PART 6 ROLE OF DIETARY REGIMEN in CONTROL OF MIND :

[Guest guest]

Dear Bhagavatas:

Presented below is PART 6 ROLE OF DIETARY REGIMEN IN CONTROL OF MIND.

Dasoham

Anbil Ramaswamy

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PART 6 ROLE OF DIETARY REGIMEN IN CONTROL OF MIND:

 

A. Items prohibited on hygienic and prophylactic grounds (like our not using

tooth brushes used by others)

 

1. Spittle and food contaminated with spittle or sneeze

2. Food contaminated by flies, worms, hair, fingernails etc.

3. Food contaminated by excreta

4. Food contaminated by cloth, thread, sneeze etc.

5. Food that has been `smelt' by anybody

6. Food `that has been tasted' by humans, rodent, crow, hen, cat, dog etc.

7. Food that has been partially `bitten' by others

8. Morsel of food partially remaining after eating a portion of it.

9. Vegetables cooked without first being washed

10. Fruits, vegetables etc. cut with finger nails

11. Food prepared by persons who are not clean

12. Food cooked in other people's homes (Paraannam)

13. Food that has been found fault with

14. Foods that have been prohibited specifically

15. Food cooked along with prohibited items

16. Foods known to be harmful to vital air and the functioning of sense organs

 

B. Items prohibited on `Social' grounds (like the `Table manners' we follow

these days during formal gatherings) As dress regulations are imposed on us

during formal dinners, certain norms and disciplines are prescribed by our

traditions. Some of the restrictions are:

1. One should not take for self, food intended for all

2. Food meant for others (especially a sick person)

3. Food kept apportioned for self and guests

4. Food remaining after feeding a woman in menstruation*

5. Food prepared specifically for a woman who has just delivered*

6. Food that has not been offered to `Bhagavan' in the first place (during

Aradhana)*

7. Food before offering to guests (Athithi Sathkara)

8. Food offered to lesser deities (Devatantara)

9. Food set apart for offering to such deities as per Sastric injunctions

10. Products (grains, pulses etc.) not offered to God after the harvest

11. Food offered by Sanyasis directly

12. Food taken out from the vessel of Sannyasis

13. Food offered without love and affection

14. Vegetables, fruits etc. cultivated in dirty places *

15. Those that are known to affect concentration and meditation

16. Those that have been specifically advised against by Acharyas and such

others

17. Mixed food distributed by hand (Kalandha Saadham)

18. Ghee should not be served after one commences eating

19. Foods cooked more than once (Punar Paakam)

20. Cooked food served with iron ladles or bare hands

21. Salt served directly by hand

22. Food should not be eaten using left hand

23. Food should not be eaten holding the plate by hand (what we do during

Buffet sessions)

24. Food should not be placed on a seat

25. Food should not be eaten keeping them on the lap

(22 to 25 are precisely what we do during Buffet sessions)

26. Should not eat edibles sitting on the bed

27. Food should not be eaten without a lamp burning

28. Moonlight / Fire are no substitutes for a burning lamp

29. Lime used for making chunnam out of seashells

30. Bubbles and foam arising from liquids (as while drinking Coke, Pepsi,

Coffee, etc.)

31. No food can be taken without taking bath and washing hands, and completing

ablutions (Parishechanam)

32. Should not leave without completing the final Parishechanam

33. Should not eat out of a broken plate or other vessels that are not clean

Note: Items marked * are referred to in Srimad Ramayana (Balakanda) also.

(To Continue)

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