Sunday, November 4, 2012

Vedic classification of food

While modern science classify food in Carbohydrate, Protein and Fat, Vedic literature classify food in based on qualities it produces in human. Food is classified into 3 categories of Tamasik, Rajasik, and Satvik based on 3 guna (nature or characteristic of human). It is based on fact that food not only impacts body but also the thoughts.

3 (Guna) modes of nature are:
         
          Tamasik: comes from root word "Tamas" meaning darkness, ignorance, laziness.
          Rajasik: comes from root word "Rajas" meaning passion, royal, worldly.
          Sativik: comes from root word "Satva" meaning truth, goodness, knowledge.


Tamasik food

Produces darkness, ignorance and laziness.

यातयामं गतरसं पूति पर्यूषितं च यत  |
उच्छिष्टमपि चामेध्यं भोजनं तामसप्रियम ।।

"Foods that is stale, very cold, tasteless, stinking, food that is left off after eating, and is impure are the foods that are liked to those in the mode of laziness or ignorance." - Gita 17.10

Easiest way to identify such food is watch out for reaction and feeling after eating, if feeling is of laziness and sleep, its tamasik. Curd, Parathas, Fried rice are some of the tamasik foods.


Rajasik food

Produces passion and vigorous energy for worldly things.

कत्वम्ल लावणात्युउसणा तीक्ष्णा रुक्ष विदाहिन: |
आहारा राजसस्येष्टा दुःखशोकामयप्रद:  ||

"The foods that are bitter, sour, saline, steaming hot, burning are the foods that are liked by people after worldly things. These foods produce pain, grief and disease."  - Gita 17.9

These food produce vigorous energy and passion in order to fulfill the uncontrolled desires, so in the end these food produce pain, grief and diseases.

Such food can also be identified by watching the reaction after food, Non-veg, red chili etc are Rajasik.

Satvik food

Produces peace in mind, freshness, and health.

आयु: सत्व बलारोग्य सुखप्रीति विवधर्ना: |
रसया: स्निग्धा: स्थिरा हृधा आहाराः सत्विकप्रियाः ||

"The foods that enhance life and vitality, purity, strength, health, happiness and cheerfulness, that are savoury, nourishing and agreeable to the heart are the foods liked by people in satvik nature."- Gita 17.8

Watch out for freshness after eating meal, if freshness is the feeling after meal then it was satvik. Any food taken in large quantity turns into tamasik due to the effect it produces to body and mind.


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