On different kinds of carrots - What's what?

They are identified as purple carrots, as separate from:

That aside, I am also wondering the origin of the carrot restriction. It is not in fact listed in Hari-bhakti-vilasa. HBV 8.159 mentions gRñja, but dictionary does not consider it synonymous with gajar, the common word for a carrot. Monier-Williams translates gRñja as "name of a plant", while gRñjana is "a kind of onion or garlic or a small red variety of it (prohibited as food)".

There is supposedly a story in some Purana about the origin of carrots, onions, garlic, fish and red lentils. The story about a a sage and his wife runs as follows:

The sage was about to perform a gomedha-yajna, and in the morning, a cow was slain, which was to be rejuvenated in the evening time. However, the wife of the sage, weak as she was, since the couple lived in the forest on fruits and roots, cut a piece from the cow and cooked it. However, she was unable to eat it, and threw the flesh away.

In the evening, as the cow was given a new life, different parts of the flesh also turned back to life. A part of the flesh that landed on the ground became garlic, the second part that landed in the water became fish, the blood that fell on the ground became red lentils (masura), the skin became onions and the bone became carrots. Therefore all of them are considered unfit for eating.

However I have no idea where the story is from.

Does anyone have any further insights into the matter?

That is absolutely right! It looks a bit, well... meaty.

Eggplant is called Baigun. Someone suggested that this word comes from the Sanskrit Vai Guna or without qualties, ie useless. Eggplant is baically a sponge, if you fry it and fill it with ghee it becomes tasty but try boiling or steaming it, YUCK, it has no flavor of its own. Useless.

The only way I like eggplant is fried or mixed with lots of spices (baigun bharta). In either case ti is not the eggplant that tastes good but what it is mixed with (ghee and spices).

It is useful for thinkening things like wet subjis and dhal, soups.

HBV frequently calls it vRnta. From the eight chapter:


A draft I have from ISKCON features the following as 162, replacing the verse in the GGM edition:


And on we go:


The other restricted items are:


The next verse, like 162, isn't there in the GGM edition:


That's the list there. Some of the plants are a bit hard to decipher. If Keshava or others can help me out, you're most welcome. Eggplant seems by far to be the best represented plant there.

Here's some interesting information about the toxin qualities in eggplant.

There is another approach to investigation:-

1. Eat raw juicy fruits and vegetables for 3 days, drink lots of carrot juice.
2. Follow with 24 hour water and carrot juice fast
3. Break fast on grated carrot, with coriander and lemon juice and eat raw juicy fruits and vegetables for next 3 days. Drink lots of carrot juice.

Perform your usual bhajan/sadhana during this time. Keep a diary. tell us what happens.

NOTE:
1. Juicy fruits does not include bananas, dates and other dried fruits.
2. Do not take lots of carrot juice if your liver is cirrhotic unless guided by a therapist.
3. lots of carrot juice means at least 2 litres in divided doses. Use only organically grown produce. Any variety of carrot is acceptable..
4. A little beetroot and celery juice may be added.
5. Nothing else to be taken. This includes mineral salt, sea, rock or therwise. No mineral salt during this period.

Good luck and bon sante .......