The Gita on the food we eat

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The Gita on the food we eat

By Sudarshan Kumar Kapur

(The writer can be contacted at 660/10, Krishna Colony, Gurgaon-122

001.)

 

The Bhagavad Gita, which, literally means the `Song Divine', is the

holy scripture of the Hindus and is one of the most authoritative

sources on Hindu doctrines and ethics. This sacred book is lauded as

it is considered the essence of the Vedas and Upanishads and reflects

a great synthesis of Aryan wisdom, knowledge and spiritual culture.

Aldous Huxley has said about the Gita, "It is one of the cleanest and

most comprehensive summaries and systematic spiritual statements of

the perennial philosophy ever to have been done."

 

Though the Bhagavad Gita is recognised as one of the finest

philosophical and spiritual treatises of all times, yet it addresses

the problem of the most mundane world and helps in tackling everyday

common concerns of life. What is a significant feature of the Gita is

that it has universal application and provides meaningful and

effective solutions to all, irrespective of caste, age, sex, race,

religion, class or stage of life, and tells how to lead an honest,

austere and useful life in this world to attain supreme bliss. The

message of the Gita is thus a living message essential for the

welfare of the humanity at large.

 

The Gita deals with the question of human welfare in a very simple

way and advocates the need for spiritual upliftment and self-

discipline to attain the aim of one's life. The Gita tells that

everything in this world, namely physical things, material objects,

human nature or disposition, partakes of triple or triple qualities.

A person's action or faith is fashioned according to his essential

innate nature or disposition. Human nature is of three types and is

dominated by three qualities, namely satoguna (quality representing

purity and goodness), rajoguna (quality representing passion and

extravagance) and tamoguna (quality representing darkness and

ignorance) respectively. Persons possessing these attributes or

innate disposition relating to these qualities are categorised as

sattavika, rajasika and tamasika respectively. To quote from the

Gita: Aharastvapi sarvasya trividho bahavati priyah, Yajnaastapa-

stitha daanam teshaam bhedamiman shtinu. II (7/17)

 

The Gita tells us that it is either saatvik, rajasik or tamasik

according to its innate quality and effect on the body. Again persons

of saatvik temperament would prefer saatvik food whereas those with

rajasik disposition turn to food which is of rajasik kind.

 

The food which people like according to their innate disposition is

also of three types. Likewise sacrifice, i.e. the offerings for

oblations (yajna), austerity and charity are also of three kinds,

namely saatvika, rajasik and tamasik. Take for example, the food we

eat. The Gita tells us that it is either saatvik, rajasik or tamasik

according to its innate quality and effect on the body. Again persons

of saatvik temperament would prefer saatvik food whereas those with

rajasik disposition turn to food which is of rajasik kind. Persons

with tamasik temperament would naturally derive a perverse pleasure

in food of tamasik type.

 

A check list

 

The following three shlokas (verses) from the Gita provide us a

checklist on assessing the quality of food and the quality of one's

innate nature or character.

 

Ayuh sattvabalarogyasu-khapritivivardhanah

 

Rasyah snigdhah sthirah hridya aharah sattvika priyah II

 

Eatables which promote longevity, intellect, vitality, vigour,

health, happiness, joy and cheerfulness, and products which are

juicy, bland, substantial, soft and pleasant to taste, satisfying and

naturally agreeable are liked by sattavik persons, i.e. persons of

good and pious disposition.

 

Katvamlalavanatyushnatikhs hnarukhshavidahinah aahaaraa

rajasasyyeshta duhkhasho-kaamayapradah-II (9/17)

 

Bitter, sour (acidic), salty excessively hot, pungent, dry, caustic,

and spicy food products which cause suffering, worry, grief and

sickness find favour with persons of rajasik nature.

 

Yatayamam gatarasam pooti paryushitam cha yat Uchchhishtamapi

chaamadhyam bhojanam tamasapriyam-II (10-17) Food which is half-

cooked or half-ripe, stale, or not freshely made, food that has lost

its flavour, is insipid, putrid, polluted or contaminated and impure

is appreciated by persons with tamasik disposition.

 

The reader can make a self-appraisal of his or her own disposition in

the light of the above study. The Gita shows the way on how to

improve the quality of life and become a saatvik.

 

(The writer can be contacted at 660/10, Krishna Colony, Gurgaon-122

001.)