aagaara niyamam

From the Bhakti List Archives

• March 11, 1995


First my translation and then the verses of
aagaaran^iyamam.

---------------------------------
Thanian:
The vEdhaantha dEsikar,  the one with the grace of
Ethiraajaa stood like a lion and triumphed over many
debating adversaries;  researched the vEdhaas and
saasthraas, with the view to guide us in choosing foods
that ennoble us and avoid foods that debase us, has given
us this prabhandam called aagaara niyamam.  I shall
wear His flower like thiruvadi as an ornament on my
head.


[1]
All chEthanaas must understand that there are two kinds
of foods, those that are ennobling (saathveega) and those
that are debasing (thaamasa).   These are described by
KaNNan in sri bagavath geethai, by Ethiraajaa in
srimadh geethaa bhaashyam, and by many rishees in
many saasthraas and smrithees.  By following these
principles, ajakaran attained mOksham.  Likewise, we
must understand and follow these rules.

[2]  Forbidden foods:
-    Foods that are not brought into the house through
     the main door.
-    grains such as varagu, etc.
-    foods that mingle with stuff that have fallen from
     the mouth
-    remainder of what was put into the mouth
-    foods seen by immoral people
-    foods that are burnt
-    foods touched by clothes, or contaminated by
     saliva or sneeze.
-    foods seen or touched by dogs
-    foods cooked on days such as Ekaadhasi

[3]  forbidden foods continued...
-    foods smelt by animals or people
-    foods touched by people with decease
-    foods that are not offered with kindness
-    foods contacted by fly, worm, thread, hair, and
     nail
-    foods offered by sanyaasi or touched by his vessel
-    foods touched by the mouth of people, rats,
     chicken, crow, and cat.

[4]
This paasruam lists the vegetables that are forbidden.  I
can't recognize many of them.  Of the ones I am able to
recognize, I don't know the English names.  The rest are
listed below.

     white eggplant, lotus stem, garlic, certain kinds of
     spinach, mushroom, certain kinds of drumstick

[5]  More forbidden foods:
Vegetables taken from other's garden without
permission,  portion that is set aside for oneself prior to
the partaking of the rest of the group, foods that are
exceedingly bitter, salty, pepper hot, or sour.

[6]  More forbidden foods:
Foods that were not offered to our Lord, foods that were
not offered to the guests, foods that were cooked without
first cleaning them, foods earned in immoral ways,
cooked with other foods that are forbidden, cooked by
unclean children, and foods that are contaminated by
excrements.

[7] forbidden foods continued...
-    foods intended for dEvathaas
-    foods offered to dEvathaas such as Sivan
-    foods that harm our praaNan and indhriyam
-    foods that are unrecognizable
-    foods that are intolerably hot
-    foods that are not palatable to the mind
-    vegetables and flowers that bloom in an untimely
     fashion
-    dirty salt.

[8] forbidden foods continued...
-    Calcium (suNNaambu) extracted from sea shells
-    bubbles and froth from water
-    foods that are not offered to our Lord
-    harvested from the stems that were previously
     harvested
-    foods avoided by learned persons with pure heart

[9] forbidden foods continued...
-    Foods from which the essence is taken out, except
     buttermilk
-    viLaam fruit and popped rice during the day
-    foods prepared with curd and sesame seed oil,
     during night time
-    foods that are said to give magical powers
-    no foods on Ekaadasi days, and at dusk or
     midnight.

[10]  Do not eat,
-    before your shower and sandhya japam
-    alone, eat with a group of bhakthaas
-    foods that are mashed by someone else
-    under the moonlight or fire
-    husband and wife together
-    while staring at inferior individuals
-    with your left hand
-    anything that is avoided by religious people.

