Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Vaishnavism:
http://www.salagram.net/Onions-Garlic-in-
relation2Vaishnavism.html#Why%20no%20Garlic%20and%20Onions?
Forbidden foods
Other Sources of the Rajasic and Tamasic natures of Onions and Garlic:
Our first and foremost hetu, statement is that it is a general rule that Vaishnavas
do not take Onions and or Garlic. Even to the point that we do not use them as
a medicinal means despite their being popular in the vi-karmi world as a great
multi anti-bacterial medicine, etc.
Hari-çauri: What’s the Hindi name of that drug that you were
taking the other day? That plant?
Prabhupäda: Oh. Ghåta-kumäré.
Hari-çauri: You can get some of that?
Indian man: I have not heard.
Hari-çauri: Ghåta-kumäré. Looks like a cactus. The English
name is aloe vera.
Indian man: Which has got pulp? Yes. You want it? I have got
it in my house. My wife takes them by making in the cäpäöi, or
paraöä, because of her knees. It is wonderful for this pains in
the knees. Yes.
Hari-çauri: We were told it was good for relieving high blood
pressure and clearing the...
Indian man: Relieving high blood pressure, best is garlic.
Prabhupäda: Garlic.
Indian man: Garlic, you don’t want it. (laughter)
Prabhupäda: Garlic, onions, prohibited.
Hari-çauri: But if you could get some of this Ghåta-kumäré...
Prabhupäda: It is there in his house.
Indian man: Yes, it is in my house, it is in my garden. So my
wife will prepare for your breakfast. Small cäpäöi. You will find
it very tasty and delicious. That’s called Gwaraka-pata. (Hindi)
Gwaraka-pata. Gwaraka. I will show you.
Prabhupäda: Äcchä. That’s nice. It is little bitter?
Indian man: No. It is tasteless. And it is...
Prabhupäda: You know?
Gaursundara: Yes. We have in Hawaii. It’s called aloe cactus.
Aloe vera.
Indian man: It is kneaded in the flour and little ghee and the
paraöä will be... It is wonderful for your joints. And this
arthritis, it is wonderful. I got it about a year back and put in
my garden because my wife needed and we were getting it
from somebody else’s garden. So I told my gardener, “Why
don’t you put it in our own...? We have plenty of land.”
Prabhupäda: It doesn’t require to taken care of very much. It
grows automatically.
(A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. 9th October 1976.
Room Conversation. Aligarth)
O sages, one who eats garlic, onions, sigrum (a kind of plant), turnips, bottle gourd and
meat, that person should observe a candrayana fast.
One should not eat eggplant, banana leaves, sunflower leaves and asmantaka leaves,
onions, garlic. One should not eat sour gruel (a thin watery pouriage) or the juice of the
tree. One should also give up turnips and beetroots, carrots, kinsuka, forest figs, and
white pumpkin. If the twice born persons eat these things, they all become fallen.
By eating garlic and onion one becomes sinful and as atonement one should perform
Candrayana. (Garuda Purana 1.97.3 (68-71))
Onion, shit-thriving pigs, Selu, garlic, Goplyusa (milk of a cow before the lapse of ten
days from calving), Tanduliya (a grain growing in faecal rubbish) and mushrooms— all
these are to be avoided. (Skanda Purana 40.9)
The householder taking the rite shall avoid heavy indigestible pulses like Nispava,
Masurika etc., stale food, defiled food, brinjals, gourds, cocoa-nuts, garlic, onion,
intoxicating beverages and all kinds of meat. (Siva Purana 7.10-12)
(But) he should avoid stalks of lotuses, safflower, gold or silver, onion, garlic, sour gruel,
a thick fluid substance; so also chatraka (a kind of mushroom), vidvaraha, greasy milk of
a cow during the first seven days of calving, vilaya (a particular product of milk) and
mushrooms. By eating the small red variety of garlic, blossoms of kimsuka, a gourd, so
also udumbara, bottle-gourd, a twice-born becomes fallen. (Padma Purana Vol. 42,
4.56.19b -24)
I shall now mention those things that should always be avoided in Sraddha. Garlic,
onions, globular radish and Karambha (groats or flour mixed with curds), and other
articles devoid of smell and with no taste should be avoided in Sraddha.The reason is also
mentioned (as follows): Formerly in the fight between devas and asuras, Bali was
defeated by suras. From his wounds drops of blood gushed out and from them these
articles grew up - hence they are avoided in the Sraddha rite. (Varaha Purana 16.11b-15)
The expiation for having eaten the prohibited food is fasting. One should do the stiuka(?)
expiation (tisucandrayana(?)) for having eaten bhustma (a kind of fragrant grass) and
garlic. (Agni Purana 173.37)
HBV-related quotes:
"Sanatana Gosvami wrote his Vaisnava smrti, Hari-bhakti-vilasa, which was specifically
meant for India. In those days, India was more or less following the principle of smarta-
vidhi. Srila Sanatana Gosvami had to keep pace with this, and his Hari-bhakti-vilasa was
compiled with this in mind." (CC Madhya 23.105)
Manu-samhita:
5.5. Garlic, leeks and onions, mushrooms and (all plants), springing from impure
(substances), are unfit to be eaten by twice-born men.
5.19. A twice-born man who knowingly eats mushrooms, a village-pig, garlic, a village-
cock, onions, or leeks, will become an outcast.
Substitutions
Q: Please let me know as to the proper substitutes for onions, garlic and eggs which we
can take as practicing devotees.
A: (Vijaya-venugopala Das) Instead of onion and garlic, for taste and appearance, cut
cabbage in small pieces like onions. Fry in a shallow pan (kadai), with lots of asafetida
(hing). Tastes exactly like onion.
Egg - in cakes use curds or condensed milk instead. Gives fantastic results. Buy the
eggless cake cookbook, or there are plenty of eggless cake recipes in any ISKCON
devotee authored cookbook.
