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| Beyond Vegetarianism: Prasadam |
| patram puspam phalam toyam yo me bhaktya prayacchati tad aham bhakty-upahrtam asnami prayatatmanah |
| Bhagavad-gita (9.26): |
| Translation "If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, a fruit or water, I will accept it." |
From this verse it is understood that we can offer Krishna foods
prepared from milk products, vegetables, fruits, nuts, and grains. Meat,
fish, and eggs are not offerable. And a few vegetarian items can also
not be offered: garlic, onions, and mushrooms for example, which are
in the mode of darkness. Nor can you offer to Krshna coffee or tea that
contains caffeine. If you like these beverages, purchase caffeine-free
coffee and herbal teas.
While shopping, be aware that you may find meat, fish, and egg
products mixed with other foods; so be sure to read labels carefully.
For instance, some brands of yogurt and sour cream contain gelatin, a
substance made from the horns, hooves, and bones of slaughtered
animals. Also, make sure the cheese you buy contains no rennet, an
enzyme extracted from the stomach tissues of slaughtered calves.
Most hard cheese sold in America contains rennet, so be careful about
any cheese you can't verify as rennetless.
Avoid foods cooked by nondevotees. According to the subtle laws of
nature, the cook acts upon the food not only physically but mentally as
well. Food thus becomes an agent for subtle influences on your
consciousness. The principle is the same as that at work with a
painting: a painting is not simply a collection of strokes on a canvas but
prepared from milk products, vegetables, fruits, nuts, and grains. Meat,
fish, and eggs are not offerable. And a few vegetarian items can also
not be offered: garlic, onions, and mushrooms for example, which are
in the mode of darkness. Nor can you offer to Krshna coffee or tea that
contains caffeine. If you like these beverages, purchase caffeine-free
coffee and herbal teas.
While shopping, be aware that you may find meat, fish, and egg
products mixed with other foods; so be sure to read labels carefully.
For instance, some brands of yogurt and sour cream contain gelatin, a
substance made from the horns, hooves, and bones of slaughtered
animals. Also, make sure the cheese you buy contains no rennet, an
enzyme extracted from the stomach tissues of slaughtered calves.
Most hard cheese sold in America contains rennet, so be careful about
any cheese you can't verify as rennetless.
Avoid foods cooked by nondevotees. According to the subtle laws of
nature, the cook acts upon the food not only physically but mentally as
well. Food thus becomes an agent for subtle influences on your
consciousness. The principle is the same as that at work with a
painting: a painting is not simply a collection of strokes on a canvas but
an expression of the artist's state of mind, which affects the viewer. So if you eat food cooked by nondevotees
(employees working in a factory, for example) then you're sure to absorb a dose of materialism and karma. So as
far as possible use only fresh, natural ingredients cooked by devotees.
In preparing food, cleanliness is the most important principle. Nothing impure should be offered to the Lord; so
keep your kitchen very clean. Always wash your hands thoroughly before entering the kitchen. While preparing
food, do not taste it, for you are cooking the meal not for yourself but for the pleasure of Krishna.
Then arrange portions of the food on dinnerware kept especially for this purpose; no one but the Lord should
eat from these dishes. The easiest way to offer food is simply to pray:
"My dear Lord Gauranga Krishna, please accept this food."
(employees working in a factory, for example) then you're sure to absorb a dose of materialism and karma. So as
far as possible use only fresh, natural ingredients cooked by devotees.
In preparing food, cleanliness is the most important principle. Nothing impure should be offered to the Lord; so
keep your kitchen very clean. Always wash your hands thoroughly before entering the kitchen. While preparing
food, do not taste it, for you are cooking the meal not for yourself but for the pleasure of Krishna.
Then arrange portions of the food on dinnerware kept especially for this purpose; no one but the Lord should
eat from these dishes. The easiest way to offer food is simply to pray:
"My dear Lord Gauranga Krishna, please accept this food."
