aagaaraniyamam

Whatfollowshereistheversebyversetranslation.Youcanalsoreadadetailedonthistopichere.
Thanian:
ThevEdhaanthadEsikar,theonewiththegraceofEthiraajaastoodlikealionandtriumphedovermany
debatingadversariesresearchedthevEdhaasandsaasthraas,withtheviewtoguideusinchoosingfoods
thatennobleusandavoidfoodsthatdebaseus,hasgivenusthisprabhandamcalledaagaaraniyamam.Ishall
wearHisflowerlikethiruvadiasanornamentonmyhead.
[1]
AllchEthanaasmustunderstandthattherearetwokindsoffoods,thosethatareennobling(saathveega)and
those
thataredebasing(thaamasa).ThesearedescribedbyKaNNaninsribagavathgeethai,byEthiraajaain
srimadhgeethaabhaashyam,andbymanyrisheesinmanysaasthraasandsmrithees.Byfollowingthese
principles,ajakaranattainedmOksham.Likewise,wemustunderstandandfollowtheserules.
[2]Forbiddenfoods:
Foodsthatarenotbroughtintothehousethroughthemaindoor.
grainssuchasvaragu,etc.
foodsthatminglewithstuffthathavefallenfromthemouth
remainderofwhatwasputintothemouth
foodsseenbyimmoralpeople
foodsthatareburnt
foodstouchedbyclothes,orcontaminatedbysalivaorsneeze.
foodsseenortouchedbydogs
foodscookedondayssuchasEkaadhasi
[3]forbiddenfoodscontinued...
foodssmeltbyanimalsorpeople
foodstouchedbypeoplewithdecease
foodsthatarenotofferedwithkindness
foodscontactedbyfly,worm,thread,hair,andnail
foodsofferedbysanyaasiortouchedbyhisvessel
foodstouchedbythemouthofpeople,rats,chicken,crow,andcat.
[4]
Thispaasruamliststhevegetablesthatareforbidden.Ican'trecognizemanyofthem.OftheonesIamableto
recognize,Idon'tknowtheEnglishnames.Therestarelistedbelow.
whiteeggplant,lotusstem,garlic,certainkindsofspinach,mushroom,certainkindsofdrumstick
[5]Moreforbiddenfoods:
Vegetablestakenfromother'sgardenwithoutpermission,portionthatissetasideforoneselfpriorto
thepartakingoftherestofthegroup,foodsthatareexceedinglybitter,salty,pepperhot,orsour.
[6]Moreforbiddenfoods:
FoodsthatwerenotofferedtoourLord,foodsthatwerenotofferedtotheguests,foodsthatwerecooked
without
firstcleaningthem,foodsearnedinimmoralways,cookedwithotherfoodsthatareforbidden,cookedby
uncleanchildren,andfoodsthatarecontaminatedbyexcrements.

[7]forbiddenfoodscontinued...
foodsintendedfordEvathaas
foodsofferedtodEvathaassuchasSivan
foodsthatharmourpraaNanandindhriyam
foodsthatareunrecognizable
foodsthatareintolerablyhot
foodsthatarenotpalatabletothemind
vegetablesandflowersthatbloominanuntimelyfashiondirtysalt.
[8]forbiddenfoodscontinued...
Calcium(suNNaambu)extractedfromseashells
bubblesandfrothfromwater
foodsthatarenotofferedtoourLord
harvestedfromthestemsthatwerepreviouslyharvested
foodsavoidedbylearnedpersonswithpureheart
[9]forbiddenfoodscontinued...
Foodsfromwhichtheessenceistakenout,exceptbuttermilk
viLaamfruitandpoppedriceduringtheday
foodspreparedwithcurdandsesameseedoil,duringnighttime
foodsthataresaidtogivemagicalpowers
nofoodsonEkaadasidays,andatduskormidnight.
[10]Donoteat,
beforeyourshowerandsandhyajapam
alone,eatwithagroupofbhakthaas
foodsthataremashedbysomeoneelse
underthemoonlightorfire
husbandandwifetogether
whilestaringatinferiorindividuals
withyourlefthand
anythingthatisavoidedbyreligiouspeople.
[11]Donoteat,
gheethatisservedafteryouhavebeguneating
foodsthathavebeencookedtwice(reheated?)
foodsservedbybarehandorspatulasmadeofiron,uncookedfoodsmaybeservedbybarehand
foodsalreadybitteninto,
old,andspoiltfoods
foodspreparedinsomeoneelse'shouse(nopotluck)
foodsthatsomeoneelsewantedorrejected
foodswithsmellofearth,orseparatedbyfingernails,saltthatyoucansee
separatedforoneselfandguests
sapcomingoutoftrees,exceptasafoetida.
Foodsthatmaybeacceptedarelistednow.
[12]Acceptwithouthesitation,
foodswiththesalivaofone'sfather,teacher,andfirstolderbrother
SalivainthesOmaavesselduringsOmayaagam
foodswithhusband'ssalivaforwife,ifsuchfoodiscontaminatedwithhair,worm,orthread,these
mayberemovedproperlyandthefoodaccepted
maadhuLangaay,onlyduringourLord'smugavaaSasoorNam
allprohibitedfoodsduringcalamitoustimes

