An Ancient Breakfast system

What is actually a breakfast?

We know that our morning meal is known as breakfast. What if I say this doesn’t mean actually breaking our fast?

Fasting for a whole day and breaking the fast on the next day with healthy food is what actual breakfast is. That too we are allowed only to consume food that are prescribed in our traditional food systems. Not eating in the night is considered as fasting according to the westerners. So having food in the morning is known to be breakfast. This westernized lifestyle to which we are used to is not at all good for our health in the long term.

What exactly is the real Hindu way of consuming food according to the Shastras?

We are having several great books written by our ancestors to look at. For example, Vedanta Desika’s Aahara Niyamam. But if you read that today, you will find it is impossible to follow anything in that book. Because times have changed and we have adopted a westernized lifestyle. But there are several things which we can follow according to our tradition. The Ekadasi Upavasam and Dwadasi Paranai are practically possible and simple, if you can follow them. In fact, the modern science has now realized how good it is for health.

Do you know what autophagy is?

It is known as the process of intermittent fasting. Even a ‘Noble Prize’ was conferred to Yoshinori Ohsumi in 2016 for “discovering” it since 1990s with series of “brilliant experiments”. But our ancestors prescribed it in a simple manner. Inserting some spiritual connections, Ekadasi Upavasam was observed by everybody. It is more prevalent in the Vaishnava communities like the Madhwa communities of Karnataka and Sri Vaishnava communities of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. One of the reasons for this is we believe that Perumal is the nourisher and protector of the world, who feeds everybody. That is why in Sri Vaishnava temples Prasadams, Theerthams, Alankarams and other such rituals are more prominent and visible. Even today all the Divyadesams and other Vaishanava Kshetrams are very popular for their delicious Prasadams.

What is Ekadasi Upavasam and Dwadasi Paranai?

Ekadasi occurs twice a month in the traditional Hindu calendar, 11^th day after every full moon and new moon. Dwadasi is the following day. One should fast on the Ekadasi day and consume food only on the day of Dwadasi.

There are different types of Ekadasi Vratam. There is the very strict Nirjalam, which means you don’t even take a drop of water. Then there is Theerthopavasam, which means you give a concession and consume liquids and then there is the third one where you consume Phalaharam or fruits. The first one requires a lot of determination and the third one is usually prescribed for senior citizens or those with medical ailments who still wants to observe fasting. The second one however is a comfortable one where you can consume liquid diet.

The next day one should consume food early in the morning. The usual practice is to first have Perumal Theertham and take blessings and consume the food offered to him as Prasadam. In many Sri Vaishnava houses they cook the entire Thaligai (meals) at home only. But if you are travelling, then you can always visit a nearby Vaishnava temple and partake of the Prasadam.

It is important to know what you shout not eat, more than what you should eat. You must remember that the body has been starved for a full day and for its metabolism to come back to normal, you should consume the food that will help to revive it back. So consuming spice like red chilli, sour like tamarind and sweet like white sugar is usually avoided in Dwadasi Thaligai. Instead what we should consume is what is prescribed healthy for the body. Few things that boosts the immunity are a must have. The first thing is Nellika/Amla/Gooseberry, which is a rich source of vitamin C. Next is Agathi Keerai/Agasthya leaf which has good healing properties and balances the Doshas of Vatha, Pithah and Kaphah. Next important ingredient in the Dwadasi Thaligai is the Sundakkai/Turkey Berry, we normally get fresh Sundakkai in south India. But if it is not available, we can also use sun-dried variety of it. Since we cannot eat too much spice, what is prescribed is black pepper and ginger. Both of which are used in Ayurveda and have a lot of medicinal properties. Since we don’t consume white sugar, it is replaced by jaggery in the Thaligai. And last but not the least Neer Mor/Buttermilk to keep your system cool.

Normal Dwadasi Paranai Thaligai will have all these mentioned ingredients cooked in different forms. Among all these my favourite is Nellika Thayir Pachadi, Vendakkai Morkozhambu and the sweetest Akkaravadisal.

Now this system of fasting got more world-wide attention after the noble prize. But we have been following it for centuries in our houses and our temples. For those who are sceptical about the science factor of this fasting can refer to many online papers and sources. After all noble prize as a concept itself came much later than the concept of Ekadasi Upavasam. Which implies that we don’t need western accreditation of our traditions and customs. We have been doing it right all along. So try practicing it and you can see how your health problems decreasing slowly.

Yours East Gaterr