Food and Fate: The Science of Diet and Devotion According to Guru Shyama Khyapa

Interviewer: Pranam, Gurudev.

Gurudev: Pranam, pranam, pranam.

Interviewer: Gurudev, yesterday at our Shantikunj, we celebrated your birthday and the last Monday of the month of Shravan together. It was celebrated alongside Lord Shiva's birthday. Since we're on this topic, Gurudev, last Shravan, many mothers and sisters observed fasts. Many also observed the Nirjala fast (without water) during Shivratri. People fast in various ways. Yet, some don't believe in fasting; they only believe in worshiping God and don't see a link between worship and food. Which approach is correct? If you could shed some light on this...

Gurudev: Look, the Gita is our sacred scripture. Long ago, the Gita advised us on our dietary habits. Foods that are overly salty, spicy, or sour should not be consumed. What we eat today is often incorrect because we don't follow the Gita. The Gita has repeatedly told us to abandon these things and adopt a pure diet. What does a pure diet mean? For us Bengalis, fish and rice are our staple food. As the saying goes, "When in Rome, do as the Romans do." Since we are Bengali, fish and rice are our primary food; we are accustomed to it. However, nowadays, many things have changed—Chilli Chicken and various fast foods have become common. Ultimately, the youth don't want to eat anything besides fast food. They don't like home-cooked meals; they don't feel like eating them. They always talk about fast food.

Interviewer: Like KFC, Domino's, Pizza—all these things.

Gurudev: Exactly. But this is so harmful. First, it messes up the pancreas and then the liver because no one knows what's being used to cook it. Eating that kind of food—and who knows if it's even fresh? You don't know if the food you're buying is stale. So, we're making a mistake and consuming the wrong kind of food. The result is evident if you visit hospitals—there's no room even to stand. People are constantly jostling for space. This is actually a result of our dietary habits. Food nowadays is filled with colors and chemicals. There are so many things. Now, we consume all of that. Doctors say many things, like washing everything thoroughly before use, but in practice, nothing changes. Things continue as they are, and the result is illness. You can't even imagine how many types of diseases there are. People come to me and talk about their illnesses, and I'm amazed. Even doctors can't control it. People are rushing to Vellore every moment. If it's not working here, they go to Vellore. But doctors are the same everywhere. Whether you go to Vellore or see a doctor in Kolkata, they can't even identify the disease. One problem is that they can't pinpoint the ailment. Many people come to me saying the same thing: "We've tried many treatments, but the doctors couldn't find the disease. We're exhausted from just taking medicine." This is what they keep saying. Now, they've come to seek God's help, they've come to me, and whatever I do will happen. But how can I change their dietary habits? Four or five thousand years ago, when the Gita was written, it already explained how to live your life.

Gurudev: Regarding fasting, we say there are two types of worship: Kam Puja and Nishkam Puja. One is Kam Puja, and the other is Nishkam Puja. People make a vow, like "If my son gets well, I will offer a puja." This isn't Nishkam Puja; it's Kam Puja (desire-based). In this case, you should fast before offering the puja. However, for Nishkam Puja, fasting isn't necessary. I have no demands from God. I believe in God, I follow God, but I don't want anything from Him. Many people don't want anything; they just visit and leave. Then there are some who just keep muttering for an hour in front of the Goddess. It's hard to get them to leave. They have to be told repeatedly. I don't know what they're asking from God, but they just keep asking and asking. So, for Nishkam Puja, you don't need to fast. But for Kam Puja, when there's a desire involved, when you have a wish for the Goddess, then you should fast.

