Question

According to Gheranda, how much part of the food should be filled with foodgrain in the Mitāhār?

• A. \( \frac{2}{3} \)
• B. \( \frac{1}{3} \)
• C. \( \frac{1}{4} \)
• D. \( \frac{1}{2} \)

Hint:

Remember the Mitāhār rule: \[ \frac{1}{2} \text{ Food} + \frac{1}{4} \text{ Water} + \frac{1}{4} \text{ Empty} \] This balance supports healthy digestion and Yoga practice.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Concept: “Mitāhār” means moderate and regulated diet. In yogic philosophy and texts such as the Gheranda Samhita, proper food discipline is considered essential for maintaining physical health, mental purity, and success in Yoga practice. The yogic rule of Mitāhār advises that the stomach should not be completely filled with food. Instead, food intake should be balanced to support digestion and maintain bodily harmony.

Step 1: Understand the concept of Mitāhār.
According to the Gheranda Samhita, while taking food:
• Half of the stomach should be filled with food.
• One-fourth should be filled with water.
• One-fourth should remain empty for movement of air and proper digestion. Thus: \[ \text{Foodgrain portion} = \frac{1}{2} \]

Step 2: Analyze the given options.
Option (A): \( \frac{2}{3} \)
This exceeds the prescribed quantity in Mitāhār and is not correct. Option (B): \( \frac{1}{3} \)
This is less than the recommended food portion. Option (C): \( \frac{1}{4} \)
One-fourth is reserved for water, not for foodgrain. Option (D): \( \frac{1}{2} \)
This correctly represents the proportion of the stomach to be filled with food according to Mitāhār.

Step 3: Identify the correct option.
Since Mitāhār prescribes filling half of the stomach with food, the correct answer is: \[ \boxed{\frac{1}{2}} \]