Food Habits according to our Sastras

[Guest guest]

Namaskarams,

 

I got hold of a nice document which I have also attached along with this note

for quicker perusal and reference. This seems to be guiding quite

comprehensively on our food habits.

 

However, I am nurturing the following doubts with a few sections.

The document clearly emphasizes that liquor or alcohol is prohibited at any

cost. However, down the line there are contradicting points like

 

*Medicines prescribed by doctors (Allowed)

 

* The remnants of soma juice tasted through the soma vessel during

Somayaga.(Allowed)

 

Can some one help clarify the same?

 

Thanks and Regards,

 

Deepak Vasudevan

 

 

***

I included the whole document as in line text for the future reference.

 

* Regarding Soma Rasa; This question is not valid for this time.

 

*Regarding medicines;

a story is given in the same document about a hungering rushi in a forest, who

consumes some food grains from a hunter which is prohibited by shastras. He

consumes it to avoid atma hatyai.

 

Like that medicines also can be consumed.

 

But I have a doubt;

That rushi was followed all other shastras perfectly and thought

about skipping it once for .......

 

but we are all skipping 99% of dos and don'ts suggested by shastras everyday

then, is there any meaning of raising this question?

 

Even most of us are not able to avoid Hotel foods and onion content?!!

 

I feel all these type of questions are to expose there knowledge to others and

not for adoption.

nvs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WHAT SASTRAS PERMIT/PROHIBIT IN THE MATTER OF FOOD

- VEDANTA DESIKA's ADVICE

Excerpts from Section 4 of Chapter 15 of " Hinduism Rediscovered "

Dealing with Trigunas and Dietary regimen.

 

Right from Vedic literature down to the Itihasas and Puranas, we find scattered

references to vegetables and other edibles that can be consumed and those that

are better avoided in order to ensure augmentation of Satva and preclusion of

Rajo and Tamo.

It was however, left to Swami Sri VEDANTA DESIKA who did deep research in this

field (as also in all other fields he touched ) to incorporate in his work

entitled " Ahara Niyamam', a catalog for ready reference on what can be consumed,

what should not be ingested and what can be taken with certain restrictions and

even what go without any restrictions also!. We attempt below to have a glimpse

of the various items as gleaned from 'Ahara Niyamam' and Srimad Ramayanam in

particular. It should be understood that the prohibition is meant only to enable

us to regulate consumption in a conscious, cautious way.

Lord Krishna clearly prohibits food that are too sour, hot, salty, too much

bile-producing etc. (BG 17/9)

And again, he advises that they who consume food that are time expired, those

that have lost taste, those that emanate stale odor, altered taste, mixed with

spittle and those not fit to be offered to the Lord should not be eaten. Sri

RAMANUJACHARYA's SRI BASHYAM `Sarvanna Anumatyati Karanam'Sutras 446 to 448

declare - that in times of danger to life one can consume any food and such

intake will not go against Pramanas and Smritis.

BUT, SUTRA 449, HOWEVER, CLEARLY AND CATEGORICALLY FORBIDS CONSUMPTION OF LIQUOR

EVEN IN THE FACE OF DANGER TO LIFE.7

The case of one Sage USHASTI is alluded to. Due to famine he and his wife were

migrating to a far off place. On the way, the Sage was so exhausted due to

starvation that he almost swooned and apprehended his end was near at hand. A

mahout who passed by on an elephant offered him some horsegram which the sage

readily accepted (though ordinarily prohibited). But when the mahout offered

water to drink, the sage declined saying that he took the horsegram only for

saving himself from starvation-death and taking water thereafter was not proper

since at that point of time, the danger to life had disappeared.

 

 

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

tooth brushes used by others)

1. Spittle and food contaminated with spittle

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 (Parannam)

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 (Atiti Satkara)

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

18. Ghee should not be served after one commences eating

19. Foods cooked more than once (Punar Pakam)

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

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)

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.

