Source: http://www.srivaishnava.org/sgati/sddsv2/v02014.

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Excerpts from Section 4 of Chapter 15 of "Hinduism Rediscovered", by Anbil
Ramaswamy

WHAT OUR SASTRAS PERMIT/PROHIBIT IN THE MATTER OF FOOD

-VEDANTA DESIKA's ADVICE

Right from Vedic literature down to the Itihasas and Puranas, we find scattered
references to vegetables and other edibles that can be consumed and those that are
better avoided in order to ensure augmentation of Satva and preclusion of Rajo and
Tamo.

It was however, left to Swami Sri VEDANTA DESIKA who did deep research in this
field (as also in all other fields he touched ) to incorporate in his work
entitled "Ahara Niyamam', a catalog for ready reference on what can be consumed,
what should not be ingested and what can be taken with certain restrictions and
even what go without any restrictions also!. We attempt below to have a glimpse of
the various items as gleaned from 'Ahara Niyamam' and Srimad Ramayanam in
particular. It should be understood that the prohibition is meant only to enable
us to regulate consumption in a conscious, cautious way.

Lord Krishna clearly prohibits food that are too sour, hot, salty, too much bile-
producing etc. (BG 17/9)

And again, he advises that they who consume food that are time expired, those that
have lost taste, those that emanate stale odor, altered taste, mixed with spittle
and those not fit to be offered to the Lord should not be eaten. Sri
RAMANUJACHARYA's SRI BASHYAM `Sarvanna Anumatyati Karanam'Sutras 446 to 448
declare - that in times of danger to life one can consume any food and such intake
will not go against Pramanas and Smritis.

BUT, SUTRA 449, HOWEVER, CLEARLY AND CATEGORICALLY FORBIDS CONSUMPTION OF LIQUOR
EVEN IN THE FACE OF DANGER TO LIFE.7

The case of one Sage USHASTI is alluded to. Due to famine he and his wife were
migrating to a far off place. On the way, the Sage was so exhausted due to
starvation that he almost swooned and apprehended his end was near at hand. A
mahout who passed by on an elephant offered him some horsegram which the sage
readily accepted (though ordinarily prohibited). But when the mahout offered water
to drink, the sage declined saying that he took the horsegram only for saving
himself from starvation-death and taking water thereafter was not proper since at
that point of time, the danger to life had disappeared.

A. Items prohibited on hygienic and prophylactic grounds (like our not using tooth
brushes used by others)

1. Spittle and food contaminated with spittle

2. Food contaminated by flies, worms, hair, fingernails etc.
3. Food contaminated by excreta
4. Food contaminated by cloth, thread, sneeze etc.
5. Food that has been `smelt' by anybody
6. Food `that has been tasted' by humans, rodent, crow, hen, cat, dog etc.
7. Food that has been partially `bitten' by others
8. Morsel of food partially remaining after eating a portion of it.
9. Vegetables cooked without first being washed
10. Fruits, vegetables etc. cut with finger nails
 11. Food prepared by persons who are not clean
12. Food cooked in other people's homes (Parannam)
13. Food that has been found fault with
14. Foods that have been prohibited specifically
15. Food cooked along with prohibited items
16. Foods known to be harmful to vital air and the functioning of sense organs

B.ITEMS PROHIBITED ON `SOCIAL' GROUNDS

( LIKE THE `TABLE MANNERS' WE FOLLOW THESE DAYS DURING FORMAL GATHERINGS.) AS
DRESS REGULATIONS ARE IMPOSED ON US DURING FORMAL DINNERS, CERTAIN NORMS AND
DISCIPLINES ARE PRESCRIBED BY OUR TRADITIONS. SOME OF THE RESTRICTIONS ARE:

