5. Stimulation of Lust (Kama) and Anger (Krodha)

The Neophyte & Critic Objection

"Why do traditional yogis, sadhus, and brahmacharis emphasize abstaining from onion and garlic above almost everything else? Do these common kitchen roots really incite lust and anger, or is this an exaggeration?"

Biological and Endocrine Reality

Both ancient Ayurvedic texts and modern endocrinological studies affirm that onion and garlic act as potent aphrodisiacs (vajikarana):

Testosterone and Nitric Oxide Stimulation: Garlic contains allicin and selenium, which stimulate Leydig cells in the testes, increasing testosterone production and synthesizing nitric oxide synthase. This dilates pelvic blood vessels and directly stimulates reproductive organs.
Nervous Irritation: The volatile sulfuric oils are not fully broken down by digestion; they pass into the urinary and reproductive tracts, irritating mucosal membranes and triggering involuntary sexual reflexes.
Excitation of Lower Chakras: In yogic subtle anatomy, onions and garlic forcefully activate the Muladhara (root) and Svadhisthana (sacral) chakras. Instead of allowing prana to rise toward the heart (Anahata) and crown (Sahasrara), alliums anchor spiritual energy in bodily, sensual impulses.

📜 Scriptural Citations & Authentic Shlokas

1. Bhagavad-gita, Chapter 3, Verse 37

काम एष क्रोध एष रजोगुणसमुद्भवः ।
महाशनो महापाप्मा विद्ध्येनमिह वैरिणम् ॥ ३७ ॥

kāma eṣa krodha eṣa rajo-guṇa-samudbhavaḥ
mahāśano mahā-pāpmā viddhy enam iha vairiṇam

kāmaḥ — lust; eṣaḥ — this; krodhaḥ — anger; eṣaḥ — this; rajo-guṇa-samudbhavaḥ — born of contact with the material mode of passion; mahā-aśanaḥ — all-devouring; mahā-pāpmā — greatly sinful; viddhi — know; enam — this; iha — in this material world; vairiṇam — the greatest enemy.

Translation: "The Supreme Lord said: It is lust only, Arjuna, which is born of contact with the material mode of passion and later transformed into wrath, and which is the all-devouring sinful enemy of this world."

2. Bhagavad-gita, Chapter 2, Verses 62 and 63

ध्यायतो विषयान्पुंसः सङ्गस्तेषूपजायते ।
सङ्गात्सञ्जायते कामः कामात्क्रोधोऽभिजायते ॥ ६२ ॥
क्रोधाद्भवति संमोहः संमोहात्स्मृतिविभ्रमः ।
स्मृतिभ्रंशाद् बुद्धिनाशो बुद्धिनाशात्प्रणश्यति ॥ ६३ ॥

dhyāyato viṣayān puṁsaḥ saṅgas teṣūpajāyate
saṅgāt sañjāyate kāmaḥ kāmāt krodho 'bhijāyate
krodhād bhavati saṁmohaḥ saṁmohāt smṛti-vibhramaḥ
smṛti-bhraṁśād buddhi-nāśo buddhi-nāśāt praṇaśyati

Translation: "While contemplating the objects of the senses, a person develops attachment for them, and from such attachment lust develops, and from lust anger arises. From anger, complete delusion arises, and from delusion bewilderment of memory. When memory is bewildered, intellect is lost, and when intellect is lost, one falls down again into the material whirlpool."

By eliminating onion and garlic, the biochemical trigger for explosive anger and uncontrollable lust is dismantled at the root, allowing the soul to dwell in tranquil peace (shanti).

Stimulation of Lust (Kama) and Anger (Krodha)