John Miller
In the yogic diet, mushrooms are considered tamasic, a quality of food that decreases the energy of the body and increases inertia, confusion, and inner darkness. This is because mushrooms are a fungus and are believed to lack light and life force. However, some devotees disagree and believe that mushrooms are edible. According to Ayurveda, sattvic, rajasic, and tamasic foods consist of some combination of the five basic elements: prithvi (earth), jala (water), teja (fire), vayu (air), and akash (ether).
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Diet | Yogic, Ayurvedic, Sattvic |
| Energy | Decreases body energy |
| Consciousness | Promotes dullness, inertia, confusion, inner darkness |
| Spirituality | Promotes ignorance |
| Stimulation | Lack of light and life force |
| Food type | Fungus |
| Food preparation | Not cooked |
| Food combination | Incompatible foods (viruddha) |
| Food state | Stale |
| Food examples | Meat, fast food, alcohol, blue cheese, wheat, eggs, milk, yeast |
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What You'll Learn
Mushrooms are a fungus, not a vegetable
Mushrooms are a fungus because of their living conditions and how they grow. They start their lives underground as white fluff, or mycelium, which are the fungal threads that sprout the mushrooms. If the circumstances are favourable, buds will form that seek the daylight, and a mushroom will grow. Mushrooms do not need light to grow, and they do not have leaves, roots, or seeds. They are often used as a vegetarian meat substitute and are very suitable for this purpose.
Mushrooms are considered to be very healthy. They are low in calories, high in protein and fibre, and contain many health-boosting vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. They are also a good source of selenium, copper, thiamin, magnesium, and phosphorus. They are one of the few food sources that naturally have a good amount of vitamin D, which is best known for helping us absorb calcium to assist with bone health.
Mushrooms are also environmentally friendly. They don't take much water, do not use much energy, and can grow without sunlight. One acre can grow one million pounds of mushrooms, which is over seven pounds per square foot.
Despite their many health and environmental benefits, mushrooms are considered tamasic and are not eaten by some due to their fungal nature. In the ancient culinary bhakti-yoga tradition, mushrooms are not cooked, and they are considered unfit foods to prepare in sacred food offerings. However, some Hare Krishna devotees do occasionally eat them.
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They are considered to be tamasic in the yogic diet
Mushrooms are considered tamasic in the yogic diet. In yogic and Ayurvedic traditions, foods are classified according to their qualities or gunas, which include sattva, rajas, and tamas. A sattvic diet is one that is pure, essential, natural, vital, energy-containing, clean, conscious, true, honest, and wise. It includes fresh, light, and nourishing foods that support higher consciousness and do not tax the digestive tract. Rajasic foods, on the other hand, promote excitement, activity, and movement, while tamasic foods increase inertia, confusion, and inner darkness.
Mushrooms are considered tamasic because they are a fungus and are believed to lack light and life force. They grow from decomposing materials, unlike plants that use chlorophyll to photosynthesize light. This classification as tamasic also stems from the belief that mushrooms stimulate the lower organs and chakras of the body, promoting the base nature of man. According to some sources, tamasic foods can lead to a duller, less refined state of consciousness and cause detrimental stress to physical organs.
In the yogic diet, also known as the sattvic diet, foods that decrease the body's energy are considered tamasic. While mushrooms are nutritious, they are believed to be tamasic due to their fungal nature and are not typically cooked or consumed as part of the yogic diet. However, there is some flexibility within different traditions, and some devotees may occasionally consume mushrooms.
The classification of foods as sattvic, rajasic, or tamasic can vary depending on freshness and preparation methods. While some foods are inherently tamasic, such as meat, alcohol, and certain types of vegetables, even sattvic foods can become rajasic or tamasic if not consumed fresh or prepared properly. It is important to note that the concept of tamasic foods is based on traditional yogic and Ayurvedic beliefs, and the inclusion of mushrooms in the diet may be approached differently by individuals or traditions.
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They are not eaten in some Eastern traditions
Mushrooms are considered tamasic in some Eastern traditions, including the yogic diet and Ayurveda. Tamasic foods are believed to increase inertia, confusion, and inner darkness, and are thought to be harmful to both the mind and body. They are said to promote rest, sleepiness, and stillness. According to Ayurveda, tamasic foods consist of some combination of the five basic elements: prithvi (earth), jala (water), teja (fire), vayu (air), and akash (ether).
In the yogic diet, mushrooms are not typically consumed because they are considered to lack light and life force due to their fungal nature. They are believed to stimulate the lower organs and chakras of the body, promoting the base nature of man. This belief is shared by some followers of Hare Krishna, who consider mushrooms unfit for sacred food offerings. However, there is some debate within the Hare Krishna tradition, as some devotees do consume mushrooms, and they are not specifically banned.
