Rules about food

Bhagavan Manu gives us a list of rules about prohibitive foods and flesh eating etc.

Anadir Dashaaya Go:Ksheeram Ousthram Kashaphm Tatha
Avikam Sandidni Ksheeram Vivikthasyascha Go Paya:

Desc: While having milk we have to be careful. One cannot drink the milk of:

1. A goat/lamb or cow within ten days of delivery of a new offspring.
2. A goat/cow, which is in heat and is seeking a bull or male partner (as that's considered as menstrual blood converted to milk)
3. A She camel (Camels live on the water reserves in the desert and it's against the divine rules to milk them).
4. A cow, whose calf is dead (we cant cheat that cow with a toy or something We can only milk the cow after it's calf suckles i's portion of milk).
5. An animal with unbifurcated hoofs.

Shastras are very strict about treating the domestic animals with kindness. There is no modesty and kindness beyond Dharma Shastras.

Aaranyaanam Cha Sarvesham Mrugaanam Maahisham Vina
Sthree Ksheeram Chaiva Varjyani Sarva Shukthani Chaiva hi:

Desc: None of the wild animals should be used for milking except buffaloes. Similarly the milk of a woman or any sweet substances  which have turned sour due to fermentation cannot be used. (Only cow milks or buffalo's milk is consumed usually).

Dadhi Bakshyam Cha Shuktheshu Sarvam Cha Dadhi Sambhavam
Yaani Chaivabhi SHooyanthe Punya Mool Phalai: Shibai:

Desc: Any food made of curd or yogurt or the substances derived from yogurt (like whip cream, butter, ghee etc..) are all good to eat.They can be also prepared with the addition of auspicious roots (like ginger etc..), flowers, fruits  etc..

The eight bacteria cultured Indian yogurt is very good for our health and helps the inner system to ferment the food and also provides the body with the necessary nutrients.

Chathraakam Vida varaham Cja Lashunam Graam Kukkutam
Pulandum Gunjanu Chaiva Mathya Jagathva Patha Dhvija:

The following six items, must not be consumed by a Brahmana:

1. Mushroom
2. Domestic pig
3. Garlic
4. Village Cock or rooster
5. Onion
6. Turnip

Removing the meat times, onion , garlic, mushroom and turnip are not allowed to be consumed by a twice born.

Amathyaithaani Shat Jagathvaa Kruscham Santhapanam Chareth
Yadi Chandrayanam Vaapi ShesheSoopavasedaha:

Desc:  If one eats any of the above mentioned 6 items,  he performs Kruscha Santapanam (which lasts for 7 days) or a Yati Chaturayanam. For any other prohibited items (diff. from the above six items  one fasts for a day and night.

Yo Bandhana Vadha Kleshan Praaninaam Na Chikeershathi
Sa Sarvasya Hitha Prepsu: Sukham Athyantham Ashnuthe

Desc: He who does not wish to inflict any harm or pain to any other animals is said to be a well wisher of all and obtains perfect comfort and felicity.

Thiru Valluvar says this as:
Anthanan Enbon Aravon Evvuyirkum Senthanmai Poonduzhukalan

We all mistakenly think that, ahimsa came from Jainism but, it is the primary object of Dharma Shastras. Thus Dharma Shastras prohibit meat consumption (except for Vedic sacrifices).

Na Bakshaythi Yo Maamsam Vishi Hithva Pishacha Vath
Sa loke priyathaam Yathi Vydhibischa Na Peedyathe

Desc: Here Manu Bhagavan declares that, one who does not eat the meat o other animals does not suffer from diseases in this world. (That's very much true about all those meat eaters, who suffer from heart diseases and high bp/cholesterol).

Anumanthaa  Vishisthaa Nihitha Kraya Vikrayi
Samskartha Cha Upakartha Cha Khada Kashcethi Ghathaka:

Desc: It's not just the one, who kills as animal but the one who sanctions the killing of an animal. he who divides it's body, the actual killer, the seller, the buyer, the man who cooks that meat  the one who serves that meat and finally who eats that dead body of the animal are all considered as murderers. (None of these culprits can escape from the hands of Shastras).

Varshe Varshe Aswamedhena Yo Yajetha Shatham Sama:
Mamsaani Cha Na Khadedhyasthayo: PunyaPhalam Samam

Desc: Now Bhagavan Manu declares the merits of being a non-meat eaters . One who avoids meat and remains as a vegetarian (and also avoids the prohibited food items from the Shastras) is rewarded with the fruit of performing AswaMedha Yagnam each year for a period of 100 years.

