यज्ञस्तपस्तथा दानं तेषां भेदमिमं श्रृणु।।
आयु:सत्वबलारोग्यसुखप्रीतिविवर्धना: |
रस्या: स्निग्धा: स्थिरा हृद्या आहारा: सात्विकप्रिया: ||
(Gita 17: 8)
Better food makes better mood; Ayurveda classifies food not as proteins or carbohydrates etc. but according to its effect on the body and mind. It classifies food based on three qualities or gunas that governs human life, sattva, rajas and tamas. Tamasic food creates lethargy or sluggishness. Rajasic food creates activity or restlessness and Sattvic food, which consists of vegetarian fare, creates lightness, energy and positivity.
These three qualities are present in our body in varying degree and have a direct influence on us, our moods, emotions and consequent health. The three elements: Enzymes, Nutrients, and Vitality have equivalents in Ayurveda. The Ayurvedic equivalent of Vitality or Energy is Prana or Vatta. Prana and Vatta are synonymous and equate to the world of energy. The equivalent of Enzymes is Pitta which is the agent of transformation and the parallel for Nutrients is Kapha which are our building blocks.
Rasa, the Sanskrit word for taste, has a number of potent meanings, among them: experience, enthusiasm, juice, plasma (as in rasa dhatu), and essence. These diverse meanings only hint at the significance of taste within the Ayurvedic tradition. Rasa is, in a very real way, the essence of life and quite literally affects every aspect of our being from structure and physiology straight through to our overall state of mind and consciousness.
Ayurveda sees rasa, or taste, as a tremendously powerful therapeutic tool that determines not only how we experience our food, but ultimately, the overall flavor of our existence. Taste is assigned a much deeper significance in Ayurveda than we are accustomed to in the West; it is considered critically important in determining the effect that various foods, spices, therapeutic herbs, and experiences will have on our state of balance—body, mind, and spirit.
Ayurveda recognizes six tastes, each of which has a vital role to play in our physiology, health, and well-being. The sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter, and astringent tastes combine in countless ways to create the incredible diversity of flavors we encounter throughout our lives.
You are what you eat; That’s the principle yogic approach which takes a holistic view of human health, on the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual levels. There is an ancient Ayurvedic proverb which sums it up- When diet is wrong, medicine is of no use. When diet is correct, medicine is of no need.
The ancient treatise of Patanjali Yoga Sutra speaks of the concept of ‘Ahimsa’ (non-violence), as one of the core values of yoga. When you become subtle in your mind and go deeper in your heart, you turn vegetarian naturally. Scientifically speaking, we need food for two reasons: as fuel to produce energy to exist (prana or life energy) and as raw material to regenerate the body.
Yoga says that our system is a seamless blend of the body, mind and spirit. An irregularity in the body affects the mind and unpleasantness in the mind manifests as an ailment in the body. Some health experts claim that the easiest path to success is a total and abrupt change, but we feel that for most people, a more gradual approach is needed.
Cultural reasons; The food available to them, he influence of their peers and their level of spirituality - attainment and practice. Their body types and health issues. The type of work they are engaged in. We all have individual dietary needs. Each of us needs to find the right balance of foods that best serves our metabolism and bodily needs.
The sattvik diet is recommended for spiritual practice (Sadhana). So if you are engaged in regular meditation and trying to develop the sattvik qualities of compassion and generosity etc. then a sattvik diet is advised. The other point on diet comes from Ayur Veda in which diet is prescribed according to body type, so certain body types require Vegan some Vegetarian and some Pescatarian or Meatarian diets.
The Varna-disposition; And here a rudimentary understanding of astrology is required. According to the birth chart one’s Guna (Deva, Manus, Raks) disposition is determined. So if a person is “sattvik” by nature they would prefer a diet in consonance with their disposition and a person of a “tamasik” disposition would prefer a diet that accords with that disposition.
If you are considering transitioning to a yogic vegetarian diet, there are many ways to do so. Gradually you will develop a taste and appreciation for the flavors of well-spiced grains and vegetables, fresh fruits, and the many creative combinations a good vegetarian cook can offer; as well as an appreciation for the healing qualities of the yogic diet. One way to make the transition is to slowly and gradually begin to substitute vegetarian main dishes in your meals, and increase your intake of fresh fruits and vegetables.