C.SWAMI SRI DESIKAN HAS DRAWN UP AN ELABORATE LIST OF VEGETABLES / PRODUCTS THAT

SHOULD NOT BE EATEN. WE GIVE BELOW THE TAMIL AND POPULAR AND / OR BOTANICAL

NAMES OF THESE FOR GENERAL GUIDANCE "

But, please do not be put off by this list. He has given another list of

exceptions and relaxations under which even some of the prohibited items could

be consumed as also yet another list of items that can be consumed freely

without restrictions. (Vide Sections (D) and (E).

TAMIL NAME POPULAR AND/ OR BOTANICAL NAME

1. Athi Varieties - Ficus Racemosa

2. Perarku Bauhinia Racemosa

3. Irali Ficus Virens

4. Vellai Kathari White egg plant | white brinjals

5. Aal Banyan -

6. Arasu Peepal Ficus Religiosa

7. Ayil Chittagong wood Chickrasia Tabularis

8. Aarai Masculia Quadrifoli a

9. Naruvili Cordia Obliqua/M onoria

10. Pungu Dalbergia

11. Thigaipoondu A plant that causes confusion in mind

12. Kurinji A shrub Maruthonr i Terminaw a

13. Tanri Bellenica

14. Kusumbai Carthamus Tinctoriu m

15. Velai Cleone Pentaphytt a

16. Sivappu/Nattu Murungai Drumstick - Hyperanth era Muringa

17. Sukam Sukampal

18. Tamarai Kizhangu Lotus bulb Nelumbo Nucifera

19. Ulli Garlic

20. Siriya Avarai Beans

21. Thummatti Callous Leaved Bryonia

22. Therar Kai Clearing nut Strychnoo Patatatura

23. Panai Palmyra palm

24. Nayuruvi Achyranth us Aspera

25. Kadambu Eugenica Racemosa

26. Naikkudai Mushroom

27. Suraikkai A variety of gourd

28. Peerkku Ridge gourd

29. Sanar Keerai Hemp

30. Siru Keerai Amaranth us Gangeticu s

31. Sivanda Agathi Cormilla Grandi Flora

32. Purasu Balia Frundosa

33. Pasala Portulaca Obracora

34. Vilvakkai Crataeva Religiosa

35. Madulankai Unripe Pomogranate

36. Varagu Paspalum Frumentac eum

37. Mullangi Radish Raphenus Sativus

38. Vengayam Onion Allium Cepa

39. Punnakku Oil cake

40. Pannai keerai ! celosia s.p. ! Exact equivalents not

traceable |Yeast. Dried brew|

41. Noyyir keerai

42. Seenkadan

43. Oovaikkai

44. Rammananthal

45. Khadi

D. THE FOLLOWING CAN BE TAKEN AS EXCEPTIONS TO GENERAL PROHIBITIONS :-

1. The remnants of food partaken by father, preceptor and eldest brother.

2. The remnants of soma juice tasted through the soma vessel during Somayaga.

3. The remnants of food eaten by wife / husband even if hair, worm, thread etc

are found in such remnants, they can be thrown away and the remnants eaten.

4. In times of danger to life, even prohibited items can be consumed.

5. During fasting days one can take water, roots, ghee, milk, sacrificial

remnants, medicines - these will not spoil the fast.

6. If it becomes necessary to eat totally prohibited items in order to save

life, a bit of ghee or honey could be mixed with them and taken.

7. Even those foods that had become rotten can be taken after mixing with ghee.

Even other impurities like hair if noticed therein can be removed and thrown

away.

8. Of items that have turned sour, the following can be taken - curds, butter,

fruits that became sour due to contact with water, roots, flowers and pickles

made out of these (vide Manu Smriti and Srimad Ramayana).

 

 