(Kurma Das, chef) - Slice fresh fennel root into thin strips and fry with asafetida like the
cabbage, it is even more like onion, with an extra lovely anise fragrance.
Or: 2 tablespoon flour + 1/2 teaspoon oil + 1/2 teaspoon baking powder + 2 tablespoons
liquid (milk, cream, buttermilk, diluted yogurt, or dairy free alternatives like coconut
milk, soy milk, etc) beaten together until smooth.
Or: 2 tablespoons water + 1 tablespoon oil + 1/2 teaspoon baking powder, beaten together
until smooth.
Or: 1 tablespoon ground flax seeds + 3 tablespoon warm water, beaten t together until
smooth.
(Haripuja dd) As an egg substitute for baking, 2-3 tablespoons of yogurt can be used to
substitute 1 egg.
Related:
Ask Kurma - on onion and garlic
Some persons also say that red carrots also fall into this
equation being associated with the above stories but the fact is
that this is incorrect as red carrots are a hybrid vegetable, they
were crossed to form the red colouration for the King of
Holland, an Orangeman in the 16th century. There are several
colours of “carrots” in their natural state, but the vegetable
that we know today as a carrot cannot be the one referred to in
the above stories as it was not in existence. (Readers Digest)
A renounced sage in the forest does not kill animals, but rather
acquires skins from animals who have suffered natural death.
According to a passage from Manu-saàhitä, quoted by Çréla
Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Öhäkura, the word medhyaiù, or
“pure,” indicates that while residing in the forest a sage may
not accept honey-based liquors, animal flesh, fungus,
mushrooms, horseradish or any hallucinogenic or intoxicating
herbs, even those taken as so-called medicine. (Hridayananda
dasa Goswami. Srimad Bhagavatam 11:18:2. Purport.)
"One should not eat eggplant, banana leaves, sunflower leaves and asmantaka leaves,
onions, garlic. One should not eat sour gruel (a thin watery poriage) or the juice of the
tree. One should also give up turnips and beetroots, carrots, kinsuka, forest figs, and
white pumpkin. If the twice born persons eat these things, they all become fallen."
One of the most common questions asked to me is this: "Why don't you eat garlic and
onions?"
Here's my short answer: As a devotee of Krishna and a practicing Bhakti-yogi, I don't eat
garlic and onions because they cannot be offered to Krishna.
You may know that onions and garlic are botanical members of the alliaceous family
(alliums) - along with leeks, chives and shallots.
According to Ayurveda, India's classic medical science, foods are grouped into three
categories - sattvic, rajasic and tamasic - foods in the modes of goodness, passion and
ignorance. Onions and garlic, and the other alliaceous plants are classified as rajasic and
tamasic, which means that they increase passion and ignorance.
Those that subscribe to pure brahmana-style cooking of India, including myself, and
Vaishnavas - followers of Lord Vishnu, Rama and Krishna - like to only cook with foods
from the sattvic category. These foods include fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs, dairy
products, grains and legumes, and so on. Specifically, Vaisnavas do not like to cook with
rajasic or tamasic foods because they are unfit to offer to the Deity.
Rajasic and tamasic foods are also not used because they are detrimental to meditation
and devotions. "Garlic and onions are both rajasic and tamasic, and are forbidden to yogis
because they root the consciousness more firmly in the body", says well-known authority
on Ayurveda, Dr.Robert E.Svoboda.
Some branches of western medicine say that the Alliums have specific health benefits;
garlic is respected, at least in allopathic medical circles, as a natural antibiotic. In recent
years, while the apparent cardiovascular implications of vegetable Alliums has been
studied in some detail, the clinical implications of onion and garlic consumption from this
point of view are still not well understood.
Nevertheless, there are still many adverse things to say about garlic and onions. Not so
well known is the fact that garlic in the raw state can carry harmful (potentially fatal)
botulism bacteria. Perhaps it is with an awareness of this that the Roman poet Horace
wrote of garlic that it is “more harmful than hemlock".
It should be pointed out that Garlic and onion are avoided by spiritual adherents because
they stimulate the central nervous system, and can disturb vows of celibacy. Garlic is a
natural aphrodisiac. Ayurveda suggests that it is a tonic for loss of sexual power from any
cause, sexual debility, impotency from over-indulgence in sex and nervous exhaustion
from dissipating sexual habits. It is said to be especially useful to old men of high
nervous tension and diminishing sexual power.
The Taoists realized thousands of years ago that plants of the alliaceous family were
detrimental to humans in their healthy state. In his writings, one sage Tsang-Tsze
described the Alliums as the "five fragrant or spicy scented vegetables" - that each have a
detrimental effect on one of the following five organs - liver, spleen, lungs, kidneys, and
heart. Specifically, onions are harmful to the lungs, garlic to the heart, leeks to the spleen,
chives to the liver and spring onions to the kidneys.
Tsang-Tsze said that these pungent vegetables contain five different kinds of enzymes
which cause "reactions of repulsive breath, extra-foul odour from perspiration and bowel
movements, and lead to lewd indulgences, enhance agitations, anxieties and
aggressiveness," especially when eaten raw.
Similar things are described in Ayurveda. 'As well as producing offensive breath and
body odour, these (alliaceous) plants induce aggravation, agitation, anxiety and
aggression. Thus they are harmful physically, emotionally, mentally nd spiritually'.
Back in the 1980's, in his research on human brain function, Dr Robert [Bob] C. Beck,
DSc. found that garlic has a detrimental effect on the brain. He found that in fact garlic is
toxic to humans because its sulphone hydroxyl ions penetrate the blood-brain barrier and
are poisonous to brain cells.