water,roots,ghee,milk,havisfromyaagam,nimandhraNam,guru'steachings,andmedicine
maybeacceptedevenduringfastingdays.
[13]Acceptwithouthesitation,
sugarcanejuice,yogurt,milk,ghee,beetlenut,pepper,honey,cardamon,watermadefromsnow
anythinguntilyourealizeitsblemish
Dipintheoceanispermittedonfullmoondayandnewmoonday.Duringtimesoflunarandsolareclipseall
waterswillbeconsideredequaltogangaawaterwaterinrivers,evenifitcarrieshorses,donkeysandcadaver,
willbecomepurifiedwithcurrent.
[14]Acceptwithouthesitation,
foodscookedwithoutwater
fruitsripenedontheirownaccord
boiledrice
vadaam,snackssuchasappam,seedai,rotti,eveniftheyareold,buttastydonotacceptfoodsthat
arefresh,butnottasty
[15]Acceptwithouthesitation,
Foodspreparedwithmilk,likethirattuppaal
snackslikethEnkuzhal,muRukku,etc.,
medicinesprescribedbyphysicians,flower,vellam,wheat
oldricethatissoakedincleanwatermaybetakenwithbuttermilk,ghee,milk,yogurt
[16]Acceptwithouthesitation,
snacksmadeofyogurtandjuiceofflower,vegetables,andfruitstheseareOKevenifthey
areslightlyspoilt.
foodsthatarespoiltmaybetakenduringcalamitoustimesbycleansingthemandadding
gheeandhoney.Ifthesefoodsarefurthercontaminatedwithhairorotheruncleanstuff,
cleansethemwithsandandwater.
[17]Forbiddenmilk
milkfromonehoofedanimalslikehorseordonkey
cowthathastwincalf,orcamelmilk
saltaddedmilk
milkfromwomen
milkfrompregnantcow
milkextractedwiththehelpofcalfthatdoesnotbelongtothecow
cowsthatbelongtotemples(?)
goatmilk,milkboughtfrombrahmins
milkkeptincoppervessels,burntmilk
[18]Forbiddenwater
Waterfrompreviousday,exceptgangaawater
remainderofwaterusedforcleaningfeet
murkywater
heatedcoconutwater
watergatheredinaditch
waterofferedin"watersheds"
doubtfulwater,watertakenfromwhere
washermenwork
watercontaminatedbysaliva
waterfromconch
rainwaterthathasnotfallenontheground

[19]aboutbeetleleaves
don'tchewbeetlenutwithoutbeetleleaves
don'tconsumethebottom,stem,ortipofbeetleleaves
don'tchewbeetleleavesandnutsatthesametime
widows,sanyaasi,andbachelorsmustnotconsumebeetleleaves
don'tconsumethebeetleleafusedtokeepcalcium
neverusebeetleleavesonfastingdayssuchasEkaadasi
don'tdrinkwaterwhilechewingbeetleleaves
[20]
Aparticularfooditemmaybeacceptableorforbiddenbasedonthecaste,stageinlife,geography,timeof
eclipse,individualdharmam,etc.,etc.Forexample,itissaidthatmilkfromkapilaicowisacceptablefor
brahmins,butforbiddenforshudraas.Therefore,onemustapproachlearnedpeopleandgetyourdoubts
clarified.
[21]
Forthebenefitofpeoplewholiveinthisworldcharacterizedbylackofwisdom,LordkaNNanshowed
manyprinciplesinsaasthraas.Afterconsultingwithaachaaryaastheseprincipleshavebeenlaidoutinthis
prabhandam.Guardyourselfagainsttheagnosticswhobelieveonlyinthistransientbodyandworld.Consume
onlythosesaathvegafoodsthathelpsusamplifyourdevotiontothethiruvadiofpEraruLaaLan.
SimplefreetranslationbySrI.P.Dileepan.