Gurudev: But staying on an empty stomach leads to gas. Nowadays, an empty stomach immediately leads to gas, acidity, etc. Even doctors advise against staying on an empty stomach. They say to eat a few biscuits to keep your stomach somewhat full. This is our current predicament. Krishna wrote in the Gita: "Don't eat anything too sour, too spicy, too salty, or too sweet." This has been said repeatedly. But people eat whatever they like, and they eat a lot. "Give me more, give me more," they say. But this is very harmful. Consuming the same thing repeatedly is very harmful. So, it's not that you must fast; you can eat and then offer puja if you don't have any desires. It's all about whether you want something or not—desire and attainment. Wanting things from God is a big deal for people. "Give me this, Ma, give me that, heal my son, heal that person, I'll offer a sacrifice, I'll do this and that." This is where it all starts. People have become restless and troubled. As a result, people are making all kinds of vows.

Gurudev: I don't let anyone stay on an empty stomach here. I even scold the person who cooks the daily offering. They say, "I won't eat until the offering is cooked." What kind of logic is that? Eat at least two biscuits and some water, then cook. God won't be displeased.

Interviewer: In this context, Ma is also given tea and biscuits in the morning, and then the offering is cooked.

Gurudev: Of course. Ma is given tea and biscuits. That's the tradition here—giving Ma tea and biscuits. If we drink tea, shouldn't Ma? It's a matter of the heart, nothing more. "Ma, have some tea, we're also having tea." And tea is being made constantly here. Whoever comes, they have tea. The main offering here is Ma's tea. Whoever comes brings some tea for Ma. They don't bring sugar, but they bring tea. They say, "Please give this to Ma, Ma drinks tea," and so on. Humans are slaves to habit. You will become whatever you practice. This is mentioned repeatedly in the Gita as Abhyasa Yoga (the yoga of practice). Whatever you do, humans are shaped by habit. If you regularly eat fish and meat, it becomes a habit. You won't be able to eat without it. You should give up such habits. If a habit persists, it becomes harmful later on. You feel like you can't manage without this or that. But a habit should be like waking up in the morning, washing your hands and face, changing your clothes, and remembering God. That's a good habit.

Gurudev: We eat less. We eat rice with only one curry because we don't have much time for eating. In our house, it's decided that I'll be given rice with only one curry. Give me broth or whatever has been cooked, but only one curry. Do you know why? It saves on the fuel; less cooking is required. The women who cook are used to cooking a lot and feeding everyone many things. But we say, eat rice with just one curry. And it shouldn't be spicy, sour, or sweet. Nothing like that. Look, when you eat yogurt, there are bacteria in it. You are eating bacteria. Our body has sixty-five million—no, sixty-five trillion bacteria that are running us. Every breath we take, every word we speak, is through bacteria. I asked a doctor once, and he said sixty-five trillion bacteria are running us. Yet, these bacteria are also killing us, while they run us. It's amazing. We don't know this. This is scientifically based.

Gurudev: That's why the Gita is superior to us. Everything is in the Gita—don't eat anything too sour, too salty, or too sweet. Don't make it a habit. You have to eat, of course. When you have a tongue, you'll want to eat. But it shouldn't be consumed in excess. Eat everything, but Krishna says to eat only what you need and no more.

Interviewer: I want to ask one thing in this context. We've seen that when our mothers and sisters follow these rituals, they do it differently for different gods. As we've heard, you've also said that Lord Mahadev likes people to stay 'dry' (fasting) during his puja. At other times, people eat fruit after a certain period, but on Shivratri, nothing is eaten until water is offered on Lord Shiva's head. So, for each god, there are specific fasting rules.

Gurudev: There's always a desire behind fasting. For example, you mentioned worshiping Lord Shiva. Why do girls worship Lord Shiva? To get a husband like Shiva. Nothing more. At the time of marriage, they want a good husband, a husband like Shiva. There's a desire involved. "I'll fast all day and offer water on Shiva's head so that I'll get a husband like Shiva." This is a custom. Our grandparents and mothers have taught us this—don't eat, offer water on Shiva's head, and you'll get a good husband. But many have offered water and still got bad husbands. I'm saying this from my personal observation. I've seen many girls who offered water on Shiva's head but didn't get good husbands. So, what can you say? Is it the influence of the times, the change in the era? But people still offer it. I see girls offering water on Shiva's head on Shivratri. Worship happens four times during the four periods of the night, and many girls offer water with great devotion all four times. In the morning, they feed a Brahmin and then they eat. So, there's a tradition, but there's a desire behind it. A wish is driving it: "I offered water to Shiva, I worshiped four times, so my husband will be good." So, there's always a connection. But common people who believe in God should eat and then worship. There's no need to stay on an empty stomach; eat and then call upon God. This is what the Vedanta says.

