Rahul Gandhi is
being backlashed for eating chicken roll in Pitru Paksha and that too on
Tuesday. No where in our ancient scriptures it is mentioned that Non-Veg Food
is Forbidden during Shradh Period. We normally eat food when we are hungry.
There is a thought in Upanishad that “Everything in universe is Food. We eat
some. Some eat us.” Vedic Ideas revolve around food Gods,
Ancestors, Family, Strangers and guests all are to be fed as food indicates
hunger.
When we speak of Manusmriti, everyone is well-versed about its
prescriptions favouring upper caste heterosexual men. But few note that it is
also about feeding. The ‘pancha-maha-yagnaʼ, is about five feedings: feeding
oneself, feeding fellow humans, feeding the gods, feeding the ancestors, and
feeding the livestock. The yajaman, the householder, is told he exists to
nourish everyone around him. The world is all about satisfying each otherʼs
hunger. Hunger is what differentiates organisms from objects.
Where there is fear of death, there is himsa. He who does not fear
death, does not seek food, hence does not have to kill. This is the path of the
monk. But the householder is concerned with the hunger of those around him. He
has to be violent in order to feed those who cannot feed themselves. Hence the
concept of pancha-yagna, or the five-fold feeding: of the gods (devas), to the
self (atma), to the family (putra), to the ancestors (pitra) and to the other
beings that constitute nature (bhutas).
Of late there is
a trend where vegetarians are assuming superiority over non vegetarians.
Community which does not consume roots is being positioned as a superior race.
The Idea that those who eat plant-based food are morally superior over those
who eat meat, fish and eggs. This belief is now being promoted as socially
powerful and is now being distinguished as Pure People and Impure People.
Why People don’t eat
Onion & Garlic ? According to Mythology during Samudra Manthan an Asura named
Rahu tried to trick Vishnu [Mohini], Who distributed Amrit [Nectar of life]
only to gods, by taking form of God. Sun & Moon God Spotted this trick and
alerted Vishnu who severed Rahu’s Head with his Discuss [Sudarshan Chakra]
before Amrit could reach his throat. When his head was being Severed few drops
of Amrit had mixed with Rahu’s Blood which fell on earth and from it Sprouted
Onion and Garlic. As Onion & Garlic Sprouted from Demon’s Blood it is
considered Impure.
Another interesting
take is that when you cut Onion Vertically the Concentric layers closely
resemble Shankha [Conch Shell of Lord Vishnu]. Cutting Onion Horizontally Concentric
Rings Resembles Sudarshan Chakra [Discuss of Lord Vishnu]. Lord Shiva gave a
Boon to Onion “One who peels you will shed tears” as peeling of the layers of
onion is metaphor for life unfolding the KAALCHAKRA which makes you Cry.
