Tuesday, November 24, 2015

SANCTITY OF FOOD, THE PARABRAHMA

Brahmarpanam Brahma Havih,   Brahmagnou Brahmana hutam;
Brahmaiva tena gantavyam, Brahma karma samadhina ||
---Bhagavadgita (4-24)

(The Act of offering is God, The oblation is God, By God it is offered in to the Fire God, God is that which is to be realised by him who performs Actions pertaining to the God).

Realising the sublime nature of the Food, Indian culture has given place of 'prayer' to the sloka before taking  daily food.  And here we try to know some thing about our noble practices, regarding 'Annam' bequeathed from the sages of yore.

The 7 to 10 in Bhruguvalli of Taittiriya Upanishad mention about four vows to be observed in regard to Annam (Food), since Brahma Jnana is materialized through the gateway of 'Anna Brahmopasana' (austere practices  for realizing Brahman). They are,

7  Annam na nindyat tad vratam - Food is not to be blamed/abused/nor scorned at, it is the vow...
8  Annam na parirakshita tad vratam - Food  is never to be rejected scornfully/slightingly. 
9  Annam bahu kurveet tad vratam - Food should be gathered/ collected as much as possible....
10  Na kanchana vasatou pratyaachaksha tad vratam - Never turn back without Food, a guest came for shelter.

Lord Krishna tells Arjuna about The Omnipotent nature of the Almighty, His presence in the life-sustaining Food, in Vedas;  in the slokas 12 to 15 in Chapter 15. Purushotttana Yoga.

15-12  'Yadaditya.'...Understand that the radiance, the effulgence which emanates from the sun illuminating the entire universe and which is in the moon and in Fire is from Me.

15-13  'Gama visya cha'....Permeating through the planetary systems I maintain all moving and stationery beings by my strength, potency and having become the essence of the moon I sustain all plant life.

15-14  'Aham Vaiswanaro'......Being the Fire of Digestion I am entering in to the  body of  all living beings and digesting the food, with the help of prana, life force - in four ways (Bhakshya-cutting hard items with incise and canine teeth, Bhojya-chewing soft  items with pre molar and molar teeth, Lehya-very soft items like ice cream, payasam taken in by tongue, and Choshya-liquid food like juices, beverages for drinking)

15-15  'Sarvasya Chaham'....keep surveillance in the hearts of all beings, I cause the power of remembrance, forgetfulness in the beings. I am the One sought by the Vedas  and Scholars of Vedas and I am the very Vedas, (more specifically, 'Vedanam Sama Vedosmi'- I am the SamaVeda (Gita 10-22).

As I was familiarising with easily understood songs of Annmacharya I was rather astonished to find that he touched these sophisticated slokas also and  converted into intelligible keertana for common folk with such an ease, possible only for him,  starting with the words 'Thus spake Krishna to Arjuna'. 'Ani Anaticche Krishnu Darjununito'.

Annamachaarya advises, 'It is wise to adore the Almighty with devotion  after hearing what Krishna told to Arjuna as explained below;

'O Arjuna !  I am supporting with my might (being omnipotent) all the living beings on this earth. Being the Moon with my rays causing healthy plant life meant for consumption by all beings.

'Being in the form of Vaiswanara (fire god, Jattharagni) within the beings carrying  on the activity of digesting and assimilating food taken. I am residing in their hearts.  Being entrenched there I am causing awareness, remembrance and forgetfulness in  them.

'O Arjuna ! The One sought to be realised by the vedas and vedic scholars is Myself. In fact, I am the very veda, 'Vedanam Sama Vedosmi' (Gita 10-22) -  Among  all the Vedas, I am Sama Veda.  The Almighty settled on Venkatadri with consort Sri Devi is Myself !'

What is Sadachara?  Good practices by way of customs and traditions as passed down by the learned sages and  savants to our present generation  to be implemented in day to day chores for our well being in this world. The observation of sanctity towards the Food by prayer and following the four vows about Food, will go a long way in the realisation of the Almighty !

* "Ani Anaticche Krishnu Darjununito"

'Annam Parabrahma Swarupam'


Om Shanti! 









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