P R A S A D A M    Part 2 of 2
(continued from Part 1)

 

 

SB 7.14.17

As stated in Bhagavad-gita (3.9), yajnarthat karmano ‘nyatra loko ‘yam karma-bandhanah: all fruitive activities should be performed for sacrifice, which should be directed toward pleasing Krsna. As stated elsewhere in Bhagavad-gita (5.29), bhoktaraà yajna-tapasaà sarva-loka-mahesvaram: He is the Supreme Lord and enjoyer of everything. However, although sacrifice may be offered to please Krsna, He is more pleased when grains and ghee, instead of being offered in the fire, are prepared as prasada and distributed, first to the brahmanas and then to others. This system pleases Krsna more than anything else.

 

SB 7.14.17

In our sankirtana movement, or Hare Krsna movement, we offer sumptuous prasada to the Deity and later distribute the same prasada to the brahmanas, the Vaisnavas and then to the people in general. Krsna’s prasada is offered to the brahmanas and Vaisnavas, and the prasada of the brahmanas and Vaisnavas is offered to the general populace. This kind of sacrifice—chanting of the Hare Krsna mantra and distribution of prasada—is the most perfect and bona fide way of offering sacrifice for the pleasure of Yajna, or Visnu.

 

SB 7.14.18

To distribute prasada to all living entities, the process is that we must first offer prasada to the brahmanas and the Vaisnavas, for the demigods are represented by the brahmanas. In this way the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is situated in everyone’s heart, will be worshiped. This is the Vedic system of offering prasada. Whenever there is a ceremony for distribution of prasada, the prasada is offered first to the brahmanas, then to the children and old men, then to the women, and then to animals like dogs and other domestic animals.

 

SB 8.12.8

Food taken and cooked for oneself is material, but food cooked for the Supreme Lord is spiritual prasada. This is a question of realization. Actually, everything is given by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and therefore everything is spiritual, but those who are not advanced in proper knowledge make distinctions because of the interactions of the three modes of material nature. In this regard, Srila Jiva Gosvami says that although the sun is the only light, the sunshine, which is exhibited in seven colors, and darkness, which is the absence of sunshine, are not different from the sun, for without the existence of the sun such differentiations cannot exist. There may be varied nomenclature because of different conditions, but they are all the sun. ThePuranas therefore say:

 

                     eka-desa-sthitasyagner

                     jyotsna vistarini yatha

                     parasya brahmanah saktis

                      tathedam akhilam jagat

 

“Just as the illumination of a fire, which is situated in one place, is spread all over, the energies of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Parabrahman, are spread all over this universe.” (VisnuPurana 1.22.53) Materially, we can directly perceive the sunshine spreading itself according to different names and activities, but ultimately the sun is one. Similarly, sarva khalv idam brahma: everything is an expansion of the Supreme Brahman. Therefore, the Supreme Lord is everything, and He is one without differentiation. There is no existence separate from the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

 

Madhya 14.36

catur-vidha-sri-bhagavat-prasada-

svadv-anna-trptan hari-bhakta-sanghan

krtvaiva trptim bhajatah sadaiva

vande guroh sri-caranaravindam

“The spiritual master is always offering Krsna four kinds of delicious food [analyzed as that which is licked, chewed, drunk and sucked]. When the spiritual master sees that the devotees are satisfied by eating bhagavat-prasada, he is satisfied. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master.”

The spiritual master’s duty is to engage his disciples in preparing varieties of nice food to offer the Deity. After being offered, this food is distributed as prasada to the devotees. These activities satisfy the spiritual master, although he himself does not eat or require such a variety of prasada. By seeing to the offering and distribution of prasada, he himself is encouraged in devotional service.

 

SB 10.10.9

  Animal killing is prohibited. Every living being, of course, has to eat something (jivo jivasya jivanam). But one should be taught what kind of food one should take. Therefore the Isopanisad instructs, tena tyaktena bhunjithah: one should eat whatever is allotted for human beings. Krsna says in Bhagavad-gita (9.26):

 

patram puspam phalam toyam

                    yo me bhaktya prayacchati

                     tad aham bhakty-upahrtam

                       asnami prayatatmanah

 

“If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, fruit or water, I will accept it.” A devotee, therefore, does not eat anything that would require slaughterhouses for poor animals. Rather, devotees take prasada of Krsna (tena tyaktena bhunjithah). Krsna recommends that one give Him patram puspam phalam toyam–a leaf, a flower, fruit or water. Animal food is never recommended for human beings; instead, a human being is recommended to take prasada, remnants of food left by Krsna. Yajna-sistasinah santo mucyante sarva-kilbisaih (Bg. 3.13). If one practices eating prasada, even if there is some little sinful activity involved, one becomes free from the results of sinful acts.

 

Adi 10.51

A diseased person needs both proper medicine and a proper diet, and therefore the Krsna consciousness movement supplies materially stricken people with the medicine of the chanting of the holy name, or the Hare Krsna maha-mantra, and the diet of prasada. There are many hospitals and medical clinics to cure bodily diseases, but there are no such hospitals to cure the material disease of the spirit soul. The centers of the Krsna consciousness movement are the only established hospitals that can cure man of birth, death, old age and disease.

 

 

Adi 15.9

On Ekadasi, everything is cooked for Visnu, including regular grains and dahi, but it is enjoined that a Vaisnava should not even take Visnu-prasada on Ekadasi. It is said that a Vaisnava does not accept anything eatable that is not offered to Lord Visnu, but on Ekadasi a Vaisnava should not touch even maha-prasada offered to Visnu, although such prasada may be kept for being eaten the next day. It is strictly forbidden for one to accept any kind of grain on Ekadasi, even if it is offered to Lord Visnu.

 

Madhya 3.96

By touching the remnants of food thrown by Nityananda Prabhu, Advaita Acarya immediately felt Himself purified of all smarta contamination. The remnants of food left by a pure Vaisnava are called maha-maha-prasada. This is completely spiritual and is identified with Lord Visnu. Such remnants are not ordinary. The spiritual master is to be considered on the stage of paramahamsa and beyond the jurisdiction of the varnasrama institution. The remnants of food left by the spiritual master and similar paramahamsas or pure Vaisnavas are purifying. When an ordinary person touches such prasada, his mind is purified, and his mind is raised to the status of a pure brahmana. The behavior and statements of Advaita Acarya are meant for the understanding of ordinary people who are unaware of the strength of spiritual values, not knowing the potency of food left by the bona fide spiritual master and pure Vaisnavas.