E. THOSE THAT CAN BE TAKEN FREELY WITHOUT ANY RESTRICTIONS:

1. Sugarcane juice

2. Curds

3. Milk ( /but subject to restrictions listed at H)

4. Ghee

5. Sangam

6. Pepper

7. Honey

8. Cardamom

9. Ice

10. Betelnut (subject to restrictions listed at J)

11. Anything fried in fire

12. Fruits that have ripened on their own

13. Boiled rice

14. Vadam

15. Appam | even if they are old provided they have not lost their taste

16. Seedai |

17. Chappathi |

18. Milk products

19. Thenkuzhal

20. Murukku

21. Medicines prescribed by doctors

22. Jaggery and flour combined edibles even if old

23. Wheat flour combined edibles

24. Side dishes, butter milk, ghee, milk, curds mixed with cooked rice

25. Cooked rice put in a vessel with clean water

26. Edibles prepared with curds, milk etc.

27. Juice of flowers, raw vegetables, fruits, Tender Coconut Water.

F. ITEMS TO BE AVOIDED WITH REFERENCE TO TASTE:

1. Food overheated so much as to make it inedible

2. Too much bitter

3. Too much salty

4. Too much hot (like chillies)

5. Too much sour

6. Those that are too hot (temperature)

7. Those that are repulsive

8. All liquids from which the cream has been the essence and has been removed

(except buttermilk)

9. Old food that had become rotten

10. Food that smells like mud

 

 

G. ITEMS TO BE AVOIDED WITH REFERENCE TO TIME OF CONSUMPTION

1. Food cooked on Ekadasi and other days of fasting should not be consumed

2. Wood apple and puffed rice should not be taken during day time

3. Food mixed with sesame should not be taken at night (also referred in Srimad

Ramayana)

4. Food prepared in gingelly oil at night

5. Food prepared with curds at night

6. No food can be taken at sunrise, sunset and midnight (also referred to in

Srimad Ramayana

7. Husband and wife should not eat together at the same time

H. CONDITIONS REGARDING INTAKE OF MILK.

1. Milk of animals like mare , donkey etc. which have single hoof (Vide also

Srimad Ramayana)

2. Milk of cow that has given birth to twin calves

3. Camel's milk

4. Milk with which salt has got mixed up

5. Breast milk of women (this is also referred to in Srimad Ramayana)

6. Cow that is pregnant and cow just ready for sexual intercourse (referred in

Srimad Ramayana )

7. The milk of a cow whose calf had just died

8. Milk drawn from a cow by showing to it a calf of another cow

9. Milk that had become sour or bad (also in Srimad Ramaynana )

10. Milk of cows bearing names of deities other than those of Sriman Narayana

11. Milk of ewe (Vide also Srimad Ramayana)

12. Milk purchased from a Brahmin

13. Milk kept in bronze vessel

14. Milk overheated to the point of getting charred

15. Milk and curd taken of milk of cow that has just delivered for at least 10

days after delivery

16. Milk of other animals of the bovine family except the buffalo

I. RESTRICTIONS REGARDING USE OF WATER

1. Except Ganges water, no stored up water standing over a day should be used.

2. Water remaining in a vessel after using part of it for washing feet

3. Muddy water

4. Tender coconut water, if heated

5. Water stagnant in a small pool

6. Water running across a road

7. Water given in hotels and water sheds ( Tanneer pandals)

8. Any water purity of which is in doubt

9. Water down from washerman's ghats

10. Water contaminated with spittle

11. Water held in a conch

12. Rain water before it falls to the ground

13. One should not drink water by cupping both the palms (Vide Srimad Ramayana)

J. BETEL ITEMS TO BE AVOIDED

1. One should not munch betelnut before putting betel leaves in the mouth

2. The stem, the middle line and the tip of the leaves should be removed before

taking betel thambool

3. One should not munch both betel leaves and betel nut together

4. Widows, Brahmacharis and Sannyasis should not use betel leaves

5. One should not take betel leaf on which lime had been kept

6. During Ekadasi and other days of fasting betel chewing should be scrupulously

avoided

7. While chewing betel one should not drink water at the same time.

SECTION 5: CONCLUSION

As already mentioned these prohibitions and restrictions are only for general

guidance. If you desire to regulate / eliminate the Gunas you may choose to

follow the instructions and if you do not follow only YOU are the loser to that

extent. The doctor can only help in diagnosing the disease and prescribing

appropriate medicines. If the patient desires an expeditious and effective cure,

the patient will have to scrupulously follow the instructions, the patient is

free either to follow or flout the instructions with attendant consequences.

AND, NOW IT IS IN YOUR HANDS TO CHOOSE EITHER COURSE ON THE ROAD TO YOUR

SPRITUAL REGENERATION OR DEGENERATION.