Vegetarian Cuisine
SPICED OAT OR MILLET PORRIDGE– Millet flakes cook as quickly as oats, and the porridge tends to be smoother. The flavour is less strong, so using the spices is important. Serves 4
Ingredients:
200g (7oz) rolled oats or millet flakes
4 tbsp raisins
½ tsp ground cardamom
½ tsp ground ginger
To serve:
160ml (5 ½ fl oz) organic cow’s or soya milk
2 tbsp maple syrup or honey (optional)
Freshly grated nutmeg, to taste
Preparation:
1. In a medium-sized saucepan over a medium heat, bring 1.5 litres (2 ½ pints) filtered water to the boil. Pour in the oats or millet, raisins, and spices, stirring continually as you do so.
2. Reduce the heat and simmer gently, stirring occasionally, until the porridge reaches a creamy consistency (7-10 minutes).
3. Serve in bowls and add milk and grated nutmeg to taste. If a sweeter porridge is desired, add some honey or maple syrup.
As food is necessary for the body, prayer and meditation are necessary for the Soul. – Sri Swami Sivananda
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Spiritual Calendar
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NOVEMBER 2022
03 Ekadasi DECEMBER 2022 03 Ekadasi; Gita Jayanti A true unity of heart is the real remedy for the diseases of separatism, hatred, hostility and a great deal of misunderstanding among individuals. – Sri Swami Sivananda |
Glossary
GITA JAYANTI
Gita Jayanti, or the birthday of the Bhagavad Gita , is celebrated by all the admirers and lovers of this most sacred scripture on the eleventh day (Ekadashi) of the bright half of the month of Margaseersha (December-January), according to the Hindu almanac. It was on this day that Sanjaya narrated to King Dhritarashtra the dialogue between Sri Krishna and Arjuna, and thus made the glorious teachings of the Lord available to us, and to people of the world, for all time.
The Gita is the most beautiful and the only truly philosophical song. It contains sublime lessons on wisdom and philosophy. It is the “Song Celestial”. It is the universal gospel. It contains the message of life that appeals to all, irrespective of race, creed, age or religion.
The Gita is a source of power and wisdom. It strengthens you when you are weak, and inspires you when you feel dejected and feeble. It teaches you to embrace righteousness and to resist unrighteousness.
The Gita is not merely a book or just a scripture. It is a living voice carrying an eternally indispensable and vital message to mankind. Its verses embody words of wisdom coming from the infinite ocean of knowledge, the Absolute Itself.
The voice of the Gita is the call of the Supreme. It is the divine sound explained. The primal source of all existence, all power, is the manifested sound–Om. This is the Divine Word. It is Nada Brahman, whose unceasing call is: “Be ye all ever merged in the eternal, unbroken, continuous consciousness of the Supreme Truth.” This is the sublime message that the Gita elaborates and presents in all comprehensiveness and in a universally acceptable form.
The Gita may be summarised in the following seven verses:
1. “Uttering the one-syllabled Om, the Brahman, and remembering Me, he who departs, leaving the body thus, attains the Supreme Goal”.
2. “It is meet, O Lord, that the world delights and rejoices in Thy praise; the demons fly in fear to all quarters, and all the hosts of Siddhas bow to Thee!”
3. “With hands and feet everywhere, with eyes, heads and mouths everywhere, with ears everywhere, He exists in the world, enveloping all”.
4. “Whosoever meditates on the omniscient, ancient ruler of the whole world, minuter than an atom, the supporter of all, of form inconceivable, effulgent like the sun, such a one goeth beyond the darkness of ignorance”.
5. “They, the wise, speak of the indestructible Asvattha, having its roots above and branches below, whose leaves are the metres or hymns; he who knows it is a knower of the Vedas”.
6. “And I am seated in the hearts of all; from Me are memory and knowledge, as well as their absence. I am verily that which has to be known by all the Vedas; I am indeed the author of Vedanta, and the knower of the Vedas am I”.
7. “Fix thy mind on Me; be devoted to Me; sacrifice to Me; bow down to Me; having thus united thy whole Self with Me, taking Me as the Supreme Lord, thou shalt verily come to Me”.
Glory to Lord Krishna, the Divine Teacher! Glory to Sri Vyasa, the poet of poets, who composed the Gita! May his blessings be upon you all!
From Hindu Fasts and Festivals by Sri Swami Sivananda