Spirituality in food

We all eat food but hardly with the awareness that it has a spiritual aspect too. What matters in the food is its Pranic content. Prana is the basic intelligent creative force in the universe, writes Saurabh Bairathi.

We all eat food but hardly with the awareness that it has a spiritual aspect too. What matters in the food is its Pranic content. Prana is the basic intelligent creative force in the universe.

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Prana creates the five tattwas — Akash, Vayu, Agni, Jal and Prithvi, which combine in different proportions to create different substances in all the three planes — physical, astral and causal. So every substance, from empty space and atoms to mind and consciousness, is filled with Prana. When atoms combine to form molecules, they acquire a sort of common consciousness, which, on a grander scale, manifests as a plant or animal consciousness.

When we eat, we give our body the necessary Prana in the form of various tattwas. Since the mind is also made up of the same tattwas, the effect of food on it can be understood. Similarly, oxygen has a high Pranic content. Our life depends upon this Prana and oxygen is merely its carrier. Yogis who know how to intake this Prana directly can live without food or oxygen for days.

The lesser this stress, the greater is its Pranic value. Foods that involve cutting of the plant or its uprooting are called Tamasic. They create too much stress in the consciousness of the plant and hence produce lethargy, sleep and lesser control of mind upon intake.

The animal cell, on the other hand, is not so stable. Meat cannot survive for a few days unless refrigerated. When an animal is killed, its mind is filled with hate, anger and fear, which affect the tattwas and consequently the person who eats it too.

Tattwas are emanations of guardian deities. When we cook food, Agni disturbs the tattwic balance and gives them back to the deities. This reduces the Pranic content of food.

So, we should eat vegetarian uncooked food only.