Hello Friends! I am Vaidya Manish Trivedi, I am Ayurvedic Vaidya( doctor) and spiritual seeker with a love and living for Ayurveda. Growing up, I learned that food isn’t just about flavor, it’s about how we experience it—feeling the textures, savoring each bite with all your senses, and connecting to the food in a personal way. Through this blog, I’ll be exploring the art of eating with your hands, from cultural traditions to personal experiences, and spiritual importance, even practical tips on how to enjoy your meals in a more mindful, sensory way.
Almost all of us living in this modern world are trained to eat using knives, fork and spoons. it is not easy for us to eat with hands but if we can try, If not always, at least from time to time that will help us to slow down and that a process of eating will become a mindful routine. which can give us a sense of satisfaction, pleasure of experiencing the real taste of the food and definitely will help to reduce over eating. you will be surprised that after eating smaller meal also you feel satisfaction because of eating with hands.
As per Vedic texts, eating with hands stimulates our energy centers -chakras and five pranas of our spiritual physiology. according to ancient wisdom our each finger represents one of the five elements space, air, fire, water and earth. and we have learnt in our past blogs that each chakra represents the power of five pranas. when we eat with hands we allow the five elements within our body to start to transform and digest our food before it enters into mouth. I know, it is not easy to digest what I am writing here.
Hands are the most important action organ. hands and feet are the channels of the five elements, these five elements flow through each finger. from The thumb in Sanskrit as “Angustha” comes space, air through the index , fire from the middle finger, water from the ring finger and from the little finger comes the earth element. the ancient masters says that when we eat with our hands the five elements representing each finger starts to transform the food and make it digestible before it reaches to the mouth. this changes also increases the senses so we can see, smell and taste and feel the texture of the food and also we can hear the sound of eating. all these sensations signals the digestive fire to get ready for the coming food.
Actually the process of eating is spiritual nourishing because we activate the energies of the deities associated with each element and stimulate the consciousness within. when we eat we use our fingers in a particular way to make a bolus that is known as Mudras. these mudras passes the elements of nature from the fingers and hands into the food and later it connects with the fire within.
Every time when I refer about diet, I always mention about the energy of the food and adoption of the energy by the food as per our mental stage at the time of eating. so mental fire which is known as “Tejas” and digestive fire both works at the same time and by being aware of igniting the fire within us we can see the digestion process starts before the food or thought goes in.
As per Ayurvedic philosophy any physical or mental imbalances starts because of low or weak digestive fire. fast paced lifestyle and improper timings of the food is the main cause of weak digestive fire. we should respect the principles of ancient philosophy to nourish our body, mind and soul. eating with hands nourishes our body, mind and soul.
As per the teachings, each individual is a microcosm of the universe and if that is true then what ever is in the universe is in the individual. also we have learnt in the past few blogs that the universe is made of five elements and everything in this universe is made of five elements. that applies to our food and ourselves as well. as we discussed each finger represents each elements and to energize the food and to get the faster digestion we can use our hands to eat.
Let’s ask ourselves: what is the essence of a person? I personally believe it is the fundamental nature that is uniquely ours and connects us to the universe with the similar energies. As humans, we are connected to the vast energy of the infinite, dimensionless universe through our limbs. as described in “The Purusha Suktam”, the universe is an infinite sequence of energy. it describes this energy as a living force, with eyes, ears, arms, legs, hands and feet and heads watching over all of existence. Just as the universe guards the many limbs and energies of its infinite structure, so each of us is meant to become aware of the greater life force and its many aspects. The sage explained that the individual who strives to live a spiritual life must first be aware of the life force and its many manifestations, limbs and faces before he can accomplish and serve it.
When we use our limbs in content with the sacred laws of nature, every action worships and praises the omniscient Divinity in all things. When we eat with our hands, or feed the young and infirm with them, use them to dig into the rich soil and plant a good seed, embrace someone, or give them a gift, hold the hands in prayer, we are using our hands to share in the maternal healing energies of the universe. Being conscious of how we use our hands is a wonderful act of sadhana.
To start your mudra practice, engage anjali mudra.