 

Madhya 3.98

Actually, by eating such maha-prasada, one is freed from all the contaminations of the material condition. That is the verdict of the sastra.

 

Madhya 3.99

In the Brhad-Visnu Purana it is stated that one who considers maha-prasada to be equal to ordinary rice and dal certainly commits a great offense. Ordinary edibles are touchable and untouchable, but there are no such dualistic considerations where prasada is concerned. prasada is transcendental, and there are no transformations or contaminations, just as there are no contaminations or transformations in the body of Lord Visnu Himself. Thus even if one is a brahmana he is certain to be attacked by leprosy and bereft of all family members if he makes such dualistic considerations. Such an offender goes to hell, never to return. This is the injunction of the Brhad-VisnuPurana.

 

TLC 26

Lord Caitanya then offered him the prasada which He had received in the temple of Jagannatha, and Bhattacarya was very glad to receive this prasada from the hands of Lord Caitanya Himself. Indeed, without taking his bath and without performing his daily duties or even washing his teeth, he began immediately to eat the prasada. In this way, he was freed from all material contamination and attachment, and as he began to eat the prasada, he cited a verse from PadmaPurana. In PadmaPurana it is stated that when prasada is brought or received, it must be eaten immediately, even if it has become very dry or old, or even if it is brought from a distant place, or even if one has not completed executing his daily duties. Since it is enjoined in the sastras that prasada should immediately be taken, there is no restriction of time and space; the order of the Supreme Personality of Godhead must be followed. There are restrictions one must follow before accepting food from various people, but there are no restrictions on accepting prasada from all kinds of people. prasada is always transcendental and can be taken under any condition. Lord Caitanya was very pleased to see that Bhattacarya, who had always obeyed the rules and regulations strictly, accepted prasada without following any rules and regulations.

 

Madhya 9.54

Having made their plot, the Buddhists brought a plate of untouchable food before Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and called it maha-prasada.

PURPORT

The word apavitra anna refers to food that is unacceptable for a Vaisnava. In other words, a Vaisnava cannot accept any food offered by an aVaisnava in the name of maha-prasada. This should be a principle for all Vaisnavas. When asked, “What is the behavior of a Vaisnava?” Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu replied, “A Vaisnava must avoid the company of an aVaisnava [asat].” The word asat refers to an aVaisnava, that is, one who is not a Vaisnava. Asat-sanga-tyaga,—ei Vaisnava-acara (Cc. Madhya 22.87). A Vaisnava must be very strict in this respect and should not at all cooperate with an aVaisnava. If an aVaisnava offers food in the name of maha-prasada, it should not be accepted. Such food cannot be prasada because an aVaisnava cannot offer anything to the Lord. Sometimes preachers in the Krsna consciousness movement have to accept food in a home where the householder is an aVaisnava; however, if this food is offered to the Deity, it can be taken. Ordinary food cooked by an aVaisnava should not be accepted by a Vaisnava. Even if an aVaisnava cooks food without fault, he cannot offer it to Lord Visnu, and it cannot be accepted as maha-prasada. According to Lord Krsna in the Bhagavad-gita (9.26):

patram puspam phalam toyam

yo me bhaktya prayacchati

tad aham bhakty-upahrtam

asnami prayatatmanah

“If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, a fruit or water, I will accept it.”Krsna can accept anything offered by His devotee with devotion. An aVaisnava may be a vegetarian and a very clean cook, but because he cannot offer the food he cooks to Visnu, it cannot be accepted as maha-prasada. It is better that a Vaisnava abandon such food as untouchable.

 

 

Antya 6.276

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura says that people who are advanced in learning but attached to material enjoyment, who are puffed up by material possessions, by birth in an elevated aristocratic family or by education, may offer showbottle devotional service to the Deity and also offer prasada to Vaisnavas. Because of their ignorance, however, they cannot understand that since their minds are materially polluted, neither the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Krsna, nor the Vaisnavas accept their offerings. If one accepts money from such materialistic persons to offer food to the Deity and Vaisnavas, a pure Vaisnava does not accept it. This causes unhappiness for the materialists because they are fully absorbed in the bodily conception of life. Therefore they sometimes turn against the Vaisnavas.

 

ANTYA 6.278

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura suggests that people who are materialistically inclined and sahajiyas, or so-called Vaisnavas who take everything very casually, are both visayi materialists. Eating food offered by them causes contamination, and as a result of such contamination, even a serious devotee becomes like a materialistic man. There are six kinds of association—giving charity, accepting charity, accepting food, offering food, talking confidentially and inquiring confidentially. One should very carefully avoid associating with both the sahajiyas, who are sometimes known as Vaisnavas, and the non-Vaisnavas, or aVaisnavas. Their association changes the transcendental devotional service of Lord Krsna into sense gratification, and when sense gratification enters the mind of a devotee, he is contaminated. The materialistic person who aspires after sense gratification cannot properly think of Krsna.

 

MADHYA 12.95

Srila Nityananda Prabhu’s reference in this connection is meant to emphasize that one should avoid eating with Mayavadis and covert Mayavadis like the sahajiya Vaisnavas, who are materially affected.

 

SB 2.3.23

According to Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura, the breathing dead body is a ghost. When a man dies, he is called dead, but when he again appears in a subtle form not visible to our present vision and yet acts, such a dead body is called a ghost. Ghosts are always very bad elements, always creating a fearful situation for others. Similarly, the ghostlike nondevotees who have no respect for the pure devotees, nor for the Visnu Deity in the temples, create a fearful situation for the devotees at all times. The Lord never accepts any offering by such impure ghosts. There is a common saying that one should first love the dog of the beloved before one shows any loving sentiments for the beloved. The stage of pure devotion is attained by sincerely serving a pure devotee of the Lord. The first condition of devotional service to the Lord is therefore to be a servant of a pure devotee, and this condition is fulfilled by the statement “reception of the dust of the lotus feet of a pure devotee who has also served another pure devotee.” That is the way of pure disciplic succession, or devotional parampara.

 

NOTE: Ghostlike nondevotees are demoniac have no respect for Srila Prabhupada create a fearful situation e.g by driving away devotees who have accepted the ritvik(July 9^th 1977 Order from Srila Prabhupada) system of initiation (their motive is money and self-worship).

 

Their offerings are not accepted because they OBSTRUCT worship of the CURRENT ACARYA Srila Prabhupada. Offering to such so-called guru is deviation. The conditioned soul so-called gurus picture is incapable offering to Krishna. Krishna does not accept such offering. Only Srila Prabhupada being a pure devotee and current link acarya is capable of accepting on behalf of Krishna.

