The Myth Behind Our Three Meals a Day: How a Miscommunication Shaped Our Eating Habits

After completion of His creation, God (Shiva) was returning to Kailash to his supreme abode. At that time, all the human beings prayed to Him and requested information regarding their food timings. On hearing the prayer, He sent His message through His hauler, the Nandi (bull), that human beings should take food once in three days. The Nandi, on its way with the message, got confused and delivered a twisted message that human beings should take food three times a day.

Believing this as the original message of God, people have been taking food three times a day since then.

First of all, Brahma is the creator and not Shiva; he is just the destroyer. I don't know the origin of this story. It can be taken as a funny joke.

Thank you, Arpana and Preeti.

Really, it is a funny joke. Preeti, you are right that as per the Hindu scriptures, Brahma is the creator. If you delve deeper, you can understand that Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva are manifestations of the same divine entity in different roles.

For example, imagine constructing a building on a densely wooded plot. Your initial task is to clear (akin to the role of Shiva) the dense forest. Subsequently, you undertake the construction (similar to Brahma's role) of the building. Finally, you engage in the upkeep (similar to Vishnu's role) of the structure.

Digging further, you may discern that Shiva is distinct from Shankar. For instance, Shiva is revered as Jyotirlingam, while Shankar is depicted as performing Tapasya. This illustrates that Shankar, akin to Brahma, engages in tapasya to acquire the power needed for divine deeds. Additionally, there are depictions of Vishnu (in the form of Rama) worshipping the Jyotirlingam.

Preeti, if you do not agree with these points, please disregard them. It is worth noting that these points are not intended as humorous anecdotes.

Thank you, Preeti & Guna, for your replies.

There is nothing serious to feel in this matter. The Sanskrit proverb says, "naana muneenan matascha bhinnha," meaning "different saints have different opinions." You have just shared your views.

In our school days, to honor the teachers, we were taught a sloka:

"Guru Brahma guru Vishnu guru deva Maheshwara
Guru sakshyat Parambramh tasmeisri gurave namah"

If we go deep into this sloka, we can understand how Shiva is different from Shankar. It says the guru himself is Brahma, Vishnu & Maheshwara. It does not say the guru himself is Parambramh but equal to Him. Here Parambramh is Divine Light, the Jyothirlingam (whose appearance is light).

To understand the meaning of Parambramh, please recall the sloka used by most of the housewives in the evening while offering light to the deities.

"Deepam jyoti Parambramh, deepam jyoti janardhana
Deepo haratu me papah, sandhya deepam namahstute."

Hope you also understand spirituality in depth and make your life pure, peaceful, and happy.

Regards,