Each morning you engage this practice will help you remember the sanctity of your hands and your connection to the creative energies of our universe. In anjali mudra, bring the palms of your hands together in front of the heart, with fingers pointing upward. When we hold the hands in this manner, we stimulate the prana, or energy, that circulates through the heart, which increases its vitality and brings us a sense of ease and resolve. To evoke the Deities, raise the clasped hands to the center of the forehead. This mudra is itself an act of prayer and helps to heal the heart, not only of the trespasses of the present life, but also of the wounds incurred through timeless rebirths. When you bring your hands together, you are transforming all five elements back into their source of tejas, the energy of the subtle fire of creation that is responsible for cellular and nuclear metabolism within and without. You will immediately feel oneness with the Divine.
We are all embarked on a lifelong quest for consciousness, which emerges from the cultivation of awareness, the inner knowing that depends entirely on the harmonious relationship we develop with nature. The aim of the food sadhana practices I advocate is to help us reconnect to the greater energy of the universe so that we may restore our cognitive memory that goes far back to the origin of the universe. Using mudras for eating and communing with the food we eat is a paramount step to connecting with cosmic energies and a vital means of receiving nourishment by touching upon the Earth’s bounty. The practice of these specific mudras is likely to open your heart to the Mother’s wisdom. Feast with your hands at Her table and you will never go hungry or angry. Food is memory. Eating with your hands is remembering your sacred nature.
In ghronikah mudra the five fingertips form a petal around a lump of food about the size of a plum. This is one of the two main mudras used for eating solid food like grains and vegetables, or for scooping dals with chapati or bread.
In annabhakshana mudra, use the fingertips to pick up a small amount of food,
sufficient to fit on the base of the four fingers. Use the thumb to advance the food forward and into the mouth. This is the second of the two main mudras for eating any solid food. Only the right hand is used for eating. Annabhakshana mudra practice cultivates our discrimination in eating good quality food in the appropriate quantity and in a tranquil environment.
Kangulah mudra is taking food with the thumb, forefinger and mid-finger. Engage this mudra when eating long, slender pieces of food, like asparagus, carrots, celery, sugar cane and “drumsticks” or Moringa.
As we bring food to our mouth in kangulah mudra, the palm of the hand faces upward, evoking the spirit of consciousness as we touch upon Nature. This mudra cultivates a gentle reverence for Nature’s precious gifts. The first mudra, Ghronikah, activates and balances the element of earth within the body. The earth element controls our sense of smell and gives us added vision to “smell our way,” that is, to be keenly aware of our connection to Mother Nature.
Kadambah mudra crouches the five fingers around firm, solid food. This mudra is reserved for eating round-shaped fresh fruits that fit neatly in the palm of the hand, such as apple, pear, mango or peach. You may also use it to eat sweets like ladhu. The mudra is named after the famed kadamba tree, which is said to put forth buds at the roaring of thunder-clouds, and which produces hard, inedible fruits. When Mother Nature is mistreated and taken for granted, she roars her thunder and makes rare her fruits. Practicing this mudra helps us to remember to be grateful for every speck of Nature’s food.
Mukulah mudra is eating with all five fingers tightly knitted together. In this mudra a minimal quantity of food is taken at a time, for example, ten grains of cooked rice. The mudra is used in annaprashanam, or the ceremony of first feeding, one of the 16 samskaras, usually performed in the fifth or sixth month of a child’s life. Mukulah mudra is a reminder that we are forever in the bud of life, continually regenerating the on-rushing flow of awareness. Every bite of food must serve to awaken cosmic memory of the first food we, as conscious human beings, imbibe from the Mother’s nectary.
Khatakamukhah mudra is tasting or sampling food with forefinger, mid-finger and thumb tightly pinched. This mudra measures the equivalent of a half-teaspoon. It is used to mete out spices and condiments in cooking. We may also use it as a pinch-measure for medicines. Food is the most potent form of medicine. We need to exercise caution. Keeping our hearts open but our hands half-closed when receiving food is a good policy to maintain. Khatakamukhah mudra helps us to exercise firm discretion around food.
Lastly, our fingers serve as a safety tool, notifying us that the food may be too hot, thus preventing us from burning our mouth and tongue. When we touch the food with our fingers our mind sends a message to our stomach that we are about to eat resulting it to start the digestive process even before we take the first bolus. Set aside time, change the pace of your life, take off your shoes, wash your hands, prepare your food and sit down on the floor and immerse your mind, body and spirit in the cultural practice of
eating with your hands.
Remember eating is more than just ingesting nutrients for your body. Eating a meal provides opportunities for bonding, relaxing, connecting and learning from one another.
Thanks for taking time to read this article, Hope you enjoy reading this blog. see you next month with a new interesting topic till then stay safe and healthy.
Viadya. Manish Trivedi.