Why Are Onion and Garlic Avoided? The Hidden Spiritual Secret You Need to Know
- Sonali Singh
- Jun 18
- 4 min read
Is there a spiritual cost to eating onion and garlic? Discover the hidden truth behind this timeless practice.
Before we start, give a thought to yourself: when does a person decide to divorce their spouse? When they realise that staying together costs them their peace of mind, they divorce each other. Similarly, onion and garlic are two common ingredients found in daily meals that, according to many spiritual traditions, silently disturb inner peace, affect energy, and create obstacles in spiritual growth. This belief has existed for thousands of years in Sanatan Dharma, Ayurveda, Yoga, and several ancient spiritual practices. Let us understand the hidden spiritual secret behind avoiding onion and garlic.
The Mysterious Origin of Onion and Garlic
The tale described in old Hindu customs begins with the 'Churning of the Ocean' (Samudra Manthan) when Amrit (the nectar of immortality) came out of the ocean and was drunk by Rahu, who tricked the Devas out of it. As soon as Lord Vishnu saw that Rahu had deceived the Devas, he cut Rahu's head off with his Sudarshan Chakra.
Rahu's head was left to live forever, while his whole body perished. It is said that drops of flesh and blood fell from Rahu's head and eventually became onion and garlic. Because they came from his body, they are identified with tamas (darkness) and avoided by followers of a spiritual path
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This knowledge has been passed down from generation to generation within the context of Sanatana Dharma and continues to be the subject of discussion among those engaged in a more significant understanding of spiritual and scriptural practices on sites such as SanatanGyaan.
Understanding Sattvic, Rajasic, and Tamasic Foods
Ayurveda & Vedic knowledge both confirm that all food consumed has an impact on the mental state and the state of being-of the individual who consumes it.
The Bhagavad Gita explains:
आयुःसत्त्वबलारोग्यसुखप्रीतिविवर्धनाः ।
रस्याः स्निग्धाः स्थिरा हृद्या आहाराः सात्त्विकप्रियाः ॥
Foods that increase life, purity, strength, health, happiness, and satisfaction are dear to those in the mode of goodness.
Ayurveda divides food into three categories:
Sattvic Foods
These promote purity, peace, clarity, and spiritual growth.
Examples include:
Fresh fruits
Vegetables
Grains
Milk products
Nuts
Legumes
Rajasic Foods
These stimulate passion, restlessness, and excessive desires.
Tamasic Foods
These promote laziness, ignorance, confusion, and dullness.
Onions and garlic are primarily described as having a rajasa (higher; more active) or tama (less than or below) quality, making them unfit for those wishing to undergo meditation, worship, or follow a spiritual disciplinary lifestyle.
At SanatanGyaan, this is a common point of discussion as a particular foundation to establish a sattvic lifestyle.
Why Krishna Devotees Avoid Onion and Garlic
Vaishnava & Krishna devotees avoid onions and garlic, primarily because it was recognized that these two foods are not offered to Lord Krishna as an offering.
In Bhakti Yoga, a person first prepares food for eating by devotion and then offers the food to God before eating it. Only foods that are considered pure or 'sattvic' can be used for these kinds of food offerings.
Lord Krishna says:
पत्रं पुष्पं फलं तोयं यो मे भक्त्या प्रयच्छति।
तदहं भक्त्युपहृतमश्नामि प्रयतात्मनः॥ - (Bhagavad Gita 9.26)
Whoever offers Me with devotion a leaf, a flower, a fruit, or water, I gladly accept that offering made with love.
Onions and garlic are considered 'rajasic' and 'tamasic,' so they are usually excluded from the food offerings made to God.
How Onion and Garlic Affect Meditation
For a long time, spiritual traditions across India have taught that food has a direct effect on consciousness.
According to Ayurveda, rajasic and tamasic foods increase:
Restlessness
Agitation
Anger
Anxiety
Excessive desires
Mental distractions
Consequently, many saints, monks, and meditators avoid eating onions and garlic. When a person's mind is calm and focused, they can effectively meditate, chant mantras, and practice spirituality.
According to ancient yogic texts, the process of spiritual growth can be made easier if a person's body and mind receive food with a Sattvic nature (vegetables, fruits, grains, milk, nuts, and legumes).
Ancient Taoist Views on Onion and Garlic
While in Hindu traditions the avoidance of alliums is well known, it is not only limited to those beliefs.
Taoist traditions also taught that there should be moderation in the consumption of 'pungent' vegetables like:
Garlic
Onion
Chives
Leeks
Spring onions
According to traditional Taoist beliefs, excessive amounts of the above foods would cause agitation, aggression, restlessness, and an imbalance of the body's energy system.
This is similar to Ayurvedic beliefs about rajasic and tamasic foods.
Food Shapes Consciousness
Ancient religious texts commonly state that food influences a person's thoughts, feelings, and actions.
आहारशुद्धौ सत्त्वशुद्धिः। - (Chandogya Upanishad 7.26.2)
When food becomes pure, the mind becomes pure.
The foundation of sattvic living is formed by this simple yet deep teaching. Spiritual seekers of all varieties are mindful of the foods they eat and choose ones that foster mental clarity, love, discipline and devotion.
Continue Your Spiritual Journey: The Secret Behind Avoiding Garlic & Onion During Navratri
Each sadhu, guru and shastra teaches us that not only do we require food to nourish our bodies, but the energy in the food we consume affects our mind and consciousness. For anyone who wishes to grow spiritually, be devoted, and find peace within oneself, abstaining from eating onion and garlic is one way to live a more sattvic and spiritually focused life. Ultimately it is a choice you must make for yourself, but having this ancient wisdom can assist you to make more conscious decisions during your spiritual journey.
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