Why ghee made from cow's milk is the most sāttvik vegetarian diet?

1. Importance of a sāttvik diet

Some of the examples of sāttvik food are milk, ghee, rice, various kinds of fruits, vegetables etc. The ghee made from cow milk added to the food served, purifies it and imparts greasiness to the body.

Importance of sāttvik food is:

• Consumption of sāttvik food provides momentum to the functions of the five vital energies. The energy created as a result of consumption of sāttvik food is similar to the energy created by a sacrificial fire. Due to the sāttvik waves transmitted by the consumption of sāttvik food, the function of the five vital energies located near the navel gains momentum, and the energies spread in the entire body. For this reason sāttvik food is considered ‘Absolute Brahman’ or ‘Purṇabrahma’ and that which possesses the capacity to purify the five vital energies.

• Consumption of sāttvik food facilitates the absorption of Deities’ Principles. It purifies a person’s gross and subtle bodies and enables the body to absorb the waves of Deities’ Principles. It is beneficial to consume sāttvik food on festivals and special dates (tithis) as per the lunar calendar. Hence some non-vegetarians too refrain from consuming non-vegetarian food on the special tithis of their worshipped Deity or festivals.

Some sources of sāttvik food:

• 1. Food cooked by a sāttvik housewife: The triguṇas (three components) of the person who cooks food, influences the one consuming it. The touch of a sāttvik woman’s hands facilitates the spread of sāttvik vibrations in the food, thus making it sāttvik. Such sāttvik food which is devoid of Raja-Tama is tastier. Obstacles created by negative energies in the digestion process are also removed.

• 2. Consecrated food (Naivēdya) offered to God: In the food items prepared as a part of consecrated food, pure ghee is used instead of oil. The components such as chilli, spices etc. are Raja-Tama-dominant. Hence, use of such items is mostly avoided while preparing consecrated food or they are used in small quantity. When such food is offered to God, it becomes charged with the waves of Deities’ Principles, thus becoming more sāttvik. By consuming such food as Holy sacrament (Prasād), we benefit from the waves of Deities’ Principles. So as to benefit everyone, the Holy sacrament is distributed to all.

• 3. Food prepared in Saints’ āshrams: As compared to other places, the proportion of sāttviktā and Divine consciousness (Chaitanya) is greater in the āshrams of Saints. Here the seekers and disciples prepare food with an attitude of service. Hence this food becomes sāttvik. Food is Absolute Brahman (purṇabrahma); if one consumes it with spiritual emotion (bhāv), one derives Chaitanya.

• 4. Food given by Saints: When devotees visit Saints’ āshrams or when a Saint arrives at their home, they offer various kinds of food, fruits etc. to the Saints. These food items become sāttvik and charged with the waves of Chaitanya. These food items are distributed in the form of Holy sacrament (Prasād).

While narrating the limitations of science in understanding the benefits available from consumption of sāttvik food, H.H. Gurudev Dr. Kateswami of Maharashtra says: Science has not given due thought to sāttviktā of food! Explaining this point, Swamiji says, ‘Science says that food is necessary for the development of the body; but it cannot go beyond this. Science does not give due thought at all to the effects of subtle aspects of food. If the food is vegetarian and sāttvik, the mind and intellect become sāttvik. Only sāttvik food can enable us to perform Yogasādhanā and attain God. Only through spiritual science one can know about the sāttviktā of food.

Hence as a part of sāttvik diet, vegetarian diet is of great importance.

Meaning of the word ‘Shākāhār’, that is, vegetarian diet: ‘Shāka’ + Āhār = Shākāhār. The meaning of the word ‘Shāka’ is ‘pure’. ‘Shākāh’ means plant. Shakambari is also the name of a Female Deity, that is, Dēvi. This form denotes that the Dēvi is present in vegetables. Substances such as milk, fruits, roots, bulbs and tubers are included in vegetarian diet.

2. Types of food according to the method of consumption

• ‘Bhakshyānna’ or hard food which is to be eaten by grinding between the teeth, such as fruit, groundnut, laddu etc.

• ‘Bhojyānna’ or soft food which is to be eaten by chewing such as chapāti, puri etc.

• ‘Choshyānna’ or food which is to be sucked such as mango, sugarcane etc.

• ‘Lehyānna’ or that which can be eaten by licking like rāyatā, jam, chutney etc.

3. Why is vegetarian diet considered to be devoid of reproductive seed?

When compared to the animal species, Tama-dominance in the plant species is less. Vegetarian diet is one which is devoid of the capacity to give birth to new beings through sexual contact. These do not have desires or emotions. However, new beings sprout from them hence, such components are known as ‘those devoid of reproductive seed’. From the perspective of Āyurvēda and Spirituality, vegetarian diet has utmost importance.

4. Importance of vegetarian diet

From ancient times the Sages and Ascetics of Sanatan Hindu Dharma have mentioned the importance of vegetarian diet.

• Vegetarian diet is a sāttvik diet.

