Gokarna, 22 August 2026: Discipline followed in food and eating practices has a deeper connection with physical well-being and spiritual life, said Jagadguru Shankaracharya Sri Sri Raghaveshwara Bharati Swamiji of Sri Ramachandrapura Math.
Speaking at a religious discourse on ‘Agni Jaya’ (mastery over fire) during the Annaprahma Chaturmasya programme at Ashoke in Gokarna, the seer explained traditional perspectives on food, digestion and the relationship between food and the five elements.
He said eating is considered a form of yajna, and once food is served on the banana leaf, it is regarded as having come into contact with fire. According to him, the digestive fire (jatharagni) differs from person to person based on individual karma. This, he said, is one of the traditional reasons behind the practice of not eating food left over by another person or taking food from another person's plate.
Why should one not eat another person's leftovers?
Responding to a question, Sri Raghaveshwara Bharati said the traditional practice of avoiding another person's leftovers has both health and spiritual dimensions.
He said an exception is traditionally made for married couples, describing husband and wife as representing the Ardhanarishwara principle, in which there is a sense of oneness rather than separation.
‘Sita’s mastery over fire’
Explaining the concept of Agni Jaya, the seer referred to the episode in the Ramayana in which Hanuman's tail is set on fire in Lanka. After learning that Hanuman's tail had been set ablaze, Sita, confident in her chastity, is described as praying that the fire should become cool if she had remained faithful to her husband.
According to the traditional account, the fire did not burn Hanuman. Instead, it became cool for him, while the city of Lanka continued to burn. Sri Raghaveshwara Bharati Swamiji said that even though Lanka was consumed by the fire, Sita herself was not harmed by it. He interpreted this episode as an example of Sita's mastery over fire, which he associated with the disciplined food practices she followed.
He also referred to the question of why Rama did not prevent Sita from undergoing the fire ordeal. According to the seer, Rama was aware of the mastery Sita had attained and therefore was not apprehensive about the outcome. He said the episode was presented not merely as a test of Sita's character but also as an indication of mastery over the five elements.
Traditional guidance on cooking
In another observation, Sri Raghaveshwara Bharati referred to the Apastamba Grihya Sutra, saying that traditional instructions prescribe moving the ladle and grinding implements from left to right while cooking.
He said this was believed to have a positive influence on those who consumed the food. He further said that moving the ladle in the opposite direction while cooking was traditionally described as equivalent to making an offering to rakshasas.
Human Rights Commission Chairman receives blessings
Dr. T. Shyam Bhat, Chairman of the Karnataka State Human Rights Commission, and Kendra Sahitya Akademi award recipient Shivananda Hegde Keremane participated in the programme and received the blessings of the seer. Senior advocate Rajasekhar Hilyar and his family offered Guru Bhiksha Seva. G.K. Hegde Golgodu and his wife participated as day patrons.
Gunaga community offers Swarna Paduka Seva
Members of the Gunaga community from the Kumta, Honnavar and Ankola regions offered Swarna Paduka Seva as part of the traditional practices associated with the Math. Rajesh Gunaga, Udaya Ganapathi Gunaga, Raju Ganapathi Gunaga, Nagaraj Ramakanth Gunaga and other members of the community were present.
Traditional cooking practice highlighted
Seer's reference to the Apastamba Grihya Sutra adds another dimension to the discourse, connecting traditional cooking practices with the broader concept of food as a sacred offering. Discourse at the Chaturmasya programme thus brought together traditional perspectives on food discipline, digestion, cooking practices and the spiritual concept of mastery over the five elements.
Keywords
Raghaveshwara Sri, Sita Agni Jaya, Sita food discipline, Annaprahma Chaturmasya Gokarna, Sri Ramachandrapura Math, traditional food practices, Gokarna News, Citizen News Puttur