HOW TO OFFER FOOD TO KRISHNA?
OFFERING FOOD TO KRISHNA IS TO SHOW OUR LOVE!
We must offer to Krishna only the vegetarian items like purely cooked food, fruits, Tulsi leaves, water, milk, etc!
Some devotees may ask: "When all are available in this world belong to Krishna, why do you tell me to offer Him only the selected things?"
The reply is: "Because, Krishna wants those items only as He said in Bhagavad Gita Ch-9, Text-26."
They may again ask: "Won’t he accept if I offer Him whatever I want from His creations?
We should offer Krishna what He wants, not what we want! This is the respect that we have to give to the guests! Krishna is a permanent guest in your family!
Ok, What will happen if you offer food to Him?
Answer is, you will get Krishna Himself if you show your love to Krishna by offering food to Him and honour the prasadam given by Him!
Let us see a story known to all!
Krishna & Sudhama were childhood friends! Sudhama was very poor! Krishna became a king & hence he had to live in the palace! Sudhama lived in a hut! One day, Sudhama became bankrupt !
Answer is, you will get Krishna Himself if you show your love to Krishna by offering food to Him and honour the prasadam given by Him!
Let us see a story known to all!
KRISHNA & SUDHAMA (KUCHELA)
Krishna & Sudhama were childhood friends! Sudhama was very poor! Krishna became a king & hence he had to live in the palace! Sudhama lived in a hut! One day, Sudhama became bankrupt !
He had no money to manage the days! His wife advised him to meet his childhood friend Krishna & seek help! Sudhama hesitated as Krishna had become a king! He never expected anything from Krishna! He had nothing to take for offering to Krishna! His wife offered some pressed rice for Krishna! He kept it inside a knot on his dhoti & went to meet Krishna!
On seeing him, Krishna felt happy, walked forward & embraced him!
Both of them discussed all their childhood pastimes!
Krishna asked him: "What did you bring for me?".
Sudhama shied to show the pressed rice! But, Krishna himself took the pressed rice from the knot of dhoti & ate it!
When he took the first dose, the hut of Sudhama became a palace! When Krishna took the second dose, Sudhama’s house were filled with jewels & wealth!
On seeing him, Krishna felt happy, walked forward & embraced him!
Both of them discussed all their childhood pastimes!
Krishna asked him: "What did you bring for me?".
Sudhama shied to show the pressed rice! But, Krishna himself took the pressed rice from the knot of dhoti & ate it!
When he took the first dose, the hut of Sudhama became a palace! When Krishna took the second dose, Sudhama’s house were filled with jewels & wealth!
When Krishna tried to take third dose, Lakshmi came forward & prevented Krishna from taking it!
She told Krishna: "Krishna, by taking two doses, you gave wealth to Sudhama! If you take the third dose, you will give yourself to Sudhama! After that, what I will do, without you?"
She told Krishna: "Krishna, by taking two doses, you gave wealth to Sudhama! If you take the third dose, you will give yourself to Sudhama! After that, what I will do, without you?"
This is the Grace shown by Krishna to one who offers even a simple offering! So, don’t think ‘Offering’ unnecessary!
We saw that KRISHNA GIVES HIMSELF to us if we offer even a small offering with love & dedication!
If it is so, should we expect returns from Krishna?
Answer is "No". Of course, initial stage Neophyte devotees may pray for something from Krishna! Many girls & boys pray for groom/ bride! Many pray for money! Many pray for cure of diseases! Many pray for success & fame! Though this is also approved, we should go to the stage of facing the life given by Krishna without willing to escape from the responsibilities.
If it is so, should we expect returns from Krishna?
Answer is "No". Of course, initial stage Neophyte devotees may pray for something from Krishna! Many girls & boys pray for groom/ bride! Many pray for money! Many pray for cure of diseases! Many pray for success & fame! Though this is also approved, we should go to the stage of facing the life given by Krishna without willing to escape from the responsibilities.
But, advanced, realized devotees will not expect anything from Krishna in return for the devotional service they perform, because when we start offering to Krishna, He starts specially watching us! He knows all our past Karma! He finds out why we get these difficulties, or why our success delayed! He fastens our karma clearing & wipes them off at the earliest! Then He starts offering what ever we need for a peaceful & spiritual life!
