Namasthe-Food

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Dear All,

 

There is a lot of references about " food " and it's importance in Upanishads.In Thaittariya Upanishad there are three statements of advice given about the use of food.

 

1. Annam na nindyaath - Do not abuse food

2. Annam na parichaksheeta- Do not discard food

3. Annam bahu kurveetha- Grow food in abundance.

 

Annam is the ultimate source of energy and that is why the first covering of the body is called " annamaya kosham " . It is interesting to note that if eating food is explained spiritually, it is like a homam or yajnam. Fire for the homam is the Jadharaagni or fire of hunger. So we please the fire by offering food. If we consider our eating as an offering, then scriptures say, we have to only offer pure, tasty and healthy food. Also it should be neither too much nor too less. Either way there is a chance of putting out the fire. Mithaahaaram (just enough to satisfy hunger) is advised.

 

Mithaahara lakshanam (example of enough food) is given as :

 

Divide the stomach into 4 equal parts. Two parts should be filled with staple food. One part is for water. The fourth part should be left empty or for oxygen or air.

 

( dvou bhaagou poorayed annai:

thoyenaikam prapoorayeth.

maaruthasya prachaarartham

chathurtham avasheshayeth )

 

Scriptures say eating more than what you need is paapam or sin in two ways:

 

1. Eating more than what is necessary makes our body work more to digest it and we get sick becoming a burden to ourselves as well as others. (an avoidable tragedy)

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2. By eating more we are depriving food for the needy.

 

Serving food to the needy (anna-daana) is mentioned as the greatest form of charity.

 

Upanishads strongly advises us to take great care, conserve and use the available food wisely. This advice is extended to all products that give energy to machines, vehicles etc. It is interesting to note that these thousands of years old advices to be echo friendly and environmentally conscious, is hundred percent relevant today!

 

Let me finish this with the prayer that is chanted before meals:

 

Brahmaarpanam Brahma havi:Brahmaagnau BrahmanaahutamBrahmaiva tena gantavyamBrahma-karma Samaadhinaa.

The act of offering is God, the oblation is God, by God it is offered into the Fire of God, God is That which is to be attained by him, who sees God in all.

 

Aham Vaishvanaro BhutvaPraninaam Dehamaashrita:Praanaapaana Samaayukta:Pachaamyannam Chaturvidham

Becoming the life-fire in the bodies of living beings, mingling with the upward and downward breaths, I digest the four kinds of food.

Harirdaatha HarirbhokthaHarirannam Prajaapati:Harirvipra ShareerasthuBhunkte Bhojayathe Hari:

Hari is the one who gives food, He is the one who consumes the food, He is the Prajjapthi ,He is the priest, and he is the one feeding and eating.

Shri Saibaba's explanation on this is enlightening:

 

 

" We should partake food with a sathwic (pure, serene) mind. Our ancestors recommended the offering of food to God before partaking. Food so partaken becomes prasad (consecrated offering). Prayer cleanses the food of the three impurities caused by the absence of cleanliness of the vessel, cleanliness of the food stuff, and cleanliness in the process of cooking. It is necessary to get rid of these three impurities to purify the food, for pure food goes into the making of a pure mind. It is not possible to ensure the purity of the cooking process because we do not know what thoughts rage in the mind of the man who prepares the food. Similarly, we cannot ensure the cleanliness of the food ingredients because we do not know whether it was acquired in a righteous way by the person who sold it to us. Hence, it is essential on our part to offer food to God in the form of prayer so that these three impurities do not afflict our mind. "

Regards and prayers

Savitri