Religion and food are interconnected!!! Is this statement true? Well.... when you see it from "Hinduism" perspective, is definitely yes! We have an extensive definition of food here.... We have rules for what to eat, what not to eat and also how and when to eat and how and when not to eat. I am really not sure if any other culture/tradition gives this much emphasis and importance to food but we have always considered food as God (Annapurni) which nourishes not only the body but also the soul.
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In modern days, it is the job of the nutrition and dietitian experts to study and analyze the qualities of food and its impact on the body. But as far as Hinduism is concerned, it goes beyond and touches every part of life including this food science. It doesn't stop with showing the way for spiritual enrichment but also gives simple prescriptions that are needed for everyday life and which can be followed by a common man. This kind of multi-dimension is its unique specialty.
QUICK VIEW :
| Key concept | Food in Hinduism |
| Food science |
Characterization of food according to their Gunas, Ayurveda and its medicinal aspects, Balance of doshas, Correct way of eating food.
|
| Food rituals |
Mindful cooking, Offering to God, Sharing with Guests and Food ethics
|
| Other details in connection to food |
Types of food for each Guna and Dosha, Vegetarian food, Fasting
|
The Three Gunas :
First, let us see the classification of food (Bhojana) in spiritual perception. Human beings do have three Gunas (character) and each one has its own properties. They are Sathva, Rajasa and Tamasa respectively.
Food that we eat are closely connected in enhancement of these Gunas and hence food is also divided into Sathvik food, Rajas food and Tamas food.
Sathvik Food :
The food which nourishes, gives happiness, strength, purifies and enhances health is called Sathvik food. Such foods are sweet, juicy, fleshy and palatable.
Rajas food :
The food which creates aggression, pain, distress and causes disease comes under this category. Such foods are too spicy, salty, sour, bitter, dry and hot.
Tamas food :
The food which drives you into darkness, ignorance and sluggishness is Tamas in nature. Examples are food which is stale, unclean, decomposed, cooked more than three hours ago etc.
Ayurveda and Food :
Ayurveda is a pure scientific concept of food. It is a discipline of the "Upaveda" or "auxiliary knowledge" of Vedic tradition and its origins are traced back to Atharva Veda. Contemporary Ayurveda emphasizes in attaining vitality by building a healthy metabolic system and maintaining good digestion and excretion. Hence diet forms a major part of Ayurveda. Ayurveda classifies human body into three types namely Vatha, Pitha and Kapha (the three doshas). It also emphasizes on the six tastes (Arusuvai).
Ayurvedic diet focuses on complete balance between the above three doshas called vatha pitha and kapha.
For more details about Ayurvedic diet, please go to the following links :
http://www.doctoroz.com/article/ayurvedic-diet-how-eat-your-body-type
http://www.ayurveda-holistic-medicine.com/ayurvedic-diet.html
http://www.hinduism.co.za/food.htm
http://www.anniesremedy.com/chart.php?use_ID=191
Vegetarian food (Vegan) :
In Sanathan Dharma (Hinduism), nothing is a compulsion. It does not compel any one for anything. While it emphasizes the importance of vegetarian food, it does not keep it as common for all. It does allow non vegetarian food but gently tells to avoid on certain auspicious days. Vegan food is mainly prescribed for Brahmins and there is a scientific and psychological reason for this. Brahmins are required to mainly do spiritual activities only and hence do not have any physical labor or strain. Eating non vegetarian food would add excess calories to the body which they would not be able to burn due to the nature of their work. Others who do physical labor like kshathriyas etc.. are permitted to eat Non vegetarian food. This is the scientific reason. Eating non vegetarian foods will contribute to the enhancement of Rajas and Tamas Gunas and hence will hinder the spiritual progress. More over killing is against the Ahimsa Dharma and hence the restriction. These are the psychological reasons. Many people think that proteins are compensated in vegetarian meal and it is not so. Lentils do provide excellent protein.
According to the ADA (American Dietetic Association) Vegetarians are at lower risk for developing :
- Heart disease
- Colorectal, ovarian and breast cancers
- Diabetes
- Obesity
- Hypertension (High blood pressure)
The process of Cooking :
It is a pure psychology that our thoughts influence food. We can experience this in our everyday cooking. Our mood really reflects on our cooking. That is why our scriptures mention to do cooking with mindfulness. It is an important ritual to offer food to God before eating. (I have given a separate list called "Food Ethics" later in this article). The process of producing food (farming) involves activities like plowing which contribute to the killing of many tiny organisms. Hence it is advised to do the entire cooking process by chanting the name of God (Manthras). Not only does this nullify the sins associated with the food production and preparation (like cutting vegetables and herbs) but also keeps our mood in control and without distraction. Food cooked in such a way offers real nourishment to both body and soul. Cleanliness is also very much emphasized. Taking bath before starting the cooking process is highly encouraged.
The process of Eating :
Okay... now its time to eat. But how do we eat? This is a very basic question but we do have extensive answers for it.
How many times do we need to eat?
A person who eats once a day is Yogi, twice a day is Bhogi (pleasure seeker) and thrice a day is Rogi (invites deceases).
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Offering and sharing food :
Cooked food is first offered to God, then to Guests (Adithi) and then it is finally shared with the family members. Elders and Children eat first and finally the house holder along with his wife. Prayer is always offered to God before eating the food.
Sitting posture :
Indian way of eating is to sit down in the floor and eat (though we do not follow it much these days). When we sit on floor, we normally sit with crossed legs - which is an asana called Sukhasana or Half Padhmasana. These poses aid in proper digestion. Sitting in floor requires constant bending to reach for food and going back while eating. These frequent to and fro movements causes abdominal muscles to be activated thereby leading to increased secretion of stomach acids which promote better digestion. It also has significant weight loss benefits. In this position, we cannot overeat as compared to normal table meals.
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Eating with hands :
According to Ayurveda, each finger is an extension of one of the five elements. Each finger aids in the transformation of food before the digestion stage. Gathering the finger tips to touch the food stimulates the five elements.The person who is eating becomes more conscious about the texture, taste and smell of food and promotes mindful eating.
Fasting :
As eating is considered as a sacred ritual, fasting is also another kind of ritual which is meant for the purification of both body and mind. From the spiritual perspective, it is a kind of detachment and denial of sensory pleasure. From the scientific view point, fasting cleans the toxic substances accumulated in the body. Digestive systems get rest and body mechanics are corrected.
Food Ethics :
Hinduism diet is traditionally governed by Manu dharmasasthra. Here I summarize few ethics laid down by this scripture.....
- Never consume the food which is not offered with respect
- Must not eat food which has hair or insects on it or which stood overnight
- Must not eat food which is left out by somebody else or by a bird
- One who cooks only for himself (not sharing with others) goes to hell
- Food should be greeted and honored when served
- Never find fault in food or speak ill of it
- Sit in a clean area facing East
- Eat slowly and relish every bite
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