 

Bg 16.4 T         The Divine And Demoniac Natures

   Arrogance, pride, anger, conceit, harshness and ignorance–these qualities belong to those of demoniac nature, O son of Prtha.

PURPORT

In this verse, the royal road to hell is described. The demoniac want to make a show of religion and advancement in spiritual science, although they do not follow the principles. They are always arrogant or proud in possessing some type of education or so much wealth. THEY DESIRE TO BE WORSHIPED BY OTHERS, and demand respectability, although they do not command respect. Over trifles they become very angry and speak harshly, not gently. They do not know what should be done and what should not be done. They do everything whimsically, according to their own desire, and they do not recognize any authority.

 

Isopanisad 12                          

The pseudo religionists have neither knowledge nor detachment from material affairs, for most of them want to live in the golden shackles of material bondage under the shadow of philanthropic activities disguised as religious principles. By a false display of religious sentiments, they present a show of devotional service while indulging in all sorts of immoral activities. In this way they pass as spiritual masters and devotees of God. Such violators of religious principles have no respect for the authoritative acaryas, the holy teachers in the strict disciplic succession. They ignore the Vedic injunction acaryopasana–“One must worship the acarya”–and Krsna’s statement in the Bhagavad-gita (4.2) evam parampara-praptam, “This supreme science of God is received through the disciplic succession.” Instead, to mislead the people in general they themselves become so-called acaryas, but they do not even follow the principles of the acaryas.                      

These rogues are the most dangerous elements in human society. Because there is no religious government, they escape punishment by the law of the state. They cannot, however, escape the law of the Supreme, who has clearly declared in the Bhagavad-gita that envious demons in the garb of religious propagandists shall be thrown into the darkest regions of hell (Bg. 16.19-20). Sri Isopanisad confirms that these pseudo religionists are heading toward the most obnoxious place in the universe after the completion of their spiritual master business, which they conduct simply for sense gratification.

 

SB 4.13.28

It is indicated herein that if there is negligence on the part of the priest, the demigods do not accept their share in sacrifices. Similarly, in devotional service there are offenses known as seva-aparadha. Those who are engaged in worshiping the Deity, Radha and Krsna, in the temple, should avoid such offenses in service. The offenses in service are described in The Nectar of Devotion. If we simply make a show of offering services to the Deity but do not care for the seva-aparadha, certainly the Radha-Krsna Deity will not accept offerings from such nondevotees. Devotees engaged in temple worship should not, therefore, manufacture their own methods, but should strictly follow the regulative principles of cleanliness, and then offerings will be accepted.

 

SB 3.29.24

It is prescribed in Bhagavad-gita: “If a devotee offers Me a small flower, a leaf, some water or a little fruit, I will accept it.” The real purpose is to exhibit one’s loving devotion to the Lord; the offerings themselves are secondary. If one has not developed loving devotion to the Lord and simply offers many kinds of foodstuffs, fruits and flowers without real devotion, the offering will not be accepted by the Lord. We cannot bribe the Personality of Godhead. He is so great that our bribery has no value. Nor has He any scarcity; since He is full in Himself, what can we offer Him? Everything is produced by Him. We simply offer to show our love and gratitude to the Lord.

 

Antya 4.194

However, Krsna does not accept anything from a person with a material conception of life. When a devotee no longer has any desire for material sense gratification, in his spiritual identity he engages in the service of the Lord, for his dormant spiritual consciousness awakens. This awakening of spiritual consciousness makes his body spiritual, and thus he becomes fit to render service to the Lord.

 

Madhya11.211

It is the practice of Vaisnavas while taking prasada to chant the holy name of Lord Hari at intervals and also sing various songs, such as sarira avidya-jala. Those who are honoring prasada, accepting the remnants of food offered to the Deity, must always remember that prasada is not ordinary food. Prasada is transcendental. We are therefore reminded:

Those who are not pious cannot understand the value of maha-prasada or the holy name of the Lord. Both prasada and the Lord’s name are on the Brahman platform, or spiritual platform. One should never consider prasada to be like ordinary hotel cooking. Nor should one touch any kind of food not offered to the Deity. Every Vaisnava strictly follows this principle and does not accept any food that is not prasada. One should take prasada with great faith and should chant the holy name of the Lord and worship the Deity in the temple, always remembering that the Deity, maha-prasada and the holy name do not belong to the mundane platform. By worshiping the Deity, eating prasada and chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra, one can always remain on the spiritual platform (brahma-bhuyaya kalpate).

 

Madhya 19.213

Madhya 19.213 Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu Instructs Srila Rupa Gosvami

Sei annamrta khao, radha-krsna-guna gao, preme daka caitanya-nitai. Since a devotee only eats prasada, he conquers the dictations of the tongue, belly and genitals. One can control the dictates of the senses when situated in the position of santa-rasa. Then one’s advancement in Krsna consciousness is assured.

 

Madhya 24.266

There are certainly many householders in our Krsna consciousness movement. They join the movement and live in the society’s centers, but if they take advantage of this opportunity and do not work but live at the expense of the movement, eating prasada and simply sleeping, they place themselves in a very dangerous position. It is therefore advised that grhasthas should not live in the temple. They must live outside the temple and maintain themselves. Of course, if the grhasthas are fully engaged in the Lord’s service according to the directions of the authorities, there is no harm in their living in a temple. In any case, a temple should not be a place to eat and sleep. A temple manager should be very careful about these things.

 

Antya 1.29

   Furthermore, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was throwing remnants of green coconut pulp to the dog. Smiling in His own way, He was saying to the dog, “Chant the holy names Rama, Krsna, and Hari.”   

 

Antya 1.30

   Seeing the dog eating the green coconut pulp and chanting “Krsna, Krsna” again and again, all the devotees present were very much surprised.                  

 

Antya 1.31

   When he saw the dog sitting in that way and chanting the name of Krsna, Sivananda, because of his natural humility, immediately offered his obeisances to the dog just to counteract his offenses to it.                            

 

 

Antya 1.32

The next day, no one saw that dog, for it had obtained its spiritual body and departed for Vaikuntha, the spiritual kingdom.

PURPORT

This is the result of sadhu-sanga, consequent association with Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and promotion back home, back to Godhead. This result is possible even for a dog, by the mercy of the Vaisnava. Therefore, everyone in the human form of life should be induced to associate with devotees. By rendering a little service, even by eating prasada, not to speak of chanting and dancing, everyone could be promoted to Vaikunthaloka. It is therefore requested that all our devotees in the ISKCON community become pure Vaisnavas, so that by their mercy all the people of the world will be transferred to Vaikunthaloka, even without their knowledge.

