What vegetarian food generally means…dal, rice, vegetables, roti etc. But if it is a question of pulses, what should vegetarians do? But this is true. Dal is what is considered non-veg. In Hinduism, red lentils are considered a Tamasic food. In Hindu religion, eating things of tamasic nature like garlic, onion etc. is prohibited. Because it is considered non-vegetarian. Therefore generally sages, saints and Brahmins avoid consuming such things.
Red lentils are not eaten by vegetarians. It may seem a bit strange but it is true that the saint who follows Vaishnav method never eats red lentils even by mistake. Red lentils are said to increase lethargy and negative emotions, just like non-vegetarian food, onion and garlic. Apart from this, there are many beliefs behind their non-vegetarian diet. Know specifically what the beliefs are.
A folklore connects lentils with the blood of the divine cow Kamadhenu. It is said that this plant grows at the place where the blood of Kamdhenu cow was shed after it was attacked. Kamdhenu cow is considered a divine cow in Hindu scriptures. This cow came out of the churning of the ocean. Kamdhenu Cow has the ability to fulfill any wish and is associated with prosperity and wealth. Description of its origin is found in various texts.
Why do Brahmins consider Tamasi?
It is said that it was gifted by the gods to sages like Jamadagni and Vishishtha. They used Kamadhenu cow to perform rituals and fulfill their needs. According to legend, the powerful King Sahasrabahu tried to steal the Kamadhenu cow from the hermitage of sage Jamadagni, in the resulting conflict, King Sahasrabahu Arjuna attacked Kamadhenu with an arrow. It is said that wherever the blood of Kamdhenu cow fell on the ground, red lentil plant grew there. Therefore masoor dal is directly related to the suffering and sacrifice of the divine cow. That is why Brahmins consider it to be Tamasic food.
Connection with Rahu also?
It is also believed that when Lord Vishnu beheaded a demon named Swarbhanu, he did not die but his body got divided into two pieces. Its head is considered to be Rahu and torso is considered to be Ketu. It is believed that red lentils originated from the blood from beheadings. This is the reason why sages and saints and those who believe in Vaishnavism consider red lentils as non-vegetarian food and do not eat it even by mistake.
high protein
Red lentils are considered a high protein item. This makes it comparable to meat in terms of dietary effects. Being rich in protein, red lentils boost energy and also increase anger. Eating red lentils gives a feeling of sharpness in the mind. It is said that red lentils increase drowsiness. All these things are not good for saints and Brahmins, that is why our scholars have refused to eat red lentils since ancient times.
Is it used in black magic?
Red lentils and dishes made from it are considered to be of Tamasic nature. Along with this, it is also used in Tantra Mantra remedies. The reason behind this is that this dal and its side dishes are used as non-vegetarian food in places where it is basically not used as non-vegetarian food. Red lentils are offered to Goddess Kali for several reasons rooted in Hindu mythology and cultural practices. It is especially used during rituals like Kali Puja to propitiate the Goddess.
According to similar beliefs, red masoor dal has a dual status in Hindu culture, it is classified as a tamasic food and is mostly avoided by ascetics and ascetics.