Role of Religion, Spirituality, and Faith in Food Choices - Adequate Food for All - page 37

dIetARy lAws, ceRemonIes, And RItuAls
In RePResentAtIve RelIgIons
One of the Three Ways of Salvation in Hinduism is Karma Marga, or the Way of
Works (or Actions or Duties). Strict dietary laws are lodged in a law topic known
as the Code of Manu. According to Manu, “Food that is always worshipped gives
strength and manly vigor; but eaten irreverently it destroys both.” Found in the
Taittiriya Upanishad is this proclamation regarding food: “From food are produced
all creatures which dwell on earth. Then they live by food, and in the end, they return
to food. For food is the oldest of beings and therefore it is called panacea.”
One sacramental rite at the beginning of a follower's life is a first feeding with
boiled rice. Later in life, the head of the house must honor the guardian deities with
portions of food fresh from the hands of the lady of the house. Until this ceremony is
completed, no one eats. At life's end, ancestral spirits are honored through shraddha
rites, which include food offerings of pinda (rice balls pressed into firm cakes) that
help contribute to a new body for the dead (Noss, 1963). It is also required to practice
hospitality by offering food to guests before members of the household eat, with the
guests representing the visitation of “the Lord.”
Three dimensions of Hindu dietary laws can be expressed by the words sacrifices
(various food offerings), austerity (devotion, self-denial, and fasting), and charity
(interestingly, this covers both giving food to the needy—“good karma”—and vari-
ous situations where begging for food was a requirement for students). Although a
primarily vegetarian diet is preferred, many Hindus today do eat meat. Other restric-
tions include spicy foods, mushrooms, onions, and garlic.
In some religious traditions, dietary laws are divided between foods that are
allowed or lawful and those not allowed or unlawful. In Islam, lawful behavior falls
under the rubric halal (free or allowable), while prohibited behaviors are known as
haram (unlawful). Generally, those things that are lawful and contribute to clean liv-
ing, are pure, delightful, or pleasant. However, too much of a good thing would vio-
late another precept of Islam, moderation. The Qur'an advises: “O you who believe,
forbid not the good things which Allah has made lawful for you, and exceed not the
limits” (5:87). In terms of food, there are four specific prohibitions:
1. That which dies of itself (as in carrion)
2. Blood (as in that which is poured forth)
3. Flesh of swine
4. That over which any other name than that of Allah has been invoked at the
time of its slaughter.
(There are specific laws about how the slaughter of animals is to be carried out, the
major consideration being the complete and free flowing of blood so that poisons do
not form part of the food; Ali, 1971).
Food laws are detailed extensively in the Qur'an and the traditions that flow from
it. For example, the prophet Mohammed prohibited the eating of canine-toothed ani-
mals and clawed birds of prey. The tame ass is prohibited, but not the wild ass, and
the mule, but not the horse. Interestingly, many foods considered halal are considered