Shoba Narayan’s New Book Shows Food as the Gateway to Heaven

Key Takeaways:

• Shoba Narayan uses food as a medium to discuss the role of religion in life.
• The book delves into the rituals and significance of prasadam (sacred food offerings) across various places of worship in India.
• Narayan explores lesser-known temples, focusing on unique and savory prasadam.
• The book highlights the impact of rituals on mental health and community building.
• Narayan reconciles her secular and rational outlook with her cultural and religious heritage.

Shoba Narayan’s latest book, ‘Food and Faith, a Pilgrim’s Journey Through India,’ embarks on a fascinating exploration of religion and spirituality through the lens of sacred food offerings. In her journey, Narayan delves into larger questions about faith, using food as a non-contentious and universally relatable medium.

A Skeptical Hindu’s Quest for Faith

Narayan, an award-winning author and columnist, describes her personal evolution from atheism as a teenager to agnosticism as a young adult, and finally, to a more reconciled embrace of her Hindu faith later in life. “I realised as I am getting older I must make peace with my faith,” she shares in a conversation with YourStory Weekender. For Narayan, food offered the simplest and most innocent way to discuss the role of religion in contemporary life.

The Power of Prasadam

The book primarily focuses on the prasadam, or sacred food offerings, of various temples, shrines, and churches that Narayan visited. She finds food to be an effective anchor for understanding the creation myths, rituals, and unique recipes of each place of worship. Narayan chose to bypass well-known temples like Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams, known for its famous laddu prasadam, to concentrate on lesser-known temples with intriguing stories and offerings.

“My favorite prasadam in the book is from Azhagar Kovil in Madurai because it is a savory prasadam. Most prasadams are sweet and a lot of them are payasam and milk-based,” she notes. At the Azhagar Kovil temple, deep-fried dosa is offered as a sacred food, providing a unique culinary experience.

Cultural Tapestry Through Temples

Narayan’s journey took her to various places, including Udupi, Kashi, Palani, Jaipur, Amritsar, Puri, and Mathura. She also explored the Ajmer Dargah, Goa, and an Israeli temple in Mumbai. Each location revealed different facets of faith and community life, particularly highlighting the role of temples as social and cultural hubs.

“We can sit here and be rational and skeptical about faith, but when you go to the places of worship, the temple is an anchor to many people, especially the old and women, mostly widows. It is a place that gives them a sense of community, some measure of happiness, gives them a sense of purpose in life,” Narayan observes.

Rituals and Mental Health

Through her travels and writings, Narayan discovered the profound impact of rituals on individuals’ lives and mental health. She shares an anecdote from the Jagannath Puri Temple kitchen, where faith and food are deeply intertwined. A cook at the temple expressed that if he thought even for a moment that he was the one cooking, the pots would shatter, attributing the cooking to Mahalakshmi and the belief in hearing her anklets.

This experience illuminated the significance of “bhavana” (emotion/imagination) in their actions. “As a writer, we want creative imagination, we want to be a channel through which words flow out. The muse as we call it,” Narayan reflects.

Reconciling Modernity with Tradition

Narayan’s journey is also one of personal reconciliation. As a modern, secular, rational, and feminist individual, she grappled with the inherent patriarchal and hypocritical aspects often associated with religion. “I think I got over it by valuing tradition,” she explains. Narayan realized that rather than avoiding or disdaining faith, she needed to find a way to include it in her life meaningfully.

‘Food and Faith, a Pilgrim’s Journey Through India’ is more than a culinary exploration; it is a profound reflection on faith, community, and the power of rituals. Shoba Narayan’s narrative offers a unique perspective on how food can serve as a gateway to understanding and embracing spirituality, making it a must-read for those interested in the cultural and religious tapestry of India.