Certain prohibited food items.

 

Certain prohibited food items.

Excerpts from SmritimuktAphalam or Vaidyanatha Deekshiteeyam.

This text is considered as the most authentic digest on Smriti..

and the author has quoted from all possible authorities|

Sage and Lawmaker AngiraH says

आङ्गिरः

द्विविधं गर्हितं प्रोक्तं नित्यमन्नं मनीषिभिः।

जातितो गर्हितं चैव तथैवाश्रयगर्हितम्॥

लशुनादिकमन्नं यत्तत्ज्ञेयं जातिगर्हितम्।

अभोज्यानां विजानीयात् अन्नमाश्रितगर्हितम्॥

āṅgiraḥ

dvividhaṁ garhitaṁ proktaṁ nityamannaṁ manīṣibhiḥ|

jātito garhitaṁ caiva tathaivāśrayagarhitam||

laśunādikamannaṁ yattatjñeyaṁ jātigarhitam|

abhojyānāṁ vijānīyāt annamāśritagarhitam||

Sage and Lawmaker AngiraH says

There are two types of Annam or food which are treated as of polluted nature and disapproved by all on all occasions. Some foods are prohibited by their origin and growth and some others are prohibited because of the proximity or touch of some prohibited entities.

When annam or food contains ingredients like ONION, then that food is Jaatigarhita.. or are polluted by their origin itself.

When food is not expected to be taken with or in mixture with or in the vicinity of some entities, such food is termed as polluted by contact.

Smriti Ratna says

स्मृतिरत्ने

लशुनं गृंजनं चैव पलण्डुक वकादि च।

वार्ताकनालिकालंबु ह्यवेयाज्जाति दूषितम्।

smṛtiratne

laśunaṁ gṛṁjanaṁ caiva palaṇḍuka vakādi ca|

vārtākanālikālaṁbu hyaveyājjāti dūṣitam|

Smriti Ratna says

Garlic, Poppy or Ganja plant and leaves, Onion, Mushrooms, Egg plant (Kattirikkaai), the stems of plants growing in water and dirt, are all polluted by their origin or birth.. and they are to be avoided.

मनुस्मृत्यां ५- ५

लशुनं गृंजनं चैव पलण्डुकवकादि च

अभक्ष्याणि द्विजातीनां अमेध्यप्रभवानि च॥

manusmṛtyāṁ 5- 5

laśunaṁ gṛṁjanaṁ caiva palaṇḍukavakādi ca

abhkṣyāṇi dvijātīnāṁ amedhyaprabhavāni ca||

Manusmriti in Chapter 5 sloka 5 says that

Garlic, Ganja, Onion and Mushrooms are not eatable and are not to be eaten by the twice born.

They should not eat things which originate from polluted environs.. like being nurtured by Excreta..Amedhyam

लशुनं सूक्ष्मं श्वेतकन्दनालम्। गृंजनं शाकविशेषः॥पलाण्डुः स्थूलकन्धो लशुनाविशेषः॥

Vaidyanatha Deekshita explains what Lashunam etc as..

laśunaṁ sūkṣmaṁ śvetakandanālam| gṛṁjanaṁ śākaviśeṣaḥ|palāṇḍuḥ sthūlakandho laśunāviśeṣaḥ||

kavakaḥ bhūmau chatrādyākāreṇa utpannam||वकः भूमौ छत्राद्याकारेण उत्पन्नम्॥

Vaidyanatha Deekshita explains what Lashunam etc as..

Lashunam is the plant with white small sized layers.. Garlic

Grinjanam is a type of plant ( called Ganja)..

Palandu is the plant with white fat sized layers..

KavakaH is the thing that grows from the earth in the shapes of umbrella etc.

वैद्यनाथदीक्षितीये स्मृतिमुक्ताफले आह्निककाण्डे॥

From Vaidyanatha Deekshita’s Smritimuthaphalam aahnika Khandam

manusmṛtyāṁ 5- 5

treat your food with great respect

पूजयेदशनं नित्यं अद्याच्चैनमकुत्सितम्।

दृष्ट्वा हृष्येत् प्रसीदेत् च प्रतिनन्देच्च सर्वदा॥

पूजितम् ह्यशनं नित्यं बलमूर्जं च यच्छति।

अपूजितं तु तद्भुक्तं उभ्यं नाशयेदिदम्॥

मनुस्मृत्यां

pūjayedaśanaṁ nityaṁ adyāccainamakutsitam|

dṛṣṭvā hṛṣyet prasīdet ca pratinandecca sarvadā||

pūjitam hyaśanaṁ nityaṁ balamūrjaṁ ca yacchati|

apūjitaṁ tu tadbhuktaṁ ubhyaṁ nāśayedidam||

manusmṛtyāṁ

A man should treat the food he eats with great reverence.. he should even worshp it. He should eat food which is uncontaminated and is obtained through rightful means. The food should be such that a man should become happy immediately on seeing it, he should continue to be pleased afterwards and on eating it and he should be pleased to share it and also to talk about it very happily later on.

The food collected with care and with due reverence would provide great strength and sufficient energy for the person who ate the food. If the same food Is gobbled up without due respect and reverence due to it then that food would drain away the strength and energy of the person who eats it.

from Manusmritie

नरः man अशनं food नित्यं daily पूजयेत् should worship, should treat with great reverence अकुत्सितं uncontaminated, obtained in the rightful way एनं this अद्यात् should it अशनं food दृष्ट्वा seeing सर्वदा always and in all respect हृष्येत् should feel happy immediately प्रसीदेत् should continue to be pleased with it प्रतिनन्देत् च and should be very happy in sharing and recommending the food for others too.

पूजितं duly worshipped, duly cared for अशनं food बलं strength ऊर्जं energy च too यच्छति gives यदि if तद् that अपूजितं एव भुक्तं is eaten without proper care and resepct तर्हि then बलं ऊर्जं strength and energy उभयं both नाशयेत् would destroy.

