Why Spiritual Seekers Avoid Onion And Garlic

Before we start, give a thought to yourself: when does a person decide to divorce their spouse?

When they realise that staying together costs them their peace of mind, they divorce each other.

Similarly, Onion and Garlic are two ingredients in your daily meals that are silently harming your peace, poisoning your energy, and blocking your spiritual growth. Let us understand this at the root.

What’s the origin?

During the churning of the ocean (Samudra Manthan), Rahu deceitfully consumed the nectar of immortality and was beheaded by Lord Vishnu. While his head became immortal, his body was destroyed. It is believed that Rahu’s blood and flesh fell upon the earth and gave rise to the onion and garlic. For this reason, these foods are traditionally regarded as tamasic and are avoided by spiritual seekers.

By this story, we can understand that Onion & Garlic are not meant for humans to eat!

Disadvantages of consuming Onion & Garlic…

1. Fuels Anger & Aggression

Visual Explanation Of How Onion And Garlic May Increase Adrenaline And Emotional Agitation.

According to Ayurveda, they have Rajasic & Tamasic properties. This is one of the causes of fueling anger and aggression.
Garlic’s Allicin stimulates the nervous system, boosting adrenaline and causing irritability.
Triggers “Fight or Flight” reaction.

2. Stimulates Lustful Desires

Onion And Garlic Symbolizing Stimulation Of Sensual Desires According To Ayurvedic Beliefs.

Onion and garlic are believed to increase sexual desire unnaturally.
According to Ayurveda, they are classified as “libido enhancers” and are therefore considered unsuitable for celibates, students, and spiritual seekers.
They break brahmacharya (celibacy).

3. Bad Breath & Body Odour

Educational Illustration Showing How Onion And Garlic Compounds Travel Through The Body And Cause Long-Lasting Breath Odor.

A very unpleasant smell emanates from the mouth of the consumer, often causing disgust and trouble for others.
Both onion and garlic contain organosulfur compounds that cause bad breath and body odour.
After eating onion or garlic, the body turns part of it into a substance called allyl methyl sulfide (AMS), which goes into the blood.
When we breathe, AMS comes out through the lungs, so the smell stays for 24–48 hours and cannot be removed just by brushing.
Even brushing or using mouthwash does not eliminate it, because the odour originates from within the body!

4. Disrupts Alpha Waves

Illustration Showing Garlic Disrupting Calm Alpha Brain Waves And Affecting Mental Clarity And Focus.

Dr Robert Beck, a physicist, said, “Garlic is a POISON for the brain !”
Alpha Brain Waves are essential for calmness, creativity and focus, and Garlic disrupts this.
Creates Brain Fog.
Garlic may slow down reaction time and mental processing!
Reduces Critical Thinking Ability.

Brief Information on Brain Waves:

Wave Type	Frequency	Associated State
Delta	0.5 – 4 Hz	Deep Sleep
Theta	4 – 8 Hz	Deep Meditation, Creativity
Alpha	8 – 12 Hz	Relaxed Focus, calm alertness, mental clarity
Beta	12 – 35 Hz	Active thinking, stress, and problem-solving
Gamma	>35 Hz	High-level cognition, consciousness

After analysing these facts, NASA has strictly prohibited astronauts from consuming garlic.

5. Disrupts Deep Sleep

Quality Sleep = Deep Sleep
Deep Sleep = Delta Sleep
Onion & Garlic uplifts Metabolism & Body Temperature and reduces the brain’s ability to enter into low-frequency restorative mode.
Lack of Deep sleep causes Lower Concentration

6. Lowers Aura (Energy Field)

Illustration Showing Onion And Garlic Affecting The Human Energy Aura In Spiritual Wellness Practices

Onion & Garlic pollute and lower the vibrations of a person’s aura.
Like dust on a mirror, onion & garlic cloud the brilliance of your energy
Reiki Practitioners often avoid Onion & Garlic before sessions to Stay Energetically Clear & Pure

Reiki is done by a practitioner who gently places their hands on or just above the body to promote relaxation and balance. It is a calm, quiet practice involving light or no touch, mainly used to reduce stress and bring inner peace. In all Reiki practices, the person receiving treatment is advised to avoid onion and garlic for a certain time, as they are believed to disturb the aura.

