Amrit Paan

In jyotish(astrology), the Sun is considered as the Soul and Moon as subtle mind. In our puraans moon is describe as a God riding a chariot with three wheels. This chariot is hauled by ten horses. During its entire journey, the Moon passes through all the twenty-seven Nakshatras of a zodiac. It is rays of the sun which causes moon to appear as bright. The sun not only causes the formation of day and night but also act as a source of nourishment for the celestial sphere. Sun lights up all the places in the entire world except Brahmaloka. Sun’s rays that reach Brahmaloka return back turn into ineffective by the glow of Brahma. One of the Sun’s rays named Sushumna nourishes the Moon during its brighter phase(Shukla Paksha) in the form of nectar. Then during the darker phase(Krishna Paksha), the Gods drink the phases of the Moon, which are actually , ambrosia accumulated during the shukla paksha. When two days are left for the completion of Krishna paksha i.e. Chaturdashi and Amavasya, Pitragana drink the remaining two phases of the Moon. At the begining of amavasya moon is 12.5 degrees away from the sun. This is a crucial phase of journey of moon towards sun. At this moment the stage is set for the moon to enter the surya-loka. That day, the Moon first enters the water then the plants and creepers and ultimately enters the Sun’s sphere. That is why, on this day anybody who cuts trees or even plucks a leaf commits crime equal to killing of Brahmin . On the day of Amavasya, Pitragana drink the nectar from the Moon . Pittraganas are the ruling diety for the amavasya tithi. It is very auspicious to do tarpan for the ancestors on amavasya tithi.

Varuni Drink

During the churning of ocean a divine drink called "Varuni" was also produced. This was  the honey based   drink.   Once Lord Balram when drank it had exhilarating experience and had a moment of bliss . It became the favorite beverage of Lord Balram. Some text even considered as 'medium of transcedent wisdom'. Even today it is offered as prasadam to Lord Balram.

Following are the ingredients while preparing 'Varuni' drink.

1)Milk

2)Yogurt

3)Cream

4)Honey

5)White Sugar

6)Rose water

The Story of Garlic

During the war between demons and gods for the divine nectar, one of the demon manage to steal the pot of nectar(amrit). At this crunch time when gods were on the verge of defeat, Lord Vishnu appeared and killed that demon with his divine weapon "Sudrashan Chakra" which cuts his head . But that demon had drank nector and by the time he was killed the nectar had reached till his throat. As the blood drops from his body fell on his ground , at the same place a strange plant grew up, which was a garlic plant. This plant acquired two strange properties. Due to effect of nectar , garlic has a lot of medicinal value and it is considered as very good from health's point of view. On the other hand , due to demonic influence , it has a very negative effect on our psychological health and thought process. This is the reason the use of garlic is prohibited during pooja ceremony due to its negative effect(Taamsik energy) on contrary to pooja which has positive effect(saatwik energy). Still it is believe that a person who ate garlic/onion in previous 6 months before his death does not get salvation!!