2 of 10

Write now Article Tools

India is vast region that houses many diverse peoples and languages. The Hindu religion dominates in Indian culture and experience. Hinduism is the third most populous religion in the world. In that respect it is important to realize that Hindu dietary customs could hardly be expected to be uniform. The one constant is the rejection of beef. Although there is much debate on the inclusion of the caste system as being part of Hinduism, it is none the less a major part of Indian society. A person's caste and region affect how he or she should adhere to the varying dietary customs.

Food in India is thought to be closely related to the actions and the functioning of the human body. Tamas, Rajas, and Sattva are Indian Ayurvedic terms referring to the vibration of various foods and how they affect both the physical body as well as the astral body. "Tamasic" foods are heavy and include meat and alcohol. This is thought to promote dullness and inertia. Rajasic foods are expanding foods that include onions, garlic, salt, spices, and seafood. They are thought to excite intellect and passion but they are also thought to interfere with meditation. Sattvic foods are thought to be related the astral ascension of the body. This category of foods includes fruits, vegetables, and grains. A diet rich in Sattvic foods is thought to promote transcendence, sublimity and orderliness making this type of food very beneficial to the spiritual body as well as the physical body. In the Indian culture it is understood that those of a higher class would adhere to the sattvic for spiritual development. The middle class diet consists of Rajasic foods and the lower class diet is that of Tamasic foods.

There are as many as 30% of Hindus that are vegetarian, depending on their region and sect. In some regions fish are believed to be the "fruits of the sea" and can therefore be considered a non meat. Any form of onion and garlic is forbidden because these foods inhibit transcendence. They are thought to cloud the mind with passion and cause bad breath which is offensive to Lord Krishna. Mushrooms are also avoided by the higher class because they are grown in dung or unclean ground. One interesting note, however, is that morels have long been picked and enjoyed in Kashmir, India and significant mushroom farming operations have been started in Kerala. This further dictates how a region interprets the Hindu beliefs.

Cow is sacred to the Hindu. A large part of the Hindu population venerates cow as "The Mother". Milk and milk products like butter and cheese is thought to be a more efficient use of the animal.

The Brahman Diet is important to members of the cult known as Hare Krishna. This diet emphasizes sattvic foods and minimizes rajasic foods while eliminating tamasic foods all together. In the Brahman diet meat and meat products are forbidden. Eggs are forbidden. Indian commodities of milk and milk products are permitted. A cheese known as panir predominates. This cheese does not use rennet as a coagulant but acid. Rennet is thought to be a meat product and therefore forbidden. Onions, mushrooms, stimulants such as caffeine, and any form of alcohol is forbidden.

Different regions interpret the rules differently and adapt their own influence into the diet. In the end though, regardless of the interpretations and caste, the Indian diet is one that is culturally rich and healthy.

Learn more about this author, Jennifer Smith.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

Add your voice

Know something about Dietary customs in India?
We want to hear your view. Write now!