Dr Beck explained that as far back as the 1950s it was known that garlic reduced reaction
time by two to three times when consumed by pilots taking flight tests. This is because
the toxic effects of garlic desynchronize brain waves. "The flight surgeon would come
around every month and remind all of us: "Don't you dare touch any garlic 72 hours
before you fly one of our airplanes, because it'll double or triple your reaction time.
You're three times slower than you would be if you'd [not] had a few drops of garlic."
For precisely the same reason the garlic family of plants has been widely recognized as
being harmful to dogs.
Even when garlic is used as food in Chinese culture it is considered harmful to the
stomach, liver and eyes, and a cause of dizziness and scattered energy when consumed in
immoderate amounts.
Nor is garlic always seen as having entirely beneficial properties in Western cooking and
medicine. It is widely accepted among health care professionals that, as well as killing
harmful bacteria, garlic also destroys beneficial bacteria, which are essential to the proper
functioning of the digestive system.
Reiki practitioners explain that garlic and onions are among the first substances to be
expelled from a person’s system – along with tobacco, alcohol and pharmaceutical
medications. This makes it apparent that alliaceous plants have a negative effect on the
human body and should be avoided for health reasons.
Homeopathic medicine comes to the same conclusion when it recognizes that red onion
produces a dry cough, watery eyes, sneezing, runny nose and other familiar cold-related
symptoms when consumed.
These are just some of the reasons I avoid leeks, chives, shallots, garlic and onions.
(i) because they are of the food category of Rajas and Tamas. They cause a disturbance,
and even pain and sickness to those who eat them. Especially if you are not used to eating
them and find them slipped into a meal – painful air, diarrhea, are often side effects –
symptoms of the modes of passion and ignorance.
(ii) because they (such foods) cannot be offered to the Deity.
(iii) because they impair Deity worship by their profound and even bad smell, and their
repeating nature so as to effectively disqualify the sadhaka from performing Deity
worship as laid down in the Hari Bhakti Vilas, and Bhaktirasamrta Sindhu (even Hing
and Gingerly are mentioned, what to speak of onion and garlic) regarding making sure
that such foods that repeat upon one, and that food in general is thoroughly digested
before one performs the pujas.
(iv) Because the onion and garlic are considered to grow below the ground and thus
tamasiki in nature many chaste Vaishnavas would not partake of them.
(v) because they are not a native to devotional cooking see (I) & (ii) & (iii) being
introduced from
other countries (karma bhumi – outside of dharma-bhumi) like so many other things.
(vi) because of the references to their origin as being derived of animal sacrifice, as
evolved from the sin of steeling the offering and when caught for that by her husband
throwing that to a distant place where due to its being impregnated with life invoking
mantras took the seed form as red dahl, red onion and white onion.
To confirm the above reference we take some information from Srila BV Narayan
maharaj of the Keshava Gaudiya math:
(http://gaudiya.net/portal/articles/gdlectures/Onions_to_Rati.htm )
(http://www.purebhakti.com/teachers/bhakti-discourses-mainmenu-61/21-discourses-
2002/237-questions-from-onions-to-rati.html)
[Sanjaya dasa:] There's a story about a brahmana's wife. She ate a piece of a cow, and
some of it turned into carrot, some of it turned into garlic, some of it turned into onion,
and the blood turned into red lentils. Is that story true?
[Srila Narayana Maharaja:] It is quite true; so we should not eat those things. What
Vyasadeva has written is true. [*See endnotes (1)] Vyasadeva knows everything past,
present, and future. He was able to see what qualities are present in each entity. For
example, Bhagavad-gita describes the sattvika, tamasika, rajasika, and nirguna natures of
various persons, plants, foodstuffs, activities, knowledge, and so on.
Vyasadeva was able to see what is favorable for bhakti and what is unfavorable. He saw
that the onion is tamasika (in the mode of ignorance). It has all the qualities present in the
meat of cows, and the same result obtained from eating cow-flesh occurs from eating
onion. One will become lusty and violent by eating it. Vyasadeva has also seen in his
meditation that garlic came from the bones of that cow. It is full with bad qualities and
puts one in the mode of ignorance. Don't eat it.
We should try to follow Vyasadeva's instrucions. If you do not follow, the same bad
qualities will come to you that comes by eating cows' flesh, bones, and so on. This has
been explained in sastra, and it is confirmed by scientific evidence.
My request is that you should know your goal, even if you are not qualified to achieve it.
Be sincere like the cataka bird (skylark). That bird is willing to die without water rather
than drink a drop of water from any tank, pond, river, or ocean, or even from the Ganges
or Yamuna. She is always looking towards the sky. She will not drink water for the whole
year if she has to wait that long, but she will only drink rain, and only during the one or
two week period of the svati constellation. A rare and fortunate sadhaka will be like that,
thinking, "I only want to serve Rupa Manjari. I only want to be a dasi of Rupa Manjari."
[* Endnotes (1) - The following was spoken by Srila Maharaja's servant, Sripad Madhava
Maharaja:]
American scientists have discovered in their laboratories that there are 21 different types
of slow poisons in both, so they are not innocent foods. In Satya-yuga, the rsis performed
gomedha (cow) and asvamedha (horse) sacrifices for the welfare of the whole universe.
[This proved the efficacy of the recitation of the Vedic mantras uttered during the
sacrifice.] A very old cow or a horse would be sacrificed by being cut into pieces and
placed in the fire. Afterwards, the rsis would utter mantras and the same animal would
come alive in a beautiful young body.
The wife of a rsi who was about to perform a gomedha sacrifice was once pregnant. She
had a very strong desire to eat, and she had heard that if, during pregnancy, one has a
desire to eat and does not fulfill it, the newly born child will always have saliva coming
from its mouth. This will be troublesome, both for the mother and the child. The rsi's wife
had a strong desire to eat meat, and thus she stealthily took one piece of meat from the
body of the cow that was offered in sacrifice. She hid it and was planing to eat it very
soon. At that time, the rsi was finishing the sacrifice and uttered all the mantras for the
cow to come to life. However, when he then saw the new cow, he noticed that there was a
small part missing from her left side. He was surprised because this had never happened
to him before. He went into meditation and realized that his wife had taken away a piece
of meat during the sacrifice.