• Man can easily chew vegetarian food with his teeth.

• Proteins are found in necessary proportion in vegetarian diet.

• Vegetarian people are healthy, blessed with a long life and active.

Men who acquired prominence in various fields in western countries, such as George Bernard Shaw, Plato, Socrates, Aristotle, Tolstoy etc. were vegetarians. Modern science has established the undisputed supremacy of vegetarian diet.

5. Why does vegetarianism signify abiding by Dharma?

When creating the Universe, God has laid down rules about specific diets for specific beings. As per Nature’s rule, the cow is purely vegetarian. The dental pattern of man is similar to that of the cow. Hence, consuming vegetarian food is abiding by Divine rules. Abiding by Dharma means following appropriate Code of Conduct of diet, enhancing Divine qualities and becoming capable of attaining Bliss. As a result of vegetarian diet the Sattva guṇa in man is enhanced. Vegetarian diet accomplishes the task of making man Divine, that is, man begins to progress on the spiritual path.

6. Some components of a vegetarian diet

A. Plants: Plants are animate. Today, even science agrees that plants have emotions. Despite this, plants are included in vegetarian diet. There are two main reasons for this.

• The emotions of plants are not associated with the Tama-dominant actions denoting desire. Wood contains fire in latent form hence, plants are considered Holy.

• Creation of a being (jiva) through the sprouting from a plant is not akin to that of animals, which are born through Tama-dominant sexual contact.

Waves from the earth, in the form of the Absolute Fire and Absolute Earth are present in plants. Due to this jivās that sprout from plants also possess these earth-waves. Plants do not possess waves associated with Tama-dominant sexual desire and its related function.

B. Milk: From a scientific perspective milk, water, air etc. contain microorganisms. As such, how can these components be called vegetarian? However, from the perspective of Spirituality, these components are predominant in Sattva-Raja-guṇa. Upon coming in contact with these components, the Raja-Tama-predominant Jivās become inactive.

Components such as milk, water, air etc. possess higher Principles such as the Absolute Fire and Absolute Air. These Principles absorb within themselves all components along with their Raja-Tama. This is why these components are considered vegetarian. Cow's milk is the most sāttvik and vegetarian component.

Some components of vegetarian diet, their features and effects:

• Consumption of ghee derived from buffalo milk increases the cholesterol levels in blood. But it is not the same with ghee made from cow’s milk.

• Regular consumption of fried foods increases the Raja-Tama.

• Consumption of rice, wheat, lentils and grains increases Sattva-guṇa in man.

• Bulbs and tubers have the Absolute Earth Element in higher proportion.

• Ghee made from cow’s milk, as well as fruit and leafy vegetables have higher proportion of the Vishṇu Principle.

6.1 Importance of ghee made from cow's milk

One of the most important constituents of vegetarian diet is ghee. A subtle-picture of ghee made from cow’s milk is given below:

 

• As the ghee made from cow’s milk is sāttvik, the flow of Divine Principle is attracted to it.

  • A ring of Divine Principle is created and activated in the ghee.

• Flow of Divine consciousness (Chaitanya) is attracted to the ghee.

  • Through this flow, a ring of Chaitanya is created in the ghee and is activated.

  • Particles of mild Chaitanya are also created in the ghee.

  • A protective sheath of Chaitanya is created around the ghee.

  • Particles of Chaitanya are spread in the environment by the ghee made from cow’s milk.

• A ring of Chaitanya-filled Divine Energy (Shakti) of the Deity Shri Dhanvantari is created and is activated.

  • Particles of Divine Energy are also created and spread in the ghee.

Ghee contains Divine Principle and Chaitanya. Hence it is protected from negative energies. However use of synthetic substances in the preparation of ghee or preparing it in a distressing environment, may attract negative energies from the environment to it.

Proportion of vibrations in the ghee made from cow’s milk: The table below highlights the spiritual importance of ghee made from cow’s milk. As it is most sāttvik, apart from it being used for consumption, it is also used in ritualistic worship.

Vibrations	Proportion (%)
Divine Energy (Shakti)	1
Divine consciousness (Chaitanya)	2
Divine Principle	2

7. Misconceptions about vegetarian diet, and its superiority

Some argue that a purely vegetarian diet weakens a man. He lags behind in the race of life. Non-vegetarians acquire more laurels than vegetarians. But true Hindus understand the importance of a vegetarian diet. By consuming a vegetarian diet they increase the Sattva guṇa in themselves and progress on the spiritual path. They realise that God is the only One who gives awards. This award is of Supreme Bliss (Brahmānanda), non-duality (advait) and Supreme Peace (Param-shānti).

Vegetarians do not have desire for any other medals or rewards. And talking about weakness, a vegetarian lives longer and there are many examples of this.

8. Prevalent vegetarian dishes and their purity

Nowadays it has become common practice to eat bakery products like cake and pastry, processed butter, various types of biscuits and to have tea, coffee and different soups. People consider this as pure vegetarian diet. But is it purely vegetarian in the true sense?

