Gurbani on Brahmin restrictions on Eating (Chaukaa Kaar)

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[Brahmins] keep a lot of restrictions around the Chaunka/Pangti Baedh (Sitting place when eating). [Brahmins] see eating while wearing clothes as a bad thing. You keep the delusion of touching/becoming impure upon touching. As proven by your religious texts:
  Deities/Devte live on the support of Chaunkae and Kaar/lines, if someone does not make a Chaunka from cow manure and then proceeds to eat without it - then the demons take away the taste/nutrients of the food
(Laghoo Athr[i] Sa[n]hithaa, Adhiyaye 5)
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  If you want to extend your life then face the East. For eating then face the south, to attain wealth then face the west, if you want to attain the truth then face the north while eating.
(ManooSimrithee, Adhiyaye 2, Verse 52)
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Whoever covers their head with a cloth, faces the south and wears shoes while eating, their food is eaten by demons
(Manoo Simrithee, Adhiyaye 3, Verse 237)
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When eating, the feet need to be wet. It is a great sin to dry them with a cloth
Eating with the left hand is the equivalent of drinking alcohol
(Bridhh Athr[i] Sa[n]hithaa, Adhiyaye 5)
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If food is served in a metal (iron) bowl then it should be seen as equivalent to poop and the person eating will go to hell
(Athr[i] Sa[n]hithaa)
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If a Brahmin has climbed a tree and eats the fruit while above, if the roots/bottom of the tree is touched by a chandaal (untouchable/outside of caste) then the Brahmin needs to do atonement in order to purify himself.
(Laghoo Athr[i] Sa[n]hithaa, Adhiyaye 5)
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Garlic, carrots, onions, mushrooms or anything that uses fertilizer to grow should not be eaten. The meat which has not been offered to the deities/devte should not be eaten. If you were to eat a fish then may it be a Boalis (a type of catfish) or a Rohoo (a type of carp). Do not eat the meat of any other type of fish. Porcupine, turtle, hare/bunny, camel should be eaten without any doubts [ie no problem](Manoo Simrithee, Adhiyaye 5, Verse 5-41)
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The following are Bachans in Gurmat that speak to Chaunkae Kaar:
ਦੇ ਕੈ ਚਉਕਾ ਕਢੀ ਕਾਰ ॥
Dhae Kai Cho[u]kaa Kadtee Kaar
They prepare the Chaukaa (4 corners = square) by making the lines
ਉਪਰਿ ਆਇ ਬੈਠੇ ਕੂੜਿਆਰ ॥
Upar[i] Aa-i Baittae Koorriaar
The false ones come and sit within it
ਮਤੁ ਭਿਟੈ ਵੇ ਮਤੁ ਭਿਟੈ ॥
Math[u] Bhitai Vae Math[u] Bhitai
They say: ‘don’t touch, don’t touch...
ਇਹੁ ਅੰਨੁ ਅਸਾਡਾ ਫਿਟੈ ॥
Ih[u] A[n]n[u] Asaadaa Phitai
If you do then our food is cursed...’
ਤਨਿ ਫਿਟੈ ਫੇੜ ਕਰੇਨਿ ॥
Than[i] Phitai Phaerr Karaen[i]
Within their bodies they are cursed, they act sinfully
ਮਨਿ ਜੂਠੇ ਚੁਲੀ ਭਰੇਨਿ ॥
Man[i] Joottai Chulee Bharaen[i]
Their minds are dirty but they fill their minds to gargle out their mouths
ਕਹੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਸਚੁ ਧਿਆਈਐ ॥
Kah[u] naanak Sach[u] Dhhiaaee-ai
Guru Sahib: Focus on the Truth...
ਸੁਚਿ ਹੋਵੈ ਤਾ ਸਚੁ ਪਾਈਐ ॥
Such[i] Hovai thaa Sach[u] Paaee-ai
Through this cleanliness [of truth] only then can one truly attain the Truth...(Dhan Dhan Sri Guru Nanak Dev Sahib Ji in Aasaa Di Vaar, Ang 472)
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ਝੂਠੇ ਚਉਕੇ ਨਾਨਕਾ ਸਚਾ ਏਕੋ ਸੋਇ॥
Jhoottae Choukae naanakaa Sachaa Aeko So-i
The Chaukay/Eating Squares are false, only the One Vaheguru are True
(Dhan Dhan Sri Guru Amardas Sahib Ji in Maaroo Ki Vaar, Ang 1090)
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ਕੁਬੁਧਿ ਡੂਮਣੀ ਕੁਦਇਆ ਕਸਾਇਣਿ ਪਰ ਨਿੰਦਾ ਘਟ ਚੂਹੜੀ ਮੁਠੀ ਕ੍ਰੋਧਿ ਚੰਡਾਲਿ॥
Kubudhh[i] DoomaNee Ku-dha-iaa Kasaa-iN[i] Par ni[n]dhaa Ghat Chooharree Muttee Krodhh[i] Cha[n]daal[i]
Having a bad intellect is the real female drum-maker, not having compassion and being cruel is the real female butcher, slandering others is the female waste collector, having great anger is the real casteless.