[11]  Do not eat,
-    ghee that is served after you have begun eating
-    foods that have been cooked twice (reheated?)
-    foods served by bare hand or spatulas made of
     iron, uncooked foods may be served by bare hand
-    foods already bitten into,
-    old, and spoilt foods
-    foods prepared in someone else's house (no
     potluck)
-    foods that someone else wanted or rejected
-    foods with smell of earth, or separated by finger
     nails, salt that you can see
-    separated for one self and guests
-    sap coming out of trees, except asafoetida.

Foods that may be accepted are listed now.
[12] Accept without hesitation,
-    foods with the saliva of one's father, teacher, and
     first older brother
-    Saliva in the sOmaa vessel during sOma yaagam
-    foods with husband's saliva for wife, if such food
     is contaminated with hair, worm, or thread, these
     may be removed properly and the food accepted
-    maadhuLangaay, only during our Lord's muga
     vaaSa soorNam
-    all prohibited foods during calamitous times
-    water, roots, ghee, milk, havis from yaagam,
     nimandhraNam, guru's teachings, and medicine
     may be accepted even during fasting days.

[13] Accept without hesitation,
-    sugar cane juice, yogurt, milk, ghee, beetle nut,
     pepper, honey, cardamon, water made from snow
-    anything until you realize its blemish
Dip in the ocean is permitted on full moon day and new
moon day.  During times of lunar and solar eclipse all
waters will be considered equal to gangaa water;  water
in rivers, even if it carries horses, donkeys and cadaver,
will become purified with current.

[14]  Accept without hesitation,
-    foods cooked without water
-    fruits ripened on their own accord
-    boiled rice
-    vadaam, snacks such as appam, seedai, rotti, even
     if they are old, but tasty; do not accept foods that
     are fresh, but not tasty

[15]    Accept without hesitation,
-    Foods prepared with milk, like thirattuppaal
-    snacks like thEnkuzhal, muRukku, etc.,
-    medicines prescribed by physicians, flower,
     vellam, wheat
-    old rice that is soaked in clean water may be taken
     with buttermilk, ghee, milk, yogurt

[16]    Accept without hesitation,
-    snacks made of yogurt and juice of flower,
     vegetables, and fruits; these are OK even if they
     are slightly spoilt.
-    foods that are spoilt may be taken during
     calamitous times by cleansing them and adding
     ghee and honey.  If these foods are further
     contaminated with hair or other unclean stuff,
     cleanse them with sand and water.

[17]  Forbidden milk
-    milk from one hoofed animals like horse or
     donkey
-    cow that has twin calf, or camel milk
-    salt added milk
-    milk from women
-    milk from pregnant cow
-    milk extracted with the help of calf that does not
     belong to the cow
-    cows that belong to temples (?)
-    goat milk, milk bought from brahmins
-    milk kept in copper vessels, burnt milk

[18]  Forbidden water
-    Water from previous day, except gangaa water
-    remainder of water used for cleaning feet
-    murky water
-    heated coconut water
-    water gathered in a ditch
-    water offered in "water-sheds"
-    doubtful water, water taken from where
     washermen work
-    water contaminated by saliva
-    water from conch
-    rain water that has not fallen on the ground

[19]  about beetle leaves
-    don't chew beetle nut without beetle leaves
-    don't consume the bottom, stem, or tip of beetle
     leaves
-    don't chew beetle leaves and nuts at the same time
-    widows, sanyaasi, and bachelors must not
     consume beetle leaves
-    don't consume the beetle leaf used to keep calcium
-    never use beetle leaves on fasting days such as
     Ekaadasi
-    don't drink water while chewing beetle leaves

[20]
A particular food item may be acceptable or forbidden
based on the caste, stage in life, geography, time of
eclipse, individual dharmam, etc., etc.  For example, it is
said that milk from kapilai cow is acceptable for
brahmins, but forbidden for shudraas.  Therefore, one
must approach learned people and get your doubts
clarified.

[21]
For the benefit of people who live in this world
characterized by lack of wisdom, Lord kaNNan showed
many principles in saasthraas.  After consulting with
aachaaryaas these principles have been laid out in this
prabhandam.   Guard yourself against the agnostics who
believe only in this transient body and world.  Consume
only those saathvega foods that helps us amplify our
devotion to the thiruvadi of pEraruLaaLan.