1. One should not take for self food intended for all
2. Food meant for others (especially a sick person)
3. Food kept apportioned for self and guests
4. Food remaining after feeding a woman in menstruation*
5. Food prepared specifically for a woman who has just delivered*
6. Food that has not been offered to `Bhagavan' in the first place (during
Aradhana)*
7. Food before offering to guests (Atiti Satkara)
8. Food offered to lesser deities (Devatantara)
9. Food set apart for offering to such deities as per Sastric injunctions
10. Products (grains, pulses etc.) not offered to God after the harvest
11. Food offered by Sanyasis directly
12. Food taken out from the vessel of Sannyasis
13. Food offered without love and affection
14. Vegetables, fruits etc. cultivated in dirty places *
15. Those that are known to affect concentration and meditation
16. Those that have been specifically advised against by Acharyas and such
others
17. Mixed food distributed by hand
18. Ghee should not be served after one commences eating
19. Foods cooked more than once (Punar Pakam)
20. Cooked food served with iron ladles or bare hands
21. Salt served directly by hand
22. Food should not be eaten using left hand
23. Food should not be eaten holding the plate by hand
24. Food should not be placed on a seat
25. Food should not be eaten keeping them on the lap (22 to 25 are precisely
what we do during buffet)
26. Should not eat edibles sitting on the bed
27. Food should not be eaten without a lamp burning
28. Moonlight / Fire are no substitutes for a burning lamp
29. Lime used for making chunnam out of seashells
30. Bubbles and foam arising from liquids (as while drinking coke, pepsi, coffee
etc)
31. No food can be taken without taking bath and washing hands, and completing
ablutions (Parishechanam)
32. Should not leave without completing the final Parishechanam
33. Should not eat out of a broken plate or other vessels that are not clean

Note: Items marked * are referred to in Srimad Ramayana (Balakanda) also.

C.SWAMI SRI DESIKAN HAS DRAWN UP AN ELABORATE LIST OF VEGETABLES / PRODUCTS THAT
SHOULD NOT BE EATEN. WE GIVE BELOW THE TAMIL AND POPULAR AND / OR BOTANICAL NAMES
OF THESE FOR GENERAL GUIDANCE"

But, please do not be put off by this list. He has given another list of
exceptions and relaxations under which even some of the prohibited items could be
consumed as also yet another list of items that can be consumed freely without
restrictions. (Vide Sections (D) and (E).

TAMIL NAME POPULAR AND/ OR BOTANICAL NAME

1. Athi Varieties - Ficus Racemosa
2. Perarku Bauhinia Racemosa
3. Irali Ficus Virens
4. Vellai Kathari White egg plant | white brinjals
5. Aal Banyan -
6. Arasu Peepal Ficus Religiosa
7. Ayil Chittagong wood Chickrasia Tabularis
8. Aarai Masculia Quadrifoli a
9. Naruvili Cordia Obliqua/M onoria
10. Pungu Dalbergia
11. Thigaipoondu A plant that causes confusion in mind
12. Kurinji A shrub Maruthonr i Terminaw a
13. Tanri Bellenica
14. Kusumbai Carthamus Tinctoriu m
15. Velai Cleone Pentaphytt a
16. Sivappu/Nattu Murungai Drumstick - Hyperanth era Muringa
17. Sukam Sukampal
18. Tamarai Kizhangu Lotus bulb Nelumbo Nucifera
19. Ulli Garlic
20. Siriya Avarai Beans
21. Thummatti Callous Leaved Bryonia
22. Therar Kai Clearing nut Strychnoo Patatatura
23. Panai Palmyra palm
24. Nayuruvi Achyranth us Aspera
25. Kadambu Eugenica Racemosa
26. Naikkudai Mushroom
27. Suraikkai A variety of gourd
28. Peerkku Ridge gourd
29. Sanar Keerai Hemp
30. Siru Keerai Amaranth us Gangeticu s
31. Sivanda Agathi Cormilla Grandi Flora
32. Purasu Balia Frundosa
33. Pasala Portulaca Obracora
34. Vilvakkai Crataeva Religiosa
35. Madulankai Unripe Pomogranate
36. Varagu Paspalum Frumentac eum
37. Mullangi Radish Raphenus Sativus
38. Vengayam Onion Allium Cepa
39. Punnakku Oil cake
40. Pannai keerai ! celosia s.p. ! Exact equivalents not
traceable |Yeast. Dried brew|
41. Noyyir keerai
42. Seenkadan
43. Oovaikkai
44. Rammananthal
45. Khadi

