FOOD AND MEDITATION 1 B G CHAP 6 TEXTS 11-12: To practice yoga, one should go to a secluded place and should lay kuśa grass on the ground and then cover it with a deerskin and a soft cloth. The seat should be neither too high nor too low and should be situated in a sacred place. The yogī should then sit on it very firmly and practice yoga to purify the heart by controlling his mind, senses and activities and fixing the mind on one point.
TEXTS 13-14: One should hold one’s body, neck and head erect in a straight line and stare steadily at the tip of the nose. Thus, with an unagitated, subdued mind, devoid of fear, completely free from sex life, one should meditate upon Me within the heart and make Me the ultimate goal of life. TEXT 15: Thus practicing constant control of the body, mind and activities, the mystic transcendentalist, his mind regulated, attains to the kingdom of God [or the abode of Kṛṣṇa] by cessation of material existence. TEXT 16: There is no possibility of one’s becoming a yogī, O Arjuna, if one eats too much or eats too little, sleeps too much or does not sleep enough. nāty-aśnatas tu yogo ’sti na caikāntam anaśnataḥ na cāti-svapna-śīlasya jāgrato naiva cārjuna TEXT 17: He who is regulated in his habits of eating, sleeping, recreation and work can mitigate all material pains by practicing the yoga system. 2 TIRUMULAR TIRUMANTHIRAM *Principles of Siddha* Siddhars have recommended certain basic guidelines to be followed for healthy living which includes observation of certain regimen as mentioned in *“Pini anugaa vidhi”* literally meaning rules that help prevent disease. Their concept of *“Kaayakarpam”* for prevention of diseases is highly admirable as it makes one’s body resistant to infections. Their concepts pertaining to Habitat, Seasons, Diet *(Thinai/Nilam, Naal ozhukkam, Kaala ozhukkam, Unavu)* are preventive as well as adaptive. *1. Pini Anugaa Vidhi (Prevention of diseases)* *“Thinna mirandulae sikka adakkaamar...” -- Therayar* *“ Paal unbhom; ennai perin veneerir kulippom…” -- Therayar* The above verses illustrate the do's and don’ts in all our activities. These preventive measures against illness are summarized below: i. Drink boiled water ii. Take meals twice a day iii.Take diluted buttermilk and melted ghee iv. Take sufficient quantity of milk and milk products v. Never eat root tubers except yam vi. Never consume food that was prepared the previous day vii. Always have food after feeling hungery viii. Always consume sour curd ix. Practice walking after a good diet x. Drink water at the end of meals xi. Use hot water while taking oil bath. xii. Never suppress any natural urge xiii. Never sleep during daytime xiv. Always indulge in healthy sexual acts xv. Take emetic medication once in six months xvi. Take purgative medication every four months in a year xvii. Take snuff medications eight times in a year xviii. Shave hairs weekly xix. Take oil bath once in every four days xx. Apply eye medications once in three days xxi. Never smell fragrance during midnight xxii. Never reside close to dust and articles related to dust xxiii. Never sleep under a tree shade or near a burning lamp These rules when followed strictly, keep away death. These simple preventive principles have an in depth scientific value though they were designed much before the advent of modern science. These rules have been followed as routine custom through several generations. *2. Kaaya Karpam (Gerontology)* *”Udambar azhiyil uyirar azhivar…”-- Thirumandiram by Thirumoolar* The above quote states that maintaining a healthy body is essential as it holds a healthy mind which is required to attain salvation. Adoption of preventive techniques to maintain one’s body health helps to retain youthfulness and attain spiritual perfection.*“Kaaya Karpam”* (rejuvenation and longevity) was practiced as a preventive measure against illness. Practicing Kaaya Karpam also provides acquired immunity *(seyarkai vanmai)* to our body. *Kaaya Karpam* acts in 2 ways i.e., prevention against disease and restoration of health during illness. Thus, it is preventive as well as constructive. *Kaaya Karpam *is studied under three categories viz. *i. Mooligai Karpam* *ii. Thathu and Seeva Karpam* *iii. Yoga Karpam* 3 siddha vaidhyam The table below gives brief information about the seasonal guidelines *Season* *Preferred taste* *Preferred Diet* *Medications* *Preferred life style* *State of 3 humours (Uyir Thathukkal), Appetite* Rainy season from Aug 16th – Oct 15th (*Kaarkaalam*) Sweet (Inippu), Sour (Pulippu), Salty (Uvarppu) Hot potency and digestible food. Emetic, purgative drugs and appetizers Use dry clothing. Avoid butter milk, day time sleep and tire some work Pitham is in accumulated state,Vaatham is in aggravated stateDecreased appetite Autumn from Oct 16th – Dec 15th (Koothir kaalam) Sweet (Inippu), Bitter (Kaippu), Astringent (Thuvarppu) Dry