It is prescribed in the shastras that all food should be offered to the Supreme Lord and then it should be taken as His prasadam. As it is written in the Shikshapatri -

harer vidhay naivadyam bhojyam prasadikam tatah,
Krsnaseva parrereh pritya bhavityam cha taih sada.

Then they shall offer food to Him and then shall partake of it as His prasad. Thus they shall always remain in the service of Lord Sri Krsna with love.

proktaste nirguna bhakta nirgunasya hareryatah,
sambandhatt kriyah serva bhavantyav hi nirguna.

Shastras proclaim this bhaktas as nirguna (i.e. completely free from mundane qualities, like satva, rajas, and tamas) since Lord Sri Krsna (Hari) is nirguna. Because of their intimate relation with Him, all their actions also become nirguna.

bhaktaire taistu Krsnaya narpitam varyapi kvachit,
na paiyam naive bhakshyam cha patrakanda phaladhyapi.

These bhaktas shall never drink even water, nor shall eat leaves, fruits, roots, stc.,without first offering them to Lord Sri Krsna.

It is stated in Srimad Bhagvat Gita --

annad bhavanti bhutani, parjanyad anna-sambhavah
jajnad bhavati parjanyo, jajna karma samudbhava

All living bodies subsist on food grains, which are produced from rains. Rains are produced by performance of yajna (sacrifice), and yajna is born of prescribed duties.

Lord Swaminarayan is the controller of all demigods. It is stated in shastras that the different demigods forms various limbs of the Supreme Lord and they execute their duties to satisfy Him. Just like hands and other body parts are executing their duty to satisfy the whole body. Some demigods like Indra (king of demigods, also responsible for rain), Chandra (is responsible for vegetation), and Varuna (responsible for water) are appointed officers who manage the material affairs. In the Vedas are different processes which are known as yajna (sacrifices) to satisfy these demigods, so that they remain pleased to supply air, water, and light to produce the necessary vegetation and food grains. Vegetables, fruits, and grains are normally prescribed diet of human beings. But the human beings who are attached to eating meat also has to depend on this vegetation and grains which is the sustaining agent for the animals. Animals eat these vegetation and then they are inturn eaten by meat eating human beings. So vegetarian or non-vegetarian, in any case a person has to remain dependent on rain water, air, and light for food. These are provided by the demigods who are in turn servants of the Supreme Lord. So, when one tries to satisfy the Supreme Lord, all the demigods are satisfied. Thus a devotee offers all the foodstuff to Mahaprabhu, who when satisfied, all the demigods get satisfied. So there is no separate need for satisfying them. The process of eating prasadam nourishes the body spiritually. By such activities, not only the past sinful activities are vanquished but the body become immunized to all contamination of material nature. Just as taking vaccination one is immunized from diseases, same way prasadam immunizes a person from material contamination. A person, when accustomed to this sacrifice of offering food to Vishnu, becomes a devotee. On the other hand, one who does not do so, simply eats sins and this prepares the next body to resemble hogs and dogs.

"Bhujante te tv agham papa, ye pacanti atma karanat", Anyone who is cooking for himself, he is eating simply volumes of sin. In the material world either a man is vegetarian or non-vegetarian, they are eating simply sin. But so far as we are concerned, we should be eating remnants of food-stuff which is offered to Lord Hari. If Lord Hari wants vegetable food-stuff, therefore we supply Him vegetable food-stuff, and if He wants non-vegetarian food-stuff, we can offer Him also, but He does not want it, as it is explicitly stated in Srimad Bhagvat Gita (patram pushpam phulam toyam...). So we should be concerned with prasadam. Whatever Krsna wants we offer Him and we humbly do whatever He wants.

While shopping for the daily groceries very little thought is put into the way all this ingredients has been created. One small seed when sowed into the ground sprouts as a plant and bears fruits on it. All these fruits have different tastes according to their nature and they are delicious. No team of scientists have invented anything like the green creation of the Surepeme Lord. But rather than admit the existence of a superior intelligence, scientists mislead the people with theories of chemical evolution. Without substantial evidence they proclaim that life comes from chemicals. Yet they cannot utilize those chemicals to make a seed that will grow into a shaft of wheat that will produce more seeds that will sprout into hundreds of more shafts of wheat. Once we admit that life comes from life it is very reasonable to understand that all life emanate from a common single source, The one Supreme Lord, known to the Muslims as Allah, to the Jews as Yahweh, to the Christians as Jehovah, and to the followers of the Vedas as Krsna. So at very least we should offer our food to God out of gratitude. Every religion has such process of thanksgiving. In most religious systems people ask God to feed them ("give us this day our daily bread"), but in Bhagvata philosophy the devotee offers food to God as an expression of love for Him. Even in ordinary dealings, somebody will prepare a meal as a sign of love and affection. It isn’t only the meal itself that is appreciated, but the love and consideration that goes into it. In the same way the process of offering food to God is intended to help us increase our love and devotion towards Him.

