SATTVIC FOOD

Sattvic Food

According to Hinduism, food is verily an aspect of Brahman (Annam parabrahma swaroopam).It’s a gift from god and it should be treated with great respect.

Pure food proliferates the vitality and vigor of those who consume it. It augments the zeal of the mind as well. It supplies maximum energy to the body and to the intellect. It is very agilely assimilated and absorbed. Sattwic food is highly conducive to health.

Purity of food leads to purity of mind. Sattwic food leads to meditation.Discipline of food is highly important for achieving successful practices in our day to day life.If our palate is controlled so are our senses in control.

Our wit is formed of the subtle tranche of aliment. It’s said that “As is the food, so is our mind “If one consumes Sattwic food, the subconscious also starts inclining towards Sattwic thoughts. 

Our body is an array of seven elements (tatvas) which are formed out of food. They are:

Chyle : (a milky fluid containing fat droplets which drains from the lacteals of the small intestine into the lymphatic system during digestion)

Blood : (A red liquid that circulates in the arteries and veins of humans and other vertebrate animals,carrying oxygen to and carbon dioxide from the tissues of the body)

Flesh : (A soft substance consisting of muscle and fat that is found between the skin and bones of a human or an animal)

Fat : (a natural oily substance occurring in animal bodies,especially when deposited as a layer under the skin or around certain organs)

Bone : (A piece of hard whitish tissue making up the skeleton in humans and other vertebrates)

Marrow:(A tissue which fills the cavities of most bones) 

Semen: (A male reproductive fluid containing spermatozoa in suspension) 

Abstraction and hypothesis are developed in the mind in coordination with the seven elements and hypothesis.Therefore as is the formation of these elements so is the anatomy of these seven elements.

An individual who is enticed to Sattwic food gratifies simple, succulent food and a food which is delightful to taste. A Sattwic individual will be more captivated towards food which is small in proportion but significant in nourishment.One should consume food which will develop Sattwic nature in oneself.

Milk,butter,ghee,fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts or dried fruits such as almonds, dates etc.barley,wheat,cereals etc.

A sattvic mind starts developing values/traits/attributes like being creative,intuitive,enthusiastic,genuine,divine,artistic.

One develops qualities like that of a strong leader,a clear thinker.Also develops qualities like being compassionate,joyful,generous and patient.

One should avoid eating food like fish, meat, and liquor etc.if at all one wants to attain cognizance.

All sustenance (food) has different properties.Similarly; different nourishment provokes diverging consequences in different chambers of encephalon and on our mind. The nature of food what we ingest greatly influences the being of any homosapien. Our body is a genesis through which we can accomplish all our purpose in our lives. Therefore, it is imperative to keep our body immaculate, vigorous and salubrious. There is also an intimate connection between our body and our mind. The nature and condition of the body has a vital consequence upon our perceptions and activities. Thus, vivers/food that builds the body and the mind should be authentic, wholesome, nutritious, substantial and a bit bland.

Our mind is an agglomeration of thoughts,which can be categorized into three types.Like the entire world is triadic,our thoughts are also a product of the three gunas. i.e.,Sattva,Rajas and Tamas which controls and commands our precised world.Basically there are three kinds of food that an earthling can consume.They are :

 Sattwic

Rajasic

Tamasic

"Sattva"propagates sterility, equilibrium, modesty, magnificient ethics, altruism, doting for truth and spiritual inclination. 

Sattvic food includes rice,wheat,ghee,legumes,fresh fruits and vegetables,milk and milk products (except cheese made from rennet).Rennet comes from the stomach of animals to obtain it,the animal would have to be slaughtered. 

"Rajas"develops sensuality, egoism, fluctuating ethics, vacillation between kindness and malignance and a worldly inclination.Rajasic food includes onion,garlic,dark lentils,eggs,chicken,citrus fruits,salt,chocolate etc.

"Tamas"generates immorality, indolence, disparity, procrastination, unethical etiquette, and addictions. Tamasic food includes red meat,alcohol,fried foods,stale food,tobacco etc.

According to the gunas (Sattwa, Rajas, Tamas) a man’s taste for a particular food is determined. Conversely, one can perceive the nature or temperament of any human being by the nature of food they consume.

"Ayuh-sattva-balarogya, sukha-priti-vivardhanah

           Rasyah snigdhah sthira hrdya, aharah sattvika-priyah

katv-amla-lavanaty-usna- tiksna-ruksa-vidahinah 

Ahara rajasasyesta duhkha-sokamaya-pradah

Yata-yamam gata-rasam puti paryusitam ca yat 

       Ucchistam api camedhyam bhojanam tamasa-priyam"

TRANSLATION

Foods in the modus operandi of goodness expands the duration of life, purify one's existence and gives brawn, well-being, contentment and gratification. Such nourishing foods are sweet, juicy, fatty and palatable. Foods that are too bitter, too sour, salty, pungent, dry and hot, are liked by people in the modes of passion. Such foods cause pain, distress, and disease. Food cooked more than three hours before being eaten, which is tasteless, stale, putrid, decomposed and unclean, is food liked by people in the mode of incomprehension.