Mitahara literally means the habit of moderate food.[1] Mitahara is also a concept in Indian philosophy, particularly Yoga, that integrates awareness about food, drink, balanced diet and consumption habits and its effect on one's body and mind.[2] It is one of the ten yamas in ancient Indian texts.[3]
Sanskrit: Mitahara is a Sanskrit combination word, from Sanskrit: Mita (मित, moderate)[4] and Sanskrit: Ahara (आहार, taking food, diet),[5] which together mean moderate diet.[6] [7] In Yoga and other ancient texts, it represents a concept linking nutrition to the health of one's body and mind. It is considered a yamas or self-restraint virtue in some schools of Indian traditions,[8] where one refrains from either eating too much or too little of certain qualities of food.[9] [10] Mitahara is synonymous with Mātrāśin (मात्राशिन्).[11]
Ancient and medieval era Indian literature on Mitahara are of two categories – one relates to philosophical discussion of moderate diet and proper nutrition, the other category relate to details about Aharatattva (dietetics).[12] The former category include the Upanishads and Sutras that discuss why virtuous self-restraint is appropriate in matters of food, while the latter include Samhitas that discuss what and when certain foods are suitable. A few texts such as Hathayoga Pradipika combine both.
Mitahara is discussed in Śāṇḍilya Upanishad, as well as by Svātmārāma.[13] [14] [15] It is one of the yamas (virtuous self restraints) discussed in ancient Indian texts. The other nine yamas are Ahiṃsā (अहिंसा): Nonviolence, Satya (सत्य): truthfulness, Asteya (अस्तेय): not stealing, Brahmacharya (ब्रह्मचर्य): celibacy and not cheating on one's spouse, Kṣamā (क्षमा): forgiveness,[16] Dhṛti (धृति): fortitude, Dayā (दया): compassion, Ārjava (आर्जव): sincerity, non-hypocrisy, and Śauca (शौच): purity, cleanliness.
Some of the earliest ideas behind Mitahara trace to ancient era Taittiriya Upanishad, which in various hymns discusses the importance of food to healthy living, to the cycle of life,[17] as well as to its role in one's body and its effect on Self (Brahman, Atma, Spirit).[18] The Upanishad, states Stiles,[19] notes “from food life springs forth, by food it is sustained, and in food it merges when life departs”.
The Bhagavad Gita includes verses on ‘‘mitahara’’ in Chapter 6. It states in verse 6.16 that a yogi must neither eat too much nor too little, neither sleep too much nor too little, a way of life first formulated by the Buddha as the Middle Way.[20] Understanding and regulating one’s established habits about eating, sleeping and recreation is suggested as essential to the practice of yoga in verse 6.17.[21]
Another ancient text, in a South Indian language, Tirukkuṛaḷ states moderate diet as a virtuous life style. This text, written by Valluvar before c. 500 CE, and sometimes called the Tamil Veda, discusses eating habits and its role in a healthy life (Mitahara), dedicating Chapter 95 of Book 7 to it. Tirukkuṛaḷ states in verses 943 through 945, "eat in moderation, when you feel hungry, foods that are agreeable to your body, refraining from foods that your body finds disagreeable". Valluvar also emphasizes overeating has ill effects on health, in verse 946, as "the pleasures of health abide in the man who eats moderately. The pains of disease dwell with him who eats excessively."[22] [23]
Medieval era Sanskrit texts such as Dasakumara Charita and Hatha Yoga Pradipika discuss Mitahara. For example, Hatha Yoga Pradipika verse 1.57 states the importance of ‘‘mitihara’’, as