Preparation of Prasadam

The Supreme Lord eats only which is offered with love and devotion. Therefore devotees take good care to procure fruits, vegetables, sugar, grains, and milk products of good quality and prepare them with care and attention for Vasudev’s pleasure. Meat, fish, eggs, garlic, onions, mushrooms, vinegar, and masur (red) dal cannot be offered to Lord Hari. Excessively spicy food stuffs are also unfit for offering. Milk should preferable be cow’s milk. Ghee (specifically cow-milk ghee) is best for cooking for Mahaprabhu. Those who cannot procure it can use oil. Traditionally acceptable oils are mustard oil and sesame oil. Due to the high price of first-class ingredients in the modern age, many devotees now cook using other oils, such as groundnut oil, etc.

While cooking devotees think of how Mahaprabhu will enjoy the offering --- not of their own personal enjoyment or that of their families or of other devotees. Care is taken to see that the offering if prepared cleanly. No one, including the cooks, can taste the food until after it is offered to The Supreme Lord - The Ultimate Enjoyer. One should take bath before cooking the food, and wear clean washed clothes. One should not be talking while cooking so as to avoid spitting saliva from mouth into the prasad. Also one’s mind should not be engaged in worldly thoughts, but should not engaged in thoughts of Dharmakulnandan. Kitchens should be kept spotlessly clean, and all the utensils should be spotlessly clean. No one should enter the kitchen with leather slippers or shoes on, and touching anything in kitchen with unwashed hands should be avoided. Thus, cooking in this way we ensure that prasadm is cooked with good standards.

Offering

A special plate and glass are kept for offering food to Mahaprabhu. These utensils should not be used for any other purpose except for offering. Also there should be a table or space on altar for placing prasad before the Lord. Food prepared for Lord Sri Hari is placed on the plate, along with a glass of fresh drinking water. If possible the prasadam plate should be covered with a piece of cloth or other plate. Ample water should be offered. Also in small containers some mouth freshners are offered. The devotee with concentration sincerely prays to the Supreme Lord to accept the food. Another method is that the devotee feels himself to be unworthy of offering food to the Supreme Lord directly, so he prays to his spiritual master to offer food on his behalf.

Then the devotee sings the songs which are written by the previous acharyas or sanyasis of our Sampradaya with singular devotion. After singing the offering songs, prasadm plate should be left at the altar for sometime. Then it should be taken away and prasadam should be mixed with other cooking to make all the cooking transcendental. The table or space where the prasadam was offered should be cleaned with a damp cloth twice and then some drinking water should be offered to the Supreme Lord. This is the most simplest and easiest way of making a prasadm offering.

Thal

jamo thal jivan jaoo vari re
dhovu kar charan karo tyari re....jamo thal..

basoo maliya bajothiya dhade re
katora kanchan ni tari re
jaade bhariya chamboo chokhari re ....jamo thal..

kari katha gaoo ni pori re
malie dhruta sakar maa boori re
kadhyo raas kari no ghori re ....jamo thal..

gadyaa sathaa gebhar phula wadi re
dudha pak maalpoaa kadhi re
poori poochi thai ghee maa chadi re ....jamo thal..

athana saak sundar bhaji re
lavi choo turat kari taaji re
dhi bhaat sakar che jaaji re ....jamo thal..

chadoo karoo lavi hoon jal jari re
elaichi loaving sopari re
pan bidi banavi sari re ....jamo thal..

mukhavaas mangamta laei ne
prasadi thal tani daei ne
basoo sinhashan rajee thaee ne ....jamo thal..

kassombal baandhi ne fatoo re
Rajeshwar oodhi ne ratoo re
Bhumananda na vahala bhatoo re ....jamo thal..

Translation and Purport

jamo thal jivan jaoo vari re
dhuo kar charan karo tyari re....jamo thal..

Translation

Please accept this thal, O my life. Please wash Your hands and feet, thus get ready to accept this prasadam.

