Re: Avoidance of Onion and Garlic

What is the true reason that Vaishnavas shouldn�t use garlic/onions?

(1) The food offerings to Lord Gauranga Krishna with onion or garlic are considered unacceptable.
(2) It is widely accepted in all religions and can also be scientifically (clinically) verified that onion or garlic increase the agitation (mode of passion) and ignorance which is detrimental to peaceful absorption in Mantra Meditation.

And why are we allowed to use hing/asafetida?  It smells even worse than garlic.

It has not just the smell.

(3) Unlike onion and garlic, the origin of Hing is originally not from cow's meat or bones.

There is some basis in the stories about onions and garlic in all religions because the original source of onions and garlic is inauspicious. So it is not merely a coincidence that most spiritual paths suggest the avoidance of onions and garlic. In regards to the medicinal value, even chicken soup may have some medicinal value, but we don't take it due to obvious reasons. We can always find suitable medicinal alternatives to onions and garlic which can be accepted freely. Also, in a matter of life and death (survival) like a plague, accepting onions or garlic may be considered as an exceptional case if no other solution is available. But in normal considerations, no one is going to die if one eats food without onions and garlic. I hope this helps. Nityaananda! Gauraanga! Hare Krishna!

Daaso'smi, BRS Swami Gaurangapada.

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