D. THE FOLLOWING CAN BE TAKEN AS EXCEPTIONS TO GENERAL PROHIBITIONS :-

1. The remnants of food partaken by father, preceptor and eldest brother.

2. The remnants of soma juice tasted through the soma vessel during Somayaga.
3. The remnants of food eaten by wife / husband even if hair, worm, thread etc
are found in such remnants, they can be thrown away and the remnants eaten.
 4. In times of danger to life, even prohibited items can be consumed.
5. During fasting days one can take water, roots, ghee, milk, sacrificial
remnants, medicines - these will not spoil the fast.
6. If it becomes necessary to eat totally prohibited items in order to save
life, a bit of ghee or honey could be mixed with them and taken.
7. Even those foods that had become rotten can be taken after mixing with ghee.
Even other impurities like hair if noticed therein can be removed and thrown away.
8. Of items that have turned sour, the following can be taken - curds, butter,
fruits that became sour due to contact with water, roots, flowers and pickles made
out of these (vide Manu Smriti and Srimad Ramayana).

E. THOSE THAT CAN BE TAKEN FREELY WITHOUT ANY RESTRICTIONS:

1. Sugarcane juice
2. Curds
3. Milk ( /but subject to restrictions listed at H)
4. Ghee
5. Sangam
6. Pepper
7. Honey
8. Cardamom
9. Ice
10. Betelnut (subject to restrictions listed at J)
11. Anything fried in fire
12. Fruits that have ripened on their own
13. Boiled rice
14. Vadam
15. Appam | even if they are old provided they have not lost their taste
16. Seedai |
17. Chappathi |
18. Milk products
19. Thenkuzhal
20. Murukku
21. Medicines prescribed by doctors
22. Jaggery and flour combined edibles even if old
23. Wheat flour combined edibles
24. Side dishes, butter milk, ghee, milk, curds mixed with cooked rice
25. Cooked rice put in a vessel with clean water
26. Edibles prepared with curds, milk etc.
27. Juice of flowers, raw vegetables, fruits, Tender Coconut Water.

F. ITEMS TO BE AVOIDED WITH REFERENCE TO TASTE:

1. Food overheated so much as to make it inedible

2. Too much bitter
3. Too much salty
4. Too much hot (like chillies)
5. Too much sour
6. Those that are too hot (temperature)
7. Those that are repulsive
8. All liquids from which the cream has been the essence and has been removed
(except buttermilk)
9. Old food that had become rotten
10. Food that smells like mud

G. ITEMS TO BE AVOIDED WITH REFERENCE TO TIME OF CONSUMPTION

1. Food cooked on Ekadasi and other days of fasting should not be consumed
 2. Wood apple and puffed rice should not be taken during day time
3. Food mixed with sesame should not be taken at night (also referred in Srimad
Ramayana)
4. Food prepared in gingelly oil at night
5. Food prepared with curds at night
6. No food can be taken at sunrise, sunset and midnight (also referred to in
Srimad Ramayana
7. Husband and wife should not eat together at the same time

H. CONDITIONS REGARDING INTAKE OF MILK.

1. Milk of animals like mare , donkey etc. which have single hoof (Vide also
Srimad Ramayana)
2. Milk of cow that has given birth to twin calves
3. Camel's milk
4. Milk with which salt has got mixed up
5. Breast milk of women (this is also referred to in Srimad Ramayana)
6. Cow that is pregnant and cow just ready for sexual intercourse (referred in
Srimad Ramayana )
7. The milk of a cow whose calf had just died
8. Milk drawn from a cow by showing to it a calf of another cow
9. Milk that had become sour or bad (also in Srimad Ramaynana )
10. Milk of cows bearing names of deities other than those of Sriman Narayana
11. Milk of ewe (Vide also Srimad Ramayana)
12. Milk purchased from a Brahmin
13. Milk kept in bronze vessel
14. Milk overheated to the point of getting charred
15. Milk and curd taken of milk of cow that has just delivered for at least 10
days after delivery
16. Milk of other animals of the bovine family except the buffalo