പൂജയേദശനം നിത്യം അദ്യാച്ചൈനമകുത്സിതം।

ദൃഷ്ട്വാ ഹൃഷ്യേത് പ്രസീദേത് ച പ്രതിനന്ദേച്ച സര്‍വദാ॥

പൂജിതം ഹ്യശനം നിത്യം ബലമൂര്‍ജം ച യച്ഛതി।

അപൂജിതം തു തദ്ഭുക്തം ഉഭയം നാശയേദിദം॥

മനുസ്മൃതി

ഒരു മനുഷ്യന്‍ താന്‍ കഴിക്കുന്ന ആഹാരത്തെ വളരെ ബഹുമാനത്തോടെ നോക്കിക്കാണണം. അതെ ആഹാരത്തെ പൂജിക്കുക തന്നെ വേണം. കലര്‍പ്പും മാലിന്യവും ഇല്ലാത്ത നല്ല വഴിയില്‍ നേടിയ ആഹാരമാണ് മനുഷ്യന്‍ എപ്പോഴും ഭക്ഷിക്കേണ്ടത്. ആഹാരം കാണുമ്പോള്‍ തന്നെ മനുഷ്യന് ഏറെ സന്തോഷം തോന്നണം. കഴിക്കുമ്പോള്‍ അതിനുശേഷവും ആ ആനന്ദം തുടരണം. പിന്നെ ആ കഴിച്ച ആഹാരത്തെക്കുറിച്ച് ഓര്‍ക്കുമ്പോഴും അത് പങ്കിടുമ്പോഴും എല്ലാം ഒരാള്‍ക്ക് സന്തോഷം മാത്രമേ ഉണ്ടാവാന്‍ പാടുകയുള്ളൂ. അത്തരം ഭക്ഷണമാണ് ഒരു മനുഷ്യന്‍ എന്നും ഭുജിക്കേണ്ടത്.

ഏറെ ശ്രദ്ധയോടും ബഹുമാനത്തോടും ( ഭക്ഷണം സംപൂജ്യവും വിലയേറിയതും ആണ് എന്ന അറിവോടെ ) ശേഖരിച്ചു ഭക്ഷിക്കുന്ന ആഹാരം കഴിക്കുന്ന ആള്‍ക്ക് അത്യധികം ബലവും ഏറെ ഊര്‍ജ്ജവും നല്‍കും. ഒരു കരുതലും ബഹുമാനവും ആഹരത്തോടു കാണിക്കാതെ അത് അശ്രദ്ധമായി വെട്ടിവിഴുങ്ങുന്ന വ്യക്തിയുടെ ബലവും ഊര്‍ജ്ജവും നശിപ്പിക്കാന്‍ മാത്രമേ അത്തരം ആഹാരം ഉതകുകയുള്ളൂ

( മനുസ്മൃതി യില്‍ നിന്ന് )

mission in life is to cook food and donate it to the hungry ones

इन्द्र क्षुध्यद्भ्यो वय आसुतिं दाः॥ ऋग्वेदे

स इद् भोजो यो गृहवे ददाति॥ ऋग्वेदे

हिरण्यं ज्योतिः पचतो बभूव॥अथर्ववेदे

अहं पचाम्यहं ददामि॥ अथर्ववेदे

स पचामि स ददामि च सजे॥ अथर्ववेदे

indra kṣudhyadbhyo vaya āsutiṁ dāḥ|| ṛgavede

sa id bhojo yo gṛhave dadāti|| ṛgvede

hiraṇyaṁ jyotiḥ pacato babhūva|'tharvavede

ahaṁ pacāmyahaṁ dadāmi|| atharvavede

sa pacāmi sa dadāmi ca saje|| atharvavede

The supreme importance of cooking and distribution of food are highlighted in the above quoted from Rigveda and Atharva Veda

Oh Indra the Lord, you are the one who is pleased to supply drinking water and cooked food to the thirsty and hungry human beings ( from Rigvedam)

He who provides sumptuous food to his guests is the greatest donor and benefactor (Meaning gift of food is the greatest gift) (From Rigvedam)

A person who arranges for preparation and donation of food would be blessed with great splendour and wealth of gold. (From Atharva Veda)

My mission in life is to cook food and donate it to the hungry ones ( From Atharvavedam)

I am performing the greatest yajna by cooking food and supplying it as gift to the hungry ones (from Atharva Vedam)

( Remember.. our culture never thought of selling food..)

ഇന്ദ്ര ക്ഷുധ്യദ്ഭ്യോ വയ ആസുതിം ദാഃ॥ ഋഗ്വേദേ

സ ഇദ് ഭോജോ യോ ഗൃഹവേ ദദാതി॥ ഋഗ്വേദേ

ഹിരണ്യം ജ്യോതിഃ പചതോ ബഭൂവ॥അഥര്‍വവേദേ

അഹം പചാമ്യഹം ദദാമി॥ അഥര്‍വവേദേ

സ പചാമി സ ദദാമി ച സജേ॥ അഥര്‍വവേദേ

ഭക്ഷണം നല്ല വണ്ണം പാകം ചെയ്ത് അത് ഏറെ ആവശ്യമുള്ളവര്‍ക്ക് വിതരണം ചെയ്യുന്ന സേവനം എത്ര വിലപ്പെട്ടതാണ്‌ എന്ന കാര്യം വേദങ്ങളില്‍ പലയിടത്തും ആവര്‍ത്തിച്ചു പറഞ്ഞിട്ടുണ്ട്. ചില വാക്യങ്ങള്‍ താഴെ ചേര്‍ക്കുന്നു

ഭഗവാനായ ഇന്ദ്ര, അവിടുത്തെ തിരുവുള്ളം കനിഞ്ഞാണ് ദാഹിക്കുന്നവര്‍ക്ക് ജലവും വിശന്നിരിക്കുന്നവര്‍ക്ക് ആഹാരവും ധാരാളമായി ലഭ്യമാക്കുന്നത (ഋഗ്വേദത്തില്‍ നിന്ന്)

അതിഥികള്‍ക്ക് സ്വാദിഷ്ടമായ ഭക്ഷണം ധാരാളം നല്‍കി സന്തോഷിപ്പിക്കുന്നവനാണ് ഉദാര മതികളില്‍ അഗ്രഗണ്യന്‍. ആ ദാനം സമാനതകള്‍ ഇല്ലാത്തതാണ്. (ഋഗ്വേദത്തില്‍ നിന്ന്)

ആഹാരം പാകം ചെയ്ത് അത് വിതരണം ചെയ്യുവാന്‍ ഇപ്പോഴും സന്നദ്ധനായിരിക്കുന്നവന്‍ കിടയറ്റ തേജസ്വി ആയിത്തീരും. അത്തരം വ്യക്തി സ്വര്‍ണ്ണം മുതലായ സമ്പത്തുകള്‍ കൊണ്ട് അനുഗൃഹീതനാവും. (അഥര്‍വവേദത്തില്‍ നിന്ന് )

ജീവിതത്തില്‍ എന്‍റെ ദൌത്യം വിശക്കുന്നവനു വേണ്ടി ആഹാരം പാകം ചെയ്തു അത് ദാനമായി വിതരണം ചെയ്യുക എന്നതാണ്.

ആഹാരം പാകം ചെയ്ത് അത് വിശക്കുന്നവന് ദാനമായി വിതരണം ചെയ്യുക എന്നതാണ് ഞാന്‍ ചെയ്യുന്ന യജ്ഞം

( ആഹാരം വില്പന നടത്തുക എന്നത് നമ്മുടെ പൈതൃകത്തിന് അന്യമായ ഒരു കാര്യം ആയിരുന്നു എന്നത് ഇവിടെ ഓര്‍ക്കണം )

Harir annam prajaapathiH

 

Someone quoted..

