SAI BABA AND
FOOD
(SHRI SAI LEELA SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 1993)
By Lt. Col. M. B. Nimbalkar (Retd.)
Sai Baba in His
teachings had given great shocks to then current customs and beliefs. His
teachings, especially those about food, were quite revolutionary and reformatory;
but of course very correct and truly beneficial.
NON-VEG FOOD
In our Hindu and
Jain, Buddha religions especially, there is a belief that unless one gives up
eating non-vegetarian food, one cannot attain emancipation or knowledge of the
Supreme Spirit. Sai Baba Himself was an emancipated soul and had full knowledge
of the Supreme Spirit and was capable of giving such experiences to others.
However, He not only had no objection to non-veg food; but never insisted that
His devotees, used to non-veg food, should give it up. Actually, in His early
days, He used to cook non-veg food Himself in a big pot and after consecrating
it through a Moulvi by reciting fatia, used to send as prasad to Mhalsapati and
Tatya Kote Patil before distributing to others. (Ch. 38, Shri Sai Satcharita).
There might be
two reasons for this. One could be that Sai Baba for His mission of achieving
unity amongst Hindus and Muslims, had adorned Muslim Fakir type of dress and
style of living. Hence, accepting non-veg food was quite appropriate. Secondly,
if we carefully consider the teachings of our scriptures, it will be clear that
not to eat non-veg food is only one of the means to attain emancipation or
knowledge of the Supreme Spirit and not a goal
in itself. Most of the famous suktas in Vedas have been authored by kshatriya
or warrior caste. Sages such as Vishwamitra, kings like Janaka, who were famous
as Brahma-jnani or knowcr of the Supreme Spirit, were also of warrior caste and
non-veg food was not taboo for them. To give up non-veg food, to avoid killing
of innocent animals for the sake of one's enjoyment of tasty food or because
non-veg food becomes hindrance in achieving .concentration of mind during
meditation by increasing attributes of passion (Rajo-guna) and ignorance (Tamo-guna),
is of course commendable.
But, to say that
without avoiding non-veg food one cannot achieve emancipation or knowledge of
the Supreme Spirit is not correct. Otherwise great seers, like Mohammed
Paigamber and Jesus Christ in other religions, where non-veg food is normally
consumed, would not have been born at all. Moreover in India, do those castes
and communities do not take non-vcg food, do so because they believe in the
principle of .non-injury or not to allow the attributes of passions and ignorance
to increase? They are vegetarians; because it is customary in their castes for
generations, not to eat non-veg food. These persons have never tasted non-veg
food; and hence they have disgust or aversion to such food. However,
now-a-days, young men and women of these castes, having tasted it, have started enjoying it in restaurants and hotels. Similarly, amongst those having
vegetarian food also, fried items, full of pepper and condiments and difficult
to digest sweets, although adhering to the principle of non-injury, do tend to
increase attributes of passion and ignorance, which arc obstacles for
concentration in meditation.
In fact, as a
person progresses in his sadhana, his attraction for non-veg and rich food
automatically gets dwindled and is ultimately lost permanently. Just because
one gives up eating meat, fish and eggs as a result of attending bhajun-melas
or visiting temples in old age, he does not attend eminence amongst the
sadhakas. On one side to give up non-veg food and on the other side to get
upset and get tempted looking at such food or to eat heavy and rich veg food or
in business dealings not to hesitate to rob or cheat a person or to drive away
even by hitting cows and buffalos or birds! Isn't such vegetarianism useless?
Sai Baba's ideas
must be on the same lines probably. That is why He never advised His devotees
to give up non-veg food. Sometimes jokingly as in Ch. 38, He used to ask an
orthodox Brahmin, like Dada Kelkar to go and buy mutton from the market or as
in Ch. 23, His order to His great Brahmin devotee Kakasaheb Dixit to kill a
goat with a knife.
But, this was
only to test their readiness to execute, whatever order given by Him, their
Guru; and, therefore, before the person started acting, He used to stop
them. Similarly, to the devotees, in whose religion or caste only veg-food, was
in vogue, He never tempted or encouraged to eat non-veg food. Baba's method of
resisting His devotees from eating non-veg food was quite different and unique.
He oft and on used to tell His devotees that He was present in every
creature, moving about. In Ch. 9 to Mrs. Tarkhad He said,
"The
dog, which you saw before meals and to which you gave the piece of bread, is
one with Me; so, also the other creatures (cats, pigs, flies, cows etc.)
are one with Me. I am roaming in their forms. He, who sees Me in all these
creatures, is my beloved. So, abandon the sense of duality and distinction and
serve Me as you did today."
Once, one is
thoroughly convinced of this idea, who will dare to eat non-veg food? Will it
not be given up automatically? Thus, Sai Baba also preached 'nonviolence'
in food, but in a very realistic, practical and tactful manner.
