EFFECT OF FOOD ON OUR MINDS AND OUR FUTURE

Once Brahmins were supreme and commanded a lot of respect in olden days. Now we are being bashed and
ridiculed. Other caste people no more respect us. These are facts.
How this change happened ? Why others are emboldened to criticize us? Because we lost our divine glow.
We lost the unique aura surrounding us. We lost our brilliance and most importantly, we lost our ability to
serve & guide society.
The basic rule is, others will respect and like us, only if we are useful to them. We have become useless in
that respect.
How we lost all that ? There are many extraneous reasons and internal ones also. Those extraneous reasons
could have been nullified, if we only kept our grit to stick to traditions. Some where we lost our will power.
The only way to regain the lost glory is to STICK TO OUR TRADITIONS. Its effect is electrifying.
Unfortunately, we are not in a position to uphold our own beliefs. When someone points to the greatness of
our traditional practices , many youngsters say all this is trash. Why do they say so ?
They never experienced the usefulness of the traditions. They never knew about them.
They did not have the luxury and comfort of serene and pious atmosphere created at homes by their elders.
The elders / parents themselves do not know. They never experienced it. How to blame them ? They are in
such a situation, I do not know whether to pity them or get angry. THEY NEED HELP.
Inter Caste marriages, eating with others- definitely harm our radiance. Not only that , we lose our identity.
We lose our edge. They say , if we try to follow our traditions , then we are singled out .. I say we retain
our special position.
Since this article is about Food and its effect , lets see how food is affecting our future.
Maha Narayanopanishat clearly talks about the effect, usefulness and importance of food. It says , The
Supreme Soul is gracing the worlds in the form of Aditya. The rains happen only because of HIM. From
rains we get grains and vegetation. From that , Annam ( food ) is made. The Sun God is feeding the
world , hence the name PUSHA , the one who feeds. ( Poshaka )
From the food , PRANAcomes. From PRANA, Strength come. From Strength , one is able to do TAPAS
( Penance ) . From TAPAS , SHRADDHA( interest and Jijnasa ) comes. From SHRADDHA, MEDHA,
the capacity to understand and retain comes. From MEDHA, MANISHA meaning , good intentions are
formed. From that happens continuous chanting or MANANAM . By MANANAM , we get SHANTI
( peace )... From PEACE , we get DHRUVASMRUTI , meaning firm memory . From DHRUVASMRUTI ,
we get SMARA, meaning , strong continuous and flowing memory , which will result in VIJNANAM .
From this self realization comes.
Only the self realized person sees himself in all creatures and , he helps all. When he helps all , he is
respected and sought after.
But , Just by having food one can not achieve all the above. The food should be ideal and perfect . This
world is full of the three Gunas , i.e ; Sattvik , Rajasik and Tamasik.
One should aim to become Sattvik and even cross it to become much better. The food available to us also
has these three Gunas. Only Sattvik food gives us Sattvik Guna. It is said that , part of food that we take
goes to the physical body , part goes to the mind and the remaining is thrown out as waste. That tells the
importance of the type of food we take. Non-vegetarian food is always Tamasik. Vegetarian food also , is not
always Sattvik. Within vegetarian food , we have classifications. The likes of Onions , garlic, Radish etc
are not good for Sattvik Guna. Many other vegetables can also give Rajasik or Tamasik Guna if taken on
wrong days. Here is a list of vegetarian food items , which should be avoided on certain days.
As per " Muhurtha Dipika " we have to discard ( do not eat or do) the following items / things , on the days
shown
Tithi ( As per Vedic calendar ) ITEM to be AVOIDED
Padyami..................................... Pumpkin ( GummaDi Kaya )
Vidiya ......................................Munaga Kayalu ( Drumsticks )
Tadiya..........................................Uppu ( Salt )
Chavithi.......................................Nuvvulu & Mullangi ( Sesame Seeds & Radish )
Panchami ............................... Chintha Pandu & Panasa Pandu ( Tamarind & Jackfruit )
Shasti ..........................................Noone & Usiri Kaya (oil & Amla)
Sapthami......................................Usirikaya & Kobbari Kaya (Amla & Coconut )
Astami..........................................Kobbari Kaaya & Sora Kaya ( Coconut & Bottle Gourd)
Navami............................. Sorakaya or Aanapa Kaya & Potla Kaya( Bottle Gourd & Snake Gourd)
Dasami.........................................Potla Kaya & Anumulu ( Snake Gourd & Udad Dal)
Ekaadasi .................................. Anumulu & Chiri Senagalu ( Udad Dal & Green Gram )
Dwaadasi ................................Chiri Senagalu & Nuvvulu ( Green Gram & Sesame )
Trayodasi ................................Vankaya & Kshura Karma ( Brinjal & Kshouramu )
Chaturdasi....................................Madyamu & Rathi ( Alchohol & Copulation )
Amaavaasya
/ Pournami .................. Dyuthamu & Rathi ( Gambling & Copulation )
In Maagha Maasam & Also on Ekadasis we have to completely discard mullangi ( Radish ).