7. Spiritual Dullness

Concept Illustration Showing Onion And Garlic Symbolizing Spiritual Dullness And Reduced Interest In Spiritual Practices

Onion & Garlic increases Tamsic energy, dullness and heaviness.
It causes poor interest in Spiritual Practices and Devotion
Makes the mind Dull and Lazy
Lack of Self-Initiative in Spiritual Journey

When the mind becomes heavy and dull, it naturally loses its enthusiasm for higher pursuits. Activities that require discipline, reflection, and spiritual focus begin to feel difficult or uninteresting. Over time, this can slowly distance a person from practices such as prayer, meditation, and study of sacred texts.

A clear and energetic mind, on the other hand, finds joy in spiritual activities. This is why many spiritual traditions emphasise the importance of a pure and balanced diet, believing that the quality of food directly influences the quality of thoughts.

8. Destroys Meditative Clarity

Illustration Showing Meditation Clarity Becoming Foggy Due To Disturbed Mental Focus

Mind is the tool to See and experience God.
“As is the Food, So is the Mind”.
Trying to meditate after Eating Garlic is like trying to See Stars in the Fog!
One cannot see God in Meditation with such impure and impious food.

There is a short story behind as well.

Once, Bhagwan Swaminarayan was passing through a village with the resolve that whoever looked at Him would enter a state of samadhi. An old woman who disliked Him decided to test this and looked at Him through a door gap, immediately falling into samadhi. Thinking it was a trap, she was advised that eating onion and garlic would free her, and by following this advice, she lost her spiritual fortune simply because of her food choices.

So Bhagwan Swaminarayan has given command in Shikshaptri:

पलाण्डुशनाद्यं च तेन भक्ष्यं न सर्वथा ॥ (१८६)

“One shall never eat non-eatables items like onion, garlic, etc.” (186)

Great people have always said that trying something opens a new portal of opportunity and experiences.

Similarly, if you can give it a try for 15 days, you can experience a sudden difference in your lifestyle!

Conclusion

Choosing to “divorce” onion and garlic is more than a dietary change; it is a commitment to protecting your peace of mind. As we’ve seen, these ingredients don’t just affect our breath—they cloud our aura, agitate our nervous system, and create a “fog” that hinders deep meditation. By opting for a Sattvic diet free from these heavy influences, we align our physical body with our spiritual goals, allowing for a life of greater clarity, calmer energy, and deeper devotion.

In many spiritual traditions, food is not viewed merely as fuel for the body but as an influence on the mind and consciousness. What we eat gradually shapes our thoughts, emotions, and behaviour. Choosing a sattvic diet helps cultivate calmness, self-control, and inner stability, which are essential for meditation and spiritual progress.

By consciously reducing or avoiding onion and garlic, many seekers aim to create an environment within the body that supports clarity, discipline, and devotion

Frequently Asked Questions(FAQ’s)

1. Why are onion and garlic avoided by some spiritual seekers?

Many spiritual traditions believe that onion and garlic have rajasic and tamasic qualities that may increase restlessness, aggression, and distraction, which can make meditation and spiritual practices more difficult.

2. Are onion and garlic considered tamasic foods?

Yes, in many traditional teachings and Ayurvedic classifications, onion and garlic are often categorized as rajasic or tamasic foods, which are believed to influence the mind toward agitation or heaviness.

3. Do onion and garlic affect meditation or spiritual focus?

Some spiritual practitioners believe that consuming onion and garlic may disturb mental calmness and reduce the clarity required for deep meditation and devotional practices.

4. Why do some monks and devotees avoid certain foods?

Many monks and spiritual seekers follow a sattvic diet, which emphasizes foods believed to promote calmness, clarity, and self-discipline while avoiding foods thought to stimulate strong emotions or restlessness.

5. Is avoiding onion and garlic necessary for everyone?

Not necessarily. Dietary practices vary depending on personal beliefs, health needs, and spiritual goals. Some people avoid onion and garlic for spiritual reasons, while others include them in their regular diet.

6. What is the goal of following a sattvic diet?

The purpose of a sattvic diet is to cultivate mental clarity, inner peace, and spiritual discipline, supporting practices such as meditation, prayer, and self-control.

Divorce With Onion and Garlic!