Food Prayers

Lyrics

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.

 

Lyrics

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.

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

Brahmaarpanam – Explanation

Brahma	Brahman
Arpanam	The oblation
Brahma	Brahman
Havi (hi)	The clarified butter (the offerings)
Brahmaagnau	In the fire of Brahman
Brahmanaa	By Brahman
Hutam	Is offered
Brahma	Brahman
Yeva	Only
Tena	By him
Gantavyam	Shall be reached
Brahmakarmasamaadhina	By the man who is absorbed in action which is Brahman.

 

Aham Vaishvaanaro – Explanation

Food Prayers Further Reading