Educate Adeyan on Food to be consumed by Sri Vaishnavas

[Guest guest]

*Sri Lakshmi Narsimhay ParBramhmane Namaha*

*Sri Ramanujay namaha*

*Sri Nigamanth MahaDesikay namaha*

*Sri SaiRam*

 

Oh Honourable and Knowledgeable one's Accept Humble Namaskaram of

Adeyan Anand Dasan

 

Adeyan calls attention and time to enlighten Adeyan on food to be

taken by Sri Vaishnavas following Principles of Vishist Advaita and

who has undergone Panch Samskaras and Baranyasam. Adeyan needs

enlightment and educatiuon from revered and educated ones to follow

the right pathand have right thoughts.

 

Educate Adeyan on Principles of Vishista Advaita

[Guest guest]

Dear Anand,

 

1.) Ahara Niyamam of Swami Desikan is *the best source* describing

the food to be consumed by Sri Vaishnavas.

 

An English Translation can be found at:

http://www.ramanuja.org/sv/bhakti/archives/mar95/0039.html

 

You can take a print out of the translation for quick reference.

 

Regards,

 

Malolan

 

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[Guest guest]

Malolan Cadambi writes:

> Dear Anand,

>

> 1.) Ahara Niyamam of Swami Desikan is *the best source* describing

> the food to be consumed by Sri Vaishnavas.

>

 

This is no doubt a most authoritative source, being the

very words of Swami Desika. It is however misleading to

call it "the best source" in this day and age, in my

opinion, since the rules laid down therein apply to the India

of the 13th century, making many of them virtually

impossible to put into practice today. I respectfully submit

that 99.9% of Sri Vaishnavas (including the very orthodox) will

violate one or the other rules laid done by Swami Desika. In

addition, the culinary challenges faced by the modern eater pose

problems that Swami Desika never had to face on his banana

leaf. The reason I say this is that Swami Desika did not have at

his disposal the vast array of new world vegetables we have today

which form a standard part of the diet of even punctilious South

Indian brahmins. He does not discuss whether one can eat

bell peppers (capsicum), the various squashes, red and green

chili peppers, potatoes, tomatoes, green beans, or carrots,

just to take a few items as examples. He also mentions nothing

about coffee, tea, cheeses made from animal rennet, yogurt made

with gelatin, cookies made with eggs or lard, etc.

 

What I'm saying is that we have to understand the reasons behind

Swami Desika's rules, as well as other principles we have in our

religion, and carefully apply them to see how they would work

today. There is no easy textbook from which we can learn

everything.

 

aDiyEn rAmAnuja dAsan,

Mani

[Guest guest]

Dear Sriman Mani,

 

You wrote:

> This is no doubt a most authoritative source, being the

> very words of Swami Desika. It is however misleading to

> call it "the best source" in this day and age, in my

> opinion, since the rules laid down therein apply to the India

> of the 13th century, making many of them virtually

> impossible to put into practice today.

 

The Niyamam were no doubt prepared in the 13th Century, but that does not

restrict us to follow as much of it as possible. It depends on the mindset

of the individual to try to, as far as possible stick to the niyamams.

>

> What I'm saying is that we have to understand the reasons behind

> Swami Desika's rules, as well as other principles we have in our

> religion, and carefully apply them to see how they would work

> today. There is no easy textbook from which we can learn

> everything.

 

True. There are so many traditions which are now almost extinct among

present day Sri Vaishnavas. For example, the ritual of brahma yajnam is an

almost EXTINCT tradition. Brahma yajnam is a ritual which has to be included

as a part of the Sandhyavandanam (NityAnusanndhanam). This is where one

should chant one or more anUvakams from the vedas in order to keep in touch

with the vedas.

 

I had pointed out to the English translation of Ahara Niyamam because it is

a good set of rules reccomended for Sri Vaishnavas. Applying these rules and

putting them to practice is a bit difficult, given the present day

circumstances. However, it is wise to try and follow as much as possible.

 

Regards,

 

Malolan

 

 

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[Guest guest]

I tend to agree with maNi's observations.

I belive that we need to look deeper into what

the concepts are - sAtvik food is the goal.

The ahara niyamam text mentioned, in all probability,

would have dealt with they types of food that were

familiar to srIvaishNavAs of south India during

that period, and mentions do's and dont's.

 

We can probably adapt that concept, and apply it

to our scenario, where we are spread all over the

world, with numerous influences and advances/evolution

of the food that we eat.

 

The ISKCON movement, in my opinion, has done a

remarkable job in adapting the concept to the

appropriate local conditions. Interested people

may visit their local ISKCOn temple, and can

easliy obtain information about their practices.

There are numerous books available through them,

that talks about food habits.

 

adiyEn rAmAnuja dAsan,

Varadhan

[Guest guest]

*Sri Lakshmi Narasimhay Namaha*

*Sri Ramanujay Namaha*

*Sri Vedant Gurve MahaDesikay Namaha*

*Sri SaiRam*

 

Namaskaram to Honourable Mani

 

Thanks a lot for the reply and Adeyan appreciates your

down to earth and practical approcah and thoughts.

allyour words are respected and taken into account.

 

Adeyan would like to know the food which they use to

consume and probably there were reasons associated.

Knowledge would enlighten me maybe not applicable.

Adeyan would like to know as these vegetable which,

Mani, are refferring to were not existent during

Guruvar Desikacharya's time of existance ?

 

Adeyan can understand of the banana leaf.

 

But Adeyan feels and beleives to a great extent that

food intake were clearly classified and had reasons.

Maybe Adeyan is wrong but pouring knowledge would be

honoured and appreciated.

 

Thanks for your time,

 

Narayana Narayana,

Adeyan Anand Dasan