WHATOURSASTRASPERMIT/PROHIBITINTHEMATTEROFFOOD
VEDANTADESIKA'sADVICE
WrittenBySrI.AnbilRamaswamy,USA
RightfromVedicliteraturedowntotheItihasasandPuranas,wefindscatteredreferencestovegetablesand
otherediblesthatcanbeconsumedandthosethatarebetteravoidedinordertoensureaugmentationofSatva
andpreclusionofRajoandTamo.
Itwashowever,lefttoSwamiSriVEDANTADESIKAwhodiddeepresearchinthisfield(asalsoinallother
fieldshetouched)toincorporateinhisworkentitled"AharaNiyamam',acatalogforreadyreferenceonwhat
canbeconsumed,whatshouldnotbeingestedandwhatcanbetakenwithcertainrestrictionsandevenwhatgo
withoutanyrestrictionsalso!.Weattemptbelowtohaveaglimpseofthevariousitemsasgleanedfrom'Ahara
Niyamam'andSrimadRamayanaminparticular.Itshouldbeunderstoodthattheprohibitionismeantonlyto
enableustoregulateconsumptioninaconscious,cautiousway.
LordKrishnaclearlyprohibitsfoodthataretoosour,hot,salty,toomuchbileproducingetc.(BG17/9)
Andagain,headvisesthattheywhoconsumefoodthataretimeexpired,thosethathavelosttaste,thosethat
emanatestaleodor,alteredtaste,mixedwithspittleandthosenotfittobeofferedtotheLordshouldnotbe
eaten.SriRAMANUJACHARYA'sSRIBASHYAM`SarvannaAnumatyatiKaranam'Sutras446to448declare
thatintimesofdangertolifeonecanconsumeanyfoodandsuchintakewillnotgoagainstPramanasand
Smritis.
BUT,SUTRA449,HOWEVER,CLEARLYANDCATEGORICALLYFORBIDSCONSUMPTIONOF
LIQUOREVENINTHEFACEOFDANGERTOLIFE.7
ThecaseofoneSageUSHASTIisalludedto.Duetofamineheandhiswifeweremigratingtoafaroffplace.
Ontheway,theSagewassoexhaustedduetostarvationthathealmostswoonedandapprehendedhisendwas
nearathand.Amahoutwhopassedbyonanelephantofferedhimsomehorsegramwhichthesagereadily
accepted(thoughordinarilyprohibited).Butwhenthemahoutofferedwatertodrink,thesagedeclinedsaying

