Gokarna, September 2, 2026: The way human beings eat is closely linked to health and overall well-being, and excessive food consumption can become the beginning of several problems, said Jagadguru Shankaracharya Sri Raghaveshwara Bharati Mahaswamiji of Sri Ramachandrapura Math.
Speaking at the ‘Annam Brahma’ discourse series during the ongoing ‘Annabrahma Chaturmasya’ at Ashoke, Gokarna, Sri Raghaveshwara Bharati said Indian traditional thought offers a different perspective on the origins and early condition of humanity compared with modern theories.
According to the traditional account, human beings in the Krita Yuga possessed excellent health, strong bodies and well-functioning senses. Referring to the Charaka Samhita, the seer said that people in the beginning were described as possessing an exceptional level of vitality and health.
He said the first major deviation began with food and the use of fire. When people began consuming more food than necessary, changes in the body and lifestyle followed. Sri Raghaveshwara Bharati linked this development, in the traditional account, with increasing physical heaviness, laziness, greed and other undesirable tendencies. He stressed that understanding food requires understanding its relationship with the body's Agni, or digestive fire.
Food Needs Reflection
Every living being needs to understand the nature and importance of food, Sri Raghaveshwara Bharati said. Merely eating without understanding one's food habits amounts to ignoring an essential aspect of human life. He called for greater reflection on what, when and how much people eat. The message also has relevance to modern lifestyles, where irregular eating habits, excessive consumption and reduced physical activity can influence health. Swamiji's emphasis was on recognising the relationship between food, the body and daily life.
Correcting the First Mistake
Sri Raghaveshwara Bharati said that if the decline of human beings is traditionally traced to an error in food habits, the correction should also begin with food.
“Wherever the mistake occurred, that is where we must make the correction. If we correct ourselves and restore balance in our food habits, we can bring the qualities of Krita Yuga into our own lives even in Kali Yuga,” he said. Discourse was part of the ‘Annabrahma Chaturmasya’ programme at the Ashoke premises of Sri Ramachandrapura Math in Gokarna. His continuing ‘Annam Brahma’ discourses have also focused on food, digestive fire, physical activity and the relationship between food and spiritual practice.
MP Vishweshwara Hegde Kageri Receives Blessings
MP Vishweshwara Hegde Kageri, Manjunath Jannu, Mahesh Shetty and Hanumantha Gowda were among those who attended the programme and received the blessings of Sri Raghaveshwara Bharati. Members representing the Havyaka Mandalas of Mani, Kabaka, Ujire, Uppinangady, Uruvala and Venur offered Guru Bhiksha Seva on behalf of the Y. Ganaraja Konamme family. Narayan Bhat Harekere, Aravind Darbe, Ganapati Jattimane, Mahesh Kudpula, Parameshwar Bhat Venur, Shivaprasad Venur and day hosts Venkata Giri M.R. and his wife were also present.
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Raghaveshwara Bharati Swamiji, Annam Brahma, Annabrahma Chaturmasya, Gokarna, food and health, Sri Ramachandrapura Math, Citizen News Puttur, Gokarna News Today,