not cover the influences of food on > > the working of Mind and the devotees are requested > > to read the books on Yoga which deal comprehensively > > on this subject. > > > > In short this is only one of the rule of achara > > among others and should be supported by Trikala > > sandya vandana. doing Puja, japa and meditataion. > > > > Maha Periyavaal was a living example and his food > > consisted of just a handful of puffed rice prepared > > by a devotee ,most of the time he used to fast > > ,was active for 18 to 20 hrs per day and used to > > walk for 30 miles on an average in the hot sun, > > Defying the concept of mixed diets, vitamins and > > minerals considered necessary for healthy life. He > > lived on this diet for 75 years and attained Maha > > Samadhi when nearing 100 yrs. > > > > HH Shankaracharyas do not consume food with salt, > > sour and spices also. > > It is said that when H.H was about 24 years old > > during the biksha, liking certain items had consumed > > more and realising it after Bhiksha equally ate the > > Cow dung. with Such observations and attitudes only > > " Man becomes GOD " . This is how one controls the > > sense of taste. > > > > There are people even to day whom i know observe > > these very strictly and when such people come to > > kaanchi mutt do would even not consume even cooked > > food served at mutt. > > > > There are exceptions to the para anna rules like one > > can consume milk, juices etc which is again not the > > matter for discussion. > > > > When One Sees Devi every where it is not necssary to > > observe any rules and all these rules are followed > > only to attain that True state. > > > > Ganapathy === vijaya > > > > > > > > > > > > Prasad Balasubramanian <besprasad@l...> wrote: > > Can someone explain the significance of eating out ? > > Why should one avoid it ? Does it not mean that one > > has not yet come to the stage at which he sees Her > > in everything ? > > > > > > namasthe > > Prasad > > > > > > > > --------- > > > > DATE: Thu, 3 Jul 2003 22:02:49 > > Shrinivas Khate <srinivaskhet> > > > > Cc: > > > > >Dear Sir, > > >I think i can tell you something about > > purascharanam. > > >The learned members of the group may correct me if > > i > > >am incorrect. > > > > > >Purascharanam is a four step procedure in which any > > >given mahamantra is practised for mantra > > siddhi/devata > > >preeti. > > >these steps are as follows.. > > >1. japam. for devata preeti. > > >2. Tarpanam (1/10 of the qty. of japam for > > >balavriddhi) > > >3. Homam (1/10 of the qty. of tarpanam for sharu > > >uccatanam) > > >4. Brahmana bhojanam for prosperity. ( Again 1/10 > > of > > >the previous procedure.) > > > > > >A properly drafted sankalpam is done which > > specifies > > >the date time and location of the person performing > > >the purascharanam and also the qty. and the > > procedure > > >which one is performing addressing the deity in > > >question. > > > > > >There are certain rules set for purascharanam which > > >have been followed from the ancient days. > > >1. Strict brahmacharyam is practiced. ( Though i > > don > > >not understand this very well as we are born in > > this > > >age.I wuld expect the learned members of the group > > to > > >elaborate this. > > > > > >2. One should avoid eating out . There were > > practises > > >which restrict the use of salt in food. > > > > > >3. Even crossing the river was avoided during the > > time > > >when purascharanam was in progress. I say so 'cause > > it > > >depends upon the sankhya the person has vowed for > > >could take him from a single day to an year. and > > the > > >rules specify that the person should perform this > > in > > >the same place and if possible in the same time > > also, > > >everyday till the desired sankhya is achieved. In > > the > > >olden days bridges etc were not very common which > > >may have been the reason for such rules. > > >4. No oil bath during the procedure as it promotes > > >laziness. > > > > > >I have illustrated everything that i know. I leave > > >this open for comments now. > > > > > >Thank you. > > > > > >Regards > > > > > >Shrinivas > > > > > > > > > > > >SBC DSL - Now only $29.95 per month! > > >http://sbc. > > > === message truncated === > > > > > SBC DSL - Now only $29.95 per month! > http://sbc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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