Prasadam - The Lord’s mercy

Ekadashi - Bhoga Offering - Recipes - Food Distribution

Prasādam means ‘the Lord’s Mercy’: Devotees do not ‘eat’ in the sense of consuming food, but rather the devotees ‘honour’ Kṛṣṇa prasādam.

prasada-seva korite hoya,

sakala prapancha jaya

By honouring the Lord's prasadam I conquer over all worldly illusions.

yat karosi yad asnasi

yaj juhosi dadasi yat

yat tapasyasi kaunteya

tat kurusva mad-arpanam

“Oh son of Kunti, all that you do, all that you eat, all that you offer and give away, as well as all austerities that you may perform, should be done as an offering unto me.” (Lord Krishna Bhagavad Gita 9.27)

Foodstuffs which have been prepared with devotion and offered to the Lord are considered to be transformed from mundane food into a merciful manifestation of the Lord (prasādam).

Ekadashi

Fasting on Ekadasi is included in the list of the Sixty-Four Practices of Devotion.

The eleventh day of the waxing and waning lunar cycles in the Vedic calendar. Fasting on this day is to gain control over the mind and the senses, and channel it towards spiritual practices For progressing in Bhakti yoga.

Properly honouring prasādam is as much a part of our spiritual practice as any other. Our Āchāryyas agree that prasādam is the solution to the whole problem of mundane life. By living wholly on the remnants of the Lord we can cross over the illusory environment.

His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj

Observing Ekadasi

"We will take no grains and we will not take food many times unless it is necessary for someone for health reasons. Maintain your body and take some food, and if someone can do Ekadasi without food, that is the best. What does "best" mean? It is Krishna consciousness, and service to Krishna must not be hampered, this is first of all, and after that we can take some physical austerity to supply more enjoyment to Krishna. Ekadasi is a special day when Krishna's hankering for enjoyment increases, and devotees supply that enjoyment to Him ignoring their own happiness. This is Ekadasi.

"As for what is permissible,

অষ্টৈতান্যব্রতঘ্নানি আপো মূলং ফলং পয়ঃ ।
হবির্ব্রাহ্মণকাম্যা চ গুরোর্ব্বচনমৌষধম্ ॥

astaitany avrataghnani apo mulam phalam payah
havir brahmana kamya cha gurorv vachanam ausadham

(Hari-bhakti-vilasa, 12.40, originally from Mahabharata)

"Apo means water, mulam means what grows under ground, phalam means fruit, payah means milk and all products of milk, havir is also a product of milk, it means ghee, and there are three other things. 'Brahmana kamya ca' means if a brahman is in a dangerous position and he wants you to take some food, by which he will get relief, then you can take it. 'Guror vachanam': if your Gurudev says, "Take this and go!" then there is no question, you must take it. And ausudham, medicine: inside medicine there are many ingredients, but it is permissible to take it because it is necessary to maintain your health.

"So, we can see the point is there, and the point is to maintain your health and serve Krishna as must as possible. We can also add that you can take what grows under the ground, some potato, etc. As for carrots, I have seen in Hari-bhakti-vilasthat carrots are restricted, but we take it and do not feel anything bad. In Uttar Pradesh, unlike Bengal, they follow Ekadasi, and on Ekadasi day you can see they sell carrot halwa in the shops—there you will get Ekadasi food on the streets and they follow Ekadasi properly, they do not give any imitation. You can also cook some tapioca with milk.

"I like very simple Ekadasi, but my fortune is very bad because when I go somewhere and see that it will be Ekadasi, I become fearful because every time Ekadasi disturbs me with food—they make so many things, but I do not like it. Guru Maharaj's plan for Ekadasi is one subji and tapioca, that is all, nothing else. Now, our friends promoted peanuts and they also make peanuts on Ekadasi. It is agreeable food on Ekadasi, they can take it, and also some fruit. Sago (tapioca) is good for stomach, if someone's stomach is not strong, they can take tapioca boiled in water and milk, it is very simple.

"It depends upon one's health. On Ekadasi, actually you should not take too much of anything, give some rest to your stomach. Medical science also says that if you can give a complete rest to your stomach on Ekadasi, it is good for your health.