"When bhakti enters the food, the food become prasadam".

However, we treat food as God.

Maybe God himself appears as food the prasadam.

When Bhakti enters the mind, and we prepare the food in the name of God it becomes Prasadam- true.

But do we really prepare food..? Is it not the Blessed Lord who cooks and feeds us all?

How can bhakti enter and stay anywhere else other than the heart of the devotee?

In fact He said that He cooks the food and He is the food..

"Aham Vaishvaanaro bhootwaa praaninaam deham aashritaH praanaapaana samayukthaH pachamyannam chathurvidham... (Gita )

I cook the food of four variety taking the shape of Vaishvanara and residing the body of living beings and also taking assistance of Prana and Apana..

It is also said.." Harir annam prajaapathiH".. Hari is the Prajapathi, Hari is the food.

Vedas instructed.. "Annam Na nindyaat... one should never neglect or disrespect food.."

Maybe food is the prasadam of God, maybe food is God himself.

We know we exist and survive on food, drawing it from our mother’s body till we are born, and then drawing it from our own mother, the cow who is also our mother, the earth who again is our mother and so on but always that food is made by Him..

God has not created all the food for you and I alone

 

God has not created all the food on his earth so that you or I alone eat it fully all by ourselves.

There are loads of food and loads of people and beings that consume it.

In fact, all can eat to their tummies fill and still there will be a lot more left.

Moreover, the good lord never ceases to produce food. He manages to recycle even the muck into good food material.

In spite of that, we fight, we try to ensure that our neighbours starve even if that would force us too to face a famine.

I wonder, are we not making our God and Father desperate and helpless?

ॐ ईशावास्यमिदँ सर्वं यत्किञ्च जगत्यां जगत्। तेन त्यक्तेन भुञ्जीथाः मा गृधः कस्यस्विद्धनम्॥

In praise of a gourmet vegetarian meals ..saappaadu..

In praise of a gourmet vegetarian meals ..saappaadu..

-----------------------------------------------------------

ओदनं देहि रजेन्द्र घृतसूप समन्वितं

माहिषं च शरत्चन्द्र चन्द्रिकाधवळम् दधिः

O king, give me a good meal..

full with rice, dhal,ghee

and also the perfectly white curd

resembling the moon of the sarat (autumn)season .

-the curd made of fresh thick milk of a she -buffalo.

കണ്ണിമാങ്ങ കുറുംകാളന്‍ കനലില്‍ ചുട്ടപപ്പടം കാച്ചിയ മോരുമുണ്ടെങ്കില്‍കാണാം ഊണിന്‍റെ വൈഭവം

kannimaanga karumkaalan kanalil chutta pappadam

kaachiya morum undenkil kaanaam ooninde vaibhavam

if one can get for meals with kannimaanga ( the salted tiny mangoes) the concentrated Kaalan ( a type of morukuuttan), pappadam heated and stiffened in embers, and buttermilk which is thoroughly boiled,

then that day he is having the most glorious meal..

നല്ല വെജിറ്റേറിയന്‍ ഊണിനു സ്തുതി

ഓദനം ദേഹി രജേന്ദ്ര ഘൃതസൂപ സമന്വിതം

മാഹിഷം ച ശരത്ചന്ദ്ര ചന്ദ്രികാധവളം ദധിഃ

തിരുമേനി, എനിക്ക് നല്ല ഒരു ഊണ് തരാന്‍ തിരുവുള്ളം ഉണ്ടാവണം..

നല്ല അരിയുടെ ചോറ്, നല്ലവണ്ണം വെന്ത പരിപ്പ്, ഉരുക്കിയെടുത്ത നെയ്യ്

പിന്നെ ശരത്കാലത്തെ പൂര്‍ണ്ണ നിലാവിനെപ്പോല്‍ വെട്ടി ത്തിളങ്ങുന്ന വെളുത്ത നിറമുള്ള എരുമപ്പാലില്‍ നിന്ന് ഉരയോഴിച്ച് കിട്ടിയ കട്ടിത്തൈരും വേണം.

കണ്ണിമാങ്ങ കുറുംകാളന്‍ കനലില്‍ ചുട്ടപപ്പടം കാച്ചിയ മോരുമുണ്ടെങ്കില്‍കാണാം ഊണിന്‍റെ വൈഭവം

Education and skill would help a person as an eternal protective shield throughout his lifespan.

अन्नदानं परं दानं विद्यादानमतः परम्।

अन्नेन क्षणीका तृप्तिर्यावज्जीवं च विद्यया॥

annadānaṁ paraṁ dānaṁ vidyādānamataḥ param|

annena kṣaṇīkā tṛptiryāvajjīvaṁ ca vidyayā||

Providing food to the hungry is of course to be considered as the most exalted action in philanthropy and welfare activity. However equipping people with education has to be considered even superior to providing food.

The person who receives the gift of food gets satisfied for some time. However he would get hungry again and then perhaps he would have to fend for food again. Hence supply of food gives only temporary satisfaction. However if a person is given education and imparted skill in some staple work, such training will equip the person with a job and capacity to earn his food permanently. Education and skill would help a person as an eternal protective shield throughout his lifespan.

അന്നദാനം പരം ദാനം വിദ്യാദാനമതഃ പരം।

അന്നേന ക്ഷണീകാ തൃപ്തിര്യാവജ്ജീവം ച വിദ്യയാ॥

വിശന്നു വലയുന്നവന് ആഹാരം നല്‍കുക എന്നത് ഒരു വ്യക്തി മറ്റുള്ളവര്‍ക്ക് നല്‍കുന്ന സേവനങ്ങളില്‍ ഏറ്റവും ഉന്നതാമായ ഒന്നായി കണക്കാക്കപ്പെടെണ്ടാതാണ് എന്ന കാര്യത്തില്‍ രണ്ടു അഭിപ്രായം ഉണ്ടാവേണ്ട കാര്യമേയില്ല. പക്ഷെ മറ്റുള്ളവര്‍ക്ക് വിദ്യാഭ്യാസവും പരിശീലനവും നല്‍കുക എന്ന സേവനം ആഹാരം നല്‍കുക എന്നതിലും ഒരു പറ്റി ഉയര്‍ന്ന ഒരു കാര്യമായി കരുതേണ്ടി വരും.