thathetookthehorsegramonlyforsavinghimselffromstarvationdeathandtakingwaterthereafterwasnot
propersinceatthatpointoftime,thedangertolifehaddisappeared.
A.Itemsprohibitedonhygienicandprophylacticgrounds(likeournotusingtoothbrushesusedby
others)
1.Spittleandfoodcontaminatedwithspittle
2.Foodcontaminatedbyflies,worms,hair,fingernailsetc.
3.Foodcontaminatedbyexcreta
4.Foodcontaminatedbycloth,thread,sneezeetc.
5.Foodthathasbeen`smelt'byanybody
6.Food`thathasbeentasted'byhumans,rodent,crow,hen,cat,dogetc.
7.Foodthathasbeenpartially`bitten'byothers
8.Morseloffoodpartiallyremainingaftereatingaportionofit.
9.Vegetablescookedwithoutfirstbeingwashed
10.Fruits,vegetablesetc.cutwithfingernails
11.Foodpreparedbypersonswhoarenotclean
12.Foodcookedinotherpeople'shomes(Parannam)
13.Foodthathasbeenfoundfaultwith
14.Foodsthathavebeenprohibitedspecifically
15.Foodcookedalongwithprohibiteditems
16.Foodsknowntobeharmfultovitalairandthefunctioningofsenseorgans
B.ITEMSPROHIBITEDON`SOCIAL'GROUNDS
(LIKETHE`TABLEMANNERS'WEFOLLOWTHESEDAYSDURINGFORMALGATHERINGS.)AS
DRESSREGULATIONSAREIMPOSEDONUSDURINGFORMALDINNERS,CERTAINNORMSAND
DISCIPLINESAREPRESCRIBEDBYOURTRADITIONS.SOMEOFTHERESTRICTIONSARE:
1.Oneshouldnottakeforselffoodintendedforall
2.Foodmeantforothers(especiallyasickperson)
3.Foodkeptapportionedforselfandguests
4.Foodremainingafterfeedingawomaninmenstruation*
5.Foodpreparedspecificallyforawomanwhohasjustdelivered*
6.Foodthathasnotbeenofferedto`Bhagavan'inthefirstplace(duringAradhana)*
7.Foodbeforeofferingtoguests(AtitiSatkara)
8.Foodofferedtolesserdeities(Devatantara)
9.FoodsetapartforofferingtosuchdeitiesasperSastricinjunctions
10.Products(grains,pulsesetc.)notofferedtoGodaftertheharvest
11.FoodofferedbySanyasisdirectly
12.FoodtakenoutfromthevesselofSannyasis
13.Foodofferedwithoutloveandaffection
14.Vegetables,fruitsetc.cultivatedindirtyplaces*
15.Thosethatareknowntoaffectconcentrationandmeditation
16.ThosethathavebeenspecificallyadvisedagainstbyAcharyasandsuchothers
17.Mixedfooddistributedbyhand
18.Gheeshouldnotbeservedafteronecommenceseating
19.Foodscookedmorethanonce(PunarPakam)
20.Cookedfoodservedwithironladlesorbarehands
21.Saltserveddirectlybyhand
22.Foodshouldnotbeeatenusinglefthand
23.Foodshouldnotbeeatenholdingtheplatebyhand
24.Foodshouldnotbeplacedonaseat
25.Foodshouldnotbeeatenkeepingthemonthelap(22to25arepreciselywhatwedoduringbuffet)
26.Shouldnoteatediblessittingonthebed

27.Foodshouldnotbeeatenwithoutalampburning
28.Moonlight/Firearenosubstitutesforaburninglamp
29.Limeusedformakingchunnamoutofseashells
30.Bubblesandfoamarisingfromliquids(aswhiledrinkingcoke,pepsi,coffeeetc)
31.Nofoodcanbetakenwithouttakingbathandwashinghands,andcompletingablutions(Parishechanam)
32.ShouldnotleavewithoutcompletingthefinalParishechanam
33.Shouldnoteatoutofabrokenplateorothervesselsthatarenotclean
Note:Itemsmarked*arereferredtoinSrimadRamayana(Balakanda)also.
C.SWAMISRIDESIKANHASDRAWNUPANELABORATELISTOFVEGETABLES/PRODUCTS
THATSHOULDNOTBEEATEN.WEGIVEBELOWTHETAMILANDPOPULARAND/OR
BOTANICALNAMESOFTHESEFORGENERALGUIDANCE"
But,pleasedonotbeputoffbythislist.Hehasgivenanotherlistofexceptionsandrelaxationsunderwhich
evensomeoftheprohibiteditemscouldbeconsumedasalsoyetanotherlistofitemsthatcanbeconsumed
freelywithoutrestrictions.(VideSections(D)and(E).
TAMILNAMEPOPULARAND/ORBOTANICALNAME
1.AthiVarietiesFicusRacemosa
2.PerarkuBauhiniaRacemosa
3.IraliFicusVirens
4.VellaiKathariWhiteeggplant|whitebrinjals
5.AalBanyan
6.ArasuPeepalFicusReligiosa
7.AyilChittagongwoodChickrasiaTabularis
8.AaraiMasculiaQuadrifolia
9.NaruviliCordiaObliqua/Monoria
10.PunguDalbergia
11.ThigaipoonduAplantthatcausesconfusioninmind
12.KurinjiAshrubMaruthonriTerminawa
13.TanriBellenica
14.KusumbaiCarthamusTinctorium
15.VelaiCleonePentaphytta
16.Sivappu/NattuMurungaiDrumstickHyperantheraMuringa
17.SukamSukampal
18.TamaraiKizhanguLotusbulbNelumboNucifera
19.UlliGarlic
20.SiriyaAvaraiBeans
21.ThummattiCallousLeavedBryonia
22.TherarKaiClearingnutStrychnooPatatatura
23.PanaiPalmyrapalm
24.NayuruviAchyranthusAspera
25.KadambuEugenicaRacemosa
26.NaikkudaiMushroom
27.SuraikkaiAvarietyofgourd
28.PeerkkuRidgegourd
29.SanarKeeraiHemp
30.SiruKeeraiAmaranthusGangeticus
31.SivandaAgathiCormillaGrandiFlora
32.PurasuBaliaFrundosa
33.PasalaPortulacaObracora
34.VilvakkaiCrataevaReligiosa
35.MadulankaiUnripePomogranate
36.VaraguPaspalumFrumentaceum
37.MullangiRadishRaphenusSativus
38.VengayamOnionAlliumCepa
39.PunnakkuOilcake
40.Pannaikeerai!celosias.p.!Exactequivalentsnot
traceable|Yeast.Driedbrew|
41.Noyyirkeerai
42.Seenkadan

