FOOD AND DEVOTION

God is always in search of His real and true devotee! External show and paraphernalia does not attract Him! He likes the person who has surrendered himself totally to the will of God.he also loves one who always thinks of Him day in and day out! It is not necessary that you should chant the name of God loudly disturbing yourself and others! Chanting the name of the Lord within one’s heart is much more powerful and effective than chanting loudly. Sages and yogis practice internal Japa or chanting. In the Mahabharatha Vidura is such a character. His devotion to the Lord was spotless but he was humble and none could gauge the depth of his devotion! It was Krishna himself who recognized Vidura’s devotion and made others' understand what a great bhakta Vidura was! Bhishma Pitamaha, Drona, Duryodhana and others anxiously awaited the arrival of Krishna. The unexpected happens at certain times. One whom we expect doesn't turn up while the person whom we least expect turns up suddenly! Shattering all the anticipations of those awaiting Him, the Lord went to the residence of Vidura who lived a simple spartan life!

Vidura was thrilled and did not know what to do in his excitement at the sudden arrival of the Lord! He welcomed Him. He took a plantain, peeled it off and instead of offering the fruit gave the Lord the peel! Recognizing the pure devotion of his bhaktha, the Lord accepted and ate it! Vidura, though he saw it, was oblivious of what was happening! The Lord too didn't appear to notice the change in the taste of the peel! It is an example of what exactly draws the Supreme to His bhaktha. He is not bothered about what man offers. He is very much particular of the devotion with which the material is offered to Him! Duryodhana was crestfallen. He took exception to Krishna’s visit to Vidura’s home while he and others waited to welcome him grandly. He questioned how Krishna could visit and have food in the house of an ordinary person while all others waited to offer their hospitality. Duryodhana was the embodiment of arrogance and ego.The Lord gave him a fitting reply. In a beautiful sloka Lord Krishna replied: “ Suddham Bhagavatasyannam  Suddham Bhagirati jalam. Suddham Vishnu pada dhyanam.  Suddham Ekadasi Vratam”

“Annam Brahmeti vyajanath” says the Upanishad! It is equal to the Supreme Brahman. Without Annam life cannot exist.The Lord points out that the food left over by the great devotees is pure and worthy to be eaten by all others. It means the food remaining in the vessels from which it was served to the devotees. That is called “Sesham”. It is the faith and belief that by taking the remainder of food eaten by the devotees we can wipe away all our sins! Any desire or feeling to commit sin shall be warded off by taking in such food! One has to realize the extraordinary power of such Annam and eat and relish it! The character of a person depends on what type of food he takes. The food and vegetables that we take are of three types viz Sattvic, Rajasic and Tamasic food! People who take sattvic food are soft, gentle and righteous in general, The second, Rajasik makes persons irritable, rash proud and arrogant The third, Tamasic, brings out lazy, sluggish, and thick skinned people! People who dine in  these persons’ homes develop the very qualities of the food they take! Evil propensities or good qualities are generated unknowingly according to the nature of food served!

An atithi came into a house and was warmly welcomed by the house holder. After a good and wholesome feast he went to the backyard to wash his hands. The host expected him to come back so that he could honor him and offer him dakshina or sambhavana. But to the utter shock of the house holder, the guest did not come back! Not only did he not return but he drove away the host’s cow tied up in a corner! They began searching for the cow when a person informed the house holder that a person was seen driving away his cow at the corner of the village! The host ran with a few to fetch the cow back. At length, they caught the Individual and questioned why he didn't not come back after washing his hands but stole the cow in the corner of the house.They demanded an answer from him for his ungrateful act. The moment he was asked this question, he started crying bitterly and sat down in the same place.

“ I have not committed any mistake so far”, said the man. “But today, if I have stolen the cow,  that may be because I had taken food in your house! It is astonishing that in one day my mind has been spoiled! I wonder what would have happened to me if I had stayed for four days and eaten at your home! I would have been transformed into a terrible thief! I shudder at the terrible atrocities I would have committed if only I had remained with you and taken food at your home!” You have totally spoiled me by offering food!” the man concluded. Great people generally don't take food in homes of all and sundry! We don't know what type of people they are. One has to consider the nature of the house, how does the head of the family earn money, righteously or through devious ways, whether the members worship God and whether the members of the family are good! Hence the significance of eating food in the homes of devotees of the Lord. You should not eat at the homes of Tom, Dick and Harry! It is said that the evil thoughts of the cook do have a disastrous effect on those that take the food prepared by him! Lord Krishna thus brought out the exceptional devotion of Vidura and the importance of the type of food we take and from whom!