Due to the effect of the mantras uttered by the rsi, there was now life in this small piece
of meat. The wife now also understood what happened, and she quickly threw the meat
far away. Shortly afterwards, red lentils sprouted from the blood of this meat, garlic
sprouted from the bones (both garlic and the bones of a cow are white), and onions and
carrots sprouted from the flesh. Thus, these foods are never eaten by any Vaisnava,
because they are in the mode of ignorance.
(Any devotee may rightly ask at this time, "Why would Prabhupada have allowed carrots
to be eaten, if they are so bad? The answer was kindly given by Prabhupada himself, in
Boston, in 1969. He said, "If I told you all the rules and regulations now, you would faint.
So for now, follow all the rules I've given, and make up the balance by chanting Hare
Krsna." He also often said that he is following the guidelines given by his Guru
Maharaja; that is, to induce the Westerners to first chant Hare Krsna, and as they become
more and more established in that, the rules and regulations would gradually come.)
(http://gaudiya.net/portal/articles/gdlectures/Onions_to_Rati.htm )
HH Jayapataka Swami mentioned once that the word for modern day carrot and the word
used in the story do not mean the same thing. This would especially appear to be
reasonable as we find that the modern day organe red coloured carrot is a concocted
crossed hybrid vegetable made by man, and certainly not around in former times quotes
in shastra.
So the story I just made reference tocould not have been referring to the modern day
carrot as we know it, as it simply didn't exist. The carrot was in those days a reddish
purple colour, which could be more likely to represent meat, as it was espcially used as a
preparation to go with meat http://website.lineone.net/~stolarczyk/history2.html
Accordingly the yellow carrot came about in the 12th century and was spread by traders
and eventually reached Europe from where it was hybrid to make the modern orrange
coloured carrot that we know today. This story earlier and mentioned that Readers Digest
clearly cites European history when the carrot was hybrid to become orange – red for the
King of Holland, an Orangeman in the 16th century AD.
There are other similar stories here in the History of the Carrot pages
http://website.lineone.net/~stolarczyk/history1.html -
http://website.lineone.net/~stolarczyk/history2.html
It’s said that we originated from wild roots that grew in Afghanistan which were red,
black or purple in colour. It’s also thought that our ancestor was a small, tough, pale-
fleshed taprooted plant which grew in the Near East and Middle Asia. Whatever the truth,
we’re definitely an ancient plant. Our seed has been found in lake dwellings in central
Switzerland dated at 2000 to 3000 BC. We were probably used for both food and
medicinal purposes in the beginning.
Little was written about us until the 16th century, when it was noted that yellow and
purple varieties were eaten in Europe. In the 17th century an orange coloured carrot was
developed in Holland and further breeding occurred throughout the 18th century. We are
derived from these 18th century varieties. We first came to Australia in 1788 with the
First Fleet and convicts planted ‘Long Orange’ carrots on Norfolk Island just two weeks
after their arrival and gathered in their first harvest in October of that year. Along with
our friends the cabbages, we became an important food for the colonists.
http://www.freshforkids.com.au/carrot.htm
Now as far as purity of a food goes, it being natural as opposed to crossed, we can
consult shastra here:
Purity can mean purity as in the nature of the food, it can also mean in its origin, be it
organic or hybrid and so on:
According to the Chandogya Upanisad, when there is purity of food, the mind becomes
pure; when the mind becomes pure, it remembers the Lord and by remembrance of the
Lord, liberation is attained:
ahara suddhau sattva suddhih sattva suddhau dhruva smrtih smrti lambhe sarva
granthinam vipra moksah (quoted in BG Ch3. V.11 purport) This verse mentioned
"ahara suddhi" or purification of food as a crucial element in spiritual progress. For this
reason also the smrti shastras proclaim that greatest of purifiers is pure food. The
scriptures have therefore carefully delineated proper and improper food for the person
who desires perfection in life.
Manu-samhita as “the Law book for Mankind” in that regard. Indeed, the four regulative
principles mentioned above are directly from Manu-samhita, including the injunction to
avoid eating onion and garlic. (We do not find the injunction against eating onion and
garlic in the Gita or Srimad-Bhagavatam - it is found in Manu-samhita 5:5, and 5:19 and
other dharma-shastras.)
Manu samhita on meat, meat eating, onions, garlic and other things:
3. Righteous Bhrigu, the son of Manu, (thus) answered the great sages: 'Hear, (in
punishment) of what faults Death seeks to shorten the lives of Brahmanas!'
4. 'Through neglect of the Veda-study, through deviation from the rule of conduct,
through remissness (in the fulfilment of duties), and through faults (committed by eating
forbidden) food, Death becomes eager to shorten the lives of Brahmanas.'
5. Garlic, leeks and onions, mushrooms and (all plants), springing from impure
(substances), are unfit to be eaten by twice-born men.
6. One should carefully avoid red exudations from trees and (juices) flowing from
incisions, the Selu (fruit), and the thickened milk of a cow (which she gives after calving
- colestrum).
7. Rice boiled with sesamum, wheat mixed with butter, milk and sugar, milk-rice and
flour-cakes which are not prepared for a sacrifice, meat which has not been sprinkled
with water while sacred texts were recited, food offered to the gods and sacrificial viands.
8. The milk of a cow (or other female animal) within ten days after her calving, that of
camels, of one-hoofed animals, of sheep, of a cow in heat, or of one that has no calf with
her.
