Gokarna, August 8, 2026: Eating the right food in the right way can itself become a form of penance, said Jagadguru Shankaracharya Sri Raghaveshwara Bharati Mahaswamiji of Sri Ramachandrapura Math.
He was speaking at the Dharma Sabha held as part of the Annabrahma Chaturmasya at the Moola Math premises in Ashoke, Gokarna, on Saturday. He delivered the discourse as part of the ‘Annam Brahma’ series.
The Swamiji said Yoga Shastra considers disciplined eating a form of tapas. While people may practise penance through fasting and other austerities, they can also gain its benefits by following the right food habits. “Food can become a reason for both physical suffering and negative influences when we consume it without discipline. Proper eating habits can help overcome both,” he said.
He explained the difference between ‘hita’, meaning what benefits a person, and ‘priya’, meaning what a person likes. “What benefits us may not always be what we like. When what is beneficial also becomes what we love, it benefits both the body and the mind,” he said.
Right food and breathing can cleanse the body
The Swamiji said the food and breath that enter the body can help cleanse it when people follow the right practices. He stressed the importance of pranayama and a suitable food routine. Regular practice, he said, can help people maintain physical and mental wellbeing.
Explaining the principle of ‘Hita–Mita–Medhya’, he said people should choose food that is beneficial, consume it in moderation and give preference to wholesome food.
He noted that food requirements differ from person to person. Factors such as occupation, lifestyle and personal background determine what and how much a person should eat.
The Swamiji said people should choose food that supports the body’s natural functions. Such wholesome food helps awaken jatharagni, or the digestive fire, he said.
“Awakening the digestive fire can help address many problems within the body,” he said.
Mangaluru North MLA Dr. Bharath Shetty and Karnataka Bank COO B.S. Raja attended the programme and received the Swamiji’s blessings. Ramamurthy K.B. and his wife offered Sri Gurubhiksha Seva. Suresh Kallabbe, Udaya Bhat, Kiran Hegde and day coordinator Gundi Manjappa and his wife were also present.
Halakki community performs Swarna Paduka Puja
Members of the Halakki community performed Swarna Paduka Puja during the Chaturmasya. The community has maintained a traditional association with Sri Ramachandrapura Math for generations.
Accepting the offering, Raghaveshwara Bharati Swamiji said the Halakki community had continued its devotion to the Kekkara branch monastery of the Math for generations. “The Math will always stand with the Halakki community. The government should also provide the community with the facilities and support it deserves,” he said.
The Math also distributed rice to members of the Halakki community as part of the Annabrahma Chaturmasya. The Swamiji blessed the community and prayed for its welfare.
Speaking on behalf of the community, Dr. Hanumantha Gowda said generations of Halakki families had maintained their association with the Math. “The blessings of the Guru Parampara have guided our community on the right path. We have found peace and strength through this association,” he said.
Members of the community also expressed their devotion to the Guru Peetha through traditional Halakki folk songs. B.S. Gowdar, S.G. Gowdar, Manjunath Gowdar Kekkara and hundreds of Halakki community members attended the programme.
Keywords
Raghaveshwara Bharati Swamiji, Annabrahma Chaturmasya, Gokarna News, Hita Mita Medhya, Jatharagni, Halakki Community, Gokarna News, Citizen News Puttur