AHARA(FOOD) – PILLAR – PRANA – FORMER OF THE BODY

In Ayurveda, there are three up stambhas (supportive pillars) –

  • AHARA (FOOD)
  • NINDRA (SLEEP)
  • BRAHMCHARYA (CELIBACY)

These are the main factors for sustenance of life and AHARA is the most important factor.

So now we have to know about AHARA. So, what is AHARA??

आह्रियते इति आहारः अन्नपानादि सर्व ||

Anything (food items) which is consumed or ingested is known as AAHAR, whether its solid or liquid.

There are FOUR forms of food mentioned in Ayurveda:-

  • ASHITA (EATABLES)
  • KHADITA (CHEWABLE)
  • PEETA ( DRINKABLE)
  • LEEDHA (LICKABLE)

AHARA is known as “MAHABHAISHAJYA – GREATEST MEDICINE”. If we consume food properly, it is possible to cure the disease without any medicine and if we follow proper dietary rules than it is the best thing to reverse or cure the disease.

There is always a concept of MATRA – the QUANTITY of food. It depends on the type of food.

2 types of food mentioned which are according to the digestion:-

  • GURU (heavy)
  • LAGHU (light)

मात्राशी सर्वकालं स्यान्मात्रा ह्यग्नेः प्रवर्तिका | मात्रा द्रव्याण्यपेक्षन्ते गुरुण्यपि लघुन्यपि || 

The person have to eat according to the quantity as it enhances digestive fire. Quantity is based upon GURU and LAGHU ahara.

गुरुणां अर्धसौहित्यं लघूनां नातितृप्तता | मात्राप्रमाणं निर्दिष्टं सुखं यावद्विजीर्यति ||

The Heavy food in digestion should be consumed only till half of one’s capacity.

The Light food in digestion should be consumed till one is not totally satisfied.

The PROPER QUANTITY – MATRA PRAMAN can be defined as the quantity which undergoes digestion easily.

This is all about AHARA, but is there any difference between AHARA and ANNA??

AHARA – which is consumed or ingested – It should be food, oxygen whatever is ingested

ANNA – Which has undergone digestion process and provides nourishment

Do you know that Ayurveda have mentioned the proper method of eating?

Here it is :-

SHASTRIYA BHOJAN VIDHI:-

काले सात्म्यं शुचि हितं स्निग्धोष्णं लघु तन्मनाः ||

षड्रसं मधुरप्रायं नातिद्रुतविलम्बितम् |

स्नातः क्षुद्वान् विविक्तस्थो धौतपादकराननः ||

तर्पयित्वा पितृन् देवनातिथीन्  बालकान् गुरुन् | 

प्रत्यवेक्ष्य तिरश्चोअपि प्रतिपन्नपरिग्रहान् ||

समीक्ष्य सम्यगात्मानमनिन्दन्नब्रुवन् द्रवम् |

इष्टमिष्टेः  सहाश्नीयाच्छुचिभक्तजनाह्यतम् ||

At proper time

  • Accoustomed(suitable) to health
  • Clean
  • Good for health
  • Unctuous
  • Hot
  • Light
  • With due attention
  • Which have all the six tastes and having madhura – sweet taste in predominance
  • Not very quick
  • Not very slowly
  • After having bath
  • Having good hunger
  • Sitting with peace
  • After washing hands, feet, face
  • After satisfying the pitrus, gods, guests, children , teachers and dependents like servants, pets
  • Considering own constitution, likes, dislikes
  • Without abusing the food
  • Without much talking
  • With favorite people
  • Served by faithful people

Liked and predominantly liquid food

Now we should know about –

TYAJYA BHOJANA (FOOD TO BE REJECTED) :-

भोजनं तृणकेशादिजुष्टमुष्णीकृतं पुनः |

शाकावरान्नभूयिष्ठमत्युष्णलवणं त्यजेत् ||

The food which is contaminated with grass, hairs, etc.

Which is reheated

Which is having low quality in food and having more vegetables

Very hot, very salty

ASEVANEEYA AHARA (FOOD WHICH SHOULD NOT BE CONSUMED REGULARLY OR HABITUALLY)

किलाटदधिकूर्चीकाक्षारशुक्ताममूलकम् |

कृशशुष्कवराहाविगोमत्स्यमहिषामिषम् ||

माषनिष्पावशालूकबिसपिष्टविरुढकम् |

शुष्कशाकानि यवकान् फाणितं च न शीलयेत् || 

  • Dairy products which are sweet,
  • Solid part of Curd
  • Alkalies
  • Fermented gruels
  • Uncooked raddish
  • Meat of emaciated, dry animals, sheep, fish, buffalo
  • Black gram, flat beans, lotus,
  • Flour
  • Dry vegetables, yava (small barely)
  • Half cooked molasses

SEVANEEYA AHARA (FOODS TO BE CONSUMED HABITUALLY)

शीलयेच्छालिगोधुमयवषष्टिकजाङ्गलम् |

सुनिषण्णकजीवन्तीबालमूलकवास्तुकम् ||

पथ्यामलकमृद्विकापटोलीमुद्गशर्कराः |

घृतदिव्योदकक्षीरक्षौद्रदाडिम्सैन्धवम् ||

  • Rice, barely, wheat
  • Rice which matures in sixty days,
  • Meat of animals which lives in desert land
  • Vegetable :- Laptadenia reticulate
  • Young raddish, cucumber
  • Harde , amla , black raisins
  • Pointed gourd, green gram, misri
  • Ghee
  • Rain or pure water
  • Milk
  • Honey
  • Pomegranate
  • Rock salt – sindha namak

So, this is all about food which should be taken or not. There are so many more things which we have to consider like how to eat, where to eat, the factors which are good for digestion and so more cause Ahara – food is known as life.

We will continue it in next chapter. Till then…have a happy MEAL.