9. (The milk) of all wild animals excepting buffalo-cows, that of women, and all
(substances turned) sour must be avoided.
10. Among (things turned) sour, sour milk, and all (food) prepared of it may be eaten,
likewise what is extracted from pure flowers, roots, and fruit.
11. Let him avoid all carnivorous birds and those living in villages, and one-hoofed
animals which are not specially permitted (to be eaten), and the Tittibha (Parra Jacana),
12. The sparrow, the Plava, the Hamsa, the Brahmani duck, the village-cock, the Sarasa
crane, the Raggudala, the woodpecker, the parrot, and the starling,
13. Those which feed striking with their beaks, web-footed birds, the Koyashti, those
which scratch with their toes, those which dive and live on fish, meat from a slaughter-
house and dried meat,
14. The Baka and the Balaka crane, the raven, the Khangaritaka, (animals) that eat fish,
village-pigs, and all kinds of fishes.
15. He who eats the flesh of any (animal) is called the eater of the flesh of that
(particular creature), he who eats fish is an eater of every (kind of) flesh; let him therefore
avoid fish.
16. (But the fish called) Pathina and (that called) Rohita may be eaten, if used for
offerings to the gods or to the manes; (one may eat) likewise Ragivas, Simhatundas, and
Sasalkas on all (occasions).
17. Let him not eat solitary or unknown beasts and birds, though they may fall under
(the categories of) eatable (creatures), nor any five-toed (animals).
18. The porcupine, the hedgehog, the iguana, the rhinoceros, the tortoise, and the hare
they declare to be eatable; likewise those (domestic animals) that have teeth in one jaw
only, excepting camels.
19. A twice-born man who knowingly eats mushrooms, a village-pig, garlic, a village-
cock, onions, or leeks, will become an outcast.
20. He who unwittingly partakes of (any of) these six, shall perform a Samtapana
(Krikkhra) or the lunar penance (Kandrayana) of ascetics; in case (he who has eaten) any
other (kind of forbidden food) he shall fast for one day (and a night ).
21. Once a year a Brahmana must perform a Krikkhra penance, in order to atone for
unintentionally eating (forbidden food) but for intentionally (eating forbidden food he
must perform the penances prescribed) specially.
22. Beasts and birds recommended (for consumption) may be slain by Brahmanas for
sacrifices, and in order to feed those whom they are bound to maintain; for Agastya did
this of old.
23. For in ancient (times) the sacrificial cakes were (made of the flesh) of eatable beasts
and birds at the sacrifices offered by Brahmanas and Kshatriyas.
24. All lawful hard or soft food may be eaten, though stale, (after having been) mixed
with fatty (substances), and so may the remains of sacrificial viands.
25. But all preparations of barley and wheat, as well as preparations of milk, may be
eaten by twice-born men without being mixed with fatty (substances), though they may
have stood for a long time.
26. Thus has the food, allowed and forbidden to twice-born men, been fully described; I
will now propound the rules for eating and avoiding meat.
27. One may eat meat when it has been sprinkled with water, while Mantras were
recited, when Brahmanas desire (one's doing it), when one is engaged (in the
performance of a rite) according to the law, and when one's life is in danger.
28. The Lord of creatures (Pragapati) created this whole (world to be) the sustenance of
the vital spirit; both the immovable and the movable (creation is) the food of the vital
spirit.
29. What is destitute of motion is the food of those endowed with locomotion;
(animals) without fangs (are the food) of those with fangs, those without hands of those
who possess hands, and the timid of the bold.
30. The eater who daily even devours those destined to be his food, commits no sin; for
the creator himself created both the eaters and those who are to be eaten (for those special
purposes).
31. 'The consumption of meat (is befitting) for sacrifices,' that is declared to be a rule
made by the gods; but to persist (in using it) on other (occasions) is said to be a
proceeding worthy of Rakshasas.
32. He who eats meat, when he honours the gods and manes, commits no sin, whether
he has bought it, or himself has killed (the animal), or has received it as a present from
others.
33. A twice-born man who knows the law, must not eat meat except in conformity with
the law; for if he has eaten it unlawfully, he will, unable to save himself, be eaten after
death by his (victims).
34. After death the guilt of one who slays deer for gain is not as (great) as that of him
who eats meat for no (sacred) purpose.
35. But a man who, being duly engaged (to officiate or to dine at a sacred rite), refuses
to eat meat, becomes after death an animal during twenty-one existences.
36. A Brahmana must never eat (the flesh of animals unhallowed by Mantras; but,
obedient to the primeval law, he may eat it, consecrated with Vedic texts.
37. If he has a strong desire (for meat) he may make an animal of clarified butter or one
of flour, (and eat that); but let him never seek to destroy an animal without a (lawful)
reason.
38. As many hairs as the slain beast has, so often indeed will he who killed it without a
(lawful) reason suffer a violent death in future births.
39. Svayambhu (the Self-existent) himself created animals for the sake of sacrifices;
sacrifices (have been instituted) for the good of this whole (world); hence the
slaughtering (of beasts) for sacrifices is not slaughtering (in the ordinary sense of the
word).
40. Herbs, trees, cattle, birds, and (other) animals that have been destroyed for
sacrifices, receive (being reborn) higher existences.
41. On offering the honey-mixture (to a guest), at a sacrifice and at the rites in honour
of the manes, but on these occasions only, may an animal be slain; that (rule) Manu
proclaimed.
42. A twice-born man who, knowing the true meaning of the Veda, slays an animal for
these purposes, causes both himself and the animal to enter a most blessed state.
43. A twice-born man of virtuous disposition, whether he dwells in (his own) house,
with a teacher, or in the forest, must never, even in times of distress, cause an injury (to
any creature) which is not sanctioned by the Veda.
44. Know that the injury to moving creatures and to those destitute of motion, which
the Veda has prescribed for certain occasions, is no injury at all; for the sacred law shone
forth from the Veda.
