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Spiritual Stories by Ramana

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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.

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