Question: In Bhagavad-gita (17.9) Krishna states that ‘Foods that are too bitter, too sour, salty, hot, pungent, dry and burning are dear to those in the mode of passion. Such foods cause distress, misery and disease.’
* When I go to the Sunday Feast at the temple, sometimes the food is very hot. Should I quote this verse of the Gita to the cook? Or are hot spices, like chili, an exception?
* How about chilies? They are hot by nature- some are very hot. Yet I have tasted prasadam (offered to the Deities) that are unbearably hot. We are told that chilies are okay since they increase the fire of digestion. My argument is that like onions and garlic they would cause disease. I personally do not eat chilies. What is your opinion?
Answer by Romapada Swami: Krishna’s statement in Bhagavad-gita is about foods that are excessively hot, pungent etc. However, spices like chilies, in themselves are not harmful when used moderately and in fact, we see from the literature of Vaisnava acaryas that Krishna does like to eat food preparations of all six tastes, and nicely spiced, as opposed to bland foods.
Spicing in excess, chilies or other spices for that matter is not in the mode of goodness, and thus not desirable for deity offerings.
Very informative. Thanks