Gurudev: The Vedanta says the same thing—remember Him; what you eat is not the issue. Don't eat until your stomach is overfilled. Do you know why we eat rice with only one curry? So that we don't get acidity or belching. When we sit for meditation or perform rituals, if we belch or have acidity or anything like that, it's very harmful for us; it ruins our posture. That's why I sit in this chair—I come at 10 AM and sit quietly in one chair for eight hours. But if I eat too much, I won't be able to sit here. I'll have stomach pain, acidity, gas, or I'll have to go to the bathroom repeatedly. That's why we've given that up. In our house, it's said to make rice with one curry and nothing more. We won't eat anything else. If four or five curries are served, I'll leave without eating. I eat some rice with one curry and then I leave. Because the more you eat, the worse your health will be. You'll have acidity, belching, and you'll feel sleepy. This is harmful for us seekers. You'll feel sleepy, which is very harmful for the body.

Gurudev: That's why we don't have any desires or wishes. But we eat a little, a very small amount—one cup of rice. It doesn't harm the body. The body has other calories. We get those after eating rice. There's no problem with that. But why do sages eat less? For only one reason: to call upon God, you must eat less.

Interviewer: Gurudev, regarding food, when we eat a lot, the smell of food attracts those who haven't eaten for a long time or have been fasting since morning. This is also a form of desire—a desire for food, our craving for food.

Gurudev: Yes, that's greed, it's called food greed. That's why Chaitanya Dev said, "There is great merit in Go-bhojan." Go means the tongue. If the tongue 'eats', it's supposedly a great merit. Chaitanya Dev said: "Great merit in Go-bhojan, the house is empty while the wife is there, residence in heaven after killing the Guru, and total ruin after chanting Hari's name." He said this sarcastically. "Great merit in Go-bhojan"—meaning whatever you eat with your tongue will be a very meritorious act for you. "The house is empty while the wife is there"—meaning the wife is there but she's of a different type, so the house remains empty. And "residence in heaven after killing the Guru"—if you surpass your Guru and 'kill' his influence, you'll surely go to heaven. And he said chanting Hari's name will bring ruin. He said this in jest, but it's universally true. If you look at it closely, what he said, whether in jest or otherwise, has come true. We've understood that. So, eat food, but eat carefully. Eat food carefully and try to eat as little as possible. The less you eat... it's a habit. Look, when you feel hungry, even if you eat a little, it satisfies the hunger. It's a matter of timing. Since I eat at a certain time, I'll feel hungry at that time. But once that hunger passes, I won't feel like eating at 2 PM or 3 PM. Do you understand? This is Abhyasa Yoga, which the Gita mentions repeatedly. Regarding dietary habits, it emphasizes Abhyasa Yoga. Maintain the habit.

Interviewer: Gurudev, another thing—Satvik food. What is the reason for consuming Satvik food? What is it actually?

Gurudev: Satvik food is nothing special. Eat some ghee. "As long as you live, live well, eat ghee even by taking a loan." This is what has been said. But where will you find good ghee? That's the first question. Which food will you find that's actually good? Even the fish you buy is colored or stale. So, what Satvik food is there? Nowadays, Khoi-dudh (puffed rice and milk) can be called Satvik food. Fruit-based meals—these can be called Satvik food. Sages mostly consume these. They don't want to go towards rice or bread much because these cause problems for our body during rituals. It's very difficult for us during rituals. I can't stay seated in one place. I sit here for ten hours, sometimes twelve hours. Yesterday, I sat for twelve hours straight. I only got up twice to use the bathroom. So, this won't work. If you can't sit still and you're restless, how will you call upon God? Your posture will be ruined repeatedly.

