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· Food Sciences : 503
later development. Mehta'' has suggested to include plant products and medicines also as foods on the basis of Avasyaka-sūtra. However, these could only be casual foods rather than regular foods. In these categories, the terms Ašana, Khādya, Bhaksya, should be taken as synonymous. However, differentiation could be made. The solid components in the cooked form could be aśana or bhakşya while the raw fruits or fat-cooked solids could be 'khădya'. Nevertheless, a good clarity in the meaning of these terms is required. Similarly, the terms 'Pāna' and 'Peya' should also be clearly differentiated. The early books19 classify potables in three forms – Pāna ( alcohols ), Pāniya / water etc.) and Pānaka (fruit juices etc.). When the meaning of Pāna changed into non-alcoholic liquids, has to be looked into. Asādharao has included massaging also in foods exemplifying it by oil massaging. This means some intake of oil particles in the body. The term 'khādya' here includes the term 'aśana' also and 'peya' should be taken to mean 'pāna' also. The term 'lepa' seems to be little off here until it means massaging type, Vrhatkalpa Bhāşya indicates three types of foods for ascetics which point out an ascetic diet devoid of fats and tastes. However, the terms 'massaging or lepa' could be taken as a form of medication and in general, they could be included in the term 'tasty matter' (Svādya ).
The source of six classes in Mulācāra 21 with some duplicity requires a search. Despite changes in names and meanings, the canonical four classes of foods still hold ground. It is surprising that Aśādhara, authoring two books, gives the classes differently in them. In one, he nearly follows Samantabhadra, while in other, he follows Mulācāra. Does this mean different classes for the ascetics and the house-holders ? The modern scholars have to critically examine this point. However, it is clear that these classes have developed from two to four in due course of time.
The detailed description about solid class of foods is not generally available. These foods pacify the hunger. The solid
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