Purport:

The Supreme Lord is invited here for accepting the bhoga. The food stuff which are prepared for the pleasure of Lord, for the consumption by Lord are termed as Prasad and the ingredients used for making Prasad is known as bhoga. After this bhoga is being accepted by the Supreme Lord, it is termed as Maha-Prasadam. And after this Maha-Prasadam is taken by the saints and vaishnavas, it is known as Maha-Maha -Prasadam. One who is the recipient of this maha-maha prasadam is the most fortunate one.

Thus, over here Swaminarayan Mahaprabhu is being invited to accept bhoga. The servant is saying that arrangements are made for the Mahaprabhu to wash His hands and feet. It is found that Vedic tradition is to wash or clean the hands and feet before eating. Even the Supreme Lord is found to be doing that. It is very unfortunate now to see people eating without the conventions of washing their hands even. Maybe the bigger meals are taken after washing hands, but small meals and snacks are normally consumed without cleaning the hands. Sometimes it is observed, and especially, in this western world, that people tend not to wash their hands after eating. They just clean it off using a paper towel or something else. This is not only against the Vedic injunctions of cleanliness but also hygienically not good. Vedas are very scientific, and so are our all the shastras. Thus a disciplined person, at least a devotee should be conscious of cleanliness all the time, and should not try to eat anything without first washing up and after finish eating, should clean up the hands. This small things are also a measure of how eager we are to please the Supreme Lord. If Mahaprabhu Himself is doing that then what problem do we face in following it. But under the name of modernization, we are drifting away from our principles and thus from a healthy life.

basoo maliya bajothiya dhade re
katora kanchan ni thari re
jaade bhariya chamboo chokhari re ....jamo thal..

Translation

Please sit on this seat which is made ready for You. All paraphernalia like bowls, golden plate are arranged. Chamboo (flat based pot/flask, round at bottom narrowing at top) is rinsed clean and filled with water.

Purport:

The paraphernalia for offering food to the Supreme Lord is described herein. The proper way of offering food to Krsna is shown here. Food is to be placed in appropriate plates and bowls. Also it is accompanied with glass of water.

kari katha gaoo ni pori re
malie dhruta sakar maa boori re
kadhyo raas kari no ghori re ....jamo thal..

Translation

Chappaties are made from finest quality (hard) wheat. Milk is made by adding sugar candy in it and mango pulp is extracted from fresh mangoes.

Purport:

This stanza and the following two stanzas describe the preparations that are made to offer to the Supreme Lord. It can be seen that various offerings are made. mostly the food which is to be offered to the Lord is divided into four categories: analyzed as that which is licked, chewed, drunk, and sucked. So a devotee tries to prepare all the four categories of food for the Lord.

It is described that:

‘bhakshaischva bhojyaeh saha laihachoshaier dristha puro bhojana bhajanam cha,

puri madantam cha sasupbhaktam Sri Nilkanta hridi chintayami.’

I meditate upon Sri Nilakanta in my heart who upon observing plate full of food that can be chewed, licked, sucked, and drunk, only accepts puri, boiled rice, and dal curry.

Thus, it is found that Swaminarayan Mahaprabhu were offered fully opulent bhoga in the morning. So we should be cooking at our best for the Supreme Lord and try to offer Him as much as varieties of nicely prepared food stuff. Now if the position or time does not permit to do so, then only limited items should be made but they should still be made with full love and devotion for the Supreme Lord, who is the enjoyer of that food stuff. It is generally found even in the homes of devotees, that the food is cooked of their own choice, that too keeping some beloved mortal in the mind. Then such food is offered to Sri Hari as a ritual. It is very skeptical to assume that Mahaprabhu accepted that offering.

gadyaa sathaa gebhar phula wadi re
dudha pak maalpoaa kadhi re
poori poochi thai ghee maa chadi re ....jamo thal..

Translation

Sweets like satha, gebhar, sweet milk, maalpoda are prepared. Along with is spicy preparations like phul wadi and kadhi (yougurt preparations). Puri’s are made soft by frying them in clarified butter (ghee).

Purport:

These are some more names of the dishes made for the offering. Sometimes people argue that why should we offer so many different dishes to the Lord. he should be offered the simplest thing and He will accept it. Now, that is true that He may be offered the simplest things and He will accept it, but He only accepts that which is cooked out of love and devotion. One who is feeling tired in cooking for the Supreme Lord, we can imagine how much love and devotion that person has. Then just to support his actions he will come out with some hotchpotch philosophy that Lord will accept any thing. So, if Lord will eat anything then why doesn't he also eat anything. A true devotee only eats whatever is offered to the Lord. If the Lord eats simple things, why doesn't the devotee eat that simple things too. So it is a lame excuse. We should try to prepare feast as nicely as possible for the pleasure of the Supreme Lord. Cooking for His pleasure is the key here. Food which is not cooked keeping in mind Krsna’s pleasure simply becomes sin. A person eating such food is only eating sins. Thus extra care should be taken while cooking bhoga.

athana saak sundar bhaji re
lavi choo turat kari taaji re
dahi bhaat sakar che jaaji re ....jamo thal..