and cool food, light diet Bloodletting Avoid curd, oil, fats, alcohol, daytime sleep sunlight, dew, heavy meals and salty diet.Use clean and dry clothes. Pitham is in aggravated state, Vaatham is in mitigated state. Early winter Dec 16th – Feb 15th (Muun Pani kaalam) Sweet (*Inippu*), Sour (*Pulippu*), Salty (*Uvarppu*) Cool Oil (thylam) application Use boiled water, blankets. Exposure to evening sun light and slight work is good. Always use footwear. Pitham is in mitigated state.Increased appetite and immunity. Late winter from Feb 16th – Apr 15th (Pinpani Kaalam) Sweet (*Inippu*), Sour (*Pulippu*), Astringent (*Thuvarppu*) Avoid diet that increases vaatham Oil (thylam) application Use boiled water, blankets. Exposure to evening sun light and slight work is good. Always use footwear. *Kabham* is in accumulated state. Spring from Apr 16th – June 15th (*Ilavaenil Kaalam*) Bitter (*Kaippu*), Pungent (*kaarppu*), Astringent (*Thuvarppu*) Dry and hot potency food, solid, liquid and semi-solid food. Emetic, Nasal application (*Nasiyam*)medications. Avoid bulky diet cool diet and daytime sleep *Kabham* is in aggravated state. Summer June 16th – Aug 15th (*Muduvaenil Kaalam*) Sweet (*Inippu*) Coolant Vatha neutralizing medications Reside in ventilated area. Avoid food that is digested with difficulty. *Vaatham* is in accumulated state,*Kabham* is in mitigated state. *4.Guiding Principles of Diagnosis in Siddha* 4 RIG vedam 1 187 1-11 verses glorifies the annam the food; it is followed up in Yajur vedam aas ANNA SUKTAM which I gave you few days back. SDo now from Rig vedam: Rig Veda 1.187.1 पितुं नु स्तोषं महो धर्माणं तविषीम् । यस्य त्रितो व्योजसा वृत्रं विपर्वमर्दयत् ॥ pituṃ nu stoṣam maho dharmāṇaṃ taviṣīm | yasya trito vy ojasā vṛtraṃ viparvam ardayat ||“I glorify Pitu, the great, the upholder, the strong, by whose invigorating power Trita slew themutilated Vṛtra.” Commentary by Sāyaṇa: Ṛgveda-bhāṣya Anna-devatā = anna, the divinity presiding over food, or merely food; Pitu = pālakam, that which nourishes; Trita = Indra; he whose fame is spread through the three worlds; or, tṛsthāna-indraha, the three-stationed Indra: Yajurveda 34.7 Rig Veda 1.187.2 स्वादो पितो मधो पितो वयं त्वा ववृमहे । अस्माकमविता भव ॥ svādo pito madho pito vayaṃ tvā vavṛmahe | asmākam avitā bhava || “Savoury Pitā <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/pita#hinduism>; sweet pitā; we worship you; become our protector.” {pitav < pito < pitu = “food.”} Rig Veda 1.187.5 तव त्ये पितो ददतस्तव स्वादिष्ठ ते पितो । प्र स्वाद्मानो रसानां तुविग्रीवा इवेरते ॥ tava tye pito dadatas tava svādiṣṭha te pito | pra svādmāno rasānāṃ tuvigrīvā iverate || “Those (men), Pitā <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/pita#hinduism>, (are the enjoyers of your bounty), who are your distributors, most sweet Pitā, (to others); they who are the relishers of your flavours, are as if they had stiff necks.” *Commentary by Sāyaṇa: Ṛgveda-bhāṣya* Tuvigrīvaḥ iva irate: tuvi = bahu <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/bahu#hinduism>,much, many; or, pravṛddha <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/pravriddha#hinduism>, enlarged; when people eat, they are dṛḍhāṅga, erect, firm; and when they are without food, the neck is bent, or bends down; or it may mean, that they are great eaters, as if they had many throats. Rig Veda 1.187.10 करम्भ ओषधे भव पीवो वृक्क उदारथिः । वातापे पीव इद्भव ॥ karambha oṣadhe bhava pīvo vṛkka udārathiḥ | vātāpe pīva id bhava || “Vegetable cake of fried meal, do you be substantial, wholesome, and invigorating; and, Body, do you grow fat.” *Commentary by Sāyaṇa: Ṛgveda-bhāṣya* Vegetable cake of fried meal: karambha <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/karambha#hinduism> oṣadhe: karambha = a lump or cake of parched meal, śaktu <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/saktu#hinduism> piṇḍa <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/pinda#hinduism>, identified with a herb or vegetable, tadātmaka oṣadhiḥ <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/oshadhi#hinduism> Rig Veda 1.187.11 तं त्वा वयं पितो वचोभिर्गावो न हव्या सुषूदिम । देवेभ्यस्त्वा सधमादमस्मभ्यं त्वा सधमादम् ॥ taṃ tvā vayam pito vacobhir gāvo na havyā suṣūdima | devebhyas tvā sadhamādam asmabhyaṃ tvā sadhamādam || “We extract from you, Pitā <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/pita#hinduism>, by our praises, (the sacrificial food), as cows yield butter for oblation; from you, who are exhilarating to the gods; exhilarating also to us.” *Commentary by Sāyaṇa: Ṛgveda-bhāṣya *Pitā = Soma <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/soma#hinduism>;?pun on pīta <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/pita#hinduism>, yellow, golden K RAJARAM IRS 10825 -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. 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