ONION
What applies to
non-veg food also applies to onion. Sai Baba, Himself, used to eat onion with
bread daily and did not like anybody expressing disgust towards it or not
eating it; because of its bad smell. His incidents of teasing and ridiculing
Dada Kelkar, Das Ganu and Kusha Bhau are well-known. He also once surprised a
student of yoga by eating bread and onion in front of him and later gave a
proof to him of His Super Yogic Powers. As if Sai Baba wanted to tell people
that.because of baseless customs and beliefs, you are depriving yourself of onion and garlic, which are greatly praised by the
ayurveda (Indian medical science) and are excellent health-giving foods. Isn't
the poor and hard-working farmer able to perform labourous task of
ploughing his field by eating bread and onion only? If a person faints, a
crushed onion is the quickest and simplest first-aid in the far off villages.
Recently, the western countries, after research, have declared garlic as
excellent cure for heart disease and high blood pressure and since then we
Indians have started buying costly tablets (Lasona) containing essence of garlic.
FASTING
Other important
advice of Sai Baba concerning food was that of fasting. Sai Baba never kept a
fast Himself, nor did He allow others to do so. In Ch. 32, Mrs. Gokhale wanted
to keep a fast for 3 days at Shirdi; but Baba asked her to go to Dada Kelkar's
house to cook, as Kaka's wife was in menses and not permitted by custom to
cook. Further, He not only ordered her to feed Kaka and his family members with
sumptuous and delicious 'puran polies' (sweet-stuffed breads) but asked her to
feed herself also to heart's content by giving up the fast. Baba used to say :
"The mind of the
person fasting is never at ease, then how could attain the Paramartha (goal of
life)? God is not attained on an empty stomach; first the soul has to be
appeased. In short, when all organs get their proper nutrition and are sound,
we can practise devotion and other sadhanas to attain God.
Therefore, neither
fasting nor over-eating is good. Moderation in diet is really wholesome both to
the body and mind." (Ch. 32, P. 177-178, Shri Sai
Satcharita)
Also in Ch.
19, Baba persuaded Mrs. Radhabai Deshmukh, who had determined to remain
without food and water unto death so long as Baba did not give her
Upadesh Mantra, to give it up and narrating His own experience with His Guru,
explained to her a simplest method of achieving oneness in the God -"You,look
at Me and I look at you."
The Sanskrit word
for fasting is 'Up + vaas', which means seat near. Since the fasting is done
for religious purposes, it means seating near God. In other words on that day
one has to think and act with pure mind and meditate on God's form. But, we
hardly do this. On the contrary, on that day since we continue to attend to our
normal secular business and other duties, we also continue to indulge in
immoral activities such as telling lies, cheating others etc. There are many
methods of observing fast, narrated in our religious books. But, at present the
following methods are in vogue:
(i) To accept only fruits and milk
avoiding meals both by day and night.
(ii) To accept only fruits and milk by day and eat the
meal after sunset.
iii) To eat the meal once by day and
accept only fruits and milk at night.
But, do we
observe these also correctly? Whatever you eat during fasting days must be in
small quantities. The idea is to give rest to our digestive system. But,
instead, what do we do? Fruits we hardly eat. But, other so called permitted
items we eat in full and a number of times. One meal also, which we eat, is not
only over-eaten; but is also extra rich, The result is indigestion. Thus there
is neither any religious nor health benefit. Sai Baba probably had realised
this and that is why He stopped His devotees from observing such fasts in the
name of religion.
Sai Baba advised
that while going out for some job, if it is meal time, do not go out on empty
stomach, disregarding any offer of food. On the contrary it should be regarded
as auspicious sign of success. Moreover there is also a strong reason for this.
To do any job perfectly, one requires energy, which can only be acquired by
eating food. Secondly, refusing something offered by somebody lovingly, means
hurting that person's feelings, which is certainly not a proper mood, while
going out for an important task. In Ch. 32, Sai Baba has narrated His own
experience as to how He and His companions lost their way in the woods because
they disregarded the Vanjari's offer of food and guidance. However, later, when
Sai Baba accepted the Vanjari's food and guidance, He was able to carry out the
quest successfully. Similarly, in Ch. 33, Appasaheb Kulkarni was not able to
find the Fakir, when he rushed out of home in hurry without his meals. However,
later when after taking his meals, he strolled out with his friend, the Fakir Himself was seen approaching him and demanding
dakshina.
In Ch. 24, Sai Baba has conveyed this principle very effectively by making fun of Annasaheb Dabholkar, the author of Shri Sai Satcharita, when some grains of gram were seen stuck in the folds of his coat's sleeve. Sai Baba further explained that, when no person or animal is present nearly, one should offer it to Baba by remembering Him. This will result in the devotee avoiding food, which is impure and not fit to be enjoyed. He further explained that this method should be employed not in case of the sense of taste only but in case of all senses viz. sight," touch etc. also.
To illustrate
this, Hemadpant in the same Chapter, has narrated the story of Sudama - a
co-student of Shri Krishna and Balaram in the ashram of their Guru Sandipani.
