Immortality and Special Food: A Historical Overview

              Special food for immortality had been a topic of concern through the history. In Greek mythology ambrosia and nectar were the important food for the Greek gods which sustained their immortality. Bet the older traditions say that the Greek gods fed their immortality by sniffing the dead bodies of their enemies. The energy (frequencies?) of the dead bodies nursed the immortality of the deities. But later this purpose was given to ambrosia which is nothing but the food that come from the horn of a magical goat named Amalthea, the foster-mother of Zeus. Ambrosia was brought by white doves from earth to the gods, including baby Zeus so that they would be immortal.

When Achilles was mourning about the death of his friend Patroclus Zeus tells his wife Athena to feed Achiles with ambrosia and nectar so that he would not be hungry and thirsty in his mourning (Homer, Iliad XIX. 336). Not just that Homer identifies the immortals drank nectar for immortality: “The gods all sat assembled in the golden courtyard, with Zeus there, too. Gracious Hebe went among them, pouring nectar. They toasted each other in golden cups, as the immortals looked out on Troy” (Homer, Iliad IV. 1-4).

Zoroastrian religion had Haoma drink which had similar function as ambrosia, which is similar to Soma drink of the vedic tradition. While ambrosia is an exclusive drink for the divine haoma was made available even to the people who would drink its juice in their rituals. It was believed that the haoma plant has was useful for healing (Yasna 9.16-17, 9.19, 10.8, 10.9), sexual arousal (Yasna 9.13-15, 9.22), physically strengthening (Yasna 9.17, 9.22, 9.27), stimulating alertness and awareness (Yasna 9.17, 9.22, 10.13), intoxicating (Yasna 10.8), and nourishing (Yasna 9.4, 10.20), espeically ‘most nutritious for the soul’ (Yasna 9.16). In addition, in later tradition, in the Mithraic sacramental banquet wine took the place of haoma which formed the community taking part of ‘communion’ where this wine gave special vigor to the body and brought prosperity, wealth, health and immortality. Usually, in later Mithraic sacramental banquet this special wine was drunk along with the flesh of a bull, considered as the flesh of god Mithra himself. Thus, in the later Mithraic tradition, the followers drank the wine, the blood of Mithra (a derivation of haoma) and the flesh of Mithra so that they could attain immortality. Interestingly Haoma in some Zoroastrian traditions were considered as son of god, similar to Jesus Christ, who was both “victim and priest in a sacrificial sacramental offering in worship” (Encyclopedia Britannica, 1991, Rites and Ceremonies). Some believe that this Mithraic tradition of communion for immortality crept into Christianity (John 6).

In Sanskrit writings, nectar is called as amrta, which means no (a) mortality (mrta). The synonymous word for it is soma which is found to be the food for the immortality of the gods. Rig Veda talks about amrta and its importance in bringing immortality. Rig Veda VIII. 48.3 says “We have drunk Soma and become immortal; we have attained the light, the Gods discovered.” The Soma drink is said to give immortality even to gods or to the ones who want to become gods. It is the idea that the one who drinks the Soma gets immortality and consequentially he becomes god. In yogic philosophy it is believed that the pituitary gland of the humans has the capacity to secret amrita. By doing the yoga properly one could make the pituitary gland secret amrita so that he could attain immortality. Vishnu in his female form, Mohini carries a pot of amrita and shares only to the devas (gods) and leaving out the asuras so that immortality is given only to the gods. Vishnu also churns out amrita when he churned the ocean. This story is beautifully told in The Vishnu Purana:

Hari, the creator of the universe, being thus prayed to by the prostrate divinities, smiled, and thus spake: "With renovated energy, oh gods, I will restore your strength. Do you act as I enjoin. Let all the gods, associated with the Asuras, cast all sorts of medicinal herbs into the sea of milk; and then taking the mountain Mandara for the churning-stick, the serpent Vásuki for the rope, churn the ocean together for ambrosia; depending upon my aid. To secure the assistance of the Daityas, you must be at peace with them, and engage to give them an equal portion of the fruit of your associated toil; promising them, that by drinking the Amrita that shall be produced from the agitated ocean, they shall become mighty and immortal. I will take care that the enemies of the gods shall not partake of the precious draught; that they shall share in the labour alone."

