Swami,
Is consumption of parboiled rice really unacceptable according to sAstram?
Many of us, yet, use it in the preparation of idly/dosai batter.
– Adiyen
Consumption of parboiled rice
Updated on June 27, 2022 in
Daily rituals and practice
Adiyen Namaskaram. The following is just adiyen’s humble understanding. Kshamikkanum if it is not right.
The parboiled rice that is being sold in the stores come in the category of processed foods – as it has been parboiled/partially boiled already by others – and that’s the problem – it doesn’t comply with the Shastras.
If we do the process of parboiling at home (i.e., use the nellu and soak, steam and dry – adiyen is not aware of the process.), then it is not any problem as per Shastras.
In our family, we use regular rice (ponni raw rice) itself for idli and dosa batter too. I know people will say that the taste won’t be the same. But, we are fine with it. We don’t have any problems with the taste/texture of idli/dosa prepared using ponni raw rice.
Adiyen
- Liked by
Mikka Nandri, Swami!
Adiyen has consumed parboiled rice several times but we rarely cook it at home.
However, I have never seen a stigma at home toward using it in the batter and didn’t even know if we are not allowed to use it in that too. Probably, these habits got added to our culture later.
From a different perspective, medical fraternities talk very high about the nutritious value of parboiled rice as a whole, and esp. for diabetic patients.
I wonder if religion is really against science or if there is a wrong understanding from our side? Meaning, if it does not really prohibit consuming parboiled rice?
– Adiyen
- Liked by
Srimate Raamanujaya Namaha,
Swami, this is a tough area to find an answer ..whether to go on with today’s scientific evidences or with out time tested sastras..
Scientific advances can show what is good for our external body..( atleast some times not always as they err intentionally or intentionally).( in this case perhaps it is correct)
Sastras indicate what is good for our subtle body including mind.
But of course external body health is also important, so depending on one’s personal situation on how good one s health is and what level of spiritual realization one is in , where these small factors may or may not play a role, one needs to make an assessment whether one needs to apply those sastric suggestions.
( FYI I have not been able to avoid parboiled rice fully).
On a side note , while we are so careful about such details, equally or more important is even raw rice if it is chemical fertilizer free naturally grown one or not..sastra may not have an explicit statement on this as it was not a common practice to use chemical fertilizers in ancient times.
Thanks
Regards
whether to go on with today’s scientific evidences or with out time tested sastras..
Agreed, enpanifan swami!
However, not now, even some 35 years ago, adiyen remembers some of the best Drs’ (who are otherwise very sAstric too) first recommendation when we fall ill is to be fed with parboiled broken rice kanji (porridge).
For health reasons, Adiyen has been thinking for quite some time about completely switching to parboiled rice, also because as a family we never had reservations about using it in the tiffin items, hence posed the query.
When I asked my parents, they didn’t have a clear answer but said we don’t eat it in the form of rice but nothing wrong with using it in the tiffin items.
Maybe, as you rightly said, there is no way for us to find out the truth.
– Adiyen
Srimathe Raamaanujaaya Namaha.
Please accept adiyen’s namaskaaram swamis,
Regarding parboiled rice adiyen have heard that it can be consumed if the process is done at home. However devareer might question about the practicality to adiyen for which adiyen don’t have an answer.
Regarding the conflict of science and sastram in this regard, science can only see upto the nutritional level. Sastras can surpass and also see things like what gunam each food can give.
Adiyen hope this helps.
adiyen dasan.
Swami,
I did not say we cannot know the truth..truth is known, only thing to know or realize is which level of truth is more relevant for our case in a particular time place and circumstance.
There are exceptions to this rule in case of medical needs as you have indicated.
You can discuss with a good ayurvedic doctor who can suggest you well and if there are alternatives to this route or is it compulsory to do so.
(Also this rule is more relevant only for those who take 100 % home cooked offered prasadam alone always..otherwise this is not relevant)
Adiyen
Namaskaaram Srivats swami,
Adiyen does not see any varna bhedam in adiyen’s answer above. The rule stated earlier is similar to another rule which says that
‘Only food cooked in our home with bhakti should be offered to Bhagavan.’
adiyen dasan.
- Liked by
Both the swamis,
Your viewpoints make perfect sense. Thanks!
Would the same be applicable for milk too because we seldom directly buy from a GoshAla these days and are only dependent on packeted milk?
– Adiyen
Swamy
That’s the reason yAga shAlai don’t accept packet paal.. I saw packet paal being offered in Madhava Perumal temple yAgam.
Andha Brihaspathi Swamy should have declined.
Kaetta Bhakthi nu solluvA. Namakku edhukku oor Vambu?
Dasanudasan
My dad used to say
“Nowadays yAgams are not pure & don’t get desired result because of impure sAmagri (inputs)”.
When it comes to rituals we should see
* Shraddha Heenam
* Bhakthi Heenam
* Kriya Heenam
Etc ellAm serndhadhu dhAn yAgam
Summa, NAnum yAgam pandraen , homam pandren nu kelamba pdAthu
Adhula madhippu irukkanum
Devathaiyai kupittu avamAna padutha pdAdhu
It’s like inviting a guest to a dirty home
Guest/devathai gets angry
So we ask sorry to Perumal for any apachAram
Velukkudi Swamy used to say
“We start with 16 upachArams end up with 64 apachArams”
Dasanudasan
- Liked by
Yet another interesting perspective I am able to get is that while cooked rice is always offered to bhagawan (kandarula pannuthal) with a spoon of ghee before our consumption, preparations such as dosai or idly using parboiled rice or even pacharisi dosai were not offered to bhagawan.