Once when these students were collecting firewood in the forest, Krishna was
thirsty and asked for some water. Sudama advised him not to drink water without
eating something. Shri Krishna, therefore, rested his head on Sudama's lap and
slept. After sometime Shri Krishna woke up and heard Sudama chewing something.
Shri Krishna asked Sudama as to what he was eating. But, Sudama, although he
was eating grams, told Shri Krishna a lie that he was not eating anything; but
his teeth were chattering because of cold. Later, as a result of this, Sudama,
although a churn of Lord Krishna, had to pass his life in utter poverty.
However, when he later offered Shri Krishna a handful of parched rice, earned by his wife
with her own labour, Shri Krishna was pleased and gave him a golden mansion to
live and enjoy.
Baba Himself
never ate anything without sharing it with others. Everyday He used to go out
begging and whatever food was collected. He used to place it in the earthen
bowl in the Masjid. Some beggars used to pinch 3-4 breads and dogs and birds
used to eat out of it; but Baba never drove them away. Whenever any devotee
offered Him fruits and richly cooked food, He hardly tasted it and distributed amongst
the devotees present. Every afternoon, when in the Dwarkamai, the meal was
served and ready to cat, Baba used to call out for Bade Baba (a Fakir from
Malegaon) and used to make him seat next to Him on His left respectfully as an
honoured guest. Not only this, but after the meal, Baba used to pay him Rs. 50
as dakshina and walk with him upto 100 paces to see him off.
In the Taittiriya
Upanishad, Anuvak 11, it is slated 'Atithi Devo Bhava1 (May the
guest be, to thee, a God). In Bhagvat Geeta also Shri Krishna in Ch. 3, says,
Yadnyashishtashinaha santo muchyante sarvakilbishaih | Bhujjate te twagham papa
ye pachantyatmakaranaat ||13|| (The virtuous, who partake of what is left after
sacrifice, are absolved of all sins. The sinful ones, who only cook and eat for
themselves eat only sin.) Thus Sai Baba taught this principle of not partaking
any food without sharing with others both by precept and example very
effectively.
'Atithi' (guest)
literally means'without date'. Hence a guest in the above context should mean,
one, who appears unexpectedly and stays not more than one day or date. In the
present days of towering prices and food rationing, therefore, this meaning
would have to be borne in mind to ensure that an unwanted and persisting person
docs not take advantage of our generous nature.
Last, but an
important advice about food, given by Baba, is about charity :
"Different sadhanas (means of
accomplishments) are prescribed in our scriptures for different Ages. Tapa
(penance) is recommended for Krita Age, Jnana (knowledge) for Treta Age, Yajna
(sacrifice) for Dwapara Age and Dana (charity) for Kali (present) Age. Of all
the kinds of charities, giving food is the best one. We are much perturbed,
when we get no food at noon. Other beings feel similarly under similar
circumstances. Knowing this, he, who gives food to the poor and hungry, is the
best donar or charitable person. The Taittiriya Upanishad says that "Food
is Brahma, from food all the creatures are born and having been born by food they
live and having departed into food they again enter." Other kinds of
charities viz. giving away wealth, property, clothes etc. require some
discrimination; but in the matter of food, no such consideration is necessary.
Let anybody come to our door at noon, he should be served forthwith; and if
lame, crippled, blind and diseased paupers come, they should be fed first and
the able-bodied persons and our relations afterwards." (Ch. 38, P. 208-209)
We remember, how
in Ch. 9, Sai Baba expressed His great pleasure, when Mrs. Tarkhad fed a hungry
dog during her meal lime. He further said,
"Ever act
like this and this will stand you in good stead. First give bread to the hungry
and then eat yourself!" (P. 55, Shri Sai Saicharila). Similarly, we know,
what Baba said to Laxmibai Shinde, who was annoyed because Baba gave the bread
and vegetable, cooked urgently for Baba, to a nearby dog,
"Why do you
grieve for nothing? The appeasement of the dog's hunger is the same as Mine.
Though some speak and others are dumb, the hunger of all creatures is the same.
Know for certain that he who feeds the hungry, really serves Me with
food." (Ch. 42, P. 233)
In this regard
also, Baba Himself had set an example. In early days, He on and oft used to
feed the poor and helpless by cooking food Himself in big pots (Handi). He used
to buy the grains and spices from bazaar and do the grinding also Himself,
Later, devotees started thronging to Shirdi in large numbers and cooked food in
the form of naivedya started coming in large quantities, so there was no need
for cooking the food by Baba. However, He never stopped distributing this
naivedya food to all and sundry. He Himself hardly tasted it.
Sai Baba was
always practical and realistic in His advice. While eulogizing charity, He also
warned not to do it in excess and become a debtor (Bhakti Leclamrit, Ch. 32, by
Das Ganu Maharaj). The crux of His
advice regarding food was to learn to control one's tongue and be satisfied
with whatever food is served. This will not only ensure good health but also
help one in one's efforts for attaining emancipation.