ललितोपासको नेक्षु खण्डं भक्षयेत्
--परशुरामकल्पसूत्र ६.३९
"Lalitā upāsakas should not eat sugarcane."
--Paraśurāmakalpasūtra 6.39
In this verse, a number of various restrictions and prescriptions regarding the conduct of a Śrīvidyā upāsaka/upāsikā are given, including this one which prohibits the eating of sugarcane.
Interpretations of this verse range from not biting sugarcane to not drinking sugarcane juice, or eating its pulp. It appears that the proximity and use of the sugarcane bow (cāpam) with the Devī is likely one of the primary reasons for this prescription.
Ātmānandanātha of Chennai has commented that the inner meaning of this verse is found in the LSN 10 मनोरूपेक्षुकोदण्डा, and suggests it means, "the mind should not be pressed into difficulties or stress"...."Lalitā upāsana is rājavidyā," meaning, "all comforts in this world should be seen as manifestations of Lalitā and her supreme beauty." Other contemporary authorities and gurus such as Caitanyānandanātha, and his guru maṇḍala, of the Rājarājeśvarī Pītham have repeatedly mentioned that practitioners in their paramparā should, "not eat sugarcane."
The verse continues with a list of other regulations in the daily life and practice of śrīvidyā upāsakas such as one should not remember Vārtālī in the day time (alluding to specific time frames for various types of sādhanā). Many of the other prescriptions mentioned are largely not applicable to the vast majority of contemporary practitioners. iti śivam.