I do not know if this is correct, though!
– Adiyen
- Liked by
read “were not offered” as “haven’t been offered”*
– Adiyen
Adiyen.
Please listen to Velukkudi Krishnan Swamy’s EnPani 1925 “Idli dosai amudhu seyyap pannalaamaa” regarding this.
Adiyen.
🙂 it was a joke meant for this comment
“Though the question was on Idly/Dosai, I believe it can be extended to even other tiffin”
Why only idly dosai, why not discussion on poori chappathi?
The idea should be to self prepare achAram.
Dasanudasan
Puriyalaye, Swami!
Do you mean to say Idly and Dosai are fit to be offered to bhagawan, whereas Pooris or Chapatis are not?
Unlike a time when rice used to be the only staple food for most of us (the south Indians), all of us now do prepare and relish these items to satisfy our tastebuds. Then why not offer it as a naivedyam to bhagawan also before our having them, unless sAstram clearly says Wheat is nishedam?
– Adiyen
- Liked by
Best to cook at home. If can’t be done don’t force your wife. Instant dosa batter is fine. Peace is important according to me. Romba pAthA mudiyAdhu.
- Liked by
First of all pasteurized milk Aavin Paal itself is processed milk.
Nee direct cow milk pasum paal dhAn amsi pannanum.
Aavin Paal amsi panna enna pannAtti enna? Manasu dhAn kAranam.
YathA Shakthi:
Nu sollittu poindEy irukka vendiyadhu dhan
Dasanudasan
- Liked by
“Nee enna sAppadrayO Adha amsi pandradhu ” – Srimushnam Srimath Andavan Sri Rangaramanuja Mahadesikan
It has deep rooted meanings
To consume what is applicable.
To offer what we suppose to consume
Dasanudasan
Srimathe Vedantha Ramanuja Mahadesikaya Namaha
@SriVaishnava Dasan Swamy
Further details can be interpreted based on below story.
Srimath Thirukkundanthai Andavan Srimath Vedantha Ramanuja Mahadesikan Swamy
Shared a witty joke:
Azhugina Vaazhaipazham
Rotten banana.
========================={=
A husband was counting good banana for himself & family.
He found a rotten 🍌 banana.
Wife asked what to do with it?
Husband: PerumaLukkku amsi pannidu !
PerumAL: Ivan idhaiyAvadhu amsi panninAnEy 😁
Meaning: Perumal like the attitude of offering & not what exactly is offered.
Ivanukku idhaiyAvadhu amsi pannanumnu thOnithEy!
It doesn’t mean we offer bad things. It’s a starting point. First rotten then it will become Guhan offering then Sabari Offering. Hope you understand.
Undhannodu uttrOmEy yAvom umakkey nAm Athcheivom
Edha panninAlum PerumALai nenachu Pannu endru artham
Teach kids
Dasanudasan
Adiyen forgot the top most Vidhurar offering.
He shared the skin of banana 🍌 instead of fruit forgetting himself
Adhu Vera Level
Dasanudasan
Patram Pushpam Phalam Thoyam
Yo me BhakthyA Prayacchathi
Leaf Flower Fruit Water
Whatever it is
Offer it with DEVOTION
Semushi Bhakthi Rupa
Says Swamy Ramanuja in invocatory ShlOkam of Sri Bhasyam
Bhakthi RoopApannA nyAnam liberates you!!!
Says Krishna in Gita
Dasanudasan
Perumal like the attitude of offering & not what exactly is offered.
This is precisely what I have been following. I have mentioned the same in other threads. Though my wife is yet to take pancha samskaram, I offer what she prepares to Perumal. She prepares with devotion. I already mentioned this in one of the threads. I know pretty well that what we prepare at home is not strictly as per ahara niyamam. But hygienically prepared. I only say krishnarpanam, before I eat the food. I do not know about pariseshanam and other procedure. I am happy with what I follow. There is no point in keep worrying about inability to strictly follow.
Should ahara niyamam be a worry to saranagathan?.
I study, analyse and decide on my own, what to take and what not to take.
I follow BG 9.26 w.r.to offering to Perumal.
Namaskaaram Swami,
Ahara suddhau sattva-suddhih
Sattva-suddhau dhruva smrtihi dhruva
smrti-lambhe sarva-granthinam
vipra-moksah
“From purity of food comes purity of mind;
from purity of mind comes constant remembrance of God, and from constant remembrance of God one becomes free from all bondage – one becomes liberated.”
Ahaara niyamam is certainly important. Sometimes our situation/circumstance may not allow the strict regulations to be followed. In such cases, we have to approach the Acharyar and present our situation to him, if it is a regular situation. Acharyar will certainly understand our situation and prescribe accordingly.
This is adiyen’s understanding.
adiyen dasan.
Semushi Bhakthi Rupa
Request whenever possible provide the meaning for the sanskrit slokas also, for easy and ready understanding.
- Liked by
YOUR PREVIEW
0
0