FOOD INTAKE AND OUR LIFE AS EXPLAINED BY MAHA PERIYAVA SWAMIGAL

 

*Sambar, Rasam, Paayasa and Majjige*

 

A beautiful explanation about our own Sambar, Rasam, Paayasa and Majjige (Buttermilk) and their significance to the quality of life we lead. 

 

The explanation continues with the order of food intake as well.

 

An explanation given by SRI. KANCHI KAMAKOTI SRI MAHA PERIYAVA.

 

''What is the difference between Sambar and Rasam..?"

 

Both contain Dal, Tamarind, Salt, Spices and Asafoetida.

 

Someone from those assembled said, 'We consume Sambar first, and then Rasam, that's the difference...'

 

The Acharya laughed loudly.

 

He said, the Sambar has vegetables, but Rasam does not.

 

Based on this, the discussion proceeded.

 

Acharya's explanation:

 

If Ego occupies our mind, we get confused, that's like Sambar. 

 

But, if that Ego is not there, our mind is clear like Rasam.

 

'Taan' is the word used in many households for vegetables.

 

We should not forget this, and so, we consume each day, both Sambhar and Rasam.

 

You go to a feast. You are served Sambar,

*Rasam,*

*Paayasa*

*And Majjige*

(Buttermilk)

*in this order.*

 

Why?

 

This food culture is not found anywhere else. 

 

As soon as a man is born, 'Taan' or Ego fills in first.

 

He faces a number of problems that totally confuses him, like Sambhar, with different types of vegetables.

 

When his mind settles, it becomes clear, like Rasam - which is served next.

 

This is followed by the sweet Payasam, because your mind is settled and that which gives you happiness.

 

So many similarities between life and food.

 

Now, in the end, 

It’s Majjige or Buttermilk - which has a separate quality.

 

Once our mind is settled and we get happiness, our mind becomes one with the Lord, just like we get curd, butter, ghee and buttermilk from milk in that order.

 

Buttermilk is the last stage in our Life - from which you cannot get anything more.

 

The same way, once you attain the Lord, then there is nothing more to achieve. 

 

Majjige in the end, also indicates 'Enlightenment' and that, it’s the last item on the "menu", after which you just leave your "leaf" behind.

 

Thus, ended the Acharya's discourse. (Shared as forwarded to me).

 

S.SEKAR

Contact: sekrajc@yahoo.com

EFFECT OF YOUR KARMAS EXPLAINED

Why Bhishma Pitamah had to suffer on a Bed of Arrows?

When Bhishma Pitamah was struck down by Arjuna, in the Mahabharata War, he fell down from his chariot. But since the arrows had pierced his chest, he did not touch the ground, but remained lying on the bed of arrows. His head was hanging; he needed to rest it, and told Arjuna to make some provision. Arjuna immediately stuck 3 arrows beneath his head to support it. Bhishma remarked joyfully - "What a fitting pillow for a warrior like me - a pillow to match the bed!”. Next he asked for water, since he was thirsty. Arjuna once, more, struck a mighty arrow right through the earth, and Ganga maiya surged up to pour cool water in the parched mouth of her beloved son. So Bhishma Pitamah had to suffer the pangs on the bed of arrows in battlefield before attaining final beatitude and redemption to Vaikuntha Loka.

Now what was the Karmic reason that Bhishma Pitamah had to Suffer on a Bed of Arrows?

To the question as to why Bhishma Pitamah was suffering this punishment even when he had not committed any sin during past 72 birth lives (Great Bhishma could peep into his past lives through Samadhi), Lord Krishna replied him that he committed a folly in past 73rd life birth when he inflicted injuries to insects by piercing thorns / needles into their bodies. Those thorns have now appeared as bed of arrows for you. Your sinful Karma remained dormant as you were a pious person throughout theses lives but since you have now become a party to Adharma of Duryodhana, the sanchit evil Karma’s of 73rd life has ripened now. 

So if a person has done good Karmas in past lives, he/she gets a good life in future births and if he/she has done bad karmas in past lives then that person has to suffer bad fruit of those bad Karmas. So it is generally said that we should do good Karmas only.

Below are few verses of Bhagawad Gita which explain about how a soul travels from one body to the other and where it goes as per the Karmic law:

"Yada sattve pravrddhe tu

pralayam yati deha-bhrt

tadottama-vidam lokan

amalan pratipadyate" (Bhagavad Gita: Chapter Fourteen verse 14)

 

"Sri Krishna said: O Arjuna, When one dies in the mode of goodness (after doing good Karmas), he attains to the pure higher planets of the great sages."

 

"Rajasi pralayam gatva

karma-sangisu jayate

tatha pralinas tamasi

mudha-yonisu jayate" (Bhagavad Gita: Chapter Fourteen verse 15)

"Sri Krishna said: O Arjuna, When one dies in the mode of passion, he takes birth among those engaged in fruit producing activities (i.e. as a man or woman on earth); and when one dies in the mode of ignorance (after doing bad Karmas) , he takes birth in the bird & animal kingdom."

So it is said that we should do all our Karmas for the God only as by doing such Karmas no evil result shall come out of those Karmas in future lives.

"yajnarthat karmano ’nyatra

loko ’yam karma-bandhanah

tad-artham karma kaunteya

mukta-sangah samachara" (Bhagavad Gita: Chapter Three verse 9)

"Sri Krishna said: Work done as a sacrifice for Vishnu has to be performed, otherwise work causes bondage in this material world. Therefore, O Arjuna, perform your prescribed duties for His satisfaction, and in that way you will always remain free from bondage."

So let’s do Good Karmas only so that we shall get Good Fruits of those Karmas in future births. Let’s do all the Karmas for God only as by that way God shall protect us always.

S.SEKAR

Contact: sekrajc@yahoo.com