To make a more elaborate offering please chant each of the following prayers three times while ringing a bell:
| Prayer to Srila Prabhupada: nama om vishnu-padaya krishna-preshthaya bhu-tale shrimate bhaktivedanta-svamin iti namine namas te sarasvate deve gaura-vani-pracarine nirvishesha-shunyavadi-pashcatya-desha-tarine |
"I offer my respectful obeisances unto His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, who is very
dear to Lord Krishna, having taken shelter at His lotus feet. Our respectful obeisances are unto you, O spiritual
master, servant of Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Goswami. You are kindly preaching the message of Lord
Chaitanyadeva and delivering the Western countries, which are filled with impersonalism and voidism."
dear to Lord Krishna, having taken shelter at His lotus feet. Our respectful obeisances are unto you, O spiritual
master, servant of Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Goswami. You are kindly preaching the message of Lord
Chaitanyadeva and delivering the Western countries, which are filled with impersonalism and voidism."
| Prayer to Lord Chaitanya: namo maha-vadanyaya krishna-prema-pradaya te krishnaya krishna-chaitanya-namne gaura-tvishe namah |
"O most munificent incarnation! You are Krishna Himself appearing as Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. You
have assumed the golden color of Srimati Radharani, and You are widely distributing pure love of Krishna. We
offer our respectful obeisances unto You."
have assumed the golden color of Srimati Radharani, and You are widely distributing pure love of Krishna. We
offer our respectful obeisances unto You."
| Prayer to Lord Krishna: namo brahmanya-devaya go-brahmana-hitaya ca jagad-dhitaya krishnaya govindaya namo namah |
"I offer my respectful obeisances unto Lord Krishna, who is the worshipable Deity for all brahmanas, the
well-wisher of the cows and the brahmanas, and the benefactor of the whole world. I offer my repeated
obeisances to the Personality of Godhead, known as Krishna and Govinda."
well-wisher of the cows and the brahmanas, and the benefactor of the whole world. I offer my repeated
obeisances to the Personality of Godhead, known as Krishna and Govinda."
Remember that the real purpose of preparing, offering and honoring food of the Lord is to show your devotion
and gratitude to Him. Krishna accepts your devotion, not the physical offering itself. God is complete in Himself -
He doesn't need anything - but out of His immense kindness He allows us to offer food to Him so that we can
develop our love for Him.
After offering the food to the Lord, wait at least five minutes for Him to take the preparations. Then you should
transfer the food from the special dinnerware and wash the dishes and utensils you used for the offering. Now
you and any guests may eat the prasadam. While you eat, try to appreciate the spiritual value of the food.
Remember that because Krishna has accepted it, it is nondifferent from Him, and therefore by eating it you will
become purified.
Everything you offer on your altar becomes prasadam, the mercy of the Lord. Flowers, incense, the water, the
food, everything you offer for the Lord's pleasure becomes spiritualized. The Lord enters into the offerings, and
thus the remnants are nondifferent from Him. So you should not only deeply respect the things you've offered,
but you should distribute them to others as well. Distribution of prasadam is an essential part of Deity worship.
Standard Devotee Diet
Srila Prabhupada recommended a standard diet for the devotees, and instructed that all of the temples should
follow it every day. That menu follows:
Breakfast:
Simple farina cereal with nuts and raisins
Milk (steaming hot), or yogurt in the summertime
Chick peas (raw, soaked overnight)
Ginger root (raw)
Oranges, apples and/or bananas
Lunch:
Rice
Chapatis
Dal made with freshly ground ginger root and freshly ground spices
Subji made with ghee, freshly ground ginger root and freshly ground spices
Before taking rest:
Milk (steaming hot)
Bananas
TOP
and gratitude to Him. Krishna accepts your devotion, not the physical offering itself. God is complete in Himself -
He doesn't need anything - but out of His immense kindness He allows us to offer food to Him so that we can
develop our love for Him.
After offering the food to the Lord, wait at least five minutes for Him to take the preparations. Then you should
transfer the food from the special dinnerware and wash the dishes and utensils you used for the offering. Now
you and any guests may eat the prasadam. While you eat, try to appreciate the spiritual value of the food.
Remember that because Krishna has accepted it, it is nondifferent from Him, and therefore by eating it you will
become purified.
Everything you offer on your altar becomes prasadam, the mercy of the Lord. Flowers, incense, the water, the
food, everything you offer for the Lord's pleasure becomes spiritualized. The Lord enters into the offerings, and
thus the remnants are nondifferent from Him. So you should not only deeply respect the things you've offered,
but you should distribute them to others as well. Distribution of prasadam is an essential part of Deity worship.
Standard Devotee Diet
Srila Prabhupada recommended a standard diet for the devotees, and instructed that all of the temples should
follow it every day. That menu follows:
Breakfast:
Simple farina cereal with nuts and raisins
Milk (steaming hot), or yogurt in the summertime
Chick peas (raw, soaked overnight)
Ginger root (raw)
Oranges, apples and/or bananas
Lunch:
Rice
Chapatis
Dal made with freshly ground ginger root and freshly ground spices
Subji made with ghee, freshly ground ginger root and freshly ground spices
Before taking rest:
Milk (steaming hot)
Bananas
TOP
Remember that the real purpose of preparing and offering food to the Lord is to show your devotion and
gratitude to Him. Krishna accepts your devotion, not the physical offering itself. God is complete in Himself - He
doesn't need anything - but out of His immense kindness He allows us to offer food to Him so that we can
develop our love for Him.
