Within this tradition, dietary practice is shaped more by ethical and spiritual ideals than by a rigid, universally binding rulebook. The emphasis on dharma and non‑violence leads many adherents to favor vegetarian food, especially in connection with worship, pilgrimage, and religious vows. This preference for vegetarianism is understood as a way of minimizing harm to other beings and cultivating inner purity, rather than as a strictly codified prohibition applicable in every circumstance. As a result, actual observance can vary from family to family and region to region, even while the underlying values remain shared.

Alongside this general leaning toward vegetarianism, there is a strong discouragement of alcohol and other intoxicants, particularly around times of worship and temple visits. Devotees are encouraged to approach sacred spaces and observances with clarity of mind and simplicity of conduct, and dietary restraint is one of the means by which that clarity is fostered. On important holy days and during major festivals associated with the tradition’s central figures, followers often undertake fasting or limit themselves to a single, simple vegetarian meal as an act of discipline and devotion.

Ritual purity also plays a role in shaping how food is chosen and consumed. Before entering Pathis and Nizhal Thangals, many devotees fast or partake only of simple, sattvic foods understood to be pure and non‑agitating. While there is no universally standardized rule regarding items such as onions and garlic, some choose especially “pure” foods on sacred days, reflecting a desire to align body, mind, and spirit with the atmosphere of worship. In this way, dietary practice becomes less a fixed legal code and more a living expression of the tradition’s call to non‑violence, simplicity, and spiritual refinement.