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« on: March 25, 2010, 08:23:00 PM »
Letters from Sri Ramanasramam 227
ALL TAMASIC ARTICLES ARE FORBIDDEN
Four days ago, we received a copy of Grihalakshmi, a monthly journal. Bhagavan was turning over the pages and laughing to himself. I thought there must be something amusing in it. While going out, Bhagavan gave me the journal and said with a laugh, “The greatness of garlic is described in it. Please read it.” On bringing it home and reading it, I found that there was in it a description of how to cook garlic, how to make pickles out of it, how to make chutneys and in conclusion it was stated that there is nothing equal to it in its greatness and its benefit to the body. I could not help laughing when I read it. I then understood why Bhagavan was laughing while he was reading it. In the afternoon at 2-30 when I went to Bhagavan’s presence, Bhagavan smiled on seeing me. No sooner did I step into the hall than he said, “Well, did you read about the greatness of garlic? Was there not also a verse?” I replied, “Yes, I have read it. There is a saying amongst us that the good which garlic can do, even a mother cannot do. That verse expresses the same sentiment.”
Bhagavan: “Such a saying is prevalent in this part of the country also. People say it is very good for health. Really it is so. It removes rheumatism and gives strength to the body. For children it acts like amrit (nectar). Garlic is also known as amrit.”
Devotee: “How did it get that name?”
Bhagavan: “There is a curious story about it. As is well known, when gods (devas) and demons (rakshasas) churned the ocean, amrit came out of it. When the rakshasas were running away with the vessel containing amrit, devas appealed to Vishnu. Vishnu came on the scene in the shape of Mohini (Enchantress), and offered to resolve their quarrel by serving amrit to them all. They agreed. While serving it to the gods first, it appeared that there might not be enough to go round for the demons and so one of the latter got into the line of the gods unobserved by Mohini and was swallowing the amrit, when the Sun and the Moon noticed it and gave her the hint. She threw the ladle, with which the amrit was being served, at the demon. The ladle became the Chakra (an invincible lethal weapon of Vishnu) and cut off his head, but as amrit had already gone down his throat, the head became a graha (planet) and has since been taking vengeance on the Sun and the Moon at the time of an eclipse. That is the story.
Now, when the head of the demon was severed, the trunk fell down and, in the process, a few drops of amrit also fell on the ground, and it is said that those drops became the garlic plant. That is why it is said that garlic has some of the properties of amrit. It is very good for the body. But since it also has the touch of the demon, it has tamasic qualities too, which affect the mind, if eaten. Hence it is forbidden for sadhakas.”
Devotee: “Are not horseradish (mullangi) and drumsticks also forbidden for sadhakas?”
Bhagavan: “Yes. Watermelon, horseradish, drumsticks, onions and other similar vegetables are forbidden. The mind will be clear and pure depending on the sort of food one eats, sattvic or otherwise. If one overeats sambar, soup and boiled vegetables one will have to belch ‘Ho Ho’ and ‘Ha Ha’ and get worried over digesting it. If, however, one eats sattvic food with only one side dish, one digests it easily and will be happy. Who pays attention to such advice?”
Devotee: “Why do they not pay attention to such advice? It is rather strange.”
Bhagavan: “That is a fact. Nobody heeds such advice. Everyone says he must bring for Bhagavan laddoos and jilebis (sweetmeats) but no one says rice and pepper water are better for Bhagavan. They bring them all for Swami. But why does Swami require all these things? Dandapani Swami was here long back. At that time the method of cooking itself was different. A big vessel used to be put on the fire. Whatever vegetables were received till noon used to be cut and put into it, boiled and sambar made. There was no ladle even to stir and mix them. We used to take a piece of firewood, chisel it and use it for stirring those vegetables in the vessel. That preparation was the only side dish. When we mixed it with rice and ate, it used to be very tasty. The labour also was comparatively less. After cooking in the Ashram grew in size, cooks had to be appointed. They used to consult me in the early days about what to cook. I used to ask them, ‘Do you have rice?’ and their reply was, ‘yes’. ‘Do you have water?’ ‘Yes’. ‘Do you have salt?’ ‘Yes’. ‘Do you have pickles?’ ‘Yes.’ ‘Buttermilk?’ ‘Yes.’ ‘ If so, what else do you want?’ I used to say. After that, they ceased to ask me and now they merely tell me, ‘We will cook this and we will cook that,’ and I say, ‘Yes, yes.’ I also advise them suitably. What do I lose? I do not, however, give up my own custom, but mix all the side dishes into one before taking them. When several people gather together, they must have their way. Why should they suffer on my account?”
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