Translation

Various leafy and other vegetable preparations along with pickles are freshly served. Yogurt and rice with ample sugar candy is also served.

Purport:

The composer of this song, Bhumananda Swami is in the mood of female subservient, and is demonstrating that by using the feminine noun for the devotee who is offering this bhoga. Swami uses the verb ‘lavi’ which is associated with feminine gender. One way to look at this is that Swaminarayan Mahaprabhu is the Supreme Lord. So according to the shastras, He is the Purusha and we are the Prakriti. Purusha is the enjoyer and Prakriti is enjoyed. Purusha is masculine gender and Prakriti is feminine gender. Over here Swamiji is trying to serve the Supreme Lord, so he is using a feminine gender symbolizing the Purusha-Prakriti relationship.

Another way of looking at this is that Swami is trying to serve Swaminarayan Mahaprabhu in the mood of a female symbolizing may be a mother or one of the gopis. Also this mood is send in some compositions of Premananda Swami and Sadguru Brahmananda Swami. They are found to be composing various songs in the mood of gopi.

It is also notable in this stanza that Lord is offered boiled rice with yogurt and sugar candy. In Srimad Bhagvatam, tenth canto, Krsna is described as eating rice and yogurt or rice and milk as His daily diet. This is very simple food. But on the other hand Krsna assuming the form of the Govardhan Hill accepted a load full of prasadam. So it is found that Lord reciprocates according to our desires. He is always satisfied in Himself. But He demonstrates all the emotions for our pleasure. Similarly, we should be demonstrating the same kind of behavior with Him, to please Him only should be our endeavor.

chadoo karoo lavi hoon jal jari re
elaichi loaving sopari re
pan bidi banavi sari re ....jamo thal..

Translation

Please accept water from jug for purification (washing hands) and then accept this pan (betal leaf) made of cardimam, cloves, and betal nuts.

Purport:

Lord is cleaning His hands again after taking prasadam. Then He is offered varieties of mouth freshners. It is found that pan (betal leaf) was being offered to Him. But their is a big difference between the pan which is offered to Him and the pan which is obtained from the shop on the street. Many so called devotees have an habit of eating pan on regualr basis or after meals under the pretense of tradition. But this is nonsense. First of all, the pan obtained from the shop is made for Mahaprabhu so it is not usable. Secondly, it is not offered to the Supreme Lord, so not usable. Third thing is that it has lot of ingredients which are harmful to the body, so medically not advantageous. It has been found that the eating of this shop pans has led to the habits of chewing tobacco and other nonsenses. So devotees should refrain from eating pan which is being obtained from shops.

mukhavaas mangamta laei ne
prasadi thal tani daei ne
basoo sinhashan rajee thaee ne ....jamo thal..

Translation

After accepting these mouth freshners and distributing remnants to the devotees, please take Your sit on this throne very happily.

Purport:

According to the customs, after washing hands Mahaprabhu is being asked to accept the sinhashan (throne), which is being made ready for Him. It is found that Swaminarayan Mahaprabhu distributed the remnants of His Maha-Prasadam to the devotees around. This very much symbolizes that He is very much interested in us eating His remnants. Thus, eating food stuff which are not offered to Him or which are not His remnants is not pleasing Him. The goal of a devotee is to please The Supreme Lord. Just as a lover tries to satisfy the beloved, the same way a devotee tries to satisfy their beloved, Sri Swaminarayan Mahaprabhu.

kassombal baandhi ne fatoo re
Rajeshwar oodhi ne ratoo re
Bhumananda na vahala bhatoo re ....jamo thal..

Translation

With crimson turban and wrapped in golden cloth, O King of kings, beloved of Bhumananda, please embrace me.

