Sex and the Body in Hinduism - Essay Example

Food, Sex and the Body in Hinduism In the Hindu community, the food, the body and the woman are interrelated, and they control one another. Food in the Hindu community is perceived beyond just the biological functioning of the body and development. According to the Hindus, food is cultural, and has some symbolic meaning based on their culture and spiritual believe, it links the cultural concepts on the life of an individual (The Danger of Leftovers and the Intimacy of Eating). Hindus claim that, the food is linked to the reproduction, exchange, consumption and preparation, and the construct aspect of food develops the reality of the social construction. The Hindus claim that, food has a relationship with their culture and norms. It links to the customs of kingship, rituals, beliefs, purity, ethics as well as social stratification. Therefore, the food and the process of eating define an individual and the culture that such an individual is perceived in the world of Hinduism. Food in this case has many meanings, especially to the religion, and the meanings go beyond general nourishment (Tantric Shakta Conceptions of the Body, Sex, and Women). According to the Indian community, foods tells more about the formation of the creation and the universe, it also defines the body, relationships, divinity, goals of the religion, personality, sexuality, behavior, taste, the responsibilities. The behaviors of the individual towards food define the perception of the people in the whole world and society. Food is not just perceived in a negative way, however, positively, it is food is life and man comes from food, meaning that semen comes from food therefore it should be given to the god. Food to them is related to the sexual exchange in the symbolic terms, this is expressed through eating together indicating a good relationship between the people, as well as expressing the closeness those people are, therefore, there is some intimacy between them (Urban). . According to the Indians, food is connected to the memories of an individual, since it can either hurt or please the mind and the heart. Through food, the social identity is expressed, through the tastes and preferences, the conformity to the culture, the family, the society around them and the education that they have achieved both morally and ethically. In addition, food is always used during ritual performance, and through bonding between the individuals, this is through communication of people they eat together, they create a personal trust and truth with them, and then they can share their feelings and fears. The Hindus have shaped their food holistically; this has the abstract part of a person, which is the conscious mind, the emotions as well as the personality, which affects the one self. Therefore, the food always has the influence of the soul and makes ones personality. Moreover, food creates a relationship between the divine god and the human (Introducing (Hindu) Food Beliefs: More than Physical Nourishment). Food and the body The food defines the body and inner emotions of an individual. Therefore, ones the food and the eating are controlled, and then the individual’s body is controlled. This is achieved through the control of the feelings, behavior and emotions, since food affects the inner part of our emotions, and the spiritual believes. They claim that since the food is porous, therefore, it can absorb the thinking and emotions of an individual then change his personality. Food shapes the personal traits, and the way that people think, therefore people are who they are because of the food they eat. Therefore, based on the above knowledge, it shows that for an individual to possess good traits, personality and thinking, the food heats have to be controlled (Urban). Food and sex According to Ramanujan, 238 foods plays an important role in sex, through food people socialize, express their feelings towards their social relationships as well as intimacy. As people eat together, they develop a relationship and bonding and as people come together to eat, it implies that there is a close relationship between such individuals. However, according to ascetics, rejecting of food indicated that the person is rejecting the society, since food is people, and people are the society. Food, sex and body contradict each other, in this case, the relationship between food and relationship states that the food should not be controlled because that is like rejecting and limiting the society. However, food and the body, indicate that the food should be controlled in order to control the body, and a controlled body shows a good mind (Prasoon, 2012). According to the Ascetic perception of the body, sex and women, the women are perceived as sex objects, according to Brahmanical, the man Dharma perform sex with one’s wife in order to have sons. The women are seen as the object of sex, and reproduction. They have to honor their husbands, raise the family and perform the ritual and perform vratas to protect the family. The Vedic states that the body of a human being should be kept pure, and through the rituals, it becomes pure. The foods of the body are not pure since they overflow beyond the boundaries and therefore, they need to be controlled through the ritual to purify the body. The fluids are also considered very dangerous because of their impurity. However, the fluid is fertile, therefore, can make a new life. The fluids are linked to the emotions of an individual and they therefore need to be controlled since the emotions are linked to the body and the mind (Women, Shakti and the power of bodily fluids). Brahmanical household show that sex and sexual fluids, which include milk, menses, as well as semen. These are perceived to be very impure and not good for the body; therefore, they should be excreted from the body. They claim that the three fluids have some special power; therefore, making them dangerous, especially because they have the power to bring life. However, the power they have is very fruitful and a blessing to the living creatures, the production of a new life is always a blessing this also creates satisfaction during sexual intercourse as it is linked to the three fluids. In addition, the male power, (semen) has the seed to produce a ling creature, as well as the milk from the breast bonds the maternal love to the child and it is also the food for the infants. The menstrual periods are always perceived with impurity, yet it is the materialization for the woman’s passion, and sexuality (Olivelle). Ascetic, householder and Tantric Shakta perception of the body The female bodies are therefore, perceived to be very impure as it is associated with the menstrual period and with the body and their ability to give birth, when ascetic thought denigrates the body, it denigrates women who are associated with the body. The womens bodies are also very dangerous as they have very serous desires just because their desires are compelled by the menstrual period, for instance the desire for love, childbirth, and sex, which is also linked to the menstrual blood. This makes them feel inferior before men, the authority as well as inferior to the spirit. However, since life comes from women who are directly linked to the menstrual blood, therefore it turns out to be a blessing. The duality of the female as a sex object and a mother are very paradoxical. The women are the marriage makers, give birth, provide sexual satisfaction for men, and they can control sex as well as the sexual flows (Olivelle). Sex, body, the fluids from the body, and women According to the Ascetic thought, they claim that the body is naturally impure; therefore, it hinders an individual fro recognizing the true self as Brahman. Therefore, according to them, the body should be denied the opportunity to do the activities that can be resisted. That is, through fasting, denies the body food, hence controls the body, according to them, the food ties ones in the body yet they should go beyond that. Ascetic also claims that the Sex, body, the fluids from the body, and women are unclean. They need to control this only through denial, especially of sex, as well as reproduction. According to them the women, sex and the body makes the world. Therefore, one needs to understand the true self, which is the formless Brahman. There is a relationship between the Brahmanical household and ascetic perception, the way they perceive the body, the woman and the body fluids. They all perceive them to be very impure, however, the highest goddess; Shikti is a woman who is also the powerful creator. The world is made up of the female matter, the goddess is also dual (Urban). References Introducing (Hindu) Food Beliefs: More than Physical Nourishment. Available from Power Point Presentation. The Danger of Leftovers and the Intimacy of Eating. Available from Power Point Presentation Tantric Shakta Conceptions of the Body, Sex, and Women. Available from Power Point Presentation. Women, Shakti and the power of bodily fluids. Available from Power Point Presentation. Olivelle, P. From feast to fast: Food and the Indian Ascetic. Cultural, Historical and Textual Studies of Religions: Ascetics and Brahmins: Studies in Ideologies and Institutions: Anthem Press. p 90. Available at Urban B. H. The power of Tantra. 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