ആഹാരം കിട്ടിയ മനുഷ്യന്‍റെ അപ്പോഴുള്ള വിശപ്പ്‌ മാറിക്കിട്ടും. ഏതാനും മണിക്കൂറുകള്‍ക്കകം വീണ്ടും വിശപ്പ്‌ അയാളെ ആക്രമിക്കുന്നതുവരെ അയാള്‍ ഏറെ സംതൃപ്തനായിരിക്കും. പക്ഷെ വീണ്ടും വിശപ്പ്‌ വരുമ്പോള്‍ വീണ്ടും അയാള്‍ക്ക് ആഹാരം തേടി നെട്ടോട്ടം നടത്തേണ്ടി വരും. പക്ഷെ ഒരാള്‍ക്ക് വിദ്യാഭ്യാസവും വല്ല തൊഴിലിലും പരിശീലനവും കിട്ടിക്കഴിഞ്ഞാല്‍ പിന്നെ അയാള്‍ക്ക് ആ അറിവും കഴിവും ഉപയോഗിച്ച് തൊഴില്‍ ചെയ്ത് ആഹാരത്തിനുള്ള വക എപ്പോഴും കണ്ടെത്താന്‍ കഴിയും. അത് അയാള്‍ക്ക് ജീവന്‍ ഉള്ളിടത്തോളം അയാളെ സംരക്ഷിക്കാനുള്ള ഒരു രക്ഷാകവചമായിരിക്കും.

Food as per Indian Traditions..

