Why is food itself called as Brahmā

हे न जाणावे साधारण ।
अन्‍न ब्रह्मरूप जाण ।
जे जीवनहेतु कारण ।
विश्‍वा यया ।। - श्री भावार्थदीपिका (श्री ज्ञानेश्‍वरी ३:३३)

Saint Dnyaneshvar says, ‘Food itself is Brahmā’ The whole universe originates from, sustains on and merges into Brahma. Similarly, all living beings originate from, survive on and merge into food.

Shrīvishṇu  is the Deity who controls the production, digestion and utilisation of food. In the Vishṇu  Sahastranām, ‘bhojan (food)’ and ‘bhoktā (the one who consumes it)’ are also included in the thousand Names of Shrivishṇu  as ‘भोजनाय नम:’, ‘भोक्‍ताय नम:’. That is food as well as its consumer are respected as Shrivishṇu . Click here to read more.

• 1. Food itself is Brahma (annam Brahma)
  • 1.1 Lord Vishnu - the deity of food
  • 1.2 Importance of food as a vehicle for the subtle body (linga deha)
  • 1.3 Food provides the structural components and energy
  • 1.4 The body is derived from food
  • 1.5 Definition of food
  • 1.6 Properties of food
  • 1.7 Importance of a beneficial diet
• 2. Meals
  • 2.1 Arrangement of food items in a plate
  • 2.2 When should a person dine ?
  • 2.3 Before meals
  • 2.4 Is it advisable to take an appetiser before meals ?
  • 2.5 Is it advisable to have an alcoholic drink as an appetiser before meals ?
  • 2.6 Selection of food
  • 2.7 How should one serve the courses of food ?
  • 2.8 When should one drink water during a meal?
  • 2.9 Eating slowly or eating fast
  • 2.10 Avoid the following types of food items
  • 2.11 Quantity of food