ON FOOD

                                                                                 

Food is the sustainer of our body. It is very difficult to live without food. What is the origin of food and what is its importance in our life? According to ‘Ananda Valli” of  Taittiriya Upanishad the sky emerged from the Parabrahman. From the sky came the wind and from it came fire. From fire water and from water the earth came. From earth came the “Oshadhis” or medicinal herbs and from these Oshadhis came food or Annam. From Annam came the purusha replete with ‘annarasa’. The physical body of man or purusha is built with annarasa!This purusha, full of annarasa is none other than the nature of Parabrahman!” speaking on the significance of Food or Annam the Taittiriya Upanishad asserts, “All creatures relying on the earth are born out of  annam;  they live on annam; after death they  merge into annam. Therefore it is true that annam is great and born long before all creatures. It is said that annam is the remedy for the disease of hunger in all creatures.  Those who worship annam as the form of the Parabrahman shall have all types of annam. This annam is taken in by all creatures. It also eats away all creatures and that is the reason why it is called annam

Food is essential up to a point and anything beyond is detrimental .“Ati sarvatra varjayeth” is the wise saying. Avoid anything in excess. Food that we take should be wholesome and satwic by nature. Our tongue is a very dangerous organ and it desires to taste all attractive foods that are taste tingling. We should exercise control over the tongue.”Desist from catering to your tongue,” counsels Bhagavan Sri Sri Satya Sai Baba, “ Do not be a victim of Lust and Taste. All your knowledge and experience are useless if you cannot exercise control over your organs. ”Moderation in the intake of food is essential for every person. Not only in food but it is of paramount importance in sleep and exercise. Good food can be taken in moderate quantities at regular intervals. Sleep also should be regulated and not in excess! It is as important as work and food. There are three types of food that we take regularly. They are 1 Satwik 2 Rajasic and 3 Thamasic. Man’s conduct and mentality is molded by the type of food that he takes.

“ Ahara suddham Satwa suddhihi” is the Sanskrit adage. Swami Vivekananda asks, “Why is the lion in the cage so fierce and why is the lamb or goat so very mild? Much depends on the food you take.” Discipline in diet is very important. Radish and drumstick increase sensuality. They are taboo for sanyasis, celibates and widows. Food like greens that offers longevity, strength, spirit , happiness and which has its own essence should be taken. Food with ghee, properly cooked, nutritious , enticing the palate, wholesome and beautiful to view is ideal Satwik food. Excess of salt, chillies and other tasty foods are of Rajasika type. Excessive heat producing foods are detrimental to health. Thamasic food is that which has been stale for four hours. The Bhagavadgita declares that food for the night should not be  prepared in the morning itself. Vegetables and greens that have lost their essence and those without ghee are a taboo. Rotten and bad smelling food should be avoided. Eating food of the previous day is the worst thing that one can do! One should never eat the remnants  of another’s food. This increases the thamasic qualities of the individual. Such persons become lazy and sleepy. One should never eat food not offered to God!

Man must prefer Satwik food to the other two. Taking to intoxicating drinks, he loses balance of mind and allows his passions and emotions run riot. Not only this, his impulses ,instincts, speech and movements go astray. It is no exaggeration to say that he descends to the level of the beast! Meat eating nurtures violent tendencies and he becomes susceptible to animal diseases. While Rajasic food removes mind control, Thamasic food effaces it permanently! “Eat Sathwik food; uncooked food,nuts and fruits, germinating pulses are the best” says Swami in his discourse  (SSS Vol 7) we do not live to eat but eat to live. “Life sustained by food is short; but life sustained by the Atma is eternal. Do not lay claim to long life; but to Divine life. Do not pine for more years on earth; but for more virtues in the heart.”  advises Swami in one of his Divine discourses.

It is said that that the quality food cooked by different individuals has its effect on those who eat it. A very good and honest person had engaged a cook and used to take the food prepared by him. As days went on there was a perceptible change in the character of the man. He wondered at this change that was slowly creeping over him. Bad thoughts came to him surprisingly!  He grew envious and developed criminal tendencies. He could not believe in himself and wondered what had happened to him. He wanted to find out the reason for this change in him. He thought of many possibilities but they did not help him. Finally he knew that it was the food that has caused the change. He went into the credentials of his cook and found to his horror that he was a thief and a criminal before he joined as a cook in his home! The stealthy nature of the cook and his criminal tendencies, have passed through the food that he has cooked, to the  owner of the house!  So good qualities or bad qualities are communicated through the food  cooked by good or bad individuals!