All this will happen though we don’t ask Krishna! All you have to do is starting to Love Krishna & dedicate everything to Him! To do so, you should forget "I", "Me", "Mine". Instead, you should consider "Of Krishna", "For Krishna", "With Krishna" & "From Krishna". Then Krishna will start watching you specially!
Does Krishna eat whatever we offer to Him?
We should prepare the food carefully & dedicatedly for Krishna! When we offer food to Krishna, many think that there is no changes in it even after some time! They argue, Krishna never came & took the food & the quantity of food has not changed and hence there is no chance Krishna would have taken them! What happens when you offer food?
Actually Krishna is waiting for your food if the regular offering time has come! He likes to eat from His devotees! If you delay, He feels: "why my devotee is late today?".
Anyway, when you offer food to Krishna, He eats it eagerly & blesses you! How? Krishna can eat through all his organs! He eats your food through His eyes, without coming in person but just by seeing it!
Anyway, when you offer food to Krishna, He eats it eagerly & blesses you! How? Krishna can eat through all his organs! He eats your food through His eyes, without coming in person but just by seeing it!
When He sees it, he feels as if he has eaten your food! That is why, there is no change in the quantity! Krishna allows the remnants of the offered food for you to eat! As Krishna eats your food through His eyes, there will be no physical presence & no change in the quantity, but He feels satisfied! This is the secret behind how Krishna eats! So, hereafter offer food to Krishna happily!
Offering food Krishna is not just a ritual! There are so many divine factors behind it! It is a scientific way of expressing our Love on Krishna!
Food prepared for & offered to Krishna WITH LOVE & DEVOTION becomes completely spiritualized! Such food is called PRASADAM, which means "The Mercy Of Lord Krishna".
Food prepared for & offered to Krishna WITH LOVE & DEVOTION becomes completely spiritualized! Such food is called PRASADAM, which means "The Mercy Of Lord Krishna".
Sri Chaitanya Maha Prabhu says: "Everyone has tasted these foods before. However, now, that they have been prepared for Krishna. They have been offered to Krishna with devotion! These foods have acquired extraordinary tastes & fragrances! Just taste them & see the difference in the experience! Apart from the taste, even the fragrance pleases the mind & makes one forget any other fragrance! Therefore, it should be understood that the spiritual nectar of KRISHNA’s LIPS MUST HAVE TOUCHED THIS ORDINARY FOOD & IMPARTED IN THEM ALL HIS TRANSCENDENTAL QUALITIES!"
How beautiful to hear? "Krishna’s lips touched these ordinary foods!" So, we eat the food that was touched by Krishna’s lips, Of course by just seeing through eyes & making His eyes as lips!
PROCESS OF OFFERING FOOD TO KRISHNA!
Lord Krishna says in Bhagavad Gita that unless one eats the food offered to Krishna, he will suffer the reactions of karma! He also says that if one offers him with love & devotion even a leaf, a flower, a fruit or water, he will accept it!
What it shows?
We can offer to Krishna only foods that are prepared from milk products, vegetables, fruits, nuts & grains! Meat, fish & egg are not offerable! And a few vegetarian items are also forbidden! Eg: garlic, onion, as they are in the modes of passion and ignorance! For the same reason and being additives, Coffee & tea should not be offered to Krishna!
In preparing food, cleanliness is the most important! Keep your kitchen clean! Wash hands thoroughly before entering kitchen! Don’t taste the food while preparing, as it is for the pleasure of Krishna, not yours! Buy a set of 4-5 small cups kept on a plate exclusively for Krishna’s use (You should never use them for your own use!). Keep a small part of all items you prepared, in each vessel! Place the set before Krishna’s alter or picture!
In preparing food, cleanliness is the most important! Keep your kitchen clean! Wash hands thoroughly before entering kitchen! Don’t taste the food while preparing, as it is for the pleasure of Krishna, not yours! Buy a set of 4-5 small cups kept on a plate exclusively for Krishna’s use (You should never use them for your own use!). Keep a small part of all items you prepared, in each vessel! Place the set before Krishna’s alter or picture!
After placing the plate with vessels with the food inside before Krishna, everyone should first chant the Pranam Manthra for Srila Prabhupada:
Srimate Bhakthivedantha Swamin Ithi Namine
Namaste Saraswati Deve Gauravani pracharine
Nirvisesha Sunyavaathi paschathya desa tharine.
