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RE: vegetarian and srivaishnava

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Ram Anbil • January 10, 2001 


Dear friend:
This very subject has been discussed in great detail in
"Chapter 15 Triguna and the Dietary Regimen" of my book
"Hinduism Rediscovered".

This has been archived at "Srivaishnava.org/sgati".
Click on Issues and then Table of Contents (TOC) of SDDS (Pre Saranagathi) 
volume 2.

You will find them in Issues bearing # 2.11, 2.12, 2.13 dated 3/2/97 and 
2.14 dated 4/2/97.

If you have any questions after reading them, please feel free to contact 
me.
Hope this helps.
Dasoham
Anbil Ramaswamy
======================================================================


>From: "Sriram Ranganathan" 
>To: "srimushnam raghu" 
>CC: "Bhakti" 
>Subject: RE: vegetarian and srivaishnava
>Date: Wed, 10 Jan 2001 01:53:32 -0500
>
>Dear Sri Raghu,
>
>Here is my understanding.
>
>In Bhagavad Gita, Sri Krishna deals with the three gunAs (characteristics)
>of prakriti (mind and matter) - sattva, rajas, and tamas - while answering
>Arjuna's query about the state of those who go against the scriptures. He
>touches on the topic of food as well.
>
>The sattva guna basically reflects a balanced nature and all things good -
>humane, non-injury, altruistic, intelligent, God loving - and promotes
>knowledge and happiness.  rajas reflects a relatively more harsh nature
>involving greed, unrest, longing, hyperactivity and promotes attachment to
>sensual pleasures and sorrow. The tamas reflects evil, inactivity,
>negligence and causes ignorance and delusion.
>
>These three gunAs are present in every person and the prevalence of one 
>over
>the other determines our nature (at any given time). All these gunAs are
>nourished by the food we consume.
>
>Food that is balanced, mild, and healthy promotes the sattvic nature. Food
>that is bitter, too- spicy, and not agreeable promotes rajasic nature. Food
>that is stale, impure and prepared from living / dead creatures promotes 
>the
>tamasic gunA.
>
>What we consume is important, should promote righteousness and has to be
>respected.
>
>aNEna prAna:| prAnayr balam | balEna tapas | tapasA sraddhA | sraddhayA
>mEdhA | mEdhayA manIsA:| manIshayA manO | manasA shAnthi: | shAnthayA
>siddhan | siddhEna smRti | smRityA smAram | smArEna vignyAnam |
>vignyAnEnAthmAnam vEdayathi | tasmA-taNan tatan | sarvAnyE thAni tathAthi 
>||
>[Sri nArayana Upanishad]
>
>Food->Life; Life->Strength; Strength-> Religious Austerity;
>R.Austerity->Intellect; Intellect->Wisdom; Wisdom->Mind; Mind->Peace;
>Peace->Fulfillment; Fulfillment->Success; Success->Recollection;
>Recollection->Knowledge; Knowledge->Self Realization (Atman)
>
>(My translation could be erroneous due to lack of Sanskrit knowledge. I
>request the members to correct).
>
>Food we consume influences our behavior in every way. Modern Science 
>concurs
>with this thought. Aside from not hurting other creatures, being a
>vegetarian is the most natural and sensible way to live. Recent incidences
>underscore this truth, quite convincingly.
>
>There are several more references (direct and indirect) in the vEdic
>scriptures. Other members may be able to explain more.
>
>Regards,
>Sriram
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: srimushnam raghu [mailto:sri_raghu@yahoo.com]
>Sent: Tuesday, January 09, 2001 11:25 AM
>To: bhakti-list@egroups.com
>Subject: Re: vegetarian and srivaishnava
>
>Dear All,
>      Pranaamam
>I have a doubt regarding the eating habits of the
>Hindu's.
>I am a pure vegetarian being a Srivaishnava.
>I am in Germany for quite some time. I have been asked
>by many people why do you not eat meat.
>Though I told them some reasons, I would like to know
>in detail where (which Upanishad or which VEda) has
>this reference and in what context it is mentioned.
>
>Please educate me in this regard.
>Thank you
>regards
>raghu
>
>
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>
>--------------------------------------------------------------
>            - SrImate rAmAnujAya namaH -
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