Lets understand the Makhan Chor !!
The first thing that comes to mind when we hear the word “Makhan” is Bal (young) Krishna dipping his hands in an earthen pot filled with yellow Makhan. We have read tails about this notorious “Makhan Chor”. His quest to steal Makhan is filled with irony as we all know that his father, Nand, had thousands of Cows with abundant milk. Then why did he still steal Makhan from the village and risk being called a thief?
This act of stealing is symbolic in nature and a little context will help us understand. Kansa, the tyrannical Ruler of Mathura, would forcibly collect all the produces from the Gwalas, be it Milk, Ghee or Makhan, as a form of Tax, leaving hardly anything for their children. Lord Krishna would steal the Makhan so these children would not be deprived of this nutritious super food. But why steal only Makhan one may ask? Simple, Makhan is a healthy food of utmost importance to a growing child.
Makhan – Super food for Children
Children between age group 1-11 should be fed with 1-2 tsp. of makhan everyday as it is loaded with Vit B12, Vit A, D, E and K as well as minerals like Calcium, Magnesium, Phosphorous and Potassium.
It is rich in arachidonic acid, crucial for brain development. Makhan helps build Immunity, and is good for bones and heart. It also has antiviral and antibacterial properties.
Commercial Butter is not Makhan
We all think the Butter we have been eating all along, be it in our Sandwiches, Pav Bhaji, Parathas etc., is it the same as Makhan? The answer is big a NO!!
The commercial Butter we eat every day is largely made by churning buffalo milk to extract Cream. The Cream is then fermented, added with preservatives and artificial colors to make it look yellowish and also to increase its shelf life. This is definitely not Makhan.
How Makhan is made
Makhan was and must be made by churning fresh curd and not milk. Curd when churned with Bilona not just gives us the all healthy makhan but also chaas.
As per Ayurveda, feeding children with Makhan everyday not only helps improve their mental development but makes their digestive system very strong.