Being thus instructed by the god of gods, the deities entered into alliance with the demons, and they jointly undertook the acquirement of the beverage of immortality. They collected various kinds of medicinal herbs, and cast them into the sea of milk, the waters of which were radiant as the thin and shining clouds of autumn. They then took the mountain Mandara for the staff; the serpent Vásuki for the cord; and commenced to churn the ocean for the Amrita. The assembled gods were stationed by Krishńa at the tail of the serpent; the Daityas and Dánavas at its head and neck. Scorched by the flames emitted from his inflated hood, the demons were shorn of their glory; whilst the clouds driven towards his tail by the breath of his mouth, refreshed the gods with revivifying showers. In the midst of the milky sea, Hari himself, in the form of a tortoise, served as a pivot for the mountain, as it was whirled around. …From the ocean, thus churned by the gods and Dánavas, …Dhanwantari, robed in white, and bearing in his hand the cup of Amrita, next came forth: beholding which, the sons of Diti and of Danu, as well as the Munis, were filled with satisfaction and delight… The powerful and indignant Daityas then forcibly seized the Amrita-cup, that was in the hand of Dhanwantari: but Vishńu, assuming a female form, fascinated and deluded them; and recovering the Amrita from them, delivered it to the gods. Śakra and the other deities quaffed the ambrosia. The incensed demons, grasping their weapons, fell upon them; but the gods, into whom the ambrosial draught had infused new vigour, defeated and put their host to flight, and they fled through the regions of space, and plunged into the subterraneous realms of Pátála.  The gods there at greatly rejoiced, did homage to the holder of the discus and mace, and resumed their reign in heaven.” (The Vishnu Purana, IX)

Chinese mythology used “Peaches of Immortality” (xiāntáo) as the food for immortality. Peaches in Chinese mythology usually implied immortality and longevity. Yellow Emperor (Huang Di) (2852-2255 BCE) seemed to have found the formula for the golden elixir of immortality through his experiments with metals and herbs. After taking the drug he is believed to have mounted on a dragon and left to the world of immortals. One Emperor, Shih Huang Di (259-210 BCE) sent a famous Fang-Shih on a quest to find the Isle of immortals and to bring back the elixir of immortality. It seems the saman who went on the quest found the Isle of immortals drank the elixir of immortality but stayed back and didn’t return to the Emperor. 

For Daoists, The path to immortality was divided into two streams with different emphasis and  methods: the outer elixir (wai-dan) and the inner elixir (nei-dan). The followers of the outer school sought to produce the pill of immortality from metals and herbs through alchemical processes. A pill of gold and cinnabar combined with other ingredients such as lead and water were touted as the key ingredients of the elixir because they would restore, balance, and harmonize the individual’s personal Qi with the cosmic Qi. Cinnabar (red mercury ore) and gold. For Ko Hung (284-364) who wrote the Pao-p’u tzu, only the pill of immortality could fulfill the promise of eternal life. Physical exercise, sexual yoga, breathing techniques, and meditation could prolong life but could not bestow the gift of immortality. In in the inner elixir, similar to Hindu belief of internal soma secreted of the pitutory gland, Daoists believed that semen and female ejaculation kept inside the body increased life that during lovemaking through various techniques people would avoid ejaculation so that the semen (Jing) would go back to the spinal passage as refined life-force (Qi) and to the brain where it would nourish the spirit (Shen).

The legend Jade Emperor’s wife Xi Wangmu was said to have held banquets, for immortal deities living in her palace, called feasts of Peaches because peaches were said to bring immortality. Even the Eight Immortal, who are usually seen in the paintings as crossing the sea are seen carrying peaches.

In Medieval times, the elixir of life was a popular quest. Elixir of life was believed to give immortality on Earth. Elixir of life drank in a certain cup was said to have properties which could sustain life for eternity and even have properties to create life. Elixir of life sometimes was connected with Philosopher’s Stone.

In recent times several people have claimed to have immortality or at least said to know the secret of Immortality. Wiley Brooks, who runs Breatherian Institute of America claims that the secret of Immorality lies in not eating any food except McDonald’s Double Quarter-pounder Burger with Diet Coke. Interestingly, for Brooks, only Double Quarter-pounder does not have the qualities which will pollute the body and hinder immortality.

In addition, a modern breatherian, Kirby de Lanerolle claims that to attain immortality one must forego eating normal food. He claims that his secret of immortality lies in the Holy Communion. He says he only ate five normal meals in 10 months.

The quest for immortality is not a new quest. It has been there centuries. Men through history were fascinated to live in this world forever. This fascination to live forever had always been an unattainable enthrallment. To attain this immortality people tried to eat special food. This fascination and the means to attain immortality have never left humanity, however. Recent times show that McDonalds’ Double-quarter-pounder and Diet Coke, Holy Communion seem to take the role of special food in attaining this immortality.

Kirby seems to interpret Jn 6:58 literally: “This is the bread which came down out of heaven; not as the fathers ate and died; he who eats this bread will live forever.” Interestingly, Jn 6:54 seems to contradict his interpretation of 6:58. Jn 6:54 says, “He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” In Jn 6:54 it is clear that the one who takes part in the Holy Communion will be raised up on the last day, as he will die. Jn 6:54 is a clearer verse than 6:58 as it explains the eternal life better. In Jn 6:54, eternal life is being raised up after death on the last day. If it is so, Jn 6:58 cannot mean that the one who takes part in the Holy Communion will not die. If 6:58 talks about Immortality on Earth 6:54 must be wrong, as it indicates death and declares resurrection on the last day. A good interpreter must not just make a doctrine with one verse. He must take all verses into consideration and must interpret the text in its context. As 6:54 shows that the one who takes part in the Holy Communion will eventually die Jn 6:58 must not be interpreted as a verse talking about Immortality on Earth.