"Then, everyone will choose for themselves what is necessary for them and what is not."

Ekadashi Preparations

Ekadashi food is very simple, follow the standard of the Math. In temples, rice and other non-Ekadashi preparations are offered to the Deities and Gurudev along with Ekadashi preparations but are not taken—they are kept separately and honoured the next day or fed to the cows.

Can be taken on Ekadashi in moderation (if full fast is detrimental to health and service):
• potato
• Green Banana, Green Papaya
• Squash, Pumpkin
• Buckwheat, Chestnut flour, Cassava flour, Tapioca flour,
• Ghee, coconut oil, Olive Oil, peanut oil, Avocado oil. (must be pure)
• Milk, Curd, Yoghurt (containing no corn starch or grain by-products or emulsifiers)
• Cucumber, Fruit, Nuts, Macana (Fox/lotus seed)
• Tapioca, Sago, Sweet potato
• Pink salt, Natural rock salt, Sugar
• Ginger, Black pepper (no other spices),

Note: Many products in the stores may also contain traces of wheat, gluten, etc., so the ingredients' list should be checked to avoid accidental offence to Ekadashi.

"Practising life is necessary”

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur mades concessions for us, as in the case of ekadasi for example.

"When people do ekadasi, they fast the whole day and do not even take water, but Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur said that we could fast at least from morning to noon and take some anukalpa [non-grain prasadam] at noon time. This was told by Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur and our temple also follows that. Sometimes, Gurudev also said that if somebody was sick (if they had acidity problem, could not fast, had to take medicine, or had diabetes, for example), then it was OK to take anukalpa in the morning also. Otherwise, for as many years you can tolerate it with your health, you must follow full ekadasi. I saw that Gurudev himself practised in this way—he followed full ekadasi. Anukalpa prasadam is allowed, but not for everybody—those who are not sick must follow proper fasting."

Sri Ekadashi talk with Sripad Bhakti Pranaya Padmanabha Maharaj

Bhoga Offering

Every day six offerings are made to The Lord. Devotees prepare special preparations, which are then offered to the deity. This Maha prasadam - Great mercy (sanctified food) is then distributed to the Vaishnavas, then guests.

