Food Culture

Rules of Manu

1. Food must be cooked after the prayers
2. Food must be cooked at daily basis
3. Food should be offered to the sages, the manes, the gods, the Bhutas and guests;
    hence he who knows (the law), must give to them (what is due to each) :-

i.   sages - private recitation of Veda
ii.  the gods - burnt oblations
iii.  the manes - funeral offerings
iv. men -  food (Sraddha)
v.  Bhutas - Bali offerings

4. Let him offer, in accordance with the rule, to the guest who has come a saet and water,
    as well as food (garnished with seasoning), acccording with his ability.
5. Things to offer without fail to a guest are ;-
i. seat
ii. room (for resting)
iii. water
iv. kind words
6. He must not eat any (dainty) food which he does not offer to his guest.

Who is Atithi (the guest)?
1. a good person
2. the one come with his own accord (not invited)
3. a good person who stays one night only
4. the one come after the sun setting (evening)
5. not a relative (anithyam)
6. not from the same village
7. not the one who seek the livelyhood by social intercourse

Food serving order
1. to newly married women
2. to infants
3. to the sick
4. to pregnant women
5. to guests
6. the kinsmen
7. servants
8. the householder