Note: All the opportunistic Bhramanas (and other varnas) in this Kali must be aware of this Sastram. They wear the Yagnopaveetam just for a fashion and eat all kinds of meat (even the ones prohibited int he Shastras). These Shastras are direct warning(s) for such sinners about their future in hell after they leave this Universe and all kinds of diseases while they are alive as flesh eaters, eating the wound or dead bodies of other dead animals.

Maam Bakshayithaam Uthra Yasya Maamsaamihadmyaham
Ethan Maamsasya Maamsahvam Pravadanthi Manishina:

Desc: All the flesh eaters, who enjoy the taste of flesh for growing their own flesh in this world should be aware of the fact that, in the immediately following birth, the eaten becomes eater and eater becomes eaten.

Dos and Donts for a Marriage

This is a continuation to the previous post about wedding(s). Manu Bhagavan has blessed us with the dos and donts for a marriage.

Gurunanupatha: Sbaathavaa Samaavrutho Yadhavidhi:
Udvahetha Dvijo Bhaaryaam SaVarnaam Lakshananvithaam

Desc: After taking the permission of the Guru a Shishya baths and undergoes Samavarthaanam, or the end of his bachelorhood. Such a leaned and virtuous Brahmana (who has finished studying the Vedas) shall marry a girl of his own Varna (a Bhramin girl), who has auspicious signs. 

Note: The Vedic graduation ceremony is called as Samavarthaanam  This is called as Vrutham nowadays. After a Bhramin boy undergoes t Upanayanam or thread ceremony, he stays at his teacher's place and learns the Vedas and upon completion of his studies, his Guru decides to give him his graduation and then he gets ready for marriage.

Asapinda Cha Yaa Mathu: Sagothra Cha Yaa Pithu:
Saa prashasaa Dvijatheenaam Darakarmani Maithune

For conjugal purposes, a Brahmana may not choose a girl who is related to one's mother by Sapinda or to one's father by SaGothra relationship.( this is like marrying one's own sister).

HeenaKaaryam Nishpurusham Nischando Roma Sharshasham
Kshayyamaya Avyapasmaaree Svithri Kushti Kulaani Cha

In this sloka, Manu describes the categories of women or families, from which a Brahman must not marry:

A family, which does cheap or dreadful acts
A family, which has no men (husband or sons are not here)
A family, with no Vedic knowledge
A family, which has hairy men and women
A family, in which consumptive,epileptic,leprous or luecodermic children are born or present.

Note: Some of the above conditions, are about dreadful physical diseases like luecoderma, leprosy etc.. and others about the dreadful qualities like hirsute men or women, etc.. So, before marrying a girl one should carefully analyze the facts about that family. Otherwise, he would ruin his entire life with a bad selection. Also, a family where there are no sons isn't a good one to marry.

Nodhveheth Kapaaalinam Kanyaam Nadhikangim Na Rogineem
Naalomikaam Naathilomaam Na Vachaataam Na Pingalaam

Desc: Manu Bhagavan has blessed us with further characteristics of women, who should be avoided in marriage:

Girl with brown complexion
Girl with a less or an extra limb
A girl, who has excess hair on her body or no hair on her body
A talkative or garrulous girl
A girl, who has brown or yellow eyeballs

One has to select the right girl, very keenly. All the above mentioned qualities are inauspicious for a woman.

Narksha Vruksha Nadhi naamneem Naanya Parvatha Naamikaam
Na pakshya hi preksha Naamneem Na cha Bheeshana Naamikaam

Desc: Now Manu Bhagavan describes about the name of a girl. This should be noted well by parents, who give in appropriate names to their kids. (A girl said her name was Yachna = borrowing, and other Rodhna = crying and so on). Only sweet sounding and auspicious names must be given to women. Girls  who have the names of a star, tree, river,mountain,bird, serpent or any other dreadful objects must not be accepted in a marriage.

Note: Based on this law girl names like Narmada, Kaveri, Avatha, Amalakee, Revathi, Anuradha, Maka, Garuda, Kokila, Vaasuki, Kaarkotaki, etc.. should be strictly avoided.

Thus Manu Bhagavan clearly shows us, who should be an ideal life partner. In this age of Kali, things have become very drastic - and no one remembers Smrtuhi, which is supposed to be remembered for ever.