Śrī Bhoga Ārati Gīti
bhaja bhakata-vatsala śrī-gaurahari
śrī-gaurahari sohi goṣṭha-vihārī
nanda-yaśomatī-chita-hārī [1]
Serve Śrī Gaurahari, who is most affectionate to His devotees. He is the rambler in the fields (of Vraja), the stealer of Nanda and Yaśodā’s hearts.
“belā ha’lo, dāmodara, āisa ekhana
bhoga-mandire vasi’ karaha bhojana” [2]
“It’s time! Damodar! Come now! Sit down in the dining hall and eat.”
nandera nirdeśe vaise giri-vara-dhārī
baladeva-saha sakhā vaise sāri sāri [3]
At Nanda’s request, Kṛṣṇa, Baladev, and Their friends sit down in lines.
śuktā-śākādi bhāji nālitā kuṣmāṇḍa
ḍāli ḍālnā dugdha-tumbī dadhi mochā-ghaṇṭa [4]
Śuktā, śāk, fried vegetables, jute-leaf salad, pumpkin, baskets of fruit, dāl patties, gourd cooked in milk, yoghurt, banana flower ...
mudga-baḍā māṣa-baḍā roṭikā ghṛtānna
śaṣkulī piṣṭaka kṣīr puli pāyasānna [5]
Moong dāl patties, urad dāl patties, chapātīs, rice with ghee, rice and sesame gruel, rice-flour cakes, condensed milk, pancakes, rice pudding ...
karpūra amṛta-kelī rambhā kṣīra-sāra
amṛta rasālā, amla dvādaśa prakāra [6]
Hot milk flavoured with camphor, plantains, butter, twelve kinds of sweet, juicy, and sour preparations ...
luchi chini sarapurī lāḍḍu rasāvalī
bhojana karena kṛṣṇa ha’ye kutūhalī [7]
Sweet purīs, purīs filled with cream, sweet balls, dāl patties boiled with sugared rice. Kṛṣṇa eagerly eats all these preparations.
rādhikāra pakka anna vividha vyañjana
parama ānande kṛṣṇa karena bhojana [8]
With great joy Kṛṣṇa eats various vegetable preparations cooked by Rādhikā.
chhale-bale lāḍḍu khāy śrī-madhumaṅgala
bagala bājāy āra deya haribolo [9]
By hook or by crook, Madhumaṅgal eats the sweet balls. He slaps his armpits and calls out, ‘Haribol!’
rādhikādi gaṇe heri’ nayanera koṇe
tṛpta ha’ye khāya kṛṣṇa yaśodā-bhavane [10]
Glancing at Rādhikā and Her friends out of the corners of His eyes, Kṛṣṇa happily eats in Yaśodā’s home.
bhojanānte piye kṛṣṇa suvāsita vāri
sabe mukha prakṣāla yaha’ye sāri sāri [11]
After eating, Kṛṣṇa drinks scented water. Then all of the boys line up and wash their mouths.
hasta-mukha prakṣāliyā yata sakhā-gaṇe
ānande viśrāma kare baladeva-sane [12]
After washing their hands and mouths, Kṛṣṇa’s friends happily take rest with Baladev.
jambula rasāla āne tāmbula-maśālā
tāhā kheye kṛṣṇa chandra sukhe nidrā gelā [13]
Jambula and Rasāla bring spiced pān. Kṛṣṇa chews it and then happily goes to sleep.
viśālākṣa śikhi-puchchha chāmara ḍhulāya
apūrva śayāya kṛṣṇa sukhe nidrā yāya [14]
Viśālākṣa fans Kṛṣṇa with a peacock fan, and Kṛṣṇa happily sleeps on a comfortable bed.
yaśomatī-ājñā peye dhaniṣṭhā ānīta
śrī-kṛṣṇa-prasāda rādhā bhuñje haye prīta [15]
Being requested by Yaśodā, Dhaniṣṭhā brings Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s remnants to Rādhā, who eats them joyfully.
lalitādi sakhī-gaṇa avaśeṣa pāya
mane mane sukherādhā-kṛṣṇa-guṇa gāya [16]
Lalitā Devī and her friends then receive Rādhā’s remnants and joyfully sing the glories of Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa within their hearts.
hari-līlā eka-mātra yāhāra pramoda
bhogārati gāy ṭhākur bhakativinoda [17]
Ṭhākur Bhakti Vinod, whose sole joy is the Lord’s Pastimes, sings this bhog ārati.
(bhaja govinda govinda gopāla)
(giridhārī gopīnātha nanda-dulāla)
(bhaja govinda govinda gopāla)
(nanda-dulāla jaya jaya śachī-dulāla)
(śachī-dulāla jaya jaya gaura gopāla)
Serve Govinda, serve Gopāl. Serve Giridhārī, Gopīnāth, Nanda Dulāl. Serve Govinda, serve Gopāl. All glory to Nanda’s son! All glory to Śachī’s son! All glory to golden Gopāl!
(Śrīla Bhakti Vinod Ṭhākur)
Mahaprabhu;
asha puspanjalih kling Krishna Chaitanya namah.[offer flowers 🌹 to the lotus feet of Mahaprabhu].
2. Idam asanam kling Krishna Chaitanya namah.[offer flowers 🌹 to asana where Mahaprabhu will sit].
3. Etat padyam kling Krishna Chaitanya namah.[ Put water for foot-wash ].
4. Idam achamaniyam kling Krishna Chaitanya namah.[ rinsing mouth ].
5. Idam naivedyam kling Krishna Chaitanya namah [ offering of grain, fruit, sweets etc].
6. Idam paniya jalam kling Krishna Chaitanya namah.[ Drinking water ].
Then Radha Krishna;
asha puspanjalih srim kling radhakrishnavam namah.[offer flowers 🌹 to the lotus feet of Sri Radha Krishna].
2. Idam asanam srim kling radhakrishnavam namah.[offer flowers 🌹 to asana where Sri Radha Krishna will sit].
3. Etat padyamsrim kling radhakrishnavam namah.[ Put water for foot-wash ].
4. Idam achamaniyam srim kling radhakrishnavam namah.[ Shipping water ].
5. Idam naivedyam srim kling radhakrishnavam namah [ offering of grain, fruit, sweets etc].
6. Idam paniya jalam srim kling radhakrishnavam namah.[ Drinking water ].
Go outside chant Krishna and Radha Gayatri 10 times. Wait for 20 minutes then sound like club your hand open the door go inside.
2nd step;
1st Mahaprabhu then Radha Krishna;
Idam achamaniyam kling Krishna Chaitanya namah [ water to cleanse hands, mouth].
2. Idam tambulam kling Krishna Chaitanya namah[ betel leaf, betel nut etc. in mind]
1. Idam achamaniyam srim kling Radha Krishnavam namah [ water to cleanse hands, mouth].
2. Idam tambulam srim kling Radha Krishnavam namah[ betel leaf, betel nut etc. in mind]
After offering mantra to Mahaprbhu and Radha Krishna , one must offer the nirmmalya or that which has just been offered and is now Mahaprasad, to Sri Gurudev, as follows:
etat mahaprasada-nirmmalyam sri gurave namah
etat paniya-jalam sri gurave namah
etat parada-tambulam sri gurave namah
etat srvvam sarvva-sakibhyo namah
etat sarvvam sri Purnamasyai namah
etat sarvvam sarvva-vrajavasibhyo namah
etat sarvvam sarvva- vaishnavebhyo namah

