SrI: SrImathE SatakOpAya nama: SrImathE rAmAnujAya nama: SrImath varavaramunayE nama:
Q. Can a SrIvaishNava eat dhEvathAnthara prasAdham? What to do if anyone offers such prasAdham?
Q. What prAyaSchiththam should we do if we eat non-vegetarian food unknowingly?
Q. In viSvarUpam, bhagavAn shows all in him. But why we shouldn’t take anyadhEvathA prasAdham?
Q. What are the general food restrictions we need to follow as per our sampradhAyam?
Q. In our sampradhAyam which granthams explain food regulations generally and in chAthur mAsam?
https://youtu.be/7bwToV0mtwk?si=joUwzTSYIWhMBw7S
Q. Without following food restrictions can we get brahma gyAnam?
https://youtu.be/IpdODnCAXyk?si=BL-hjbM_eHZguNgP
Q. How to retain sAthvic state of our mind all through the day?
https://youtu.be/izpliFqM5VE?si=g7_4sJ7cbkL3P8wb
Q. I feel excited to hear kAlakshEpams but feel anxious when grasping the content. Is this right?
Q. Is it necessary for a SrIvaishNava to observe EkAdhaSi fasting?
Q. Why is there a difference in EkAdhaSi fasting in south and north of our country?
Q. Can we accept prasAdhams offered to other dhEvathAs which were offered to nArAyaNan first?
https://youtu.be/a6ocK0YP1CU?feature=shared
Q. Why are food items like tea, coffee, onion, garlic etc prohibited in our sampradhAyam?
https://youtu.be/sBKzVohimik?feature=shared
Q. Knowing bhagavAn is like eating little, bhAgavatha is like eating stomach full. Please explain
https://youtu.be/oGsU_k8SanU?feature=shared
Q. How should we honour prasAdham given to us in temples?
https://youtu.be/SAL3qa6nJbA?si=EzK9XtUHtSg_-ja8
Q. How should we honour thIrtham given to us in temples?
https://youtu.be/6bZxD7z3wng?si=6geCCtgwLeTFsHC6
Q. How should we honour SrI SatAri given to us in temples?
https://youtu.be/47e3DfxIJMI?si=Vusm4sPeAw4ij8UC
Q. How to aviod apachArams while taking thIrtham, prasAdham and SrI SatAri?
https://youtu.be/mp0ABH0kvuc?si=E6Im4lS7JenqPeEa
Q and A Text responses
Q. White sugar, brown sugar, palm sugar, kalkaNdu, panangkalkaNdu, nAttu sakkarai, karupatti, jaggery – Is there an order of preference amongst these according to our pUrvAchAryas that can be used/not used in our nithya thaLigai?
Jaggery and nAttu sakkarai are officially allowed. Others are not preferable – especially anything from palm tree, we cannot consume.
Q. Can we use tomato in cooking?
No, we cannot use tomato in cooking.
Q. Can we compromise on Ahara niyamam if we are ill?
As far as AhAra niyama is concerned – it is of foremost importance for SrIvaishNavas. One must abide by it fully. When a SrIvaishNava gets a disease – there are few scenarios, depending on the level of maturity in gyAnam, bhakthi and vairAgyam:
If one is very matured – one will let the disease consume the body and take that as a blessing from bhagavAn to end one’s bondage in this world. Sometimes just resting properly with regulated food consumption will cure certain diseases. This is the top most devotee.
If one is somewhat matured – one will get it treated in a reasonable way. One may need to consume medicines which may contain forbidden items (as per SrIvaishNava AhAra niyama). One will consume such medicine with great sorrow thinking “I am too attached to my body. But at least let me get cured off this disease and serve you more and better”. After getting cured, one will accept SrIpAdha thIrtham of AchArya or uththama bhAgavathas and purify oneself.
If one is not matured at all – he will outright justify that consuming medicine is the right way and will not worry about the repercussions. He will also not atone or feel bad for consuming medicines with forbidden ingredients. Such person will have to face the consequences of the accumulated karma for the particular situation.
In olden days, among the very learned and matured SrIvaishNavAs, it was considered inferior to go to a doctor to get the body cured. But nowadays, it has become normal to run to a doctor even for a common cold or headache.
Q. Can we consume poha as per AhAra niyamam?
If poha is homemade, it can be surely accepted. But purchasing from shop is usually not recommended. Alternatively – flour + jaggery mix can be used, for those who are following strict AhAra niyamam during travels.