Everyone should be given a chance to take prasada and thus be induced to chant the holy names Hare Krsna and also dance in ecstasy. By these three processes, although performed without knowledge or education, even an animal went back to Godhead.

 

750227BG.MIA

Similarly, if you remain with Krsna by chanting His holy name, then you will be purified and one day will come—you will be Krsnaized. The process is very simple: chant Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare. That’s all. (break) …twenty-four hours. Kirtaniyah sada harih. This is not my word; this is Caitanya Mahaprabhu. You have to associate with kirtana. The reading is also kirtana, and chanting on the beads, that is also kirtana. There is no difference. So make your life in such a way. Either chant Hare Krsna or read books. And when you are hungry, you take little prasadam. Don’t take much. Then you will sleep more. Take as little as possible. Then you will also sleep… Our business is to conquer over the demands of the body. The demands of the body is eating, sleeping, sex and defense. So spiritual life means make it almost nil.

Male devotee: Srila Prabhupada, if someone takes prasadam even once, is it true that they’re guaranteed at least a human body in their next life?

Prabhupada: Yes. You go on simply eating, that’s all. (laughter) And all of my devotees, they have come to me simply by eating prasada. You are also? (laughter) So we give all facilities. If you cannot do anything, please come and eat with us.

 

740119SB.HAW

Devotee (1): Prabhupada, when we’re chanting on the street and the people walk by and hear us chant or we give them prasadam or they give a small donation, to what extent is the benefit they receive? They can go on walking by and hearing us chant.

Prabhupada: The benefit is… Just like the bank sometimes gives you a box, “Whatever little money you save, put it in this.” And when it is filled up, it becomes a big amount. Similarly, these people, abodha-jata, rascals, if they little appreciate, “Oh, these people are nice,” that is one asset. This is called ajnata-sukrti, accumulation of the result of pious activities. And when one is fully pious, at that time, he can understand what is God. So we are helping them, by and by, to advance in the matter of understanding God. This is our propaganda.

Bali-mardana: I believe I’ve heard you said in other lectures that a person who takes prasadam, even a plant or a…, any kind of living entity who takes prasadam or hears the name, that it will come back at least to human form of life. Is that correct?

Prabhupada: No, if he’s devotee, then he’ll come. But this taking of prasadam, or hearing Hare Krsna mantra is advancement for becoming a devotee. But if he takes prasadam not as ordinary prasadam, foodstuff, he believes that “This is remnants of foodstuffs given to God,” if he understands this philosophy, then guaranteed. If he takes the prasadam as ordinary food, “All right, these people are distributing, prasa… Let me take it. It is very tasteful,” that will give him chance to accept prasadam next, next, next… In this way, one day he’ll come to the point that “This prasadam is not ordinary foodstuff.” Then he’ll… There is guarantee. Because only the devotee can appreciate that “This prasadam is not ordinary foodstuff. It is Krsna’s remnant of…” Therefore, he understands Krsna. That is said in the Bhagavad-gita, janma-karma ca me divyam yo janati tattvatah. In truth, when he understands, then his life is guaranteed. Why guaranteed? He goes back to home next life. Tyaktva deham punar janma naiti. If you simply can understand what is Krsna and what is your relationship with Krsna, that is sufficient to take you back to home, back to Godhead. That is sufficient. It is so nice.

 

750701SB.DEN

Because prasada is transcendental. It is not material thing. So one must have faith that it is not material. It cannot be infected by any material things. In this way prasada should be taken. It is called prasada-seva, not “prasada enjoyment.” Seva means giving service. Prasada is as good as Krsna; therefore prasada should be respected as good as Krsna. As soon as one gets prasadam, immediately he touches on the head because it is Krsna, absolute. In this way we have to be trained up as it is prescribed in the sastras.

So those who are attached to Krsna consciousness movement and those who are attached to the service, they should take prasadam, first-class prasadam. Everyone likes the taste of the prasadam. I used to go in my household life to take prasadam in the temples and pay them. I used to do that. And I used to go… Especially in Sri Ramapur, there are two temples, one of Jagannatha and one of Radha-Vallabhaji. So it was very nice. On Sunday I used to go to take prasadam. So you should be habituated to prasadam as far as possible unless you are very sick, you cannot take. That is different. Otherwise you should take it. Sevonmukhe hi jihvadau. Then we will remember Krsna, and that will keep us fit and immune from all infection of material miserable condition.

 

760702SB.NV

Nityam, daily, there must be bhagavata-seva. Everything is sevaya. Prasada-seva, bhagavata-seva. Because, seva means service. Just like maha-prasada, not eating. The exact term is seva. Krsna has sent him maha-prasada. So by taking it, it is seva, it is service to Krsna, Krsna likes it, that you take the prasadam. Therefore it is seva. In this way, increasing seva.

So if we can… Sevonmukhe hi jihvadau, the seva, the service, begins from the tongue, service. Not with the hand but with the tongue. If you simply chant Hare Krsna, this is seva, and if you take prasadam, then your business begins immediately. Sevonmukhe hi jihvadau svayam eva sphuraty adah. And if you simply continue this seva, then Krsna will reveal Himself and gradually He will give you intelligence how you can make advance to go back to home, back to Godhead.

 

760416SB.BOM

The brahmacari will collect dahl, rice, attar, and everything. It will be prepared, offered to the Deity. That’s a fact. But if by mistake guru forgets to call a particular disciple—“My dear son, please come, take your prasadam”—then he should not take prasadam. “Guru has forgotten, so I shall not go and take, myself, the foodstuff. I shall fast.” This is brahmacari. Here it is said, bhuïjita yady anujïato. Everything is there, prasadam is ready, but you can eat if you are ordered by the spiritual master. This is called tapasya. Not that “Guru is not here and so much foodstuff… Let me eat sumptuously and sleep twenty-four hours.” This is not brahmacari. We should be very careful. Without order of guru… Of course, our students are trained up. They ask permission. But here it is said that he should not ask permission even. If guru calls him, then he can take; otherwise guru has forgotten to call him somehow or other, so he should starve, or he should fast on that day.

 

711212RC.DEL

Prabhupada: Otherwise, even you do ordinary killing, vegetable killing, you are killing so many germs. So in higher sense if you take this principle of Bible, “Thou shalt not kill,” that means you must eat Krsna prasadam, otherwise you will be killing. And whichever you do, it will be killing. So our process is perfect, take Krsna prasadam. Hm?