43.Oovaikkai
44.Rammananthal
45.Khadi

D.THEFOLLOWINGCANBETAKENASEXCEPTIONSTOGENERALPROHIBITIONS:
1.Theremnantsoffoodpartakenbyfather,preceptorandeldestbrother.
2.TheremnantsofsomajuicetastedthroughthesomavesselduringSomayaga.
3.Theremnantsoffoodeatenbywife/husbandevenifhair,worm,threadetcarefoundinsuchremnants,
theycanbethrownawayandtheremnantseaten.
4.Intimesofdangertolife,evenprohibiteditemscanbeconsumed.
5.Duringfastingdaysonecantakewater,roots,ghee,milk,sacrificialremnants,medicinesthesewillnot
spoilthefast.
6.Ifitbecomesnecessarytoeattotallyprohibiteditemsinordertosavelife,abitofgheeorhoneycouldbe
mixedwiththemandtaken.
7.Eventhosefoodsthathadbecomerottencanbetakenaftermixingwithghee.Evenotherimpuritieslike
hairifnoticedthereincanberemovedandthrownaway.
8.Ofitemsthathaveturnedsour,thefollowingcanbetakencurds,butter,fruitsthatbecamesourdueto
contactwithwater,roots,flowersandpicklesmadeoutofthese(videManuSmritiandSrimad
Ramayana).
E.THOSETHATCANBETAKENFREELYWITHOUTANYRESTRICTIONS:
1.Sugarcanejuice
2.Curds
3.Milk(/butsubjecttorestrictionslistedatH)
4.Ghee
5.Sangam
6.Pepper
7.Honey
8.Cardamom
9.Ice
10.Betelnut(subjecttorestrictionslistedatJ)
11.Anythingfriedinfire
12.Fruitsthathaveripenedontheirown
13.Boiledrice
14.Vadam
15.Appam|eveniftheyareoldprovidedtheyhavenotlosttheirtaste
16.Seedai|
17.Chappathi|
18.Milkproducts
19.Thenkuzhal
20.Murukku
21.Medicinesprescribedbydoctors
22.Jaggeryandflourcombinedediblesevenifold
23.Wheatflourcombinededibles
24.Sidedishes,buttermilk,ghee,milk,curdsmixedwithcookedrice
25.Cookedriceputinavesselwithcleanwater
26.Ediblespreparedwithcurds,milketc.
27.Juiceofflowers,rawvegetables,fruits,TenderCoconutWater.
F.ITEMSTOBEAVOIDEDWITHREFERENCETOTASTE:
1.Foodoverheatedsomuchastomakeitinedible
2.Toomuchbitter

