Food and a Prosperous Life - 5 Lessons from Taittiriya Upanishad
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A long Thread
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A long Thread
Taittiriya Upanishad places great significance on food as the outermost sheath of existence and it explains the process of understanding life through the role of food.
It says: अन्नं ब्रह्मेति व्यजानात्| (Taittiriya, III. 2)
Which means "food itself is Brahman".
It says: अन्नं ब्रह्मेति व्यजानात्| (Taittiriya, III. 2)
Which means "food itself is Brahman".
The Taittiriya Upanishad mentions several ethics, values and "best practices" to help attain brahman through the portal of food.
Here are 5 of them.
Here are 5 of them.
अन्नं न निन्द्यात् । तद्व्रतम् । (III.7)
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"One should not deprecate food."
A portal to Brahman, food ought to be accorded due respect. And this must remain a lifelong vow.
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"One should not deprecate food."
A portal to Brahman, food ought to be accorded due respect. And this must remain a lifelong vow.
अन्नं न परिचक्षीत । तद्व्रतम् । (III.8)
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"One must never discard or throw away food. And that must remain the vow."
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"One must never discard or throw away food. And that must remain the vow."
अन्नं बहु कुर्वीत । तद्व्रतम् । (III.9)
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One should vow to always make plentiful food.
The reference to plentifulness is tied to the nature of interrelated food-chain and to the duty of being a gracious host.
It says that one who does so, achieves great affluence.
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One should vow to always make plentiful food.
The reference to plentifulness is tied to the nature of interrelated food-chain and to the duty of being a gracious host.
It says that one who does so, achieves great affluence.
न कञ्चन वसतौ प्रत्याचक्षीत । तद्व्रतम् ।
तस्माद्यया कया च विधया बह्वन्नं प्राप्नुयात् । (III.10)
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One should never refuse shelter to someone in need, and should provide food to such a guest.
This ties into the more famous teaching of the Taittiriya Upanishad "अतिथि देवो भव:"
तस्माद्यया कया च विधया बह्वन्नं प्राप्नुयात् । (III.10)
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One should never refuse shelter to someone in need, and should provide food to such a guest.
This ties into the more famous teaching of the Taittiriya Upanishad "अतिथि देवो भव:"
अन्नवानन्नादो भवति । महान्भवति प्रजया
पशुभिर्ब्रह्मवर्चसेन । महान् कीर्त्या ॥
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"He who knows thus (the value of food) becomes firmly established, possessor and eater of food; he becomes great in progeny, cattle and the lustre of holiness, and great in glory"
पशुभिर्ब्रह्मवर्चसेन । महान् कीर्त्या ॥
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"He who knows thus (the value of food) becomes firmly established, possessor and eater of food; he becomes great in progeny, cattle and the lustre of holiness, and great in glory"
The essence here is conscientiousness, a choice borne out of compassion and the cognizance of responsibility. What pertains to food applies to overall existence as well.
These food-related teachings of the Taittiriya Upanishad are indeed timeless, but they are evermore pertinent on the eve of the festival of joy #Diwali
As the festivities begin, let us celebrate together and let us celebrate consciously. तद्व्रतम् ।
As the festivities begin, let us celebrate together and let us celebrate consciously. तद्व्रतम् ।
Visit the following link to watch our YouTube talk on Taittiriya Upanishad for a greater insight into one of the most intricate and rich upanishads.
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