ਕਾਰੀ ਕਢੀ ਕਿਆ ਥੀਐ ਜਾਂ ਚਾਰੇ ਬੈਠੀਆ ਨਾਲਿ ॥
Kaaree Kadtee Kiaa Thheeai Jaa[n] Chaarae Baitteeaa naal[i]
So what if you make lines on the groundWhen all four of these [previously mentioned] qualities are sitting with you
ਸਚੁ ਸੰਜਮੁ ਕਰਣੀ ਕਾਰਾਂ ਨਾਵਣੁ ਨਾਉ ਜਪੇਹੀ ॥
Sach[u] Sa[n]jam[u] KaraNee Kaaraa[n], naavaN[u] naa-o[u] JapaeheeConnecting to the truth and having spiritual discipine should be the lines you draw,Bathe in Naam Simran
ਨਾਨਕ ਅਗੈ ਊਤਮ ਸੇਈ ਜਿ ਪਾਪਾਂ ਪੰਦਿ ਨ ਦੇਹੀ ॥
Naanak Agai Ootham Sae-aee J[i] Paapaa[n] Pa[n]dh[i] na Dhaehee
Guru Sahib: they are higher beings if they don’t carry around a bundle of sins...(Dhan Dhan Sri Guru Nanak Dev Sahib Ji in Siree Raag Kee Vaar, Ang 91)
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ਬਿਨੁ ਨਾਵੈ ਸੂਤਕੁ ਜਗਿ ਛੋਤਿ ॥
Bin[u] naavai Soothak[u] Jag[i] Chhoth[i]
Without the Name, the world is impure and untouchable...
(Dhan Dhan Sri Guru Nanak Dev Sahib Ji in Raag Aasaa, Ang 413)
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ਕਹੁ ਪੰਡਿਤ ਸੂਚਾ ਕਵਨੁ ਠਾਉ ॥
Kah[u] Pa[n]dith Soochaa Kavan[u] Ttaao[u]
Do tell - Oh Pandit! Which place is pure...
ਜਹਾਂ ਬੈਸਿ ਹਉ ਭੋਜਨ ਖਾਉ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥...
Jahaa[n] Bais[i] ho[u] Bhojan Khaao[u]; Rahaa-o[u]
Where I can sit and eat my food?
ਗੋਬਰੁ ਜੂਠਾ ਚਉਕਾ ਜੂਠਾ ਜੂਠੀ ਦੀਨੀ ਕਾਰਾ ॥
Gobar[u] Joottaa Choukaa Joottaa Joottee Dheenee Kaaraa
The cow dung is dirty, the 4 corner eating square [made of cow dung] is dirty,All the lines/boundaries you make are dirty/impure
ਕਹਿ ਕਬੀਰ ਤੇਈ ਨਰ ਸੂਚੇ ਸਾਚੀ ਪਰੀ ਬਿਚਾਰਾ ॥
Kah[i] Kabeer Thae-aee nar Soochae Saachee Paree Bichaaraa
Bhagat Kabeer Ji say: those beings are pure who reflect/contemplate upon the Witness Vaheguru of all...
(Dhan Bhagat Kabeer Ji in Raag Basa[n]th, Ang 1195)
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Don’t burn cow dung as part of the langar’s cooking fire nor make a chauka[line] with cow dung
(Rahith-naamaa Bhai Chaupaa Singh)
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ਚਤੁਰ ਬਰਨ ਇਕ ਦੇਗ਼ ਅਹਾਰਾ ।
Chathur Baran Ik Dhaegg Ahaaraa
All four different castes eat from
ਇਕ ਸਮ ਸੇਵਹਿ ਧਰਿ ਉਰ ਪਯਾਰਾ। ......॥੨੯॥
Ik Sam Saevah[i] Dhhar[i] Ur Pyaaraa
They are all equally one, so they have love for each other in their hearts
(Gur Parthaap Sooraj Prakaash Granth, 1st Raas[i], 43rd Ansoo)
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When Prashaad is prepared, neatly lay a chess-board type of blanket or something similar to that one should eat while sitting upon. They should not have the delusion of having a Chou[n]ka.
ਖਾਣਾ ਪੀਣਾ ਪਵਿਤ੍ਰ ਹੈ ਦਿਤੋਨੁ ਰਿਜਕੁ ਸੈਬਾਹਿ
(KhaaNaa PeeNaa Pavithr Hai Dhithon[u] Rijak[u] Sa[n]baah[i]
Food and drink are pure as they are given to us by the One Giver Vaheguru Ji as our nourishment...)
The eater’s concentration should be on the Supreme Guru - Vaheguru. If anyone comes for food and is hungry then serve them with respect. May they receive happiness when they eat... All food is pure, only then one eating can be impure [in thought]. Eat that which makes your body graceful but don’t eat food from someone who has turned their back away from the Guru and is egotistic.(Praem Sumaarag)
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The following is written in Dhab-i-sthaan-i-Mazaahab:Sikhs don’t have restrictions like hindu’s when eating. One time Giani Prathaap Mal saw a Hindu become a Muslim then said to him: If you are fed up of having restrictions upon your eating and chose to be Muslim then why don’t you become a Guru’s Sikh instead?
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Guru Sahib ends all arguments about eating and drinking in one couplet:
ਬਾਬਾ ਹੋਰੁ ਖਾਣਾ ਖੁਸੀ ਖੁਆਰੁ ॥ ਜਿਤੁ ਖਾਧੈ ਤਨੁ ਪੀੜੀਐ ਮਨ ਮਹਿ ਚਲਹਿ ਵਿਕਾਰ ॥
Babaa Hor KhaaNaa Khusee Khuaar[u]; Jith[u] Khaadhhai Than[u] Peeree-ai, Man Mah[i] Chalah[i] Vikaar
(Dhan Dhan Sri Guru Nanak Dev Sahib Ji in Siree Raag[u], Ang 16)
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In other words, don’t eat that food which will make your body suffer and make the mind increase in vikaar’s/vices.
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