3.Toomuchsalty
4.Toomuchhot(likechillies)
5.Toomuchsour
6.Thosethataretoohot(temperature)
7.Thosethatarerepulsive
8.Allliquidsfromwhichthecreamhasbeentheessenceandhasbeenremoved(exceptbuttermilk)
9.Oldfoodthathadbecomerotten
10.Foodthatsmellslikemud
G.ITEMSTOBEAVOIDEDWITHREFERENCETOTIMEOFCONSUMPTION
1.FoodcookedonEkadasiandotherdaysoffastingshouldnotbeconsumed
2.Woodappleandpuffedriceshouldnotbetakenduringdaytime
3.Foodmixedwithsesameshouldnotbetakenatnight(alsoreferredinSrimadRamayana)
4.Foodpreparedingingellyoilatnight
5.Foodpreparedwithcurdsatnight
6.Nofoodcanbetakenatsunrise,sunsetandmidnight(alsoreferredtoinSrimadRamayana
7.Husbandandwifeshouldnoteattogetheratthesametime
H.CONDITIONSREGARDINGINTAKEOFMILK.
1.Milkofanimalslikemare,donkeyetc.whichhavesinglehoof(VidealsoSrimadRamayana)
2.Milkofcowthathasgivenbirthtotwincalves
3.Camel'smilk
4.Milkwithwhichsalthasgotmixedup
5.Breastmilkofwomen(thisisalsoreferredtoinSrimadRamayana)
6.Cowthatispregnantandcowjustreadyforsexualintercourse(referredinSrimadRamayana)
7.Themilkofacowwhosecalfhadjustdied
8.Milkdrawnfromacowbyshowingtoitacalfofanothercow
9.Milkthathadbecomesourorbad(alsoinSrimadRamaynana)
10.MilkofcowsbearingnamesofdeitiesotherthanthoseofSrimanNarayana
11.Milkofewe(VidealsoSrimadRamayana)
12.MilkpurchasedfromaBrahmin
13.Milkkeptinbronzevessel
14.Milkoverheatedtothepointofgettingcharred
15.Milkandcurdtakenofmilkofcowthathasjustdeliveredforatleast10daysafterdelivery
16.Milkofotheranimalsofthebovinefamilyexceptthebuffalo
I.RESTRICTIONSREGARDINGUSEOFWATER
1.ExceptGangeswater,nostoredupwaterstandingoveradayshouldbeused.
2.Waterremaininginavesselafterusingpartofitforwashingfeet
3.Muddywater
4.Tendercoconutwater,ifheated
5.Waterstagnantinasmallpool
6.Waterrunningacrossaroad
7.Watergiveninhotelsandwatersheds(Tanneerpandals)
8.Anywaterpurityofwhichisindoubt
9.Waterdownfromwasherman'sghats
10.Watercontaminatedwithspittle
11.Waterheldinaconch
12.Rainwaterbeforeitfallstotheground
13.Oneshouldnotdrinkwaterbycuppingboththepalms(VideSrimadRamayana)
J.BETELITEMSTOBEAVOIDED

1.Oneshouldnotmunchbetelnutbeforeputtingbetelleavesinthemouth
2.Thestem,themiddlelineandthetipoftheleavesshouldberemovedbeforetakingbetelthambool
3.Oneshouldnotmunchbothbetelleavesandbetelnuttogether
4.Widows,BrahmacharisandSannyasisshouldnotusebetelleaves
5.Oneshouldnottakebetelleafonwhichlimehadbeenkept
6.DuringEkadasiandotherdaysoffastingbetelchewingshouldbescrupulouslyavoided
7.Whilechewingbeteloneshouldnotdrinkwateratthesametime.
SECTION5:CONCLUSION
Asalreadymentionedtheseprohibitionsandrestrictionsareonlyforgeneralguidance.Ifyoudesiretoregulate/
eliminatetheGunasyoumaychoosetofollowtheinstructionsandifyoudonotfollowonlyYOUaretheloser
tothatextent.Thedoctorcanonlyhelpindiagnosingthediseaseandprescribingappropriatemedicines.Ifthe
patientdesiresanexpeditiousandeffectivecure,thepatientwillhavetoscrupulouslyfollowtheinstructions,
thepatientisfreeeithertofolloworflouttheinstructionswithattendantconsequences.
AND,NOWITISINYOURHANDSTOCHOOSEEITHERCOURSEONTHEROADTOYOUR
SPRITUALREGENERATIONORDEGENERATION.

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