Next: Hot and Cold
Up: The Data
Previous: Edible items
People can be classified as having hot or cold dispositions (kunams).
Such a categorization follows some general principles.
- In general Brahmins and Kshatriya (optimally transacting) castes have
colder bodies, whereas Parayans and Vaishyas have hot bodies. Members
of hot castes tend to consume more hot foods. There are many
exceptions to this rule as acari's (craftsmen class) have a
cool body and some Rajput classes have very hot dispositions.
- Individual kunams may be hot or cold. This may override
the particular caste characteristic that a person belong to.
There are many complications to this account which are addressed in the
next section.