11. What Did Srila Prabhupada Say About Onion and Garlic?

The Historic Context

When His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada arrived in the Western world in 1965, he met young men and women whose dietary staples were hamburgers, onions, and garlic.

Srila Prabhupada did not water down the eternal standards of the disciplic succession (parampara). Instead, he personally entered the kitchen, tied his dhoti, and taught his disciples how to cook world-class gourmet feasts—kachoris, samosas, subjis, and sweetmeats—using purely sattvik ingredients offered to Krishna.

📜 Scriptural Citations & Authentic Shlokas

Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Antya-lila, Chapter 6, Text 236

ग्राम्य-कथा ना शुनिबे, ग्राम्य-वार्ता ना कहिबे ।
भाल ना खाइबे आर भाल ना परिबे ॥
अमानी मानद हञा कृष्ण-नाम सदा ल'बे ।
व्रजे राधा-कृष्ण-सेवा मानसे करिबे ॥ २३६ ॥

grāmya-kathā nā śunibe, grāmya-vārtā nā kahibe
bhāla nā khāibe āra bhāla nā paribe
amānī mānada hañā kṛṣṇa-nāma sadā la'be
vraje rādhā-kṛṣṇa-sevā mānase karibe

grāmya-kathā — materialistic conversations; nā śunibe — never hear; grāmya-vārtā — rumors and worldly topics; nā kahibe — never speak; bhāla nā khāibe — do not eat luxurious or tamasic foods for sense gratification; āra — and; bhāla nā paribe — do not dress elaborately for material prestige; amānī — expecting no honor for oneself; māna-da — offering all respect to others; hañā — becoming; kṛṣṇa-nāma — the Holy Name of Krishna; sadā — always; la'be — chant; vraje — in Vrindavan; rādhā-kṛṣṇa-sevā — service to Radha and Krishna; mānase — within the mind; karibe — execute.

Translation: "Do not talk like people in general, and do not hear what they say. Do not eat luxurious or tamasic foods, and do not dress elegantly. Always chant the Holy Name of Lord Krishna, giving all respect to others without expecting respect for oneself. In this way, render eternal service to Radha and Krishna in Vrindavan within the mind."

Srila Prabhupada's Purports and Letters

1. Letter to Himavati Dasi (November 17, 1969):

"Regarding your questions: onion and garlic are not accepted by Krishna. Therefore, we do not eat them. Onion and garlic are in the lower modes of nature, passion and ignorance. A devotee wants to rise to the platform of pure goodness, above even material goodness. So naturally, we avoid these things. Our primary engagement is to develop pure love for Krishna, and that means accepting what He desires."

2. Room Conversation, Vrindavan (September 1976):

"We are not vegetarians. We are Krishnarians. If Krishna says, 'Give Me meat,' we will give Him meat. But He says, 'patraṁ puṣpaṁ phalaṁ toyam'—give Me leaves, flowers, fruits, and water. He does not ask for meat, eggs, onions, or garlic. So we do not offer them, and we do not touch them."

Srila Prabhupada founded the international chain of Govinda's Pure Vegetarian Restaurants across New York, London, Sydney, Moscow, and Mumbai, demonstrating that sattvik cuisine without onion and garlic is vastly superior in taste, presentation, and satisfaction.

What Did Srila Prabhupada Say About Onion and Garlic?