Sattvik Cooking: Modern Avatars of Vedic Foods by Hansaji J. Yogendra - Non Fiction - Paperback

Details
Condition: New
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9789390918850
Publisher: Rupa Publications India

Overview
Sattvik Cooking: Modern Avatars of Vedic Foods is a fresh, accessible cookbook from Dr Hansaji J. Yogendra, director of The Yoga Institute, the world's oldest organised yoga centre. Grounded in the Vedic concept of the three gunas, the book reframes ancient food wisdom for busy modern kitchens. It's an ideal pick for yogis, wellness seekers, home cooks and anyone curious about eating for calm, clarity and sustained energy rather than just calories.

About the Book
This paperback cookbook explores the Vedic idea that all food carries one of three essential qualities, or gunas: Sattva (pure, energising, fulfilling), Rajas (stimulating, passionate) and Tamas (dull, heavy, inert). Dr Hansaji explains how these qualities shape not just physical health but mood, focus and emotional stability, arguing that only a Sattvik diet reliably supports lasting happiness and contentment. Rather than treating this as abstract philosophy, the book translates it into everyday practice: recipes built around humble, widely available Indian kitchen staples, updated with modern-day influences from India and around the world so they suit contemporary tastes and schedules. Natural sweeteners, fresh vegetables, whole grains and mindful preparation methods take centre stage, with an emphasis on keeping meals light, vitalising and genuinely enjoyable rather than restrictive. Alongside the recipes, the author unpacks the science and tradition behind Sattvik eating, including how the doshas of vata, pitta and kapha relate to food choices, helping readers understand not just what to cook but why it matters. The result is a cookbook that works equally well as a step-by-step recipe collection and as an introduction to a more mindful, Vedic-inspired approach to nutrition, suitable for total beginners and for those already familiar with Ayurveda or yoga philosophy.

• Clear, practical explanation of Sattvik, Rajasic and Tamasic food principles
• Modernised recipes using everyday Indian kitchen ingredients
• Guidance on how food influences mood, energy and mental clarity
• Approachable for beginners while rooted in authentic Vedic and yogic tradition
• Written by a globally recognised yoga authority
• A thoughtful gift for wellness-minded family and friends

About the Author
Dr Hansaji J. Yogendra is a respected yoga guru, author and researcher who directs The Yoga Institute in Mumbai, founded in 1918 and recognised as the world's oldest organised yoga centre. She has hosted the television series Yoga for Better Living and holds leadership roles including chair of the Yoga Certification Committee for the Quality Council of India. Her decades of experience in yoga education and Vedic wellness inform every recipe and principle in this book.

Why You'll Love This Cookbook
A rare blend of authentic Vedic wisdom and genuinely usable modern recipes, this book turns everyday cooking into a simple daily practice for calm, energy and wellbeing, backed by a trusted, internationally respected author.

Please Note: Dispatched as the UK edition shown, with the ISBN as listed above.