Forty-eight days is a period of time which is generally known as a mandala, a time period when the system goes through a certain cycle. This is also the reason why in Ayurveda for example, medicine is usually given for 48 days. It is the length of time that is needed for the medicine to take root in your system. It is important that you do it without a break for that period.
Apart from this the human body and its digestive system is naturally designed for a vegetarian diet and vegetarian food is easy to digest; contains antioxidants, fiber, an array of vitamins; low in calories, sugar, fat, and reduces your chances of getting diabetes, heart disease, obesity, hypertension and almost all cancers.
Nature has created two living beings one vegetarian and another non vegetarian. We will analyse this two living beings and judge where human beings falls. We will take vegetarian animals example horse, donkey, elephant, deer and cattle. For non vegetarian we will take lion, dog, tiger and fox. Now we will analyse this both.
The tooth settings of this animals; The vegetarian animals will have flat teeth. Non vegetarian animals will have sharp teeth. Human beings have flat teeth and not sharp teeth.
How they consume water: All vegetarian animals suck the water and drink. All non vegetarian animals lick the water and drink. Human beings suck the water and drink and they cannot lick and drink.
Blind at the time of birth: Vegetarian animals immediately after their birth can open their eyes and see the world. They are not blind at the time of birth. Non vegetarian animals are blind at the time of birth. They cannot open their eyes for the first few days. Human beings can open their eyes and see the world immediately after their birth.
Finger nails: The nails of vegetarian animals are flat and it will not be sharp. The nails of the non vegetarian animals are lengthy and sharp. Human beings nails are flat and not sharp.
Digestive system: In vegetarian animals the digestive system will be very long for example the food will go through a 15 feet pipe in the stomach to get digested. Reason being the toxic content in the vegetarian food is very less and it has got more good vitamins and proteins. So the digestive system can hold this food items more number of hours in the body.
For non vegetarian animals the food pipe length is very short compared to a vegetarian animals. Since the food has got more toxic content the system is made in such a way that it will send out the food at the earliest. So toxic content is not stored in the digestive system for longer hours. Human beings have long digestive system and the food particles can stay more hour in the digestive system. Hence we have to consume non toxic food.
Equal body heat: For vegetarian animals in order to maintain the body heat equally they can consume water and send out the extra heat by way of sweating. So the body heat through out the body is maintained in equal proposition. For non vegetarian animals this facility is not there. They have to hang their tongue and cool their body. Human beings make their body cool by consuming water and send out the extra heat by sweating.
Faeces or excrement: Vegetarian animals will not have much difficulty in sending out their faeces or excrement from their body. The smell will be less foul. Non vegetarian animals faces difficulty in sending out their faeces or excrement from the body. Compared to vegetarian animals non vegetarian animals faeces or excrement will have more foul smell. Human beings will not have any difficulty in sending out the faeces or excrement from their body. Compared to non vegetarian animals the foul smell will be very less.
Living Style or living way: Vegetarian animals live in groups. They will not live alone. Non vegetarian animals live alone and they create their own territory and will not allow others animals belonging to their race to enter into their territory. Human being lives in group. They allow their races to join them and live with them in their territory.
By nature or tendency or normal way: Vegetarian animals are normally very soft in nature and always peaceful. Non vegetarian animals are ferocious and they are not peaceful. Human beings are soft and wants to live peacefully.
Constructive work: Vegetarian animals does constructive work like helping farmers, carrying human beings, pulling weight and vehicles etc. Non vegetarian animals will not do any constructive work except killing other living beings. They are not be helpful to human beings except dog which helps in guarding the properties. Human beings by nature does constructive work. They help each other and also other living beings.
Epinephrine, also known as adrenalin or adrenaline: Epinephrine, also known as adrenalin or adrenaline, is a hormone, neurotransmitter and medication. This hormone is produced by the body in extraordinary circumstances. When we are in danger we act more faster than the normal circumstances. This is due to the production of this hormones in our body. Harmfulness in the meat and affecting our body and mind. When any living beings is killed for meat this fear hormones get produced in the body and it stays in the entire body at the time of death. When we consume the meat of this animals this hormones also get consumed by us.
Strength in food: It is generally told non vegetarian gives more strength and power. Elephant has more power by consuming only vegetarian food. An ox works in the farm whole day by consuming only vegetarian food. Non vegetarian animal after consuming food they sleep and they will not be active or working. Soya beans has more proteins than meat. For power and strength instead of meat this can be consumed. Now please judge yourself whether we are vegetarian or non vegetarian.
Authored by Anadi Sahoo