Visakha: What happens to the jiva souls who were fruits and vegetables that were offered to Krsna?

Prabhupada: Yes, there is jiva also. I say that even vegetable you are killing, but that killing responsibility goes to Krsna. We are killing for Krsna. Suppose in the vegetable there is life, but we are preparing food for Krsna.

Nara-Narayana: I think she wants to know what happens to the soul. Supposing that a plant, we are killing the plant and offering in prasadam to Krsna. The jiva soul who is living in the plant, what happens to him?

Prabhupada: Because he is killed for Krsna’s purpose so he gets immediately liberation.

Devotee (lady): This is a very sinful life they’re living unless we offer everything to Krsna.

Prabhupada: Not anything. Krsna, whatever says (indistinct). Krsna says, patraà puñpaà phalaà toyam. You can offer these things which is asked by Krsna.

Devotee: Do they just get liberation or do they go directly to Krsna?

Prabhupada: Hm?

Devotee: They go to Krsna or do they only get liberation? Do they go to Goloka Våndavana?

Devotee: What kind of liberation?

Prabhupada: Well, liberation not always means that he goes directly. In the lower stage liberation means to come out of the lower stage to the human form of body. Then he gets chance for directly serving Krsna, then real liberation takes place.

 

730419MW.LA

Svarupa Damodara: So when you take Krsna prasadam, the living entities which are within our body, they’re also taking prasadam?

Prabhupada: Yes. You are very benevolent. You take Krsna prasadam for others.

Brahmananda: Welfare work.

Prabhupada: Yes. That you can do without taking Krsna prasadam. Because you have got stool and urine within your body, and there are many germs. They’re eating that. You need not make a separate endeavor to feed them.

 

SPL 71-06-08 JADURANI

The two men sitting up on Lord Jagannatha’s altar are pujaris. They are just sitting there and anyone coming to make offering to the Deity, they are accepting and returning tulasi and caranamrta. So they are very busy. And when there is bhoga offering, no visitors are allowed in the temple. The floor is immediately washed and pots and trays of foodstuffs are placed in the room. And each time Jagannatha is offered prasadam, there is enough for one thousand men. Similarly he is offered 56 times in a day. And they don’t purchase any ingredients from the market. They have got their own agricultural field and big management. Another temple in South India is called Tirupati where daily they collect Rs 100,000/-.

 

SPL BHAVANANDA 72-08-01

And I am informed by Gurudasa that the distribution program in Mayapur is not very widespread. Why you have neglected this very important program? I want that you shall distribute prasadam at least to hundreds of persons daily, and advertise very widely all over Nadia Province for people to come there and take prasadam daily without charge. Otherwise the whole thing is a farce. We have worked so hard for so long to get this foodstuff donated by your government and now we are neglecting? And if you expand this program to their satisfaction, they will give so much more of different varieties of foodstuffs and we can expand this program widely throughout India and become very much popular with the people as a whole.

 

SPL 68-06-24 ANIRUDDHA

If a preparation is cooked all together, then offer all together. But if it is prepared separately, then the milk, the sugar and the cereal should be offered separately. But if the milk, sugar and grains are all cooked together, that can be done. (Everything should be prepared very carefully and cleanly within the groups of foods listed. And nothing should ever be eaten before offering to the Lord. Best thing is to prepare separately each preparation. No, food which has been offered should never be put back into the refrigerator with the unoffered foods, or brought back into the kitchen. You should prepare as much as can be consumed, and after offering, nothing should be put back in the refrigerator, or kitchen. Refrigerator should always be very cleansed and pure. Everyone should be careful to make only as much as they can eat; they cannot keep any leftovers in refrigerator. I know this is a practice in your country, but in the temples or at homes of any Krishna Consciousness persons, a person should not indulge in such unclean habits. If there is any food extra, that should be kept separately; and if there is a separate refrigerator, not within the kitchen and not having in it any unoffered foods, then you may have such special refrigerator for leftover prasadam. But it cannot be kept within the same refrigerator as the unoffered, unprepared foods. That cannot be. One should never eat within the kitchen, there is ample place to eat so why should one eat in the kitchen? Kitchen should be considered as good as the Lord’s room, and nobody should wear shoes in the kitchen, smelling and tasting of foods being prepared for the Lord should never be done, talking within the kitchen should be only what is necessary for preparing the prasadam, or about the Lord, and dirty dishes (those taken from kitchen and eaten from) should not be brought back into the kitchen (but if there is no other place to wash them, then they should be put into sink and washed immediately.), hands should always be washed when preparing prasadam, and in this way, everything shall be prepared very cleanly and pure.)

 

SPL 71-11-27 KIRTARAJA

Regarding prasadam, leftovers should always be taken if they have not spoiled or if they have not been touched by diseased persons. We should never waste Krishna prasadam. Best thing is to cook only what is required and then give each person what he wants. That is the Vedic system, that the people sit in rows behind their plates and servers pass down the rows and put a very small portion of each foodstuff on each plate, unless there is some objection by a person then nothing is given. Then if anyone wants more, the servers pass up and down the rows continually and give more if anyone requests. In this way nothing is wasted and everyone is satisfied.

 

SPL 75-08-04 VEDAVYASA

Regarding your questions, you may not be so advanced that you will take the karmi remnants as prasada. The karmis should not be given so much that there is waste. You can give them a little, and then if they like you can give them more. This system should be introduced everywhere. I have seen myself that so much prasada is being left. This is not good. Regarding the attitude for taking prasada, if you think it is something palatable, so let me take more and more, then that is sense gratification. But, still it is prasadam so it will act. Prasad is transcendental, but one should not take too much. Sannyasis may take the maha-prasada but not to overeat. Caitanya Mahaprabhu was taking, but on principle he was avoiding.

 

SPL 72-02-08 CHATURBHUJA

Krishna Prasad is always all right. The consideration of spoiling foodstuff after 3 hours, that is ordinary or it is so for persons who are not advanced in accepting Krishna prasada as transcendental, just like Ragunatha Goswami: he was collecting rejected rice from the cooking of Lord Jagannatha and he was eating only that. So this is a higher stage, so for the time being you should know that Krishna prasada is never contaminated by any material source.

 

SPL 75-08-07 DR. Y.G.NAIK

Prasadam in this country means a full meal. From the very beginning even when I was alone, I was cooking myself for at least one dozen men, and I distributed full meals. According to Caitanya Mahaprabhu philosophy, prasadam should be taken up to the neck, akantha. In Jagannatha Puri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s only occupation was holding Sankirtana at least four hours every day and distributing prasadam to the devotees. It is stated in the Caitanya Caritamrta that the Lord was so liberal that He would give to every man prasadam quite sufficient for being eaten by two or three men. So we are trying to follow by distributing prasadam very liberally, and we invite everyone without any discrimination.