================
sri:

sri vEdhaantha dhEsigan aruLicceydha

aagaara_niyamam


thaniyan

seeraarum vEdhaantha dhEsi garkOn
  sezhumaRaiyi NnutporuLaich sindhai seydhE
yaaraayndhu vaazhvuRavip puviyOr thangat
  kanbudanE yaagaara niyathi sonnaa
NnEraaru methiraasa raruLi NnaalE
  yedhirnthavargaL singamena vingu vandhOn
seeraarum vEngadavan RooppuR piLLai
  sezhunthiirutthaa LiNaimalaren senni mElE.


aagaarath thiruvagaiyaa nanRun^ theethu
  marumaRaikoN dethiraasa rivaimo zindhaa
raagaadha vazhivilakki yaakkuNG kaNNa
  Nnanaitthulagum vaazhavidhu saaRRi vaitthaan
pOgaathu pOkkuvikku munivar sonna
  poyyaatha mozhigaLaiyum porundhak kENmi
Nnaagaathen Ravaithavirnthaa madhuvE koNda
  vasagaranu maakangaath tharuLpeR RaanE.  [1]

vaayilallaa vaayilinaal vandha sORum
  varagumudha laagaathen Ruraittha sORum
vaayininRum vizhumavaithaam patta sORum
  vaaykkoNda kavaLatthin migundha sORun^
theeyavar_kaN paduncOrun^ theethaR sOruNY
  seeraiyurai thummalivai patta sORu
naaymudhalaa Nnavaipaarkkun^ theeNduNY sORu
  naadooythal laaccORu naNNaach sORE.  [2]

manisar_pasu mudhalaanOr mOndha sORu
  manisar_thami laagaathaar theeNduNY sORu
minimaiyuda Nnaatharamil laathaar sORu
  meeppuzhun^oon mayirugirga LirukkuNY sORu
munivarenun^ thuRavaRtthO reendha sORu
  munivar_thangaL paatthiratthiR patta sORu
manisareli kukkudangaL kaagam poonai
  vaaykkoNda kaRisORu maruvaach sORE.  [3]

atthigaLpE raarkkiRali veNkath thaari
  yaalarasu naRuvilipuNG kaayi laarai
putthikolli kuRincithaanRi kusumbai vELai
  punamurungai murungaisuga muLari yuLLi
siRRavarai kommatti paNNai thoyyil
  seengaadan RERaloovai panaima yooran
sutthiyilaa nilatthilavai kadambu kaaLaan
  suraipeerkkuch saNandhinnaar suruthi yOrE.  [4]

siRukeerai sevvagatthi murukki raNduNY
  siRupasaLai perumpasaLai yamma NandhaaL
paRitthoruvar kodaathirukkath thaanE senRu
  paaynthedutthuk kuLLumavai pagiraak kooRuNG
kuRitthaalun^ thinnavoNaak kaippu varppuNG
  koorkkumavai yazhalumavai kodumpu LippuNG
kaRikkaagaa vivaiyenRu kaNdu raitthaar
  kaarmEni yaruLaaLar kadakath thaarE.  [5]

maalamudhu seyyaamal vandha vellaam
  varuvirundhil vazhangaamal vaittha vellaaNG
kaalamidhu vanRenRu kazhittha vellaaNG
  kadaiyinvaruNG kaRi mudhala kazhuvaa vellaa
noolisaiyaa vazhikaLinaal vandha vellaa
  nugaraadha thudanparakaNY seydha vellaaNY
seelamilaach siRiyOraak kinivu nallOr
  selamalangaL pattanavun^ thinnaar thaamE.  [6]