I. RESTRICTIONS REGARDING USE OF WATER

1. Except Ganges water, no stored up water standing over a day should be used.
2. Water remaining in a vessel after using part of it for washing feet
3. Muddy water
4. Tender coconut water, if heated
5. Water stagnant in a small pool
6. Water running across a road
7. Water given in hotels and water sheds ( Tanneer pandals)
8. Any water purity of which is in doubt
9. Water down from washerman's ghats
10. Water contaminated with spittle
11. Water held in a conch
12. Rain water before it falls to the ground
13. One should not drink water by cupping both the palms (Vide Srimad Ramayana)

J. BETEL ITEMS TO BE AVOIDED

1. One should not munch betelnut before putting betel leaves in the mouth
2. The stem, the middle line and the tip of the leaves should be removed before
taking betel thambool
3. One should not munch both betel leaves and betel nut together
4. Widows, Brahmacharis and Sannyasis should not use betel leaves
5. One should not take betel leaf on which lime had been kept
6. During Ekadasi and other days of fasting betel chewing should be
scrupulously avoided
7. While chewing betel one should not drink water at the same time.
SECTION 5: CONCLUSION

As already mentioned these prohibitions and restrictions are only for general
guidance. If you desire to regulate / eliminate the Gunas you may choose to follow
the instructions and if you do not follow only YOU are the loser to that extent.
The doctor can only help in diagnosing the disease and prescribing appropriate
medicines. If the patient desires an expeditious and effective cure, the patient
will have to scrupulously follow the instructions, the patient is free either to
follow or flout the instructions with attendant consequences.

AND, NOW IT IS IN YOUR HANDS TO CHOOSE EITHER COURSE ON THE ROAD TO YOUR SPRITUAL
REGENERATION OR DEGENERATION.

A NOTE ON THE NOTES FOR THIS CHAPTER

[ The purport of this Chapter is to present the contents of the whole of Ch.17 and
Slokas 1 to 40 of Ch.18 of BG dealing with the impact of Trigunas on the human
psyche. Besides being numerous, they are not drawn as quotations for contextual
references. Also, for the one who is not conversant with Sanskrit, 'en masse'
presentation of transliterated texts would be of no avail while for the one who
knows Sanskrit will know the original text itself rendering such reproduction
superfluous. Hence, transliterated texts of the BG Slokas are not included in this
' Notes'. However, Chapter and Verse numbers have been indicated wherever
necessary.]

NOTES

1. US. Department of Agriculture's selection of ' Food- Guide- Pyramid' based on

research by Judy Dodd, President, American dietetic Association and Barbara
Shannon, President of the Society for Nutrition Education
2. Smriti saying quoted in VRN,p.138

"Udarasya ardham annasya

Triteeyam udagasya tu
Vayoh sancharanartam tu
Chaturtham avaseshayeth"
3. Anon "Mitam buktva, satam gatva
Mitam suptva, mitam vachah
Vamabage sayanasya
Bishagbihi kim prayojanam"
4.Anon 'Hita Bukh, Mitha Bukh, Ruchi Bukh,sakha

Bukh'
5. Anon" Atyambupanat adisangamascha
Diva cha supter nisi jagarascha
Nirodanat mutra purishayoscha
Shadbir nidanai prabavanti rogah"
6. Anon "Atva jara manushyanam
Anatva vajinam jara
Amaitunam jara streenam
Vastranam atapam jara"

7.Sri Ramanujacharya's Sri Bashyam, Ch.3,Pada 4, Adhikarana 115, Sutras 446-448

and 449

"Sarvanna anumats cha pranatyage tad darsanath.