Food as per Indian Traditions..
by k v ananthanarayanan 

दीपो भक्षयते ध्वान्तं कज्जळं च प्रसूयते। यदन्नं भक्ष्यते नित्यं जायते तादृशी मनः॥ dīpo bhakṣayate dhvāntaṁ kajjaḻaṁ ca prasūyate| yadannaṁ bhakṣyate nityaṁ jāyate tādṛśī manaḥ||
"The lamp through its burning bright wick, feeds itself on the darkness outside, and in the process of burning gives out thick black soot.. In the same way our mental and physical output depends entirely on the quality of the food we consume.."
When a lamp is lit, the darkness outside disappears and bright light replaces the gloom.. The poet imagines that the darkness is gobbled up by the lamp.
And we know that the burning lamp gives out a lot of soot.. or fine carbon granules.. This is compared to the output in terms of activities or behaviour of a person.. Blackness delivers blackness.. And bad food brings out the worst in a human being..
This is true in many ways. .
If the food is not properly digestible, is stale or contaminated and not exactly in agreement with the needs of the body, such food causes untold physical misery and destroys our mental peace too.
It is also an established fact that our body grows and maintains itself utilizing the energy-producing starch and hydrocarbons, minerals, proteins and vitamins ingested mainly through the food we take..
There is the normal metabolism which happens when the biochemical and electrical balance of the human body is maintained..
However, lack of nutrition, as well as intake of the wrong food and beverages whether deliberately or innocently, turns the activities of the body haywire, and the body becomes sick and the organs do not function optimally..
The bad food habits can affect the secretion of hormones by the glands too.. which again affects the physical activities and the functioning of the sense organs and the mind too.. It is a vicious circle..
If necessary corrective steps by changing or adjusting food habits and often taking drug supplements too. the activities of the body would in general return to normalcy.
But if we ignore the warning signals indicated by minor ailments and just fill our stomach with the same garbage as ever, and fill up our fluid tank with spirited potions, we reach some point of no return at some stage or other..
It is a fact that mental stress too causes disease of the mind and body, but even that happens through the interference of food.. because we over eat or under eat under stress, we take wrong food when our digestive system is disturbed by tension, and our hormonal balance is badly affected through emotional disturbance.. causing severe impediments to the metabolism and hormonal activities..
So let us ensure that we eat diligently, and we avoid eating and drinking the wrong food and beverages..
The above discussion would sum up our ideas about food in a general way..
But in India, all through ages, we were treating food not just as a nourisher and provider of health, but as a part of the Divine..
When we say हरिर् धाता हरिर् भोक्ता हरिरन्नम् प्रजापतिः
harir dhātā harir bhoktā harirannam prajāpatiḥ Hari is the giver, Hari is the one who parakes in or enjoys everything, Hari is Annam(the food) and Hari is the creator we are assigning the most superior position of Hari to food too..
The Blessed Lord Krishna declared in Gita, as to how he prepares the food Himself. अहम् वैश्वानरो भूत्वा प्राणिनाम् देह आश्रितः। प्राणापान्समायुक्तः पचाम्यन्नम् चतुर्विधम्॥ भगवत् गीता॥१५-१४ aham vaiśvānaro bhūtvā prāṇinām deha āśritaḥ| prāṇāpānsamāyuktaḥ pacāmyannam caturvidham|| bhagavat gītā||15-14 this great Slokam from Gita is interpreted in so many ways by thousands of scholars.. Bhagavan Krishna says,
I, incarnating as Vaishvanara.. fire the source of eternal energy, reside in the bodies of living beings and with the assistance of Prana (the vital life giving gas Oxygen) and apana ( the exhaust gas.. Carbon di oxide) am cooking or making or digesting food all sorts..
Two processes can be envisaged here.. As the sun, entering the bodies of the plants through his rays, using Carbon Dioxide and the vital fluids of the plant is generating food for the consumption of all.. This process was defined by science as Photosynthesis
Residing inside the body as the digestive energy.. the Jaadaraagni, He is converting or cooking the food consumed to energy that sustains the living bodies.. using Prana, the Oxygen and giving out the Apana or Carbon dioxide and other products of such burning.
So food is God Himself and appears in its form in which we can consume it is presented to Us again by the God Himself.. And our Holiest Scriptures always worshipped the Food..
Bodhaayana quotes from Vedas..
Anne Shritaani Bhootani Annam Praanamiti..
अन्ने श्रितानि भूतानि अन्नं प्राणमिति
All beings depend of food for their existence.Food is verily out life itself.. And we believed that as the Gods provided us with the food, it was our duty to offer the same food to Gods in Yajnas.. Our worship of the Eternal Being always took the shape of offering food as Naivedyam to Divine beings..
Our propensities to take various types of foods depended on our basic natures, which varies from persons to person. At the same time the type of food we take affects our activities, mental setup health and well being..
The Blessed Lord Krishna in the Seventeenth Chapter gives a precise classification of the nature of people as Sattwik, Rajasik, and Tamasik.. and he describes about the food which are relished by the respective type according to their basic Nature..
The people with Sattwik Gunas are steadfast, clear in thought and action, love being in empathy with others, wishing always for the good of others the same way they would wish for themselves.. and their presence would spread only peace and amity all over the world..
The people with Rajasic Gunas are also hardworking , but apply such hard work only on issues which they consider beneficial to their own interest, tend to feel overly self sure about beliefs and creeds they have took fancy for and intolerant to variant views, and they would not mind co operating with others or even showing peripheral love for others as long as their own comforts are not disturbed, who put their own interest ahead of all others, and their presence would spread competitions and moderate to stiff intolerance all over.. The people with Tamasic Gunas just do not care for anything else other than the fulfilling of their own short-lived pleasure, they never care for the misery they cause to other fellow beings, and they are even oblivious to the dangers that would befall them through the actions in furtherance of their pleasures of the present.. They are lazy and would expect and fancy for results without any efforts, and have no sense of propriety.. ( The three gunas are defined in great detail in Shastras so minutely.. and sure, the classification is not water-tight.. The Sattwic might have Rajasic and Tamasic qualities in him in small qualities.. and the other two types too might have some sort of cross mixing.. But for our limited understanding of the subject, the above definitions must suffice)
Gita Chapter 17 Shraddhatrayavibhaagayogam… श्रद्धात्रयविभागयोगः śraddhātrayavibhāgayogaḥ sloka 7 आहारस्त्वपि सर्वस्य त्रिविधो भवति प्रियः। यज्ञस्तपस्तथा ज्ञानं तेषां भेदमिमं शृणु॥
āhārastvapi sarvasya trividho bhavati priyaḥ| yajñastapastathā jñānaṁ teṣāṁ bhedamimaṁ śṛṇu||
The blessed Lord is telling Arjuna.. Do hear from me, Arjuna, the favourite food for the three types ( of Sattwa, Raja and Tamas qualities) varies according to the respective types.. Their mode of sacrifice, penance and acquiring enlightenment also do vary..
Here were restrict ourselves to the food habits..
In the next slokam the Blessed Lord proceeds to describe the food relished by the Saattvikas.. आयुः सत्त्वबलारोग्य सुखप्रीतिविवर्धनाः। रस्याः स्निग्धाः स्थिराः हृद्याः आहाराः सात्विकप्रियाः॥८
āyuḥ sattvabalārogya sukhaprītivivardhanāḥ| rasyāḥ snigdhāḥ sthirāḥ hṛdyāḥ āhārāḥ sātvikapriyāḥ||8
Foods relished by Saatwik people are those which augment and sustain longevity, mental strenghth and purposefulness, health and firmness of the body, easy comfort in actions and movements, pleasantness of the mind, foods which are very tasty, which are soft especially as a result of the presence of nourishing oils, foods which take reasonable and predictable time to digest and would supply nutrition and strenghth to the body for prolonged periods, and foods which are eminently suited for the functioning of the body organs including the heart, Food relished by people with Rajasic turn of mind is described by the Blessed Lord in sloka 9
कट्वम्ललवणात्युष्णतीक्ष्णरूक्षविदाहिनः। आहाराः राजसस्येष्टा दुःखशोकामयप्रदाः॥९ kaṭvamlalavaṇātyuṣṇatīkṣṇarūkṣavidāhinaḥ| āhārāḥ rājasasyeṣṭā duḥkhaśokāmayapradāḥ||9
Foods that are by nature very bitter, extremely sour or acidic, very salty, very hot to the body system, severely pungent, dry and lacking in softness, causing burn, producing short and long term pains and consumption of which cause various ailment are classified as Rajasic Foods. And then the Blessed Lord describes the repugnant qualities of Tamasic food.. the food relished by people with Tamasic qualities..
यातयामं गतरसं पूति पर्युषितं च यत्। उच्छिष्टमपि चामेध्यं भोजनं तामसप्रियम्॥१०
yātayāmaṁ gatarasaṁ pūti paryuṣitaṁ ca yat| ucchiṣṭamapi cāmedhyaṁ bhojanaṁ tāmasapriyam||10
Food not properly cooked including food which has been remaining cooked for three hours, Food which has lost its natural nutrient values and taste too, Food so decayed that putrid smell is emerging from it, Food that has been cooked and kept to decay overnight, Food that is left over after partially being used by someone else, Food that is of such low quality that it cannot ever be used for any religious purposes These items of Food used as staple meals are the favourites of a person with Tamasic turn of mind..
