The Academy of Yoga and Oriental Studies (AYOS) organised a valuable seminar here recently, which opened up new vistas of meaning which are highly beneficial for a healthy, invigorative and joyful life and living.
The speaker of the occasion was Dr Indulata Das, who quoted lavishly from great ancient texts of Charak and Bhaba Mishra on the principles of food habits and eating.
The meeting was presided over by Dr Ajit Kumar Nayak while AYOS member Mihir Kumar Mishra welcomed the guests and the audience.
Dr Indulata Das, who is the Director of AYOS, maintained that human beings are conditioned by four cardinal urges —food, water, sex and sleep. Food is indispensable for human life, the others being sleep and continence (Brahmacharya).
One’s longevity lengthens if his or her life is supported by Brahmacharya or celibacy besides food and sleep.
Food, she said, not only sustains the human body but also shapes the mind and nature of a man. Hence, utmost care should be taken to choose place and time of food. Water should not be taken before or after eating food; it should be taken gradually or intermittently after consuming some portion of food. It is ideal that one should have a leisurely ambling or stroll of hundred steps after taking food but not under sunshine.
Food should not be exhibited in the public while consuming it. It should not be taken for the satisfaction of one’s Indriya or sensual delight but should be taken as an oblation unto the divine residing in the temple of human body.
Scholars like S Sundar Rajan, Dr BK Swain and Dr Ajit Nayak stormed the session through their thought-provoking questions and the speaker met their queries.
Dr Nayak informed that the Indian food habits being probed by eminent scientists of the world have stood the test of time as being hygienic.
He exhorted one and all to abide by Indian food habits as delivered by the speaker from the texts so that it would be transmitted from generation to generation making future citizen’s life more meaningful.