dhEvarkaLuk kivaiyenRu vaittha vellaaNY
  sivanmudhalaath dhEvarkaLuk kitta vellaa
maavimudha laanavaRRuk kaakaa vellaa
  madhuvidhuven RaRiyavari thaana vellaa
naavilidu vadhaRkarithaa yiruppa vellaa
  nanRenRu thammuLLa misaiyaa vellaa
mOviyan^aa LOvaadha poovuNG kaayu
  mutthamarka Lattuppu mugavaar thaamE.  [7]

kiLincinmudhal suttanasuN Naambu thaanuNG
  kiLarpunali lezhungumizhi nuraika daamum
viLaindhathanin mudhanmaaluk keeyaa vellaam
  viLaindhan^ila maRugaampen Rezhundha vellaaNG
kaLaindhamanath thaarmaRRuNG kazhittha vellaaNG
  kadiyamuthi Nniyamatthaar kazhittha vellaaNG
theLindhapunaR RiruvEnga datthu maaRan
  RiruvaaNai kadavaathaar thinnaar thaamE.  [8]

mEralathu saarangaL vaangiR Rellaa
  muzhuppagalil viLanganiyun^ thaanan^ thaanu
mOriravi leLLudanE koodiR Rellaa
  meLlathani leNNeythayir tharupaN daanga
LOr_thavatthai mandhiratthai yozhippa vellaa
  muNNaatha naatkaLiloo Nandhip pOthoo
NaaraNanaa radipaNiyu nallOr naaLu
  naLLiravi looNumivai yuNNar thaamE.  [9]

kuLimudhalaa Nnavaiseyyaa thuNNu mooNuNG
  koottallaap pndhiyilooN piRarkai yooNu
naLimathithee viLakkaaga vuNNu mooNu
  naLLiravil viLakkinRi yuNNu mooNuNG
kiLimozhiyaa LooNaan^iRkak kaNava NnooNuNG
  keezhOrai nOkkooNu midakkai yooNu
moLimaRaiyOr maRRumuga vaadha vooNu
  moLiyaranga radipaNivaa rugavaar thaamE.  [10]

ecchiRanil vaarkkun^n^ey yirupaa kanga
  LirumpaaluNG kaiyaalu mitta vellaam
pacchaiyalaaR kaditthakuRai pazhaiya voosal
  piRaragatthup paagancey theduttha vanna
nacchinavai pazhitthavaimaN NaaRRan^ theethu
  nagatthaalE viNavaithaaNG kaaNU mooppum
picchuLathaa mavaikaadi pinnai paagam
  pisinkadaniR sivandhathuvum pizhaiyoo NaamE.  [11]


thaathain^allaa siriyanmudhaR Ramaiya Nnecchi
  RaraNisurar sOmatthi lirundhu mecchin
maadhaakadakuk kaNavanitha maana vecchin
  mayirpuzhun^ool vizhundhaalum punidha maNNin
maadhavatthuk kooviLangaay mugavaa satthu
  maadhuLangaay maraNamvariR kazhittha vellaa
mOthivaittha vuNNaan^aa Lukandha vettu
  muLavenRuNG kazhitthavaRRi NnanRaa mooNE.
[12]

maakarumbin saaRuthayir paaney paakku
  vaLaimiLagu thEnElam panin^ee raathi
yaagarasan^ thooythaagu maRiyaa vellaa
  maRiyaathaark kaRiyaLavun^ thooya vaaguNY
saagaranga dooyanavaa moovaakkaL koodiR
  salamellaaNG gangaiyathaa muparaa katthin
maagarangaL piNamudhalaa manaitthuNG koNdu
  varupunalun^ thooyathaagum vEgath thaalE.  [13]

theeyaalE neerozhiya vEndha vellaan^
  theeyidutha lozhindhidavE pazhuttha vellaan^
theeyaalu neeraalum vendha vaRRiR
  RERavular nellumudha laana vellaa
moosaadha maavadaka mappaNY seedai
  yurottimudha laamavaRRiR pazhaiya thEnuNG
koosaathE koNdidumin puthiya thEnuNG
  koLLEnmin RannirathaNG kulaindhak kaalE.  [14]