In Ayurveda, a sattvic diet is a plant-based diet that focuses on seasonal foods, fruits, nuts, seeds, oils, ripe vegetables, legumes, and non-meat-based proteins. Foods that decrease the body's energy are considered tamasic, while those that increase energy are considered rajasic. Mushrooms are considered tamasic in Ayurveda due to their sedative qualities.
While mushrooms are considered tamasic in these Eastern traditions, they are still consumed and valued for their nutritional and medicinal properties in other Eastern contexts. For example, mushrooms have been used profusely in ancient culinary bhakti-yoga traditions and are also used in traditional Chinese medicine.
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They are used in medicine
Mushrooms are considered tamasic in the yogic diet and ancient culinary bhakti-yoga tradition. They are believed to be harmful to both the mind and body, decreasing the energy of the body and leading to a duller, less refined state of consciousness. However, they have been used in Eastern medicine for centuries, and modern science is now recognising their medicinal value.
Medicinal mushrooms are defined as macroscopic fungi used in the form of extracts or powder to prevent, alleviate, or heal multiple diseases, and/or balance a healthy diet. They are rich in nutrients and antioxidants, high in fibre, and low in cholesterol, and can be used to help with weight loss.
Some mushrooms have been shown to inhibit the growth of human cancer cells and protect against neurodegeneration in the lab and in mice. For example, shiitake mushroom extracts help prolong the lives of stomach cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, and doctors in Japan now prescribe them for that purpose. Maitake (hen-of-the-woods) and scaly wood mushroom extracts also seem to strengthen the immune system of some cancer patients.
Mushrooms have also been used in Eastern medicine to treat everything from asthma to gout. Enoki mushrooms, for instance, have been used for their anti-tumour properties.
Additionally, medicinal mushrooms can extend lifespan in multiple model organisms, and they are being studied for their potential in fighting off dementia.
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They are edible for Hare Krishna devotees
In the Hare Krishna movement, some devotees avoid eating mushrooms because they are considered tamasic foods. Tamasic foods are believed to increase inertia, confusion, and inner darkness and are considered unfit for sacred food offerings. Mushrooms are also not cooked in the ancient culinary bhakti-yoga tradition, and no Vishnu, Krishna, or Rama (Vaishnavite) temple kitchen will ever prepare them due to their fungal nature.
However, there is a grey area regarding the consumption of mushrooms among Hare Krishna devotees. While some devotees avoid mushrooms altogether, others consume them occasionally. In some cultures, devotees have been observed to cook and eat mushrooms, such as in Russia and France. Additionally, Yamuna Devi, a cookbook author, has included one or two recipes containing mushrooms in her collection.
The classification of foods as tamasic, rajasic, or sattvic is based on the concept of gunas, or qualities, in Ayurveda. Tamasic foods are considered to have qualities such as dark, destructive, spoiled, ignorant, stale, inert, unripe, unnatural, and weak. On the other hand, sattvic foods are described as pure, essential, natural, vital, energy-containing, clean, conscious, true, honest, and wise. Rajasic foods fall between these two extremes.
According to Ayurveda, all foods consist of some combination of the five basic elements: prithvi (earth), jala (water), teja (fire), vayu (air), and akash (ether). While mushrooms are considered tamasic, other foods in this category include meat, fish, eggs, onions, garlic, scallions, leeks, chives, alcoholic beverages, durian fruit, blue cheese, opium, and stale food. It is important to note that the effects of foods can vary depending on freshness and preparation methods, and even sattvic foods can become rajasic or tamasic if not prepared or consumed properly.
In conclusion, while mushrooms are generally considered tamasic and avoided by some Hare Krishna devotees, there is no strict prohibition against their consumption. Some devotees do eat mushrooms occasionally, and they are not considered forbidden in the Hare Krishna diet. However, they are not used in sacred food offerings or cooked in traditional bhakti-yoga kitchens. The decision to consume mushrooms or not ultimately depends on the individual devotee's interpretation and adherence to the principles of Ayurveda and yogic diet.
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Frequently asked questions
Tamasic foods are those that increase inertia, confusion, and inner darkness. They are believed to be harmful to both the mind and body, leading to a duller, less refined state of consciousness.
Yes, mushrooms are considered tamasic in Ayurveda, as they are a fungus and lack light and life force. They are believed to stimulate the lower organs and chakras of the body.
Other tamasic foods include fast food, alcohol, pork, shellfish, soybeans, onions, garlic, meat, fish, eggs, blue cheese, and stale food.
People may avoid tamasic foods to maintain a balanced state of mind and body. An imbalance through activity and food can lead to depression, aggression, and suffering. Consuming sattvic foods, which are fresh, light, and nourishing, can support higher consciousness.
