Basic conducts before meals

Why is it essential to follow these conducts ? It is said that ‘your diet defines your thoughts and your thoughts define your actions’. Only good actions can lead to spiritual progress. Hence, the root of spiritual sanskārs is in sāttvik diet. Along with sāttvik diet, bhāv (Spiritual emotion) associated while consuming food is also important. Today, due to predominance of Raja-Tama components in the environment, the danger of attacks by negative energies through food is also high. Along with sāttvik bhāv associated while eating food, if the actual act of eating food is as per the science of Spirituality, then it protects the food and the individual eating food from attacks by negative energies. Such sacred food devoid of Raja-Tama components is easy to digest and assimilate. Once we know the spiritual science underlying eating a meal, we will not feel shy to follow these conducts (For example – Praying to the Deity of worship by joining the hands before eating, making a protective sheath around the plate with water) while eating food at home & outside.