Interviewer: Gurudev, I've heard you mention Akshiddha bhat (steamed rice with everything together) for the Goddess. What is the reason for that? Why only Akshiddha bhat?

Gurudev: It's the food of the sages. Sages cook rice with all the vegetables together and eat it. It doesn't need much salt, it's not sour, it doesn't need anything else. It's a very tasty food. If you add some good ghee to it—some good ghee and vegetables in the rice—it becomes Akshiddha bhat. Just eat that. If there's some ghee, it's very good; just add a little on top and it's done. That is Satvik food. We do eat fish and meat, but people from outside, especially from places like Uttar Pradesh, call Bengalis "Machhli-khor" (fish-eaters). Their view is that if you carry meat or fish, ghosts will follow you. Ghosts and spirits will follow you. You're eating the food of demons and monsters. They say they shouldn't even touch you because you eat such things.

Interviewer: There are many places where you won't even find meat. In some parts of Rajasthan, it's unavailable.

Gurudev: That's right. That's what's being said. They say if you're taking fish or meat home, ghosts are following you. You're eating their food. It's their food and you're consuming it. These are Asatvik (non-pure) foods. Satvik food means putting all the vegetables into the rice, adding some ghee, and eating it. That is Satvik food.

Interviewer: Gurudev, one last question to end this episode. Regarding an earlier topic... is there any connection with food?

Gurudev: If you could say something about the Goddess Shakhambari. Who is Shakhambari? We don't know much about her.

Interviewer: Look, during the time of universal destruction, Ma did not consume even a single withered leaf. Shak-ambari... Ma didn't consume a single withered leaf. That's why she is named Shakhambari. It's one of the names of Goddess Durga. We say "Shakhambaryai Namah". Anyway, during the Pralaya (destruction), Ma wouldn't even eat a withered leaf. That's why she is called Shakhambari or Aparna. If you analyze these names, you'll understand. If people can adopt what Krishna's Gita says, they will be long-lived; they will live for a long time. Satvik food. And Krishna said one thing: "Where the four 'G's are present, I am extremely happy." The four 'G's: one is Govinda, one is Gita, one is Gayatri, and the other is Mother Ganga. Where these four 'G's are present, Krishna is very satisfied. He has spoken about our dietary habits and Abhyasa Yoga. But people today don't want to follow it. So many types of food have come into the market that we used to find repulsive, but people are eating them now. So, those who eat, eat; those who don't, don't. But Krishna repeatedly said in the Gita: "Eat these things, and don't eat those things." We don't follow it, that's a different matter. But in the end, he spoke of the four 'G's: Ganga, Gayatri, Gita, and Govinda. He said, "If someone has these four things, I am very satisfied with them." The four 'G's. We don't follow the Gita now; we've pushed it aside. In a few days, we'll be the ones writing a new Gita, and that will be the 'best' one. People won't like the original Gita anymore.

Interviewer: So, viewers, you've heard from Gurudev about the quality of food, why one must fast for the Goddess, and how one can also worship Ma and Lord Shiva without fasting. All of this is possible. You should analyze Gurudev's video and decide why you are worshiping. Accordingly, you should decide whether to fast or not, because many elderly people with poor health still fast, and because of them, their entire family has to worry.

Gurudev: Yes, this has become a tradition. Mothers, and their mothers before them, have said to do it this way.

Interviewer: Many are elderly now, yet they still do it without considering their health. They should understand the actual reason now. They are not worshiping Ma with those old desires anymore. So, they can offer water to Lord Shiva on Shivratri even after eating. This is possible. So, offer your puja by understanding the real meaning and reason. Certainly follow the fast if you can, but also follow what Gurudev said about the quality and nutritional value of food so that your physical health improves. With this wish, we end today's video. Pranam, Gurudev.

Gurudev: Pranam, bhai. Pranam, bhai. Pranam, bhai.

✦ Related Articles