If you had taken initiation (Diksha) from a guru, you must chant his pranam manthra that was taught for you, before chanting the above manthra!
Next, offer prayers to Sri Chaitanya who simplified & established Nama Sankirthan movement more than 500 years ago!
Krishnaya Krishna Chaitanya Namne Gaura thwise Namah
Finally, offer prayers to Krishna by chanting:
Namo Brahmanya Devaya Go-Brahmana Hithaya cha
Jagad Hidhaya Krishnaya Govindhaya Namo Namah.
You must chant all the above slokas in sequence THREE TIMES standing before the food! Then, Pray to Krishna: "My Dear Lord Krishna, Please accept this food and forgive me for any offences while preparing and offering!".
Keep the food before Krishna’s picture/ alter for about 10 minutes! Then, take the PRASADAM (Food became Prasadam after Krishna touched it!) & mix every item with their respective preparations that we have kept in kitchen. Mix them & serve to all the family members! Wash the Krishna’s utensils & keep them in a hygenic condition!
Keep the food before Krishna’s picture/ alter for about 10 minutes! Then, take the PRASADAM (Food became Prasadam after Krishna touched it!) & mix every item with their respective preparations that we have kept in kitchen. Mix them & serve to all the family members! Wash the Krishna’s utensils & keep them in a hygenic condition!
While reciting the manthras at the time of offering food, you may use an incense stick, or, a dhoop, or a ghee lamp to take the Arathi! When you distribute the prasadam to your family members, place the dishes mixed with the offered food on their plate or leaf! Then all of you MUST thank Krishna through guru for offering prasadam to you! Tell this Prasada Seva Manthra first and then start honouring (eating)!
Svalpa Punya Vadham rajan Visvasa naiva Jayathe
Sarira Abithya Jal, Jodentriya Tahe kal
Jive Phele Vishaya Sagore Tara madhye Jihwa Ati, Lobhomoy Sudurmathi
Ta ke Jetha katina Samsare
Krishna baro Dhoyamoy, Koribare jihwajay,
Swaprashad anna dilo bhai,
Sei Anna Amirtha pao
Radha Kriahna Guna Gao Preme dako chaitanya Nitai
After reciting these manthras, start honouring the prasadam (eating)!
REMEMBER, KRISHNA PRASADAM IS FREE FROM KARMA & CLEARS OUR PAST KARMA TOO!
In fact, Krishna's Prasadam is not different from Krishna. It is Krishna Himself!
REMEMBER, KRISHNA PRASADAM IS FREE FROM KARMA & CLEARS OUR PAST KARMA TOO!
In fact, Krishna's Prasadam is not different from Krishna. It is Krishna Himself!
MEANING OF PRASHADA SEVA MANTHRA:
"Persons who are not highly elevated in pious activities can neither believe in the remnants of food (Prashadam) of Supreme Personality of Godhead, nor, in Govinda, the Holy name of God, nor in the vaishnavas. Oh, Brothers, this material body is a network of ignorance & the senses are one’s deadly enemies, for they throw the soul into this ocean of material sense enjoyment.
"Persons who are not highly elevated in pious activities can neither believe in the remnants of food (Prashadam) of Supreme Personality of Godhead, nor, in Govinda, the Holy name of God, nor in the vaishnavas. Oh, Brothers, this material body is a network of ignorance & the senses are one’s deadly enemies, for they throw the soul into this ocean of material sense enjoyment.
Among those senses, the tongue is the most voracious & uncontrollable; it is very difficult to conquer the tongue in the world; Brothers, Lord Krishna is very merciful & He has given this remnants of His own food just to control our tongue! Please accept the nectarian Krishna Prashadam & sing the glories of their Lordships Sri Sri Radharani & Krishna and in love, call out ‘Chaitanya Nitai’!"
OFFER FOOD TO KRISHNA AND SHOW YOUR LOVE!
Also know how to chant Hare Krishna Maha Manthra Properly in this post!
OFFER FOOD TO KRISHNA AND SHOW YOUR LOVE!
Also know how to chant Hare Krishna Maha Manthra Properly in this post!
Let Krishna bless all.