Sensible Food for the Senses
Mythili Muralidharan
Bengaluru
Pranaams to H H Maa Purnananda ji,
Hari Aum!
I was eagerly waiting to get an insight into the intriguing Online Call-Talk “Food, Fuel and Fertiliser.” Food has been discussed many times before in our studies, but I was curious to know, how the fuel and fertilizer are applicable on the spiritual path.
Maaji started..
By offering prayers to the Brahman, the Formless in the Form of Lord Sree Krishna, “I bow down to Lord Sree Krishna, Sree Govind:- The Supreme Reality, Who is all pervasive, Who dwells in our five senses, Who removes all our sorrows, destroys our five types of impurities namely ignorance, ‘i’ness, attachments, aversions and fear of death”.
Maaji continued…
Every living being eats to maintain the existence. As food is the outcome of rain, which is the outcome of Yagnya activities, (of manifest-Brahman) which are in turn a part of total Brahman, which implies Annam (food) is Brahman.
Knowingly or unknowingly, we consume different kind of foods through our five senses in everyday life. Seeing is food for eyes, listening is food for ears, eating is food for tongue, smelling is food for nose and touching is the food for skin. So we have to be aware that whenever we use the sense organs, we are invoking Brahman only (in this situation Lord Sree Krishna).
For any Rights or Rituals, food (naivedyam) is important. By chanting right Mantras, the food is purified and becomes prasad; when this prasad is then eaten as food, it becomes the right kind of fuel for us and energizes the whole body and mind.
Even though a plant is well taken care of, it requires fertilizer to flourish well. Like that, even if we eat good food, our body and thought process will flourish well and move on right path, only if we read/study the Scriptures & listen to Guru’s teachings.
Maaji concluded…
The simple way to learn the Scriptures is to follow our tradition at home. We have all the things that are required to celebrate a religious festival or family rights. For example, for Sree Krishna Janmaashtami, we offer milk, curd, butter and puffed rice to Lord Sree Krishna. Every naivedyam reminds us of different Leela of Sree Krishna. When we eat the prasad, it automatically becomes the best “Food, Fuel & Fertilizer” for the body.
In Sanaatan Dharm, for every festival, the offering of flowers and prasad are different. When we practice the tradition, only then we will be able understand the reason behind every festival ritual. Keeping this in mind, let us celebrate the upcoming Sree Krishna Janmaashtami in the right way.
Jay Sree Krishna
Dhanyawaad