The individual items of food which can be classified in any of the above categories have been considered in Dharmasastras by one and every great sage including Vyasa, Yajnavalkya, Vasishta, Vishnu, Yama, Apastambha, Bodhayana, and so on..
The items which were relevant at the time when the Dharmasastras were written may not be accepted by the man of today, for various reasons..
Various lists have garlic, onion, raddish, some meats, frothing fresh milk and such items in common..
Listing of such items can by itself form subject matter of a long article… And the names of various items of vegetables, liquids and meats are not amenable to translation..
In fact in the Smritimukthaphalam of Deekshita, he has cited many names givng their Tamil, Marathi or Telugu names.. But a detailed analysis is too far beyond the scope of this article.
However, we know by experience that many food items are hot, dry, itchy .. many food items kept longer than a couple of hours would become stale.. And we know that mere refrigeration is not the panacea for this.. We can use our discretion.. in proper quantities..
But a reading of the ancient texts revealed on interesting fact..
Our ancestors were extremely hospitable.. and sharing of food was not considered as a matter of coutesy but was accepted as a beholden duty.. and a man who has some means under his disposal was warned of grave sins if he permitted anyone, of any caste or creed, or any living being existing around him or coming his way as a guest or a stray visiter, to starve and suffer without shelter..
That was the greatness of our civilization and culture.
The five duties of a Grihastha or householder, as per our Vedic traditions are Vaishvadeva, Devayajna, Pitruyajna, Bhuta yajna and Manushyayajna..
Vaishvadeva again consists of oblations for Pitrus, Gods and Bhuthas.. In all these rituals, food plays a vital part.. It is offering morsels of food in fire, for Devas, offering morsels of food as pindams for the departed souls.. Bhuta yajna involves Baligrahana.. offering food to all living beings living just in the surroundings, and also to the aboriginees and people with lesser social privileges..
देवतातिथिभूतानं पितृनामात्मनश्च यः न निर्वपति पञ्चानामुछ्वसन्न स जीवति॥। मनुस्मृत्याम् devatātithibhūtānaṁ pitṛnāmātmanaśca yaḥ na nirvapati pañcānāmuchvasanna sa jīvati||| manusmṛtyām
It is said in Manusmrithi that those who do not discharge their duties by offering proper food to the Gods, The Guests, the bhootas.. or other beings, the manes or pitrus, and also to oneself, will be taking their breaths but cannot be considered a living.
A householder is dutybound to wait for the arrival of a guest for taking food..
आचम्य च ततः कुर्यात् प्राज्ञो द्वारावलोकनं। मुहूर्तस्याष्टमो भागमुदीक्ष्यो ह्यतिथिर्भवेत्॥ व्यास
ācamya ca tataḥ kuryāt prājño dvārāvalokanaṁ| muhūrtasyāṣṭamo bhāgamudīkṣyo hyatithirbhavet|| vyāsa
After completing Vaisvadeva and other yajnaas, the householder should wait looking out through the front door for at least one eighth of a muhurtam.. ( it would be between eleven and twelve minutes as per present calculation) and whoever appears within that time should be received as an honoured guest..
If no guest appears, then too the duty of the householder does not cease..
He should offer the food meant for the guest to a cow.. He should ensure that the cow to whom food is offered does not belong to himself. Offering of food to the Cow is called Gavaahnikam..
This can be done every day in addition to offering of food to guests too. Sage Markandeya prescribes that the food should be offered to the Cow with the following prayer..
सौरभेय्यः सर्वहिताः सर्वपापप्रणशनाः। प्रतिगृह्णन्तु मे ग्रासं गावः त्रैलोक्य्मातरः॥
saurabheyyaḥ sarvahitāḥ sarvapāpapraṇaśanāḥ| pratigṛhṇantu me grāsaṁ gāvaḥ trailokymātaraḥ||
the Cows who are the daughters of Surabhi the Kamadhenu, the cows who live for the welfare of all the living beings, the cows who are capable of dispelling all the sins committed by the humans, the cows who are the Mothers of the three worlds, may be pleased to receive these morsels of food offered by me.. (graasam represent the quantity of food prepared by cooking two hundred pieces of full grains of edible cereal..like yava, rice, etc..) The cows should in addition be fed with grass to the best of their contentment.
The scriptures are very strict in instructing us that the food should not be for just consumption by the householder.. The food has to be used for Vaisvadevam, Pitruyjnam, Devayajnam, Bhootayajnam, and for feeding the guests, and only whatever is left over should be used to satisfy one’s personal hunger. It is declared by the Blessed Lord in Gita यज्ञशिष्टाशिनः सन्तो मुच्यन्ति सर्वकिल्बिषैः। भुञ्चते ते त्वघम् पापा ये पचन्त्यात्मकारणात्॥गीता ३-१३ yajñaśiṣṭāśinaḥ santo mucyanti sarvakilbiṣaiḥ| bhuñcate te tvagham pāpā ye pacantyātmakāraṇāt||gītā 3-13
The virtuous people who partake in the food that is remaining after the performance of the yajnas (Vaishvadevam, feeding of guests etc) are freed of all sins and blemishes. But the sinners who cook for their own sake just eat their own sins.. The order in which a householder should distribute food in his household is also clearly stated by the ancient lawgivers.. Apastambha says.. अतिथीनेवाग्रे भोजयेत्। बालान् वृद्धान् रोगसम्ब्द्धान् स्त्रींस्चान्तर्वर्त्नी॥ atithīnevāgre bhojayet| bālān vṛddhān rogasambddhān strīīṁscāntarvartnī|| The guests should be fed first. Then the children, the elderly people, the people who are laid up with illness, the ladies and then the servants of the house.. ( The householder and his wife are expected to eat only after all these are fed in that order..)
Gautama also reflects the same idea.. भोजयेत् पूर्वमतिथिकुमारव्याधितगर्भिणीसुवासिनीस्थविरान् जघन्यान्श्च। bhojayet pūrvamatithikumāravyādhitagarbhiṇīsuvāsinīsthavirān jaghanyānśca| The guest should be fed first and then the boys, person who are ill, the pregnant ladies, the Suvaasinees ( the sisters, and daughters of the house), the elderly persons and the servants too.. ( Of course the man and the lady of the house are expected to take food only after this.) Bodhayana quotes slokas from Annagita.. The food itself is supposed be speaking as follows. यो मामदत्वा पितृदेवताभ्यो भृत्यातिथीभ्यस्च सुहृज्जनेभ्यः। संपन्नमश्नन्विषमत्ति मोहात् तमप्यहं तस्य च मृत्युरस्मि। हुताग्निहोत्रः कृतवैश्वदेवः पूज्यातिथीन्भृत्यजनावशिष्टम् तुष्टः शुचिः श्रद्धधदत्ति यो मां तस्यामृतं स्याम् स च मां भुनक्ति॥ yo māmadatvā pitṛdevatābhyo bhṛtyātithībhyasca suhṛjjanebhyaḥ| saṁpannamaśnanviṣamatti mohāt tamapyahaṁ tasya ca mṛtyurasmi| hutāgnihotraḥ kṛtavaiśvadevaḥ pūjyātithīnbhṛtyajanāvaśiṣṭam tuṣṭaḥ śuciḥ śraddhadhadatti yo māṁ tasyāmṛtaṁ syām sa ca māṁ bhunakti||
Meaning.. A deluded person who eats me without first giving me to the Gods, the manes, to the servants, to the guest is really eating poison, in fact I am eating him, and I am death for him.. But if a person who performs agnihotra, vaishvadeva, worships the guests and eats with great reverence and with a neat body and happy mind, me, the food which is remaining after even his servants have eaten, I am amrutham or ambrosia for him and he is the one who really eats well.. There are ever so many rules regarding hospitality.. but the praise of hospitality to Bhikshus or mendicants is worth mentioning here..
Vyasa defines Bhikshus as follows.. यतिश्च ब्रह्मचारी च विद्यार्थी गुरुपोषकः अध्वगः क्षीणवृत्तिस्च षडेते भिक्षुकाः स्मृताः। yatiśca brahmacārī ca vidyārthī gurupoṣakaḥ adhvagaḥ kṣīṇavṛttisca ṣaḍete bhikṣukāḥ smṛtāḥ| Six categories of people are called Bhikshus or Bhikshukas.. 1. The Sannyaasin 2. The initiate student of Vedas who has to live on alms. 3. The student in general 4. The assitant or menial support of a teacher. 5. One who is on a long journey by foot , by way of pilgrimmage or migration 6. One who is rendered jobless. It is prescribed that if a Bhikshuka arrives even before the yajnas like Vaisvadeva are completed, food should be offered him even from that prepared for the yajna.. It is ordained that any shortcoming or sin arising out of incomplet yajna shall be nullified by the honour accorded to the bhikshuka, but if the bhishuka is neglected, any number of yajnas would not suffice to wipe of such sin.
Haaritha the lawmaker says. अकृते वैश्वदेवे तो भिक्षुके गृहमागते। उद्दृत्य वैश्वदेवार्थम् भिक्षाम् दत्वा विसर्जयेत्॥ हारीतः akṛte vaiśvadeve to bhikṣuke gṛhamāgate| uddṛtya vaiśvadevārtham bhikṣām datvā visarjayet|| hārītaḥ If vaisvadeva yajna is not yet performed when the Bhikhuka arrives in the house and the preparations are ready for the yajna, the things meant for Vaisvadeva should be given to the Bhikhu.. who should be offered Bhiksha and the yajna becomes complete.. Haaritha further States.
भक्त्या यः शक्तितो नित्यं विष्णुमभ्यर्च्य सादरम्। भिक्षां च भिक्षवे दद्यात् परिव्राड् ब्रह्मचारिणो॥ विष्णुरेव यतिश्चायमिति निश्चित्य भावयेत्। यतिर्यस्य गृहे भुङ्क्ते तस्य भुङ्क्ते हरिः स्वयम्।
bhaktyā yaḥ śaktito nityaṁ viṣṇumabhyarcya sādaram| bhikṣāṁ ca bhikṣave dadyāt parivrāḍ brahmacāriṇo|| viṣṇureva yatiścāyamiti niścitya bhāvayet| yatiryasya gṛhe bhuṅkte tasya bhuṅkte hariḥ svayam| One should worships Lord Vishnu with great reverence and according to his own capacity, and also feed the Bhikshus who graces his home in the shape of Parivraajakas (Sannyasins) and Brahmacharis.. One should realize in his mind that the Sannyaasi is Lord Vishnu Himself and that when a Yati eats food in a house, it is actually Lord Hari Himself who is taking for there.. The subject is so vast and the discussion can never conclude.. Krishno rakshatu..