In the above list , you will not find Onions and garlic . It doesnt mean that we can eat them.:P .. We should
completely discard them always.
Apart from the above , the food is affected by those , who cook it , who handle it , and who serve it. The
mental state of those people gets transferred to the food and the eater. Non Brahmins eat ( we assume )
non veg. Those veg eating Non Brahmins can not be easily identified so, the assumption. Non Veg increases
' Tamasic ' qualities and negativity because " killing " is involved. So, the food cooked & served by them
acquires those negative qualities. Has anybody wondered why the " Prasadam " given in Temples is so
positive and why similar item available in a hotel does not give the same feeling ?
We also experience that certain kinds of Dogs will not eat food if fed with anger or abuse. When the
animals have that sense, why can't the humans have ?
There is a proper way of taking food for Brahmins.
Having meals is called ' Atma Yajna"
BHOJANAVIDHI
DOACHAMANABEFORE & AFTER MEAL
1. Sit on floor facing East, in ' Padmasana ' or ' Ardha Padmasana ( Sukhasana ). legs & feet must be
touching the floor . Do not have meals while sitting on cot, chair, divan, etc. Do not stretch legs. Do not
wear chappasl or shoes. Do not stand or move from place to place.
Your clothes should not be wet but feet should be washed and wet. Do not wipe your feet.
2. Cleansing the place.
First do ' Achamanam" with Keshava Namas
Do "Prokshana" ( take water in your right palm, keep it facing upwards, slowly drop water from the sides of
fingers in small up & down movement.)
Brahmins have to make a square with water on the floor. Kshatriyas make Triangle, Vysyas make circle and
Shudras a half moon.
3. Use either a Silver Plate, or Bronze or Copper plate. No steel plates.
OR, use leaf plates made of either Banana, or Jack Fruit or Moduga ( Palasha )
4. First all the items should be offered to the Family Deity as ' Naivedyam' then offer to guests,only then the
head of the family should eat.
Wear traditional Dhoti ( panche ) & uttariyam as you would do while performing a " Homa / Havan " As per
Shrutis, have full meals only in the morning & evening.
5. The order of serving :
First sweet, then gravy or watery items, salt, Rice, then sour items like Pulusu ( Sambar ) , Chaaru ( Rasam ).
Lastly Curds / Buttermilk . Never serve Rice first. That is done in Apara Karma ( Shraaddha )
6. " Parishechana " ( Sanctifying & Sacrificing )
Once all the items ( little each ) are served, again do ' Prokshana ' on the food ( rice ) with water.
First take sufficient water in right palm, drop little by little on the food while chanting " Gayatri Mantra" and
also pour the same water around the plate in clock wise direction with this mantra' Satyam Twartena
Parishinchayami' day time
( in the night, the mantra is, Rutam Thwaa Sathyena Parishinchayami
7. Chitraahuti
Then, to the right side of the plate ( on the floor ) , put five times,separately, very little quantity of rice each
time chanting the following
Chitraaya Namah
Chitra Guptaaya Namah
Yamaaya Namah
Dharma Rajaya Namah
Sarva Bhuthebhyo Namah
Then bring the rice thus put on the floor together, while chanting the following
' Yatra kvachana Samsthaanaam Kshutrushnopa hathaarthanaam
BhuthaanaamTruptaye Akshayya midamastu Yathaa Sukham"
During Nights NO ' Chitrahuti 'to be given. Touch water with left hand fingers ( wash )
Then take water in right hand and swallow it from the base of the palm, without sound ( Aposhana ), while
chanting,
'OmAmrutopastaraNamasi Svaahaa'
Since it is Atma Yajna, we are not supposed to eat salt, sweet, hot & sour items. But we can not eat only
staple food without those things. So, before we have the meals, we have to do ' Praanaahuti '
Touch or hold the plate with your left hand, and then
Take and swallow few grains of rice Six times, each time chanting the following
Om Praanaaya Svaahaa
Om Vyaanaaya Svaahaa
OmApaanaaya Svaahaa
Om Samaanaaya Svaahaa
Om Udhaanaaya Svaahaa
BrahmaNE svaahaa
While swallowing, take care not to touch the rice with teeth.
Then, one can eat whatever available in the plate.
After meal, again do ' Aposhana' ie take water in palm & swallow a little and discard a little. Chant this
Mantra
Rourave ApuNya nilayE padmaarbuda nivaasinaam
Arthinaamudakam Dattam Akshayya mupatishtatu
This discarded water will be dedicated to those souls, who are languishing in 'Rourava Naraka ' which will
satisfy them.
This is Atma Yajna
DOACHAMANABEFORE & AFTER MEAL
Of course, these are for believers. The results of such practices is only known to the practitioners. When
eating in a group we have to chant " Trisuparna " Mantras to purify the food & place.
These are our customs & Traditions , which are available in " Manu Smruthi "
I invite others to give their opinions.