thalaippayanaam vigaarangaL saaga dangaL
  sakkaranga danakkadaittha marundhu thaanuNG
kalakkamilaa nanneeril vaittha sORum
  kaRimOrn^ey paaRayir_kaL kalandha sORum
vilakkamilaa maakkannaR kOthu matthaal
  viLaivuRavaak kiyan^alvi kaaran^ thaanu
milaikkaRipO livaiyanaitthum pazhaiya vEnu
  men^n^aaLum vaitthuNNa visaigin RaarE.  [15]

thayirthannin vigaarangaL pooviR kaayiR
  pazhatthilvaruNY saaRoosa Rooya vaagu
muyirazhiyaa maikkuNNaa voosa luNNi
  luRakkazhuvi neythEnit tuNNa laagum
payinmaRain^oo luraiyaatha pazhaiya voosal
  pazhippilathaa neyyaalen Ruraitthaan sangan
mayirmudhalaa Nnavaipinnum patta thaayin
  maNNeermaR RuraitthavaRRaal varanga LaamE.  [16]

orukuLambi yirukanRi yotta kappaa
  luppudanpaan mOrudanpaan maadhar thampaal
karuvudaiya vaRRinpaal kanRi laappaan
  maRukanRaaR kaRandhidumpaa Ririndhi dumpaa
RirumaLaar kaNavanalaath dheyvath thinpEr
  sinnamudai yavaRRinpaal semma Rippaal
parivathilan^ thaNarvilaippaal sembi NniRpaa
  Reethaampaa livaiyanaitthum parugaap paalE.  [17]

gangaiyalla thiraNdaan^aaL vaittha neeruNG
  kaalkazhivi migun^eeruNG kalanga Nneerun^
thenginuLa thaayttheeyaaR kaayndha neeruNY
  siRukuzhin^eer vazhitthaNNeerp pandha NneeruNY
sangaiyudai neervaNNaan RuRaiyi Nneerun^
  thaaraiyinaa lEcchilithu venRa neeruNY
sangukala maakkoNdu parugu neerun^
  tharaiyilvizhaa mazhain^eerun^ thaviru neerE.  [18]

veRRilaimun RinnaathE thinnum paakkum
  veRRilaiyi Nnadin^uniyu naduvi leerkum
veRRilaiyum paakkumudan koottith thinnum
  vidhavaikku mudhanmudivaach siramath thaarkkum
veRRilaiyuNY suNNaambi Nnilaiyu maRRum
  viradhangoN didun^aaLveR Rilaiyum paakkum
veRRilaithin Nnaan^iRkap parugu neerum
  vidhaiyenavaith thathuthinalum vilakki NnaarE.  [19]

saathiguNa maacchiraman^ dhEsaNG kaalan^
  tharumanga NimitthangaN mudhalaa vOthum
pOthamudha laagavoru thiravi yandhaan
  parindhun^alan^ theenginaiyum peRRu niRkum
paathamisaip piRanthOrkkuk kabilai yinpaal
  parugidalaa kaathenRu maRaiyOr sonnaa
rathalinaa lOthiyuNarn^ thavarpaa lellaa
  madikkadiyuNG kEttayarvu theermi NneerE.  [20]

kangiruLaal vidiyaadha vulaguk kellaNG
  kaiviLakkaa mivaiyenRu kaNnan kaattum
pongupuga zhaagamanga deLiyach sonna
  poruLivain^aam puNNiyar_paaR kEttuch sonnO
mangudalum poruLumalla thaRiyaa maandhar
  valaiyuLagap pattuvaram pazhiyaa thenRum
pangayamaa thuRRavaru LaaLar thampaaR
  patthimigu pavitthirangaL payinmi NneerE.   [21]

seeraar thooppil thiruvEngadamudaiyaan thiruvadigaLE
saraNam.