priorities..

अर्थातुराणां न गुरुर्न बन्धुः

कामातुराणां न भयं न लज्जा।

विद्यातुराणां न सुखं न निद्रा

क्षुदातुराणां न रुचिर् न पक्वः॥

arthāturāṇāṁ na gururna bandhuḥ

kāmāturāṇāṁ na bhayaṁ na lajjā|

vidyāturāṇāṁ na sukhaṁ na nidrā

kṣudāturāṇāṁ na rucir na pakvaḥ||

For people who are desperately running after money, there is no consideration for even their elders, preceptors or relatives.

For people obsessed with carnal desires and who run after bodily pleasures, there is neither fear nor shame

For people eager to acquire knowledge, there is no question of considering physical comforts or even sleep

and 

For people who are hungry, there will not be any concern as to whether the food is tasty or whether it is rightly cooked

Those who run after money would not care for the welfare of their kith and kin, and would not hesitate even to cheat them if that would mean getting more money. 

Those who are after sensual pleasures say goodbye to fear of law and bad name and also to any sense of shame. 

Knowledge can be acquired only through a lot of efforts and in that process, sleep and other physical comforts would have to be set aside..

And for the hungry man, it is some food to fill the stomach that matters and taste and other culinary qualities are not of much concern..

Uppittu and poornam

Uppittu and poornam
I am reminded of an old story of colonial times.. A mama (middle-aged man) was in the service of a British boss.. On the eve of Sradhdham for his father, he requested for a days leave. The boss was not pleased. The mama was at his persuasive best, and on the condition that he would produce the evidence for having performed the sradhdham ( whatever it was), the leave was granted. The next day, the mama, true to his promise, came to office and carried with him the evidence for Sradhdham in the shape of a packet containing a couple of UPPITTUS. full with poornam. Mama explained that the eatable he had brought was uppittu and it contained a sweet delicacy by name poornam. The englishman removed the wheatish covers of the uppittu and ate all the poornam. He was very much pleased. So he told his employee, the mama, " I am going to grant you two more days leave.. Take these two hundred rupees as advance. You do Sraadhdham for me, my wife, and my two sons and a daughter, and bring all the Uppittu containing lots of poornam two days later....

for your information...Sraadhdham is the annual memorial religious rite perfromed by a son in memory of his departed father or mother

Uppittu.. This is a food item, essential for Sraddham of tamil brahmins..
This is made by preparing two thin round chappathi like wheat pieces, keeping between  a delicious mixture made of ground coconut mixed with melted jaggery , and the  sweet material is called poornam. The two pieces of wheat cover the poornam and the sweet is fried is ghee or oil..

 It is a superb gastronomic pleasure indeed to taste well made uppittu with a lot of poornam. We cannot blame the Englishman ..

Athiripaatcha kozhukkattai story..

A son-in-law visits his mother in law and the latter in all affection prepares and feeds him with a lot of kozhukkattai (a very delicious food item..a deshi pancake).. Enamoured about the taste but ignorant of the name of the delicacy, the son in law asks for the name and is planning to go over to his place memorizing the name of Kozhakkattai so that he could mention the name to his wife and ask her to prepare the dish in plenty..He chants the word kozhukkattai enthusiastically all the way and travels from the place of MIL to his own wife's abode.. En route, he had to pass a bridge and an instant storm comes by.. He is chanting Kozhakkattai again and again but some people were warning that an ahiripaatcha storm ( an unexpected storm?) has overtaken them. In confusion, the littany of Kozhakkattai tuns into " Athiripatcha" and when the storm clears and the man reaches home the word Athirpatcha had replaced kozhukkattai.. and he hurriedly demands his wife to prepare Athiripatcha in the same style as her mother would do.. The lady is flabbergasted. She could not divine what her man was telling. She pleads ignorance and is beaten up and develops swellings over her body the size of kozhakkattai.. Later on the Mother In Law visits them to see her daughter and witnessing her miserable plight, demands the Son In Law why he has beaten up her daughter and caused swellings of the size of Kozhakkattai.. The word strike a chord in his mind and he tells his wife that what he wanted was "kozhakkattai".. Obviously not athiripaatcha.. Rest is left to imagination..

Prayer to water at the time of upasana to sandhya.

आपो वा इदग्ँ सर्वं विश्वाभूतान्यापः
प्राणा वा आपः पशवः आपः अन्नमापः।
अमृतमापः च्छन्दाग्ँस्याप ज्योतीग्ँष्याप
यजूग्ँष्याप सत्यमाप सर्वा देवता आपः॥
ॐ भूर्भुवस्सुवराप ॐ श्री केशवाय नमः

āpo vā idaglm sarvaṁ viśvābhūtānyāpaḥ
prāṇā vā āpaḥ paśavaḥ āpaḥ annamāpaḥ|
amṛtamāpaḥ cchandāgmsyāpa jyotīgmṣyāpa
yajūgmṣyāpa satyamāpa sarvā devatā āpaḥ ||
om bhūrbhuvassuvarāpa om śrī keśavāya namaḥ

All that is found in this world has origin in water, whatever is manifest as universe is water, water is the life-breath in us , all living beings are manifested in water, food is emanating from water, water is ambrosia (nectar) , water forms the vedas (chandaas) , water is the energy found in  light, water is the yajus,  water is the truth, all gods are manifested in water--
Om, I invoke water in the three worlds bhoo, bhuva and suvaH... OM I prostrate before the God with copious hair, Kesava, the Krishna

Prayer to water at the time of upasana to sandhya.

