ON FOOD AND ITS SIGNIFICANCE

ON FOOD AND ITS SIGNIFICANCE

Man cannot live without food! But this intake of food is very much neglected and in modern days junk food has come into use! Many are not conscious of the damage it causes. Advertisements mislead the elderly as well as the youngsters as they indulge in eating junk food. Man is the product of food or ‘annam’. How was this annam created? What is its origin? How can we say that man is created out of annam? The sequence of the formation of annam is beautifully described in the  “Anandavalli” of “Taittiriya Upanishad”. According to the Upanishad It was the sky that was first created by the Parabramha! From! the sky Vayu or the wind came into existence. From Vayu Fire emerged. From Fire, Jalam or water, and from Water,Earth  came into existence. From the Earth grew medicinal Herbs and from these medicinal Herbs  ‘annam’ was created.  From this ‘Annam’ ‘purusha’ or man--human being takes his birth!

In other words, man is the embodiment of the essence of anna or anna rasa. His physical body is replete with  anna rasa and built on it. The Upanishad says that this being, full of Anna rasa, is none other than the Parabramha himself! It is not different.The un ity of the jeeva and the Brahman is indicated here. In the mantra “ Anna dwai prajah prajayanthe yah kascha pruthivi sritah” the Upanishad underlines the significance of  annam'. All creatures dependent on earth are born out of food or annam'. They live by it and after death they merge into the same annam' or food. Therefore it is true that annam' has preceded all creatures and is the best. It is said that annam' is the remedy or medicine for the hunger of all creatures. Those who worship or do upasan as Parabramha shall have all food. Annam is being eaten by all creatures and it eats them away too. That is the reason why it is called ‘“Annam!” According to the Upanishad  this is called “annamaya kosa” or the sheath filled with Anna. The other four kosas that make our body are “ pranamaya, manomaya, vignanamaya and anandamaya  kosas or sheaths.

The food we take daily is digested and assimilated in the body by the blood. It undergoes various stages and changes and is responsible for the creation of semen indispensable for procreation. Thus food is the cause for all creation. The buried and cremated bodies in the earth are split by the organisms and mix up with the earth. When rain comes there is germination and crops are grown by farmers. These crops like rice, wheat, ragi, millets and others are used as food by us and this cycle of transformation continues endlessly. Thus man is born of annam' and merges into annam! Though we are eating away tons of food during our lifetime we are not aware that it is food that is the raw material for our physical body. It plays a major part in the shape and structure of our physical frame. In the Bhriguvalli of the same Upanishad, Bhrigui, the son of Varuna wants to know the Brahman and performing tapas realizes that annam is Brahman--” Annam brahmeti vyajanath”. Food should never be abused as it is equal to the Brahman. It should be taken with utmost devotion and respect! This should be done with religious discipline. It is through that prana or life breath the body is supported. Body and Prana or life breath are interdependent..!

“ Food and habits are responsible for qualities in man good or bad.” Says Bhagawan Sri Satya SaiBaba. Food is classified into three types namely “ satwa, rajas, and tamas” depending on the qualities they produce in those who eat. Garlic is said to belong to rajas as it induces anger and short temper! Our Sasthras prescribe certain foods and proscribe certain others. Alcohol is an  example of tamasic food as it makes the person lazy and lose balance of mind. The Bhagavad-Gita too advocates proper selection of food to lead a healthy life. It says that food left over on the day should never be eaten the next day! Today we find people eating the left overs a number of days after storing in the refrigerator! A person had a cook at home and used to take the food prepared by him. After sometime he felt a tendency to steal things and could not understand why he felt such vibrations. Later, on going into the antecedents of the cook, he knew  that the cook was a thief before he took up this job! Therefore, the nature of the person who cooks is transferred to the person who eats that food!

Vegetarian food is mostly satwick and good for health. It doesn't mean that nonvegetarian food is bad. That belongs to rajasic and tamasic variety of food. Eating the flesh of animals and creatures killed already is really nauseating. The Sasthras say “ “mamsam mamsena vardhate”--meat or flesh develops flesh alone!” We find meat eating people robust and strong compared to the vegetarians! Tastes differ and we cannot dictate terms to others regarding their food habits.people have realized the danger and confusion created recently by the government in banning beef eating and selling! It is for the individual to decide. It is enough if people realize the value of food and it's importance in their life and eat wisely in their own interest!