“आयु:सत्त्वबलारोग्यसुखप्रीतिविवर्धनाः |
रस्या स्निग्धाः स्थिरा हृद्या आहाराः सात्त्विकप्रियाः || ८ ||”
|| ayuh-sattva-balarogya-sukha-priti-vivardhanah ||
|| rasyah snigdhah sthira hrdya aharah sattvika-priyah ||
– Bhagavad Gita 17.8 –
Translation:
Foods dear to those in the mode of goodness increase the duration of life, purify one’s existence and give
strength, health, happiness & satisfaction.Such foods are juicy, fatty, wholesome & pleasing to the heart.
Food (Aahar) plays a very vital role in life.
The type of food we eat has a direct correlation with mental behavior, outlook, and thought process. As it has been experienced through many generations that sattvik (energetic) food increases life span, overall strength and vitality.
Sattvic foods are the food that promote life force and brings serenity at the soul level while healing all internal cells and affectionately encapsulate them with love and care.
As the Divine Energy tells us through verse 17.8 of Bhagavad Gita, the following should be the qualities for food to be Sattvik (nurturing, lifegiving & positive) –
- Provides Longevity of Life
- Provides Strength
- Provides Vitality
- Provides increasing Happiness and Satisfaction
- Is juicy and smooth and pleasing to the heart
Ayur-Veda
Ayur-Veda is one of the Vedas known to mankind dedicated towards uplifting physical body and overcoming illness. It’s sole purpose is to assist humankind to achieve Bliss. It was revealed thousands of years ago by Sri Dhanvantari.
The human avatar is a divine gift, and the human body a yantra (energy container) to basically provide a chance for the imprisoned soul to escape from the cycle of birth and death. There are many resources that talks about healthful living to achieve a successful spiritual life. In the Bhagavad-gita (6.16-17), God Krishna said-
Proper Eating
Proper eating has a double importance. Besides its role in bodily health-over-eating, eating in a disturbed or anxious state of mind, or eating unclean foods causes indigestion, “the parent of all diseases”- proper eating can help the aspiring transcendentalist attain mastery over his senses.
“Of all the senses, the tongue is the most difficult to control,” says the prasada-sevaya, a song composed by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, one of the spiritual predecessors of Srila Prabhupada, “but Krishna has kindly given us this nice prasada to help us control the tongue.”