Spiritual QuestBy Sri S.Ganesh Sarma Courtesy The Hindu
The Upanishads deal with the knowledge (Jnana) of the Absolute (Atman, Brahman), and in the process of leading the spiritual seeker on this quest, also throw light on various subjects which are important to worldly life. One such theme dealt with in them is food (Annam). The Vedas discuss food extensively and spiritual tradition emphasises that the type of food one eats has a bearing on spiritual growth. But, one may wonder what the connection is between food and Jnana.
There was an in-depth analysis of food in the Taittiriya Upanishad, which belonged to the Krishna Yajur Veda. The Taittiriya Upanishad comprises three sections — the Sikshavalli, Anandavalli and the Bhriguvalli. The Sikshavalli teaches the art of living at the micro, fundamental level. Human life can be lived in two ways: with full control and knowledge of how life is to be lived or living as one likes without any direction. The scriptural texts emphasise that one should choose how to live instead of allowing it to drift on its own course. Using discrimination one must analyse what is right and wrong, and follow what is ultimately good for one’s spiritual evolution. The Siskhavalli discusses what is good for man to show how to live rightly. The analysis in the Anandavalli is to show that only Self-knowledge results in eternal bliss.
The Bhriguvalli section discusses food as a tool in the enquiry into Self-knowledge through the instruction given by Varuna to his son Bhrigu. Bhrigu once approached his father with the request to teach him about Brahman (the Absolute). Varuna told him, “Food, vital force, eye, ear, speech — (these are the aids to knowledge of Brahman).” He further told him to know that as Brahman “from which all these beings take birth, that by which they live after being born, that towards which they move and into which they merge.” Bhrigu did penance and intuited that it was from food indeed that all beings were born, sustained and merged into finally. He also understood that food by itself cannot give rise to life, and so he progressed in his enquiry to subtler aspects (from food to vital force, mind, intelligence and to bliss) till he realised Brahman.
The Upanishads deal with the knowledge (Jnana) of the Absolute (Atman, Brahman), and in the process of leading the spiritual seeker on this quest, also throw light on various subjects which are important to worldly life. One such theme dealt with in them is food (Annam). The Vedas discuss food extensively and spiritual tradition emphasises that the type of food one eats has a bearing on spiritual growth. But, one may wonder what the connection is between food and Jnana.
There was an in-depth analysis of food in the Taittiriya Upanishad, which belonged to the Krishna Yajur Veda. The Taittiriya Upanishad comprises three sections — the Sikshavalli, Anandavalli and the Bhriguvalli. The Sikshavalli teaches the art of living at the micro, fundamental level. Human life can be lived in two ways: with full control and knowledge of how life is to be lived or living as one likes without any direction. The scriptural texts emphasise that one should choose how to live instead of allowing it to drift on its own course. Using discrimination one must analyse what is right and wrong, and follow what is ultimately good for one’s spiritual evolution. The Siskhavalli discusses what is good for man to show how to live rightly. The analysis in the Anandavalli is to show that only Self-knowledge results in eternal bliss.
The Bhriguvalli section discusses food as a tool in the enquiry into Self-knowledge through the instruction given by Varuna to his son Bhrigu. Bhrigu once approached his father with the request to teach him about Brahman (the Absolute). Varuna told him, “Food, vital force, eye, ear, speech — (these are the aids to knowledge of Brahman).” He further told him to know that as Brahman “from which all these beings take birth, that by which they live after being born, that towards which they move and into which they merge.” Bhrigu did penance and intuited that it was from food indeed that all beings were born, sustained and merged into finally. He also understood that food by itself cannot give rise to life, and so he progressed in his enquiry to subtler aspects (from food to vital force, mind, intelligence and to bliss) till he realised Brahman.
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