45. He who injures innoxious beings from a wish to (give) himself pleasure, never finds
happiness, neither living nor dead.
46. He who does not seek to cause the sufferings of bonds and death to living creatures,
(but) desires the good of all (beings), obtains endless bliss.
47. He who does not injure any (creature), attains without an effort what he thinks of,
what he undertakes, and what he fixes his mind on.
48. Meat can never be obtained without injury to living creatures, and injury to sentient
beings is detrimental to (the attainment of) heavenly bliss; let him therefore shun (the use
of) meat.
49. Having well considered the (disgusting) origin of flesh and the (cruelty of) fettering
and slaying corporeal beings, let him entirely abstain from eating flesh.
50. He who, disregarding the rule (given above), does not eat meat like a Pisaka,
becomes dear to men, and will not be tormented by diseases.
51. He who permits (the slaughter of an animal), he who cuts it up, he who kills it, he
who buys or sells (meat), he who cooks it, he who serves it up, and he who eats it, (must
all be considered as) the slayers (of the animal).
52. There is no greater sinner than that (man) who, though not worshipping the gods or
the manes, seeks to increase (the bulk of) his own flesh by the flesh of other (beings).
53. He who during a hundred years annually offers a horse-sacrifice, and he who
entirely abstains from meat, obtain the same reward for their meritorious (conduct).
54. By subsisting on pure fruit and roots, and by eating food fit for ascetics (in the
forest), one does not gain (so great) a reward as by entirely avoiding (the use of) flesh.
55. 'Me he (mam sah)' will devour in the next (world), whose flesh I eat in this (life);
the wise declare this (to be) the real meaning of the word 'flesh' (mamsah).
56. There is no sin in eating meat, in (drinking) spirituous liquor, and in carnal
intercourse, for that is the natural way of created beings, but abstention brings great
rewards.
Foods chosen by quality: Different foods, due to their composition, affect the body in
different ways when they are eaten by the human being. Foods may create sattvic, rajasic
or tamasic influences of the body and mind. Since the quality of sattvika opens the door
for spiritual realization, sattvika foods are recommended for one pursuing spiritual
realization.
Q 3.10 I would appreciate if you can elaborate on why we should not consume or eat
either onion or garlic. Is it stated in any Sastra? Please help me this question will be
helpful for my preaching purpose.
Ans: In Bhagavad Gita (17.9) Krsna states that ‘Foods that are too bitter, too sour, salty,
hot, pungent, dry and burning are dear to those in the mode of passion. Such foods cause
distress, misery and disease.' Onion and garlic fall in this category. They excite the baser
instincts and make it difficult for one to control the senses. The prohibition on onion,
garlic etc. is implicit, by virtue of their characteristics. ( HH Romapad Swami
http://www.vnn.org/editorials/ET0105/ET05-6733.html )
Forbidden Food:
Since meat, wine, onions and garlic are by their inherent
nature in the modes of raja and tama guna, the Vaishnava is
forbidden to eat them, or even touch them. Other untouchable
items are as follows: any form of intoxicants; milk mixed with
salt; milk from animals other than the cow; milk from a cow
without calf; milk from a cow during the ten day period after
bearing a calf (giving cholestrum); milk from a cow that has
been mated; milk mixed with buttermilk; milk in a copper
vessel; red spinach - kalambi sak; burned rice; white eggplant
(although most brahmins eat them); radish; coconut water in a
bell metal vessel; honey and yoghurt in a copper vessel;
ucchista (someone's remnants) mixed with ghee; sesame,
cornmeal, and yoghurt at night; barley during the day; burned
preparations; ones own half-eaten fruit or sweets (saved and to
be eaten later). A food product, even though it is in the mode
of goodness, may, due to the influence of time and weather,
become stale or rotten. Such food is transformed to the mode
of ignorance and is unhealthy for the body. Thus these
transformed foods are also forbidden for offering to the Lord
and for consumption.
“The devotees of the Lord are released from all kinds of sins
because they eat food which is offered first for sacrifice.
Others, who prepare food for personal sense enjoyment, verily
eat only sin.” (Bhagavad Gita Ch.3:13.) When suitable foods
are offered to the Lord they surpass sattva guna and become
transcendental to material nature. Such food is called
prasadam, the mercy of the Lord. Therefore the Vaishnava
takes only those cooked foods which are prepared by another
Vaishnava, who has thorough knowledge of what is acceptable
for offering and consumption and what is not, who is sinless in
conduct, and who offers everything to the Lord before serving
it. The considerations of quality, impurity etc., do not apply
however to food which has been offered by bona fide devotees
to the Lord without offense (who offer it to the Lord considering
the proper standards mentioned above). That food or bhoga is
called mahaprasadam and is absolute like the Lord: “One
should eat the mahaprasada of the Lord immediately upon
receiving it, even though it is dried up, stale or brought from a
distant country. One should consider neither time nor place.”
(Chaitanya Charitamrta Madhya Vol.2.p.324.) In the Brhad
Visnu Purana it is stated that one who considers mahaprasada
to be equal to ordinary rice and dahl certainly commits a great
offense. Ordinary edibles are touchable and untouchable, but
there are no such dualistic considerations where prasadam is
concerned. Prasadam is transcendental and there are no
transformations or contaminations, just as there are no
contaminations or transformations in the body of Lord Visnu
Himself. (Chaitanya Charitamrta Madhya Vol.1, p.293.)
yajïa-çiñöäçinaù santo
mucyante sarva-kilbiñaiù
bhuïjate te tv aghaà päpä
ye pacanty ätma-käraëät
SYNONYMS
yajïa-çiñöa—of food taken after performance of yajïa; açinaù—
eaters; santaù—the devotees; mucyante—get relief; sarva—all
kinds of; kilbiñaiù—from sins; bhuïjate—enjoy; te—they; tu—
but; agham—grievous sins; päpäù—sinners; ye—who; pacanti
—prepare food; ätma-käraëät—for sense enjoyment.