After offering the food to the Lord, wait at least five minutes for Him to take the preparations. Then you should
transfer the food from the special dinnerware and wash the dishes and utensils you used for the offering. Now
you and any guests may eat the prasadam. While you eat, try to appreciate the spiritual value of the food.
Remember that because Krishna has accepted it, it is nondifferent from Him, and therefore by eating it you will
become purified.
Everything you offer on your altar becomes prasadam, the mercy of the Lord. Flowers, incense, the water, the
food, everything you offer for the Lord's pleasure becomes spiritualized. The Lord enters into the offerings, and
thus the remnants are nondifferent from Him. So you should not only deeply respect the things you've offered,
but you should distribute them to others as well. Distribution of prasadam is an essential part of Deity worship.
gratitude to Him. Krishna accepts your devotion, not the physical offering itself. God is complete in Himself - He
doesn't need anything - but out of His immense kindness He allows us to offer food to Him so that we can
develop our love for Him.
After offering the food to the Lord, wait at least five minutes for Him to take the preparations. Then you should
transfer the food from the special dinnerware and wash the dishes and utensils you used for the offering. Now
you and any guests may eat the prasadam. While you eat, try to appreciate the spiritual value of the food.
Remember that because Krishna has accepted it, it is nondifferent from Him, and therefore by eating it you will
become purified.
Everything you offer on your altar becomes prasadam, the mercy of the Lord. Flowers, incense, the water, the
food, everything you offer for the Lord's pleasure becomes spiritualized. The Lord enters into the offerings, and
thus the remnants are nondifferent from Him. So you should not only deeply respect the things you've offered,
but you should distribute them to others as well. Distribution of prasadam is an essential part of Deity worship.
| Before honoring the Prasadam we say the following prayer: |
| sarira avidya-jal jodendriya tahe kal jive phele visaya-sagore ta'ra madhye jihwa ati, lobhamoya sudurmati ta'ke jeta kathina samsare |
"This material body is a lump of ignorance and the senses are a network of paths leading to death. We have
fallen into this ocean of material sense enjoyment. Of all the senses the tongue is the most difficult to control
and is always very greedy to taste things." (Sarira Avidya-Jal, verse 1)
fallen into this ocean of material sense enjoyment. Of all the senses the tongue is the most difficult to control
and is always very greedy to taste things." (Sarira Avidya-Jal, verse 1)
| krsna boro doyamoya, koribare jihwa jaya swa-prasad-anna dilo bhai sei annamrta pao, radha-krsna-guna gao preme dako caitanya-nitai |
"But Krsna is so merciful that he gives us His prasada, the remnants from His own mouth, to help us conquer
the tongue. This prasada is full of nectar. Take this prasada and glorify Radha and Krsna. With love call for the
help of Caitanya-Nitai." (Sarira Avidya-Jal, verse 2)
the tongue. This prasada is full of nectar. Take this prasada and glorify Radha and Krsna. With love call for the
help of Caitanya-Nitai." (Sarira Avidya-Jal, verse 2)
| maha-prasade govinde nama-brahmani vaisnave svalpa-punya-vatam rajan visvaso naiva jayate |
"For those who have amassed very few pious activities, their faith in maha-prasad, in Sri Govinda, in the Holy
Name and in the Vaishnavas is never born."
Name and in the Vaishnavas is never born."
Srila Prabhupada:
We are giving you prasadam. By eating, eating, eating, eating, you one day will become Krishna Conscious, simply by
eating. Because you are so dull, you cannot understand the philosophy. You know the belly like the animals. So therefore
we are giving facility, "All right, fill up your belly, and you will be infected." As you take foodstuff from an infected area,
you become infected with some disease, so this is Krishna-infected, prasadam. You take it, and one day you will be
diseased with Krishna consciousness.
REF: FIJI, APRIL 30, 1976
We are giving you prasadam. By eating, eating, eating, eating, you one day will become Krishna Conscious, simply by
eating. Because you are so dull, you cannot understand the philosophy. You know the belly like the animals. So therefore
we are giving facility, "All right, fill up your belly, and you will be infected." As you take foodstuff from an infected area,
you become infected with some disease, so this is Krishna-infected, prasadam. You take it, and one day you will be
diseased with Krishna consciousness.
REF: FIJI, APRIL 30, 1976
