Sri Bharatamata

Ashtottaram 91

 

91) OṀ YUKTĀHĀRA SAṀPANNA BHŪMYAI-

                                                                NAMAH:

 OṀ (AUM) -YUK-TAA-HAA-RA-  SUM-PA-NNA-

                                BHOO- MYAI- NA-- MA- HA

 

 (Yuktāhāram: means- Food endowed with reason, logic;   Saṃpannam: means-

successful, completed)

 

 

Hindu scriptural works declare that there is a close relationship between the body and the mind. Infact it is the mind, as the repository of karma that creates the future body since it survives the death of the physical bodies till the attainment of the mokṣha (liberation). Hence the body and the mind act and react on each other. In this context āhāra or food assumes great importance. The quality of food affects the quality of the mind as the old saying goes 'you are what you eat'. In fact the Chāndogya Upanishad goes to the extent of declaring that purity of food leads to purity of mind which results in the excellent retention in memory of all that is heard and studied from the preceptor. The resultant wisdom leads to freedom from all bonds. This is because the subtle part of the food that is eaten sustains the mind, whereas the gross part of it nourishes the body.

 

In Bhagavadgīta, āhāram is classified into three groups: 1) sāttvika, 2) rājasika, and 3) tāmasika.

Sāttvika food contributes to longevity, health, strength, and happiness. Rājasika food generates passion leading to sorrow and suffering. Tāmasika food produces dullness, indolence and drowsiness. The various scriptural works mention long list of food articles coming under these three categories. There are regulations with regard to the quantity of food to be eaten and elaborate rules regarding the time, place and also company in which it should be taken. Moderation in eating is always the rule. Hindu medical works recommend that half the stomach should be filled with solid food and a quarter with water leaving the rest of the space for the movement of the air. They have also categorized the food we take into four types: 1) Bhakṣhya: solid food we eat by crushing with teeth, 2) Bhojya: liquid food we drink like rasam, sāmbār, soups, 3) Ćhośya: food we suck like juicy mango, and 4) Le'hya: food we lick like honey.

 

One is advised to avoid partaking of food before performing spiritual practices. Places to be avoided for eating include temples, public places, moving animals, and vehicles, which makes lot of sense. Offering the food to God before eating destroys the impurities like jātiḋosha, nimittaḋosha and āśrayaḋosha. Even though it's a very small number, we still have 'pure vegetarians' in our nation.

 

The nation which prescribes a logical, reasonable, and healthy food is our motherland 'Yuktāhāra Saṃpanna Bhūmi'.