onions, garlic and mushrooms
Lisa Chronister
Hare Krsna,
I have been looking for the scriptural injunction against eating or
offering to Krsna onions, garlic and mushrooms and have been unable to
locate it. Does anyone know where this is? Thanks in advance
L Chronister
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Krishna Susarla
> I have been looking for the scriptural injunction against eating or
> offering to Krsna onions, garlic and mushrooms and have been unable to
> locate it. Does anyone know where this is? Thanks in advance
>
> L Chronister
Haribol Lisa,
I don't know that you will find a specific injunction against onions,
garlic, and mushrooms, since these things were unknown to Vedic culture. In
shaastra there are only general guidelines about what can be eaten and what
should be avoided. Please see chapter 17 of the bhagavad-giitaa. Below are
the relevant verses, from Gary Stevason's Harvard-Kyoto rendering:
TEXT 7
TEXT
AhAras tv api sarvasya
tri-vidho bhavati priyaH
yajJas tapas tathA dAnaM
teSAM bhedam imaM zRNu
SYNONYMS
AhAraH-eating; tu-certainly; api-also; sarvasya-of everyone; tri-vidhaH-of
three kinds; bhavati-there is; priyaH-dear; yajJaH-sacrifice;
tapaH-austerity; tathA-also; dAnam-charity; teSAm-of them; bhedam-the
differences; imam-this; zRNu-hear.
TRANSLATION
Even the food each person prefers is of three kinds, according to the three
modes of material nature. The same is true of sacrifices, austerities and
charity. Now hear of the distinctions between them.
PU 17.8
TEXT 8
TEXT
AyuH-sattva-balArogya-
sukha-prIti-vivardhanAH
rasyAH snigdhAH sthirA hRdyA
AhArAH sAttvika-priyAH
SYNONYMS
AyuH-duration of life; sattva-existence; bala-strength; Arogya-health;
sukha-happiness; prIti-and satisfaction; vivardhanAH-increasing;
rasyAH-juicy; snigdhAH-fatty; sthirAH-enduring; hRdyAH-pleasing to the
heart; AhArAH-food; sAttvika-to one in goodness; priyAH-palatable.
TRANSLATION
Foods dear to those in the mode of goodness increase the duration of life,
purify one's existence and give strength, health, happiness and
satisfaction. Such foods are juicy, fatty, wholesome, and pleasing to the
heart.
Bg 17.9
TEXT 9
TEXT
kaTv-amla-lavaNAty-uSNa-
tIkSNa-rUkSa-vidAhinaH
AhArA rAjasasyeSTA
duHkha-zokAmaya-pradAH
SYNONYMS
kaTu-bitter; amla-sour; lavaNa-salty; ati-uSNa-very hot; tIkSNa-pungent;
rUkSa-dry; vidAhinaH-burning; AhArAH-food; rAjasasya-to one in the mode of
passion; iSTAH-palatable; duHkha-distress; zoka-misery; Amaya-disease;
pradAH-causing.
TRANSLATION
Foods that are too bitter, too sour, salty, hot, pungent, dry and burning
are dear to those in the mode of passion. Such foods cause distress, misery
and disease.
Bg 17.10
TEXT 10
TEXT
yAta-yAmaM gata-rasaM
pUti paryuSitaM ca yat
ucchiSTam api cAmedhyaM
bhojanaM tAmasa-priyam
SYNONYMS
yAta-yAmam-food cooked three hours before being eaten;
gata-rasam-tasteless; pUti-bad-smelling; paryuSitam-decomposed; ca-also;
yat-that which; ucchiSTam-remnants of food eaten by others; api-also;
ca-and; amedhyam-untouchable; bhojanam-eating; tAmasa-to one in the mode of
darkness; priyam-dear.
TRANSLATION
Food prepared more than three hours before being eaten, food that is
tasteless, decomposed and putrid, and food consisting of remnants and
untouchable things is dear to those in the mode of darkness.
PU 17.11
Gary Stevason
Onions and garlic and mushrooms - oh my! The following clips from
Prabhupada's books, letters and conversations really fail to give any
shastric support, but may be of interest. My own personal lesson about
onions is reluctantly related at the end.
-------------------------
Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.26.45
TRANSLATION
Odor, although one, becomes many - as mixed, offensive, fragrant, mild,
strong, acidic and so onaccording to the proportions of associated
substances.
PURPORT
Mixed smell is sometimes perceived in foodstuffs prepared from various
ingredients, such as vegetables mixed with different kinds of spices and
asafetida. Bad odors are perceived in filthy places, good smells are
perceived from camphor, menthol and similar other products, pungent
smells are perceived from garlic and onions, and acidic smells are
perceived from turmeric and similar sour substances. The original aroma
is the odor emanating from the earth, and when it is mixed with different
substances, this odor appears in different ways.
---------------------------
1 December, 1968
68-12-01
My Dear Harer Nama,
[...]
So far as explaining my letter to Kris, I have listed the ingredients
which may use for preparing prasadam but these various varieties of
foodstuffs may be prepared either in the given recipes or if you like you
may invent nice new formulas for offering. The important thing is that
your preparations be palatable for Lord Krishna and that the ingredients
be within the groups of ingredients already listed. You have asked me
about sassafras and yes, it may be offered. Mushrooms are generally not
offered, but there is no prohibition, there is no harm in them.
[...]
------------------------------------
Delhi
17 November, 1971
71-11-17
My Dear Himavati,
Because mushrooms grow in a filthy place, they are not usually offered to
Krishna. It is very nice that all the men should participate in
deity-worship, this will sanctify their all other work. I think you are
the most clever manager, better than your husband, because you are
organizing temple routine very nicely for serving the deities and this
will have very good results for everyone.
[...]
-----------------------------
Reporter (6): What about onions...?
Prabhupada: Yes, onions is also very agitating.
---------------- [Copyright BBT International. Used with permission.]
gHari's lesson on onions:
========================
A long long time ago, when I was just first becoming attracted to
Vaishnavism, I passed near the overpowering smell of the onions at the
grocery. "Now why are onions so bad? Maybe just one last time." So I was
seduced by the dark side of the force, and the strong attachment I had
nurtured since a kid forced me to find out first-hand about onions and
Krsna consciousness.
Well, that huge Spanish onion made two large onion sandwiches - after all,
this would likely be my last onion fling in the material world in this life.
I'm sure I quite enjoyed myself, until later. For at least three days, I
could not chant even the slightest - my breath was just too obnoxious, no
matter how much I brushed or used mouthwash. I certainly wasn't an ardent
chanter back then, but still I noticed that it became quite unpleasant to
breath, let alone talk. Likely Krsna didn't want to dance in such a foul
mouth either.
Now, normally one would not ingest anywhere near the quantity I did; but I
guess Lord Krsna was really bent on making His point. Now I avoid them. I
just couldn't go that long without chanting. Indeed, that attachment has
helped get rid of a few big habits that interfered with chanting "Krsna
Krsna". How long can you go without chanting Krsna's name?
gHari
--
THE RADMAN . . . . Gary Stevason ..... http://www.geocities.com/Athens/2108
Cait...@torfree.net
"Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall
deliver you from all sinful reaction. Do not fear." - God, Bhagavad-gita