“The devotees of the Lord are released from all kinds of sins
because they eat food which is offered first for sacrifice.
Others, who prepare food for personal sense enjoyment, verily
eat only sin.”(Bhagavad Gita 3:13.)
After some time they contemplated the fact that they had
partaken of prasadams all their lives, and so wondered why
such incidents had not happened to them.
I found a few people/devotees made this modern ideal logic. Even though as stated in the
earlier message of Srila Prabhupad EVEN for medicinal reasons we do not take. I wonder
who they offer it too, or do they “eat verily only sin” as mentioned in Bhagavad Gita
3:13. ???
One study, appeared a recent issue of the American Society for Microbiology's
Antimicrobial Agents and
Chemotherapy, explains how allicin fights infection. This research supports the notion
that garlic is an excellent, although smelly, natural antimicrobial drug that can disable an
unusually wide variety of infectious organisms.
The second study, reported in Biochimica Biophysica Acta, helps to clarify the role
allicin plays in preventing heart disease and other disorders.
In the studies, the scientists revealed and characterized a molecular mechanism by which
allicin blocks certain groups of enzymes. Allicin, created when garlic cloves are crushed,
protects the plant from soil parasites and fungi and is also responsible for garlic's pungent
smell.
A natural weapon against infection, the research reported in Antimicrobial Agents and
Chemotherapy revealed allicin disables dysentery-causing amoebas by blocking two
groups of enzymes, cysteine proteinases and alcohol dehydrogenases.
Cysteine proteinase enzymes are among the main culprits in infection, providing
infectious organisms with the means to damage and invade tissues. Alcohol
dehydrogenase enzymes play a major role in these harmful organisms' metabolism and
survival. Because these groups of enzymes are found in a wide variety of infectious
organisms such as bacteria, fungi and viruses, this research provides a scientific basis for
the notion that allicin is a broad-spectrum antimicrobial, capable of warding off different
types of infections.
"It has long been argued that garlic can fight a wide range of infections and now we have
provided biochemical evidence for this claim," the authors write.
The role of allicin in warding off infection may be particularly valuable in light of the
growing bacterial resistance to antibiotics. It is unlikely that bacteria would develop
resistance to allicin because this would require modifying the very enzymes that make
their activity possible.
Similarly for different peoples in different modes of nature there are all manner of
prescribed remedies, medicines, pujas / tantras / practices – this is inferred to in
Bhagavad Gita in the chapter that deals with the three modes of nature. As a man is
known by his association, so what we associate with, that we become. If it is the higher
modes or even Visudha Sattwa by partaking of the Lord’s remnants, but if we associate
with the lower modes we will develop the qualities of those modes, and pursue their goals
and vises. It is a s simple as that. It’s like the next section, no self respecting brahmin
would do these things, yet they are done by the common peoples.
If the intrigued observer plunges deeper into the same folk classification system, he will
find a bewildering number of food items, medicinal products, diseases, individual and
class/caste dispositions (kunams), labeled as possessing heating or cooling qualities. He
may also find that far from being arbitrary, the assignment of hot and cold qualities taps
into a large body of indigenous ``knowledge'' that pertains to local adaptations of a
philosophical world view that integrates materials and power relations (dharma) into
multiple interacting strands (gunas), humors (dosas), elements (bhutas) and dispositions
(kunams). (Srini Narayanan. Tue Jun 27th 1995. The thermal qualities of substance: Hot
and Cold in South Asia. University of California at Berkeley )
Other Sources of the Rajasic and Tamasic natures of Onions and Garlic:
Onions have, almost since prehistoric time, been attributed aphrodisiacal properties. They
are mentioned in many classic Hindu texts on the art of making love, they were the most
used aphrodisiac in ancient Greece, and they are frequently included as an ingredient in
Roman and Arab recipes.
During Pharaonic times celibating Egyptian priests were prohibited to eat onions because
of the potential effects. Later on, in France, newlyweds were served onion soup on the
morning after their wedding night to restore their libido.
The Romans - Ovid, in "Ars Amatoria" book 2, suggests: "Let white onions be taken that
are sent from the Pelasgian city of Alcathous." The Romans seldom used onions alone,
and usually only after cooking. Thus Apicus in "De re coquinaria" includes onions
cooked in water and mixed with pine seeds. One exception is the recommendation of the
Roman epigrammatist Martial:
"If your wife is old and your member is exhausted, eat onions in plenty."
"The Perfumed Garden", an Arab sixteenth century erotic manual written by Sheik al-
Nefzawi, bears a testimony to onions.
"The member of Abou el Heiloukh has remained erect, for thirty days without a break
because he did eat onions."
More specifically, he ate onions cooked with meat and, for drink, had the juice pressed
out of pounded onions mixed with honey.
The same source suggests an even more powerful preparation: Take one part of the juice
pressed out of pounded onions and mix it with two parts of purified honey. Heat the
mixture until the water of the onion-juice has evaporated, and let the residue get cool, to
be used whenever required (Anne & Johan Santesson. 1999. Onions, an Aphrodisiacal
Gift of the Gods - http://santesson.com/aphrodis/aphrhome.htm ) – thus the intoxicating
values of the lower modes of nature affects the participants’ consciousness.
Chemical aspects:
Onion, as well as garlic, contains the amino acid alliin and the related allicin (CH2=CH-
CH2-SO-CH2-CH=CH2). Alliin, which is devoid of any odour or taste, can be
transformed into allicin by the enzyme allinase. Whenever an onion (or a garlic) is
crushed this enzyme is released from the plant tissue and starts to enact the
transformation. It is allicin which causes the "true" garlic odour.