 

SPL 74-11-23 KIRTANANDA

Regarding the prasadam, I never approved Mr. Malkani cooking in the temple. He is not initiated. Of course he is Hindu, but he went there to start his business. But, he is not initiated to cook in the temple. Any paid cook is not desirable. Who was cooking formally? He wanted to start his business, not to be engaged by us. The independent cooking done in the temple kitchen is not good.*

 

730506SB.LA                 Lectures

   That’s the fact. That is the fact. Krsna says in the Bhagavad-gita: yo me bhaktya prayacchati. Patram puspam phalam toyam yo me bhaktya prayacchati. Krsna says that “A little flower, little water, little fruit, that’s all, if somebody offers Me with devotion and love, then I eat.” Krsna is not hungry. Krsna is not hungry. He is self-satisfied, purna. But if His devotee offers Him something with love and affection, then He accepts. So do not think that “We have made such nice, sumptuous plate for Krsna. Krsna must eat.” No. There is no such thing, “must.” You cannot make Krsna must. That is not possible. So Krsna will see how much you have love for Him. Then He will accept. Otherwise He’ll reject. Therefore, it is forbidden, those who are nondevotee, those who are not initiated, those who are not chanting regularly, their offering to Krsna will not be accepted. We must be very careful. We must know our position, whether I am sincerely following the principles of devotional service. Then Krsna will accept. Yo me bhaktya prayacchati. The real thing is bhakti. So either you offer Krsna prayers or you offer foodstuff, everything must be along with bhakti, devotion, love. Then Krsna will accept

 

Note: as regards initiated devotee – as per Srila Prabhupada’s instruction  his ORDER of July 9^th 1977 Ritvik(rtvik) initiations formality was his arrangement to continue with Srila Prabhupada as the initiator and those initiated as HIS disciples. Now however conditioned soul – opportunists “swamis” under the pretext of “Initiating Guru” in ISKCON have defied and usurped Srila Prabhupada’s Initiating Guru position.  Initiated does not mean one has to take shelter of opportunist so-called guru with ISKCON rubber stamp.

 

75-08-04.   Letter: Madhudvisa:

The GBC should all be the instructor gurus. I am in the initiator guru, and you should be the instructor guru by teaching what I am teaching and doing what I am doing. This is not a title, but you must actually come to this platform. This I want.

 

760628bj.nv               Conversations

Pusta Krsna: What about the so-called gurus that take a little bit here and a little bit there?

Prabhupada: So-called gurus, they are so-called gurus. They are not gurus. That is already explained. If one does not speak what Krsna speaks, he is not guru. If you accept so-called guru, that is your misfortune. What can be done?

Pusta Krsna: Some of them will say some things that Krsna says, but they’ll take from other places also. What is the position of such persons?

Prabhupada: He’s most dangerous. He’s most dangerous. He is opportunist. He’s finding out customer, something here… According to the customer he is giving something, as the customers will be pleased. So he is not guru. He’s a servant. He wants to serve the so-called disciples so that he may be satisfied and pay him something. He’s servant. He’s not guru. Guru is the master. You cannot disobey guru. But if you become a servant, you want to please the disciple by flattering him to get his money, then you are not guru, you are servant. Just like a servant pleases the master. He’s not guru. He’s servant. So our position should be servant, yes, but servant of the Supreme. So guru means heavy. You cannot utilize him for satisfying your whims. That is not guru.

 

SPL 75-05-26 AKSYANANDA , DHANANJAYA

Continue to organize the guest house. This is very important. Do it very nicely with the co-operation of Dr. Verma. In the evening, you must have many varieties of first class ghee-cooked preparations offered to the Deity and you can sell the prasadam. The L.A. standard is good, but still you should have a better standard. You should make kacoris, samosa, etc. If it is required, a professional confectioner may be employed.

 

SPL 68-03-28 MAHAPURUSA

Yes, a non-initiate can work under the direction of a devotee in the kitchen. So Eric can certainly work under your direction in the kitchen for distribution of prasadam. That is very nice

 

SPL 68-01-25 BALAI DASI

Regarding your questions: Yes, leave Krishna’s plate for 15-20 minutes or more, not more than half an hour. After offering the plate, the balance in the pots should be distributed immediately. The plate can remain on the altar while the rest is being distributed.

Any initiated girl can take part in preparation of prasadam, and even a boy who is not initiated cannot take part.

 

76-07-11.     Letter: Gopala Krsna

   Unless one is initiated they cannot cook. They must be regular disciples then they can do Deity worship. So there is no question of the outsiders cooking in the New Delhi temple.

 

Note: It seems Srila Prabhupada is a little flexible in terms of time, place, circumstances and constraints at the time but generally speaking as a rule he does not allow non-initiates to cook prasadam – but If they really had to do it – it was under direction of devotees as helping hand.

 

68-03-16. Letter: Jadurani

The dishwashing occupation is open to anyone who wishes to help. There is no restriction. Also, non-initiates may help in cooking prasadam under the direction of devotees. That is all right.

 

 

SPL 74-11-23 KIRTANANDA

Regarding the prasadam, I never approved Mr. Malkani cooking in the temple. He is not initiated. Of course he is Hindu, but he went there to start his business. But, he is not initiated to cook in the temple. Any paid cook is not desirable. Who was cooking formally? He wanted to start his business, not to be engaged by us. The independent cooking done in the temple kitchen is not good.*

 

SPL 71-05-19 JADURANI

Yes, do not take too much foodstuffs; take so that no remnants are left. Immediately after, the dishes should be washed, or paper dishes thrown away. But do not throw away prasadam. Better to take a little less than to have leftover for saving. That is not good.

 

SPL 68-04-09 ANIRUDDHA

For dishes, best thing is everyone who is eating Prasadam should wash his plate. Otherwise, one man has to do so many dishes. So even the guests should also wash their dishes, that is the system in the Temple; not leave one man to do it.

 

SPL 68-08-07 NATHAN BARUCH

So far Sankirtana is concerned, that should be continued in all circumstances. Chanting of Hare Krishna, Sankirtana is our life and soul. Side by side, if possible, then you can attempt for the ISKCON restaurant and Krishna Prasadam distribution, but this I think is secondary.

