Food comes from nature and if you trace it backwards, it goes back to the 5 elements & Sun
All religions follow that we must say prayers before eating.
Why we say prayers before eating?
- To say Thank you to GOD
- To be grateful to the farmers who toil in the heat and all those connected in the process of bring the food to the table ( farers, storage folks, traders, sellers & resellers, our family that buys, mom & helpers that cook)
- To offer to God and then it becomes prasad
- When we share with God & eat the impurities go away.
- When we eat with gratitude & thinking of God & thanking God , the Bhava is pure and that goes to the food as well.
FOOD MANTRA: From Bhagavad Gita 4.24 and 15.14
Brahmaarpanam Brahma Havir, Brahmaagnau Brahmanaa Hutam
Brahmaiva Tena Gantavyam, Brahma Karma Samaadhinaha [4th chapter 24th verse of Bhagavad Geetha] The act of offering is Brahman. The offering itself is Brahman. The offering is done by Brahman in the sacred fire which is Brahman. He alone attains Brahman who, in all actions, is fully absorbed in Brahman. (As we chant this prayer we are offering the different types of food to Brahman).
[4th chapter 24th verse of Bhagavad Geetha] The act of offering is Brahman. The offering itself is Brahman. The offering is done by Brahman in the sacred fire which is Brahman. He alone attains Brahman who, in all actions, is fully absorbed in Brahman. (As we chant this prayer we are offering the different types of food to Brahman).
Aham Vaishvaanaro Bhutva, Praaninaam Dehamaashritha
Praanaapaana Samaa Yuktaha, Pachaamyannam Chatur Vidam
[15th chapter 14th verse of Bhagavad Geetha] This sloka is a sort of acknowledgement and assurance to us from Brahman. "I am Vaishnavara, existing as fire God in the bodies of living beings. Being associated with ingoing (prana) and outgoing (apaana) life breaths, I will digest all the four different types of food (that which we bite and chew, bread; that which we lick, honey; those which we squeeze, sugarcane; that which we drink, milk) and purify them."
We should partake food with a Sathwic mind. Our ancestors recommended the offering of food to God before partaking. Food so partaken becomes "Prasad". Prayer cleanses the food of the impurities; caused by the absence of cleanliness of the vessel, cleanliness of the food stuff, and cleanliness in the process of cooking. It is necessary to get rid of these three impurities to purify the food; for, pure food goes into the making of a pure mind. It is not possible to ensure the purity of the cooking process, since we do not know what thoughts rage in the mind of the man who prepares the food. Similarly, we cannot ensure the cleanliness of the food ingredients as we do not know whether it was acquired in a righteous way by the seller who has sold it to us. Hence, it is essential on our part to offer food to God in the form of prayer, so that these three impurities do not afflict our mind.
"The food thus offered to God is digested by 'Vaishwanara" in the digestive system. Since God exists in the form of fire as Vaishwanara, He digests the food along with the impurities. So, man will not be affected even if the impurities enter the food."
Praanaapaana Samaa Yuktaha, Pachaamyannam Chatur Vidam
[15th chapter 14th verse of Bhagavad Geetha] This sloka is a sort of acknowledgement and assurance to us from Brahman. "I am Vaishnavara, existing as fire God in the bodies of living beings. Being associated with ingoing (prana) and outgoing (apaana) life breaths, I will digest all the four different types of food (that which we bite and chew, bread; that which we lick, honey; those which we squeeze, sugarcane; that which we drink, milk) and purify them."
We should partake food with a Sathwic mind. Our ancestors recommended the offering of food to God before partaking. Food so partaken becomes "Prasad". Prayer cleanses the food of the impurities; caused by the absence of cleanliness of the vessel, cleanliness of the food stuff, and cleanliness in the process of cooking. It is necessary to get rid of these three impurities to purify the food; for, pure food goes into the making of a pure mind. It is not possible to ensure the purity of the cooking process, since we do not know what thoughts rage in the mind of the man who prepares the food. Similarly, we cannot ensure the cleanliness of the food ingredients as we do not know whether it was acquired in a righteous way by the seller who has sold it to us. Hence, it is essential on our part to offer food to God in the form of prayer, so that these three impurities do not afflict our mind.
"The food thus offered to God is digested by 'Vaishwanara" in the digestive system. Since God exists in the form of fire as Vaishwanara, He digests the food along with the impurities. So, man will not be affected even if the impurities enter the food."
No comments:
Post a Comment