Recipes

These recipes contain only those ingredients acceptable for the Gaudiya Vaishnava diet, as instructed by our Guru’s. Food in the mode of goodness is call Satvik. This diet emphasizes purity, simplicity and balance, it consists of fresh, natural, and easily digestible ingredients such as fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts, Lentils, and dairy, avoiding processed, heavily spiced or over oily foods. A satvik diet will promote mental clarity, physical health, and spiritual growth. Associated with a calm and mediative lifestyle.

Bhagavat Gita Chapter 9 verse 26

If one offers Me with devotion a leaf, flower, fruit or water, I affectionately accept that offering of the clean hearted devotee.

Please scroll below the slides for different recipes

Prasadam Distribution

Prasadam distribution is the act of sharing Maha prasadam - great mercy (sanctified food) which has been offered to the deity. Distributing prasadam means giving Krishna’s mercy to others to benefit and purify their senses.

"Sermons of the Guardian of Devotion Vol. 3"
by Srila B.R. Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj.

"The principal necessities of any life here in this world are to preserve and to propagate. Our first priority is to preserve, and for self-preservation we create havoc in the environment by exploitation. The first principle of exploitation begins from the urge for self
preservation, and that means eating. We are to adjust our dealings with the environment in our most primitive necessity, which we can't avoid in order to keep body and soul together. So if we can solve this one difficulty, we can almost solve the whole problem.
"Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur says the key to the solution of the whole problem of this mundane life is in Prasad. The first necessity of life is eating, and if we can solve that problem, we have solved the whole thing. The most important thing is to learn how we should take Prasadam to maintain ourselves. Our life depends mainly on that."
"To live here we cannot but consume, and we cannot but create devastation in the environment by our eating. If we go to consume anything, even plants, grasses or seeds, then microscopic creatures are being killed. So the question is: how to get rid of this reaction?
"It is said in the Srimad Bhagavad-gita (3:9): We shall get relief from that reaction only if we can successfully connect everything with the Supreme Satisfaction, with Him whose pleasure all existence is meant to fulfil.
"So, in the taking of food, really we are to be conscious that we are collecting the ingredients for His satisfaction -- that should be our real purpose. And then because our whole life and energy is for serving Him, we need energy and must take something out of that.
"But the main point, the real substance of the transaction, will be to collect, cook, and offer to Him according to His will expressed in the Scriptures. That is the first step, and only after the foodstuffs have been offered to Him shall we take anything ourselves.
"This will help to make us always conscious of why we are taking. We are taking because we want only to serve Him."