Kothavarangai is Vaayvu
1. what is the exact english equivalent for 'kothavarangai' and 'vaazhakkai'?
2. 'vaazhakkai' though very tasty, is also gaseous. may this is why our elders restricted consumption of 'vaazhakkai' to rituals like 'devasams' which were orthodox, but not for celebrations. our elders were not 'absurd'. they were great personalities. 'vaazhakkai' is also used during 'amavasyas' i understand. but it is generally avoided by orthodox bramins on normal days.
4. the fact that bramins restrict even vegetables like 'vaazhakkai', 'kothavarangai', onions, garlic clearly proves that bramins could never have consumed meat at any point of time.
4. i still do not know the reasons behind restricting 'kothavarangai'. but i am sure, our elders being such great persons, there must be a very important reason behind this. for e.g. we all know that when we eat first vegetable is first served on the leaf. this is because, it is said Lord Rama after returning to ayodhya after completing 14 yrs. exile, assumed power and he hosted a dinner in honour of LORD HANUMAN. since hanuman was a monkey god, he gave him vegetables. this started a new tradition, whereby in all orthodox functions vegetable is served first.
Suresh sir,
Kothavarangai is also similar to vaazhakkai in disturbing the vaayvu. Feed a lot of Kothavarangai to any kid, and next day he will complain of body pain. Elders are used to it, and they wont feel much of a difference.
That is why it is cooked rarely. Even if it cooked, elders advice to filter the water after boiling. There a book by Deepak Chopra ( not ageless body-its something else, I forgot, which discusses these).
Besides, as per Ayurveda, the body is in equilibrium with the surroundings, and vegetables grown in the same climate has the same charecteristics.
People travelling abroad and eating Sprouts for the first time might have experienced waking far away from the toilet the next day after eating.
And as you rightly said, our elders are very wise people and when we just follow their instructions, all is well. Onions and Garlic are powerful stimulants and we will be busy farting when doing our prayers
. That is why traditional brahmins avoided that. The food has to be saatvic. We are what we eat.
You may also note that there is a saying "Unave marunthu".. so the right combo of food acts as a medicine and keeps the body healthy. Over eating and incorrect eating kills more people in the world than hunger.
My grandmother preferred kathiri kaai, poosani kaai ( not parangi), manathakkali, sundai and other locally grown vegetables, and vegetables that grow above the ground only for healthy food..no doubt she lived beyond 90.
And thanks for bringing out the Hanumanji story. That was useful too.
On the funny side, there is a saying that, when a Josiyar and a maruthuvar go to the vegetable market, they come back home empty handed.
