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With a pinch of salt

RANDOM THOUGHTS Salt is a symbol of incorruptible purity, says V. Irai Anbu

SALT STANDS as a symbol of immutable, incorruptible purity. It is distilled by a process of elimination and not through enhancement. Salt preserves, purifies and protects commodities and improves their endurance. One gets cloyed with sweet but not with salt. Sweat, tears and serum, all have significant quantum of salinity. Salt preaches equanimity and its intake is uniform irrespective of effluence of the affluent. Hence, it was satyagraha for self-distillation and not for sugar extraction.

Salt's history

Salt has a history apart from the mystery around it. In ancient Greece slaves were exchanged in lieu of salt and thus the expression, `not worth his salt,' came into existence. Special salt rations for early Roman soldiers were known as `Salarium argentum.' The term became the forerunner of the word, `salary.'

Salt enables our bodies to perform a variety of essential functions. Sodium in salt maintains the fluid in our blood cells. They generate and transmit electrical impulses in nerves and muscles, thus rendering us to vibrate with vigour. Chloride is necessary for digestion of food.

At any movement we have around 250 grams of salt to keep our system agile. It works out to a cup in quantum. So a cup of salt in the body is a joy forever. Even elixir in excess is poison.

Salt is the outcome of adversity. It is not actually, `sweet are the uses of adversity' but `salt is the output of adversity.' When evaporation exceeds precipitation, salt works succeed. Where nature perishes, there salt flourishes.

Dead Sea is not really a sea but a great salt lake.Due to salinity, its water is so buoyant that no one drowns and it is even difficult to get under the surface. Hence, one does not die in Dead Sea though it is deadly. The name is a misnomer. The economic dimension of salt is quite interesting.

Ten per cent of all the salt produced in the world is applied to American highways for road de-icing. It is the principal de-icer as it is the most available and cost effective. Erie Canal was constructed out of the tax collected on New York State salt and tolls charged for salt shipments.

Spiritual dimension of salt is soul kindling. Greek worshipers consecrated salt in their rituals. Jews included salt on the Sabbath. By turning back, Lot's wife turned into a pillar of salt.

About turn is restricted to regiments and prohibited in religion. Jesus called his disciples, `The salt of the earth.' In `The last supper,' Judas spilled a bowl of salt, a portent of misfortune. People still spill salt on the left shoulder to ward off devils and wipe off evils that may be lurking behind. In Buddhism and in Shintoism salt is used to drive off malevolent spirits.

When iodine content was fast depleting in food grains it had to be supplemented to vitalize cerebral function, vision and dynamism of human beings. Iodine does not distort the taste.At the same time, it should not exceed the requirement.

When sugar was proposed as the medium to be mixed, it was dismissed due to differential consumption between haves and have-nots.Those who could afford eat more sweets and the deprived, once in a blue moon. Hence salt was propounded as the correct component for it is consumed in adequate volume by every one. Salt signifies synergy and acts well in addition instead of solitary isolation.

The pouting between couple should be like the quantum of salt in food and this concept was advocated by none other than Thiruvalluvar. Salt dissolves and disappears not revealing its presence. Similarly, the affectionate tussle between spouses should be subtle and not known to outsiders.

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