Practice of Sraddha in Daily
Life
What are the different traits of these three different forms of Sraddha in day to day activities? That
is what Sri Krishna now explains,
to illustrate further the differences.
He says that even their favorite foods are different for people
with the three types of nature. They follow different methods towards the three
pillars of virtuous lives – sacrifices, spiritual practices and
charities.
The foods for a Sattvik
are typically those which enhance longevity, intellect, health, recovery
(from illness), bliss, and happiness. Such foods are by nature
juicy, refreshing, stable (good for the body in the long run) and pleasing (to
the body and mind).
On the other hand pungent, excessive salty, spicy, sharp (for the
stomach), dry (without the juice), burning (excessive spicy, causing a burning
sensation in the stomach) foods are the favorites of the Rajasik people and they result in
miseries and pains (for the body and mind).
What about the Tamasik?
They take food fit for their nature – food which has been prepared a while ago,
whose juices have dried up, stale, decomposed, remnants of food taken by others,
foods which cannot be used for sacrifice purpose etc are the foods which a Tamasik would partake.
Purity of food is important as according to the belief, food helps
in creating blood and therefore food which is naturally pure would help in
possessing internal purity. Sattvik
foods like fruits, roots, milk, ghee, sweetmeats etc. would enhance the sattvik dispensation. Moreover they are
healthy in the long run and therefore body as well as mind remains fit for
spiritual discipline by eating such foods.
Rajasik
foods are mostly spicy and hot. One may like them while eating but later they
create problems for the body mind and contribute to various stomach ailments in
the long run.
Tamasik
foods are better avoided altogether as they are taken by people with Tamasik propensity like the Chandalas.
The sacrifices are also of three types according to the nature of
the performer. A sacrifice which is performed inline with the scriptural
injunctions without desiring any fruit (performed for the sake of performing
only, i.e. as a duty of a householder as prescribed in the Vedas), with the necessary devotion, is
called sattvik.
If one performs sacrifice for the sake of fulfillment of some
purpose, like progeny, wealth, heaven etc. or for the sake of pride and ego
(i.e. to show one’s wealth and power), that sacrifice is called rajasik.
A sacrifice performed without any consideration for the scriptural
injunctions, without distribution of the fruits or the annam, one which is devoid of chants and
gifts, in which the performer does not possess any faith or devotion is called
Tamasik.
There are three different forms of ascetic practices or penances.
One is bodily, one is through speeches and one is by mind. These are also
classified further into three types depending upon the nature of the performer.
The bodily penances are worshipping gods, Brahmins and other higher castes, Guru,
elders, maintaining purity (both internal and external), simplicity and honesty,
celibacy or purity in action, and non violence.
The practice of speaking such words that do not cause any stress to
the other, that are true, that are nice to hear and that are for the benefit of
the others, the study of the scriptures (like reciting the Vedas and chanting Sama) are called penances through
speech.
Having a tranquil mind free from all troubles and anxieties,
gentleness, calmness, controlling of passions in the mind like anger, jealousy,
hatred, having only pure thoughts are called the penances of the
mind.
Performing these three types of penances with devotion and
regularity, without any desire for the fruits is called Sattik penance. If one performs such
penances for getting some desires fulfilled, for recognition and fame, for
status, with pride (of performing a difficult task), one is actually doing a Rajasik penance.
The deluded souls who perform penance by torturing themselves or
for the sake of causing harm to others (Tantrik means like Maran/Uchatan) are actually doing
Tamasik penance.
A gift which is given away in the spirit of giving (i.e. giving is
a necessity, a scriptural injunction which has to be respected), to somebody
from whom the donor expects no favor, with proper consideration of the time,
space and person is called a Sattvik
Gift.
Some of the very important considerations about gift are
whom we are giving, when we are giving and what we are giving. If gifts, for
instance, are given to a non deserving person, they bear no fruits or result in
no merits. Scriptures recommend gifts to Brahmins, poor and needy, monks,
destitute etc. A sacrifice may be the best place for giving away and so are
temples or holy places. Certain times are more auspicious for gifts than other
times, for instance some festivals where everybody, including a poor person
should celebrate and the gift enables a poor to take part in festive spirit and
share the joy of others. In certain situations gifts are mandatory like famine
or drought when a large number of people are suffering. It is the duty of
householders, to support others, who are less privileged than him in the society
or who are devoted heart and soul to the God. A householder should not expect
any return for such contribution either in this world, or next.
A gift that is given expecting some returns (blessings, expectation
of merits) or for the sake of the merits of such donations, given away
grudgingly (not in the proper spirit) is called Rajasik gift.
A donation must be made in proper spirit. It should not be
made with an air of superiority. A giver must be humble enough to acknowledge
that it is his great fortune to be able to help others with his surplus wealth.
A giver is in no way better than a receiver because a receiver does a favor to
him by accepting the gifts and enabling him to do a good work and earn merits.
However a person with a Rajasik faith
does not possess enough humility to give away in the right spirit as per
injunctions of the scriptures.
A Tamasik gift is given
at an improper time and place, to a person not fit enough to receive such gift
(like giving a pearl necklace to a monkey, or casting pearls before swine as the
popular sayings go). Such a gift is given by a person with a Tamasik faith and hence performed in a
most improper way with contempt and derision and without any respect for the
receiver (like throwing coins to a beggar). Such a gift begets no
merit.
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