Types of Food As Per Bhagavad Gita | Bhagavad Geeta on FOOD
The Chhāndogya Upaniṣhad explains that the coarsest part of the food we eat passes out as feces; the subtler part becomes flesh; and the subtlest part becomes the mind (6.5.1 reference chandogya-upanishad-english/d/doc239278 ). So basically our choice reflects our personality. Lord Krishna, according to the Gita, told us about the implications of consuming certain foods. What we consume has a direct impact on both our bodies and minds. So, this article delight provides insights about Types of Food As Per Bhagavad Gita.
Bhagavad Gita on Food | Types of Food As Per Bhagavad Gita
Bhagavad Gita Chapter 17 Verse 7
आहारस्त्वपि सर्वस्य त्रिविधो भवति प्रिय: |
यज्ञस्तपस्तथा दानं तेषां भेदमिमं शृणु || 17.7||
“Food is also categorized into three types, as are all the things desired (by people), the ritual sacrifices, austerities and charity. Listen, as I explain their different categories.
Lord Krishna enlightens here about the three sorts of natural faith in embodied beings: goodness, passion, and ignorance.”
Sri Krishna explains three types of food which are
1.Satvic food which are in the mode of goodness.
2.Rajasic food which are in the mode of passion.
3.Tamasic food which are in the mode of ignorance.
We get further details on following shlokas/verses.
Bhagavad Gita Chapter 17 Verse 8
आयुः,सत्त्वबलारोग्यसुखप्रीतिविवर्धनाः।
रस्याः स्निग्धाःस्थिरा हृद्याआहाराः सात्त्विकप्रियाः।।8।।
“Foods which increase life, purity, strength, health, joy and cheerfulness, which are oleaginous and savory, substantial and agreeable, are dear to the Satvic people.”
Sattvic cuisine will provide you with a calm mind, good health, long life, and a good mood all of the time. The supremacy of Sattvic food is due to the fact that it is easy to digest and keeps your mood and body at ease when consumed
Bhagavad Gita Chapter 17 Verse 9
कट्वम्लवणात्युष्णतीक्ष्णरूक्षविदाहिनः।
आहारा राजसस्येष्टा दुःखशोकामयप्रदाः।। 9।।
“The foods that are bitter, sour, saline, excessively hot, dry, pungent and burning, are liked by the Rajasic and are productive of pain, grief and disease.”
Rajasic foods are those that have a stimulating effect on the mind and body. These foods lead to aggressiveness and passion. For instance, the meat of hens, birds, fishes etc. fall under this.
Bhagavad Gita Chapter 17 Verse 10
यातयामं गतरसं पूति पर्युषितं च यत्।
उच्छिष्टमपि चामेध्यं भोजनं तामसप्रियम्।। 10।।
“That which is stale, tasteless, putrid, rotten and impure refuse, is the food liked by the Tamasic.”
Foods in the mode of ignorance or darkness are essentially those that are not fresh. These food have sedative effect on the mind and body. According to yoga, one should avoid these foods as they can cause mental dullness and physical numbness. People in the phase of ignorance favor things that are stale, tasteless, putrid, rotting, unclean, and impure, according to the Bhagavad Gita.
Final Takeaway | Types of Food As Per Bhagavad Gita
The three gunas are something like the three primary colors combine in different proportions to make every possible color. Mind though subtler than matter is also material in the sense it is also made up of the three guans. Our body and mind are accumulated from the external world starting from our conception and they dissipate back into the universe upon death. This accumulation includes both food (gross matter) and ideas (subtle matter). Hence our food not only affects our body but also our mind and ideas not only affect our mind but also our body. So, in short all interactions with our environment, gross or subtle, contribute to what we are.
Read also : Karma Yoga vs Gyana Yoga – What Gita has to say ( https://thebrightdelights.com/karma-yoga-vs-gyana-yoga-what-gita-has-to-say/ )