BURNED BISCUITS.

this is a forward from my dearest friend Karunakaran.  It touches certain parts of the heart in an inexplicable way

BURNED BISCUITS...............
 
When I was a kid, my mom liked to make breakfast food for dinner every now and then. And I remember one night in particular when she had made breakfast after a long, hard day at work. On that evening so long ago, my mom placed a plate of eggs, sausage and extremely burned biscuits in front of my dad. I remember waiting to see if anyone noticed! Yet all my dad did was reach for his biscuit, smile at my mom and ask me how my day was at school. I don't remember what I told him that night, but I do remember watching him smear butter and jelly on that biscuit and eat every bite!
When I got up from the table that evening, I remember hearing my mom apologize to my dad for burning the biscuits. And I'll never forget what he said: "Honey, I love burned biscuits."
Later that night, I went to kiss Daddy good night and I asked him if he really liked his biscuits burned. He wrapped me in his arms and said, "Your Momma put in a hard day at work today and she's real tired. And besides - a little burned biscuit never hurt anyone!"
 
You know, life is full of imperfect things.....and imperfect people. I'm not the best at hardly anything, and I forget birthdays and anniversaries just like everyone else.
What I've learned over the years is that learning to accept each other's faults - and choosing to celebrate each other's differences - is one of the most important keys to creating a healthy, growing, and lasting relationship.
We could extend this to any relationship. In fact, understanding is the base of any relationship, be it a husband-wife or parent-child or friendship!
"Don't put the key to your happiness in someone else's pocket - keep it in your own."

God Bless You.....  Now, and Always....  

--

indian sweets with silver foils are not vegetarian

how many innocent consumers are eating these silver coated mittais without knowing that they are consuming toxic and animal content, extracted cruelly.  Respected moderator, this item requires wider publicity in whatever vegetarian forums possible.

--- In Iyer123@yahoogroups.com, Meera Neelakantan <meeraneela@...> wrote:

> Indian Sweets with Silver Foil are non-vegetarian
>
> In India, by law, every food item has to have a green doton it, if it
> is vegetarian - and a maroon  dot, if it is non-vegetarian. If a
> manufacturer is found to be cheating by mislabelling his product, the
> sentence is many years in jail.
>
> So, how have the mithai (sweets) people not been arrested so far? Milk
> has been treated as vegetarian to appease the powerful dairy lobby,
> but the silver foil or 'varakh' on each mithai cannot by any  stretch
> of imagination be considered vegetarian.
>
> 'Beauty Without Cruelty', a Pune-based NGO that investigates into
> product ingredients, has produced a booklet on the varakh  industry. 
> Here is their report on how it is made.
>
> The varakh-makers select animals at the slaughterhouse. Each animal is
> felt or the softness of its skin before it is killed. This means that
> a substantial number of goat, sheep and cattle are killed specifically
> for the industry. Their skins are soaked in filthy, infested vats for
> 12 days to dehair them.  Then, workers peel away the epidermal layer,
> which they call jhilli, just under the top layer of the skin in a
> single piece. These layers are soaked for 30 minutes in another
> decoction to soften them and left to dry on wooden boards.
>
> Once these are dry, the workers cut out square pieces 19 cm by 15 cm.
> These pieces are made into pouches called auzaar and stacked into
> booklets. Each booklet has a cover of thick lamb suede called khol.
> Thin strips of silver called alagaa are placed inside the pouches.
> Workers now hit the booklet with wooden mallets for three hours to
> beat the silver inside into the ultra-thin varakh of a  thickness less
> than one micron called '999'. This varakh is then sent to sweet shops.
>
> Here are the statistics that you should know. An animal's skin can
> make 20-25 pieces/pouches only. Each booklet has 360 pouches.  One
> booklet is used to make 30,000 varakh pieces - less than the daily
> supply of a single big mithai shop.
>
> About 12,500 animals are killed for one kg of varakh. Every year,
> 30,000 kg of varakh (30 tonnes) are eaten on mithai.  2.5 crore
> booklets are made by varakh companies that keep their slaughterhouse
> connection secret. But the truth is that not only is this industry
> killing animals furiously, much of the animal tissue that the booklet
> is made of remains in  the varakh.
>
> Each Jain knows in his heart that varakh is non-vegetarian. But they
> still use these dreadful items of mass destruction to decorate the
> idols of Jain tirthankars. How amazing that the idols of those that
> preached and practised strict non-violence to all creatures should now
> be covered with slaughterhouse derived silver foils. Jains are
> the biggest buyers of the varakh industry. Many try to bluff
> themselves by saying that the varakh is machine-made. 'Beauty Without
> Cruelty' has done a thorough investigation and found that there is not
> a single machine-made varakh piece in this country (or even the world).
>
> On the web, there is one letter from a person, Jalandhra, claiming
> that he has a company which has  "fully automatic machines
> manufactured with German
> collaboration to beat silver pieces in between a special  Indian
> manufactured paper in a hygienic and controlled atmosphere run round
> the clock by qualified Engineers and experienced R&D team". 
> Initially, we were importing the special paper from Germany. But when
> I followed this up, no factory of the given name, or even address, was
> not  found.
>
> The production of varakh is done mainly in north India: Patna,
> Bhagalpur, Muzaffarpur and Gaya (which is a&n bsp;Buddhist holy
> centre) in Bihar; Kanpur,
> Meerut and Varanasi (the holy city of Hindus) in Uttar Pradesh; and Jaipur,
> Indore, Ahmedabad and Mumbai. The booklets come to them from the
> slaughterhouses of Delhi, Lucknow, Agra and Ratlam.
>
> Not only is varakh non-vegetarian, it is also very bad for your body - whether
> you are vegetarian or not. The silver cannot be digested; therefore,
> there are no benefits from itsconsumption . A study done in November
> 2005 by the Industrial Toxicology Research Centre in Lucknow on varakh
> says that the silver foil available in the market has toxic and
> carcinogenic metals in the thin silver foil, nickel, lead, chromium
> and cadmium.
>
> Over half of the analysed silver foils had lower silver purity than
> the 99.9 per cent purity stipulated by the prevention of food
> adulteration act of India.  When such foil enters into the body, it
> releases heavy metals that can lead to cancer. The report also details
> the unhygienic conditions in which workers put silver in small leather
> bags and beat it into foil in filthy shops.
> 
> As for me, I think that this year, I will take the mithai shops to
> court for not labelling their products non-vegetarian, before selling
> them. Let us see how many of them go to jail, or have their business
> closed down. I suggest you cut out this article and show it to your
> local sweetshops.
>
>
> Source: http://www.bwcindia.org/Webforms/EducationalGuides/QuarterlyJournal/2009/Win/index.pdf
>
>
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