 

SPL 75-12-31 KIRTARAJA

So try to present my books there. It is assure of success because Lord Caitanya predicted, “In ever town and village of the world, my name will be known” The whole world is full of rascals presenting concocted ideas and everyone is suffering. Caitanya Mahaprabhu came just to deliver these rascals. How?

hare nama hare nama hare nama eva kevalam

kalau nasty eva nasty eva nasty eva gatir anyatha

Chant Hare Krishna, induce others to chant, and distribute prasadam. This can be done everywhere, who will object. Temple or no temple, you simply chant and give prasadam and it will act.

 

SPL 68-06-24 ANIRUDDHA

Please accept my blessings. Just now I understand from Mahapurusa das that you phoned here to inquire whether the temple can be closed for your going to San Francisco on the Rathayatra Festival. Since the temple is started, the temple cannot be closed on any day. This is the serious business of opening a center. In no case, even in the most urgent case, the temple cannot be closed even for a single day. The Deities should be offered prasadam regularly, and worshipped regularly, so if you are going to San Francisco, somebody must remain to look after the temple affairs.

 

SPL 68-02-24 CIDANANDA

You can arrange to supply prasadam only to our devotees. We are not in a position financially to distribute foodstuff for the poor class of men. Such men may take shelter of some charitable institution. At the present moment, we are not in a position to make charities but for the devotees we can sacrifice anything. So you can stop preparing prasadam for persons who are not willing to work neither to pay.

 

SPL 68-01-21 JANARDANA

Lord Caitanya’s Birthdate is on the Phalguna Purnima between 15 of Feb. and 15th of March. The full moon day is Lord Caitanya’s Birthday. I think you can send for Rayarama’s calendar which he has published. The exact day is 14th March, Thursday, 1968. The procedure is that you should fast from morning to evening (about 7:00) after that there should be offering to Lord Caitanya and prasadam should be accepted just like on Ekadasi day, and next day, Friday, full love feasting may be provided to as many devotees as you can.

 

SPL 68-03-26 MUKUNDA

Our next ceremony is Lord Ramacandra’s Birthday, on the 7th of April. It should be observed in the same way as Lord Caitanya’s Appearance Day, namely, fasting up to evening and then accept Prasadam, and all our ceremonies should be performed with continuous Kirtana, of Hare Krishna, Hare Rama. That will make all our functions successful.

 

SPL 68-03-28 MAHAPURUSA

So far the Advent Day of Lord Rama Candra, it should be celebrated as Lord Caitanya’s Birthday was done. Fasting up to evening, and then take prasadam, and chant Hare Krishna whole day, and be engaged in reading and chanting off and on, chant for some time, then read for some time, then again have Kirtana and so on, throughout the day. If you have not got a Ramayana, then you can read Bhagavad-gita or Srimad-Bhagavatam, that is all right.

 

 

SPL 68-08-08 SATSVARUPA

Regarding Prasadam: It should be cooked in the temple, and nowhere else, and both the Brahmacaris and the Brahmacarinis shall partake of the Prasadam in the temple.

 

SPL 68-10-06 BRAHMANANDA

The first thing is that in the meeting of Dr. Spock, you should eat there. But you simply eat vegetarian dishes, like fruits, nuts, boiled potato, biscuit, milk, etc., and remembering Krishna. As you will pay for the dinner, for the fooding, you can offer them to Krishna within your mind, then eat them as Krishna Prasadam. Any foodstuff when it is paid for, it becomes purified. There is a verse in Vedic literature, Drabyamulyena Suddhati. The source of receipt of the thing, may be not very good, but if one pays for it, it becomes purified. So, vegetable diet when it is paid for, you can offer it in your mind to Krishna and take it. But this Drabya means eatables, and eatables meaning vegetables, grains, milk, flowers, fruits; meat is not considered an eatable–it is considered untouchable. Just like if somebody purchases some stool, that does not mean it is now purified. So meat is like that. This Drabya means vegetables, etc. And this Drabyamulyena Suddhati is only in special cases like this. It is not to done ordinarily, or unless in special circumstance. We should prepare our own foodstuff and offer as much as possible, of course.

 

SPL 68-11-14ANIRUDDHA

Whenever the Indian community invites you to go and take Prasadam, be always kind with them, and go there and chant Hare Krishna. They are vegetarian, so whatever

Prasadam they prepare you offer to the Deity and enjoy it.

 

SPL 71-04-04 VAIKUNTHANATHA, SARADIA

For the time being you can go to the jail and lecture about Krishna Consciousness and the values of life. You can give this lecture simply by repeating different chapters from our books. And the same can be done in the mental hospital as well. Distribute prasadam there also. Preaching at these and other big institutions is solid work, so try to increase this activity.

 

SPL 71-02-16 BHAGAVAN

Preaching in schools, colleges and universities, along with distribution of our books and prasadam will flourish the propaganda of our mission.

 

760822r2.hyd            

Manihara: Srila Prabhupada, when we give prasada to people…

Prabhupada: Anyone who comes, he must be given prasada.

Manihara: …what is the benefit they get exactly? There have been so many concoctions: “Oh, they will take human birth,” “they will take this…” What is the actual benefit that a karmi will get when he takes prasada?

Prabhupada: Prasada means the mercy of Krsna.

Manihara: Mercy.

Prabhupada: By eating you are getting mercy. Krsna bado doyamoy koribare jihva jay swa-prasad-anna dilo bhai. Swa-prasad-anna dilo bhai. Sei prasada anna pao radha-krsna-guna gao preme dako caitanya-nitai.

Manihara: ‘Cause some devotees, they are saying…

Prabhupada: Krsna bado doyamoy. Because we want eating, so He is giving His mercy through eating. Eating nobody will refuse. So by eating he is being favored by Krsna. This is the process. You understand Bengali? Krsna bado doyamoy, He’s very merciful. Koribare jihva jay. We are accustomed to eat, go to the restaurant, go to the hotel, go to here and there, at home and so on. Simply eating, eating. So this is jihva lampata. Prostitution of the tongue. Just like a woman prostitute is not satisfied with one man. Similarly, our tongue is like a prostitute. It is not satisfied with simple foods. Sometimes here, sometimes there, sometimes on the street, sometimes on the restaurant, sometimes a hotel. Regular prostitution. It is called tongue prostitution. There are prostitution of three things: prostitution of the tongue, prostitution of the belly, and prostitution of the genital. Three kinds of. Udara-upastha-vegam. Jihva-udara-upastha-vegam. Straight line. So to stop this prostitution is to control the tongue. The tongue prostitution means he wants to eat varieties of foodstuff. Krsna is so merciful, “All right, you eat varieties of prasada.” Then tongue prostitution is controlled and naturally the belly and the genital controlled. Krsna bado doyamoy koribare jihva jay. To own victory over the tongue, He has given varieties… Therefore all nice things should be offered to Krsna and then take prasada. They will be benefited.

