Food Prayers

LYRICS

• Brahmaarpanam Brahma Havir
• Brahmaagnau Brahmanaa Hutam
• Brahmaiva Tena Gantavyam
• Brahmakarmasamaadhina

MEANING

Brahman is the oblation; Brahman is the clarified butter etc, constituting the offerings; by Brahman is the oblation poured into the fire of Brahman. Brahman verily shall be reached by him who always sees Brahman in all actions.

Brahmaarpanam Brahma Havir

The instrument with which the offering is given is Brahman.

The oblation itself is Brahman.

Brahmaagnau Brahmanaa Hutam

The Fire itself is Brahman. The very act of giving is Brahman.

Brahmaiva Tena Gantavyam

The Sacrifier is Brahman.

Brahmakarmasamaadhina

For all the work done the ultimate goal or aim is Brahman.

LYRICS

• Aham Vaishvaanaro Bhootva
• Praaninaam deham Aashritah
• Praanaapaanasamaayuktah
• Pachaamyannam Chaturvidham

MEANING

I, having become (the fire) Vaishvaanara, abide in the body of beings, and associated with Praana and Apaana, digest the four-fold food. ‘Praana’ and ‘Apaana’ are the two physiological functions of “perception” and of “excretion”. Here, the Eternal Reality is indicated as that mighty life which when pulsating through the body manifests Itself as the “digestive fire” (Vaishvaanara) which assimilates the food taken in. After digesting, assimilating and absorbing the nutrition, it is again the same Divine Spark of Life that gives the intestines its capacities to throw out (Apaana) the undigested and unnecessary by-products.

Aham Vaishvaanaro Bhootva

I am the fire of life in every being.

Praaninaam deham Aashritah

I take shelter in the bodies of all living beings.

Praanaapaanasamaayuktah

I am united in the in-going and out-going of the breath.

Pachaamyannam Chaturvidham

I digest the 4 types of food.

One Omkara

Asato Maa…. should be recited and then start eating.

The four types of food:

1. That which we bite with our teeth and chew

2. That which we masticate with tongue

3. That which we gulp (liquids like butter milk)

4. That which we swallow

The three types of purities which are necessary with regard to food are:

• Paatra Shuddhi
• Paaka Shuddhi
• Padaartha Shuddhi