Sacredness of Food

[JustGeorge]

In my reading the other day, I encountered a belief the Mayan had about maize: "Our first grandparents were made of maize, and they are the four strengths"

Of course, my next move was to find out what the 4 strengths are. It seems its roughly thought to be physical vitality, spiritual wisdom, devotion and gratitude, and balance/unity.

Many foods are mentioned in sacred stories and scriptures throughout time. Ayurveda teaches one about the qualities of certain foods beyond just nutrition guidelines, and aids one in choosing foods most appropriate for them.

What do you think of the idea of foods holding sacredness? Are there any that are important to you or your religious traditions?

 

[talib-al-kalim]

For us, according to Islam, food is not sacred, but essential.
Above all, we should share food; giving food to those who are hungry is the priority coming second but inherently deriving from the first commandment, which is to respect God.

.. to give food in times of famine, to an orphaned relative, or to a poor person in distress, and—above all—to be one of those who have faith and urge each other to have perseverance and urge each other to have compassion; these are the people of the right.” (Al-Balad, Qur’an 90: 14 – 18).
We have the obligatory Zakat, which is quite the same as the teething among Christians, and Sadaqa, voluntary support, which is recommended.

No, not the food itself is holy to us, but His commandments concerning it. From Whom all comes.

 

[TheLightWithin]

What do you think of the idea of foods holding sacredness? Are there any that are important to you or your religious traditions?

The idea of blessing one's food and giving thanks for it aligns with the idea.

Holiday meals seem sacred, because of the memory and emotion attached, even though my upbringing was mostly secular.

The idea that some foods are sacred seems to be a counterpoint to the idea that some foods are forbidden (as in some religions, Judaism, Islam, and some branches of Christianity forbidding pork and shellfish in addition to some other foods or combinations of foods) I had always heard that Hinduism forbid beef, and possibly pork as well. Does that mean that properly prepared Kosher or halal foods are blessed?

Specific foods being blessed may be something that has to be regional. If a food was blessed but you could not obtain it where you traveled to what would that mean? Would a similar food in a new region be a candidate?

Maize being from the Americas, what if a holder of those beliefs traveled outside the Americas? Nowadays I'm sure you can get it all over the world. Is rice blessed in some countries?

I had to look it up because I love rice.

Religious significance of rice in India - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

East meets West in an article from 20 years ago Blessed Rice - Hinduism Today

https://vedanshcraft.com/en-us/blogs/news/why-is-rice-used-in-hindu-rituals

Showering Newlyweds with Rice at a Hindu Wedding | CrystalView

Rice is also thrown at Western weddings though nowadays people are using birdseed instead to protect the stomachs of birds.

Throwing birdseed???

My venue doesn’t allow rice or confetti to be thrown when walking back down the aisle. Which is totally understandable, especially with the confetti. Instead they’ve

www.weddingwire.com

 

[JustGeorge]

The idea of blessing one's food and giving thanks for it aligns with the idea.

Holiday meals seem sacred, because of the memory and emotion attached, even though my upbringing was mostly secular.

The idea that some foods are sacred seems to be a counterpoint to the idea that some foods are forbidden (as in some religions, Judaism, Islam, and some branches of Christianity forbidding pork and shellfish in addition to some other foods or combinations of foods) I had always heard that Hinduism forbid beef, and possibly pork as well. Does that mean that properly prepared Kosher or halal foods are blessed?

Specific foods being blessed may be something that has to be regional. If a food was blessed but you could not obtain it where you traveled to what would that mean? Would a similar food in a new region be a candidate?

Maize being from the Americas, what if a holder of those beliefs traveled outside the Americas? Nowadays I'm sure you can get it all over the world. Is rice blessed in some countries?

I had to look it up because I love rice.

Religious significance of rice in India - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

East meets West in an article from 20 years ago Blessed Rice - Hinduism Today

https://vedanshcraft.com/en-us/blogs/news/why-is-rice-used-in-hindu-rituals

Showering Newlyweds with Rice at a Hindu Wedding | CrystalView

Rice is also thrown at Western weddings though nowadays people are using birdseed instead to protect the stomachs of birds.

Throwing birdseed???

My venue doesn’t allow rice or confetti to be thrown when walking back down the aisle. Which is totally understandable, especially with the confetti. Instead they’ve

www.weddingwire.com

Interesting articles! I've actually read that one from Hinduism Today(great magazine!)

Thinking back to other studies I've done, I remember rye being particularly sacred to the Baltic countries. Yes, I suppose some of this is regional, but I can't help but notice a similarity. One of the articles on rice mentions that rice is seen as a manifestation of Bhumdevi(the earth goddess). The Mayan references talks about the original "grandparents" being made of such. Rye, rice, maize, are all different forms of grains.

Perhaps it is grain in general that could be seen as a way of communing with the Divine Feminine...

Rice certainly is used in Hindu rituals... bits of rice on the temple floor are pretty common at the one I was able to go to. I've used rice and barley in pujas myself.