Manihara: This is Krsna’s arrangement, special.

Prabhupada: Krsna bado doyamoy koribare jihva jay.. Jaya means you conquer over the tongue. If you do not give tongue Krsna prasada then the tongue will dictate, “Why not go to the restaurant?” So this is the process. Give everyone nice prasada. His tongue will be conquered and he’ll be conquered. He’ll be able to conquer over the prostitution of the senses, and then he’ll become a devotee.

 

740119SB.HAW                 Lectures

Devotee (1): Prabhupada, when we’re chanting on the street and the people walk by and hear us chant or we give them prasadam or they give a small donation, to what extent is the benefit they receive? They can go on walking by and hearing us chant.

Prabhupada: The benefit is… Just like the bank sometimes gives you a box, “Whatever little money you save, put it in this.” And when it is filled up, it becomes a big amount. Similarly, these people, abodha-jata, rascals, if they little appreciate, “Oh, these people are nice,” that is one asset. This is called ajnata-sukrti, accumulation of the result of pious activities. And when one is fully pious, at that time, he can understand what is God. So we are helping them, by and by, to advance in the matter of understanding God. This is our propaganda.

Bali-mardana: I believe I’ve heard you said in other lectures that a person who takes prasadam, even a plant or a…, any kind of living entity who takes prasadam or hears the name, that it will come back at least to human form of life. Is that correct?

Prabhupada: No, if he’s devotee, then he’ll come. But this taking of prasadam, or hearing Hare Krsna mantra is advancement for becoming a devotee. But if he takes prasadam not as ordinary prasadam, foodstuff, he believes that “This is remnants of foodstuffs given to God,” if he understands this philosophy, then guaranteed. If he takes the prasadam as ordinary food, “All right, these people are distributing, prasa… Let me take it. It is very tasteful,” that will give him chance to accept prasadam next, next, next… In this way, one day he’ll come to the point that “This prasadam is not ordinary foodstuff.” Then he’ll… There is guarantee. Because only the devotee can appreciate that “This prasadam is not ordinary foodstuff. It is Krsna’s remnant of…” Therefore, he understands Krsna. That is said in the Bhagavad-gita, janma-karma ca me divyam yo janati tattvatah. In truth, when he understands, then his life is guaranteed. Why guaranteed? He goes back to home next life. Tyaktva deham punar janma naiti. If you simply can understand what is Krsna and what is your relationship with Krsna, that is sufficient to take you back to home, back to Godhead. That is sufficient. It is so nice.

 

SPL 70-08-06 UPENDRA

Meanwhile, kindly push on our Sankirtana program and distribute as much literature and prasada as possible.

I hope this reply finds you in good mood.
Your Ever Well-Wisher,
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami 

 

Antya 4.194
However, Krsna does NOT accept anything from a person with a material conception of life. When a devotee no longer has any desire for material sense gratification, in his spiritual identity he engages in the service of the Lord, for his dormant spiritual consciousness awakens. This awakening of spiritual consciousness makes his body spiritual, and thus he becomes fit to render service to the Lord.

 

 

SPL 68-03-22 BALAI DASI

Yes, you may say the prayer to the Spiritual Master 3 times, and also the Namo Brahmanya . . . prayer 3 times, when offering Prasadam. That is very nice to say the mantra 3 times. Also, you may, after offering to the Spiritual Master, offer to Lord Caitanya by saying the prayer, Namo Maha Badanyaya . . . 3 times, and then offer to Krishna thrice.

 

Note: the system here is to offer to Srila Prabhupada (THE Spiritual master) FIRST.

The concoction of offering Krsna first is NOT NOT NOT the accepted standard.

 

SPL 68-05-28 HARER NAMA

Regarding your 2 questions: For offering prasadam simply prayers to the Spiritual Master is sufficient. THE PROCESS IS THAT EVERYTHING IS OFFERED TO THE SPIRITUAL MASTER, AND THE SPIRITUAL MASTER IS SUPPOSED TO OFFER THE SAME FOODSTUFF TO THE LORD. WHEN A THING IS OFFERED TO THE SPIRITUAL MASTER, HE IMMEDIATELY OFFERS TO THE LORD. THAT IS THE SYSTEM, AND AS WE COME BY PARAMPARA SYSTEM, IT IS OUR DUTY TO GO THROUGH THE RIGHT CHANNEL–NAMELY, FIRST THE SPIRITUAL MASTER, THEN LORD CAITANYA, AND THEN KRISHNA. So when we chant prayers, we do this, Bande ham Sri Guru . . . and gradually to the Goswamis, then to Lord Caitanya, and then to Radha Krishna. That is the praying system. BUT OFFERING THE PRASADAM TO PRESENT EVERYTHING BEFORE THE SPIRITUAL MASTER WHOSE PICTURE IS ALSO IN THE ALTAR, MEANS THAT THE SPIRITUAL MASTER WILL TAKE CARE OF OFFERING THE FOODSTUFF TO THE LORD. THEREFORE SIMPLY BY CHANTING THE PRAYER TO THE SPIRITUAL MASTER, EVERYTHING WILL BE COMPLETE.

 

SPL 68-01-25 BALAI DASI

Regarding your questions: Yes, leave Krishna’s plate for 15-20 minutes or more, not more than half an hour. After offering the plate, the balance in the pots should be distributed immediately. The plate can remain on the altar while the rest is being distributed.

Any initiated girl can take part in preparation of prasadam, and even a boy who is not initiated cannot take part.

 

 

 

 

 

 

OFFERING PRASADAM PROCESS

 

Our Srila Prabhupada AUTHORISED process for offering prasadam is to say three times each of the following prayers:

1

nama-om-visnu-padaya-krsna-presthya-bhu-tale

srimate-BHAKTIVEDANTA-svamin-iti-namine

 

namas-te-SARASVATE-deve-gaura-vani-pracarine

nirvisesa-suniyavadi-pascatya-desa-tarine

 

2

namo-maha-vadanyaya

Krsna-prema-pradaya te

Krsnaya Krsna-caitanya-

namine gaura-tvise namah

 

3

namo brahmanya-devaya

go-brahamana-hitya ca

jagad-dithaya Krsnaya

govindaya namo namah

 

 END OF PART 2 AND END OF ARTICLE
(was continued from Part 1)

 

 

 (by Mahesh Raja)