To Eric on mantras prior to eating

[Guest guest]

Eric wrote:

 

Keval, thanks for the heads up about deleting the files. i didn't

know about using the Bhojana mantra before consuming food. i

searched to see what the mantra meant and wanted to share the

article i found below in case anyone else is interested...

BHOJANA MANTRA

(SPIRITUAL FASTING)

Consuming the daily food regularly is obligatory on all including

the enlightened. But the latter converts eating itself into "Jnana-

yajna". The food, the eater of it, the digestion- all these are mere

modifications of Brahman. Herein lies the importance of Shloka 24,

Chapter IV of Bhagavat Gita :

 

Brahmaarpanam Brahma havir

Brahmaagnau Brahmanaahutam

Brahmaiva tena gantavyam

Brahma-karma Samaadhinaa.

The oblation is Brahman, the clarified butter is Brahman, offered by

Brahman in the fire of Brahman; unto Brahman verily he goes who

cognizes Brahman alone in his action.

 

This is the Mantra we are supposed to recite before taking any food.

We eat for the sake of Brahman residing in us. In practice, it will

serve as a 'Thanksgiving' to all those who are involved in the

preparation of that food.

 

There is another Shloka, which also is used as Bhojana mantra

sometimes.(Gita: Chapter XV, Shloka 14)

Aham Vaishvaanaro Bhootvaa

Praaninaam Dehamaa Ashritaha

Praanaa Paana Samaayuktah

Pachaamyannam Chaturvidham

Becoming the life-fire in the bodies of living beings, as

Vaisvanara, mingling with the upward and downward breaths, I digest

the four kinds of food.

 

 

Dear Eric ~ thank you for sharing this information. I have saved the story

about the Gopis and both mantras. I remember reading this when I read the

Bhagavad Gita, but for some reason, it didn't jump off the page to me as

something to use. Now I have seen many quotes from the Gita, and they are all of

immense practical use, so I have learned my lesson. Like other sacred texts, the

Gita is not just a story, but a spiritual software for life. Jai Ma ~ Linda