“The hogs and dogs, they are also busy in sense gratification.
Then why, why you are calling yourself civilized than these cats
and dogs? They are also eating meat, just like tiger. And
because you can cook it very nicely with spices, you become
civilized? But they have taken, ‘No, we can cook very nicely.’
Because in the flesh, there is no taste. So it has to be added
with garlic, it has to be added with onion, and somehow or
other... Then it becomes little palatable. Otherwise, what is the
taste of this dead flesh? Suppose if you... But those who are
after this blood, they find taste. So that is tigers’ and dogs’ and
cats’ civilization; that is not human civilization; that is not
human civilization”.(A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
9th September 1973. Srimad Bhagavatam 5:5:3. Stockholm.)
From: Ramanbil@aol.com
Subject: Part 3 on Control of mind-Role of Dietary Regimen.
Date: Fri, 16 Oct 1998 15:07:20 EDT
MIME-Version: 1.0
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Dear Bhagavtas:
Presented below is Part 3 on Control of mind-Role of Dietary Regimen.
Dasoham
Anbil Ramaswamy
============================================================
CONTROL OF MIND: ROLE OF DIETARY REGIMEN
PART 3
Let us now consider the effect of Tamoguna on the mind of a person. He becomes sinful,
sluggish, stupid, sullen, dull, depraved, degenerate, devoid of any sense of
responsibilities, inert -- eating whatever and whenever he gets (even putrified food)
sleeping wherever and whenever he can, and dies when his time comes - He is so lazy
that even for putting food into his mouth, he would need someone to help. The only way
to retrieve him to normality would be force and flog him into incessant activity.
Our Sages and Seers have laid down the Do's and Dont's to help us avoid Tamoguna
completely, regulate Rajoguna on desirable lines and promote Sattvaguna. That food
habits regulate the bodyclock and insure against disease and deterioration has been
proclaimed by our ancestors but has been accepted by modern research only now:
For long, it had been fashionable for the Westernized Indians themselves to decry Indian
Vegetarian foods of grains and cereals like rice and wheat which they said were 'stupid'
and merely 'belly filling Carbo hydrates' without any nutritional value. They plumped in
for disproportionate doses of vegetables and fruits with a liberal allowance of meat,
poultry, fish, eggs.
Leading nutrition organizations and prominent food trade councils have now endorsed the
US department of Agriculture's selection of `food -- guide -- pyramid' as the graphics to
convey the types and amounts of food that should be consumed daily. JUDY DODD,
President of the American dietic association and BARBARA SHANNON, President of
the society for nutrition education advocate "consumption of grains, cereals and rice as
the staff of life followed by fruits and vegetables to make calorie intake more
manageable, putting serving sizes in perspective, reducing fats and oil while increasing
milk, yogurt and cheese group to ensure a `balanced diet' - as a valuable source of
energizing complex carbohydrates while giving a sense of fullness and satisfaction"(Vide
the 'Food Pyramid' recommended by them and accepted by the US Department of
Agriculture which is printed on the covers of bread packets.)
It will be seen therefrom that the much maligned rice group has now regained its pride of
place with over 40% of the total intake since the 'stupid and belly filling Carbohydrates'
has not at all been stupid but highly sensible, since it has been recognized as an important
source of energy with the fruits and vegetables group ranked only secondary to the rice
group while the much trumpeted meat and fat group has plummeted to a new low, if not
wholly eliminated. Now, the nutrition experts say that such a balanced diet should consist
of 'heavy breakfast, light lunch and a lighter dinner'- precisely the reverse of what most
people do in the USA.
"For eating onions, garlic, mushrooms, turnips, sleshmantaka?, resin from plants
(asafoetida?) food pecked at by crows or worried by dogs, or the leavings/remnants of a
Shudra an Atikrcchra penance must be performed. (Vasishtha Dharma Sastra 14:33)
A Sisu krcchra Penance is performed over four days. The first day eat one mouthfull of
food in the morning only. Day 2 eat one mouthfull of food in the evening. Day three eat
only food that is offered without asking. Day 4 fast completely. This is done by children
women, old men and the sick.
At Atikrcchra is the same routine spread over 12 days. Each particular fast is continued
for three days. Good luck!
(Actually these Vaidika penance are not advised in Kali-yuga - only the chanting of the
holy name - chant Hare Krishna as a substitute and be happy! But better they don't eat
them.)"
Sri Raam Ramanujacarya (initiating guru in Sri sampradaya - Tengalite) 16th August
1999. Via e-mail.
OBJECTION 4:
Even if it does not say so explicitly, can we not draw an inference that the
CharamaslOka obliquely conveys the sense that one may indulge in ?adharma? in
order to ?give it up??
ANSWER:
? The word ?Dharma? has to be taken in its absolute sense. The
CharamaslOka refers to Dharma in a positive sense of virtuous acts prescribed
in the Saastras, because a true vEdantin will in no case resort to ?adhrama?
(i.e) acts prohibited in the Saastras.
? When one strives to secure a wholesome life, the prerequisite is the
conscious avoidance of evil acts and performance of virtuous ones.
? In the context of CharamaslOka, it can be seen that after elaborating
on Karma, Jnaana and Bhakti yOgas (which are all Dharmas), the Lord advises
Arjuna to give THEM up, if he felt incapable of adopting THEM and surrender
unto him.
? Also, indulging in ?adharma? per se is transgressing the commands of
the Lord and no true devotee will ever dare to entertain the prospect of such
violation inviting the wrath of the Lord and self destructive of ?sEshatvam?
(service to the Lord) - the natural disposition of the Jivaatma (Atmaswaroopam)
? These are machinations of Non-vEdic philosophies which the Lord
condemned in the ?Gita Saastram? in the words of Nammaazhwar:
ANSWER: