Spiritual Stories: Post #9 “THE GARLIC PLANT”

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MURUGA SARANAM

 

24th Sep 2006

Spiritual Stories: Post #9 "THE GARLIC PLANT"

 

Dear Members..

 

The ninth story in the series of Spiritual Stories by the Great Story Teller Bhagwan Ramana Maharishi, discusses about what we have heard regarding certain food items like onion, garlic etc..

 

 

A brick wall has the nature of the brick, a concrete wall has the nature of the concrete, a steel one that of steel and so on. So is the type of food contributing to a man's nature they say. Out of the three gunas or characters described as Tamo Guna, Rajo Guna and Sattva Guna, more of Sattva Guna is aided by food stuff like pure ghee (remember excess of that can also cause cholesterol

J). Rajo Guna is said to be being associated with passionate feelings, or being passionate to something. Members, please note that I am just sharing my loose understandings of these Gunas. Would be glad if someone can tell upon them more clearly.

 

 

It is strongly advised that food (any kind of it) needs to prepared clean and neat without tasting and not in an attempt to satisfy the taste buds and the food should be offered to God so that when He accepts it, all the sin are removed from it and we are not bound to the karma or other bad or side effects of it. That's why the Prasadam of God is highly valued. If we offer our preparations everyday to Him, we will have the opportunity of eating His Prasadam everyday. A food, they say, shouldn't be too sour or too hot or too bitter or too much of any specific taste and also should not be tasteless.

 

 

Coming back to the story, we have heard that garlic is not good for spiritual seekers. The reason is explained nicely by Bhagawan Ramana Maharishi from the religious dimension of it. Without standing any more between you and the story, here it goes…

 

 

MURUGA SARANAM

 

With Best Regards

Meyyappan S

 

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The Story begins here

 

THE GARLIC PLANT

 

While Bhagavan was perusing the monthly journal Grihalakshmi he began to laugh and handed the journal to Suri Nagamma as she was leaving the hall, saying, "The greatness of garlic is described in it. Please read it." The article contained recipes for making chutneys and pickles and in conclusion it stated that there is nothing equal to it in its greatness and its benefit to the body. When Suri Nagamma returned to the hall in the afternoon, Sri Bhagavan inquired if she had read the article and said, "People say it is very good for health. Really it is so. It cures rheumatism and gives strength to the body. For children it acts like amrit (nectar). Garlic is also known as amrit."

A devotee asked how it got that name. Sri Bhagavan replied, "There is a curious story about it," and began telling the following story.

 

 

AS IS WELL known, when gods (devas) and demons (rakshasas) churned the ocean, amrit came out of it. When the rakshasas were running away with the vessel containing amrit, the devas appealed to Vishnu. Vishnu came on to the scene in the shape of Mohini (enchantress), and offered to resolve their quarrel by serving amrit to them all. They agreed. While serving it to the gods first, it appeared that there might not be enough to go round for the demons. One of the latter got into the line of the gods, unobserved by Mohini, and was swallowing the amrit, when the Sun and Moon noticed it and gave her the hint. She threw the ladle, with which the amrit was being served, at the demon in such a way as to cut off his head. The ladle (*) became the Chakra (an invincible lethal weapon of Vishnu) and cut off his head. But as the amrit had already gone down his throat, the head became a graha (planet) and has since been taking vengeance on the Sun and Moon at the time of an eclipse. That is the story. Now, when the head of the demon was severed, the trunk fell down, and in the process, a few drops of amrit fell on the ground. It is said that those drops became the garlic plant. That is why it is said that garlic has some of the properties of amrit. It is very good for the body. But since it also has the touch of the demon, it has tamasic qualities too, which when eaten affect the mind. Hence, it is forbidden for sadhakas.

 

Courtesy – Oxford English Dictionary

(*) ladle (noun) - a large long-handled spoon with a cup-shaped bowl, used for serving soup or sauce.

 

Ends

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