• In bakery items like bread, cake etc., eggs and animal fat is used.

• Vegetarian restaurants or hotels serve different soups prepared from items like tomatoes, onion, leafy and non-leafy vegetables, corn, green peas etc. To enrich its taste a thick broth of cow or chicken fat is commonly added.

• Ice-cream is prepared from milk. There are 25-30 famous ice-cream flavours. These tastes cannot be created without the use of gelatine. Gelatine is a completely non-vegetarian item.

• In some medicines supplementing iron, the extract of animal blood is added.

The above examples force us to ponder whether we are actually consuming vegetarian food.

Reason for prohibition of consumption of food like cottage cheese made by the souring of milk: Milk is considered to be a source of saguṇ Chaitanya. It is a ‘complete food’. Souring of milk amounts to enhancing its adverse Raja-Tama-dominant constituents and destroying those which function with the help of its sāttviktā. Consumption of such food items devoid of Sattva, prepared by souring of milk is harmful for the body. Due to this, distressing vibrations get concentrated in the body in maximum proportion, thus inviting many diseases.

Some examples of food constituents poisoned with chemicals:

• Presently, chemical fertilisers are being used to the maximum for crops of wheat, rice, pulses etc.

• Green grass is fed to the cows. In order to keep it green for 10-15 days, chemical substances are used. The milk we get from the cow that eats such poisonous grass is also poisonous.

• When vegetarians suffering from rickets (a disease of the bones caused by deficiency of Vitamin D) were examined, it was found that the food consumed by them was poisonous.

• In some medicines supplementing iron, the extract of animal blood is added.

9. Categorisation of essential dietary components into vegetarian and non-vegetarian, according to their nature

A diet includes vegetables, fruits, flowers, milk, grains, lentils, meat etc.. They are categorised into vegetarian or non-vegetarian depending on their nature. Dietary components contain two types of beings / organisms.

A. Animate and mobile: Animals / Organisms can move. They are called ‘mobile animate’. Most of such animates are Raja-dominant hence they are characterised by instability. These beings / organisms also have desires. These beings also have sexual desire, due to which they are associated with the process of creation. Such beings are slaughtered and their meat is consumed. That is why, mobile animate beings are included in non-vegetarian diet.

B. Immobile animate: The plant species is categorised as immobile animate. These beings / organisms characterised by stability have low ability to function with the help of Raja-Tama-guṇa. Food items made from such sources are included in vegetarian diet.

	A plant-source diet /Vegetarian diet	An animal-source diet /Non-vegetarian diet
1. Predominant guṇa	Raja-Sattva	Tama
2. Purity	Pure	Impure
3. Characterised by /     Characteristic	Stability	Instability
4. Effect on the mind	Steady and calm	Fickle and unsteady

9.1 Difference between vegetarian and non-vegetarian food

	Vegetarian diet	Non-vegetarian diet
1. Inherent triguṇa	Raja-Sattva-dominant or Sattva-Raja-dominant	Tama-Raja-dominant
2. Functional Principle	Absolute Fire-Earth	Absolute Earth- Inferior Fire
3. Functional Divine     Energy (Shakti)	Predominantly Action	Predominantly Desire
4. Vibrations attracted/     concentrated/emitted	Good	Distressing
5. Effect of the diet	Physical health  and purification of the mind	Deterioration of physical health and mental peace
6A. For the one who        consumes	Reduction in the give and take account	Increase in the give and take account
6B.  For the one that         is consumed	Birth in higher species	Trapped in the same species
7. What kind of      thoughts  increase?	About abiding by Code of Conduct (Āchar)	Perverted
8. Protection from     negative energies	Applicable	Not applicable

Upon consuming food, the law of the cause and effect of our actions (Karmaphal-nyāya) becomes applicable to both, the one who consumes and the one being consumed.

Even Saints have advocated vegetarianism. Due to sāttvik food, the body as well as the mind remain healthy. When man consumes the meat of an animal he not only harms it, but does damage to himself too.

Today the number of non-vegetarians is increasing. Some people want to give up non-vegetarianism. However, due to habit or the influence of negative energy they are unable to do so. What is the way out? There is only one answer to this, spiritual practice.

10. Effects of spiritual practice on diet

While performing spiritual practice, a seeker begins to establish communion with God. Due to Divine grace, every action of his becomes sāttvik and enriched with Chaitanya. When the attitude becomes sāttvik, his diet changes too and he becomes vegetarian. By complementing meal times with prayers, he gains sāttviktā, Chaitanya and Deity’s Principle. Of course, mere vegetarianism is not adequate for spiritual progress.

According to the science of Spirituality, a vegetarian diet increases a person’s Sattva-guṇa by 0.0001% and complementing chanting with spiritual emotion (bhāv) increases it by 5 %. However, it is not possible for an average person to chant with spiritual emotion. Hence, it becomes necessary to increase one’s Sattva guṇa by adopting vegetarianism.

 

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