Purport:

Bhumananda Swami has a desire to be embraced by the Supreme Lord. The touch of the Supreme Lord is transcendental. Fortunate ones are the people who had the obtained the touch of Mahaprabhu. Krsna says in Bhagvat Gita and Swaminarayan Mahaprabhu says in Vachnamritam, that His body, Dham (abode), His archa-vigraha (deity), and His pastimes vigraha (body) are all transcendental. They are divine. Any contact with them can purify us. Also, things that have come into contact with them are transcendental. This proves that accepting maha-prasad is transcendental, and it can easily purify us. Purification is made so simple. Let us take the advantage of this simple sublime purificatory process. Accepting maha-prasadam along with chanting of the holy name of the Lord is the ultimate purificatory process. Immediately the persons heart is cleansed and He/ She comes onto the platform of understanding the Supreme Lord. This has been made simple due to the mercy of Sri Swaminarayan Mahaprabhu. Why not take advantage of it. Why do we live like a pauper when we are the sons of Supreme Lord who is all opulent. Let us partake His mercy and become rich by transcendence. Simply eat maha-prasadam and chant the holy name of the Lord, and we will definitely without any obstructions attain the highest stage of love, ‘bhavatad bhaktir ahaituki tvaie’ - cause less devotional service birth after birth.

Laeta jaoo ne savaria.......

laeta jaoo ne savaria bidi panan ki
bidi panan ki re bidi panan ki
laeta jaoo ne savaria bidi panan ki

katho chuno vari loaving sopari
elachee mangaoo multanan ki.... laeta jaoo ne savaria bidi panan ki

eka eka bidi morae sasoo nananda ki
doosri bidi hain more lallan ki .... laeta jaoo ne savaria bidi panan ki

aaoo Sri Krsna Hari patae besaroo
bajee khelaoon saare rainan ki .... laeta jaoo ne savaria bidi panan ki

Premananda kahe apoo prasadi
atali araja tore dasan ki .... laeta jaoo ne savaria bidi panan ki

Translation and Purport

laeta jaoo ne savaria bidi panan ki
bidi panan ki re bidi panan ki
laeta jaoo ne savaria bidi panan ki

Translation

O Savaria (of bluish complexion, complexion resembling the darkness of monsoon clouds, especially from the month of sravan), please accept this pan (betel leaf).

Purport:

Krsna has a bluish complexion, ‘yat kinchit shyam svarupam, Govindam adi purusham tvan aham bhajami’ - Govinda, the primeval Lord has complexion dark as monsoon clouds. Numerable of our kirtans indicate this dark complexion of The Supreme Lord.

Again, this song is also written with a feminine sub servitor mood. Premananda Swami is offering mouth freshners to the Supreme Lord. This song paints a very intimate picture of the relationship between Premananda Swami and Mahaprabhu.

kathoo chuno mein laavi loaving sopari
elachee mangaoo multanan ki.... laeta jaoo ne savaria bidi panan ki

Translation

I have brought catechu, lime, clove, and betal nuts. I have specially obtained cardimam from Multan (name of place).

Purport:

Best of the ingredients are used for the Supreme Lord. It is always desirable to use the best for the most beloved. This is also seen in the material dealings between the two people who has affection for each other. They try to satisfy each other by giving the best of the gifts. But people in the material modes are always restless and nothing can satisfy them. It is very hard, rather impossible to always keep someone pleased, who is in material modes. Being in material nature the person is completely surrendered to the modes of ignorance and passion. In this modes it is not possible for him analyze the situation properly. That is why much stress is kept on aspiring devotees to remain in the modes of goodness. In this mode, atleast he is able to assimilate some of the Bhagvat philosophy. Otherwise, it is very hard to understand. And the live example is the whole world. Everyone today are in the modes of passion and ignorance upto some extent, and therefore when you tell them about Mahaprabhu and love towards Him, they think it is sentiments and nonsense. It is these modes which donot let that person understand the right philosophy. Just as an intoxicated person cannot understand serious talks, a person in the mode of passion and ignorance cannot understand the Bhagavat philosophy.

The very first step to go towards mode of goodness is to eat food in the modes of goodness. That is the biggest reason for banning onion, garlic, and spicy foods as regular diets. The ingredients should be clean and cooked in a proper way. Finally, they should be offered to the Supreme Lord with love and affection. Thus, they are completely transcendental. They will very easily elevate us to the modes of goodness. Another step is to associate with people who are in the modes of goodness. It is said in Vachnamritam, that the effect of association is very deadly also for a devotee, then what to speak of insignificant persons like us, who are struggling to obtain mode of goodness. Thus, vaishnava association is must. Final step is to chant the holy name of the Lord. By doing all three stated above, a person can gradually come into the modes of goodness.

eka eka bidi morae sasoo nananda ki
doosri bidi hain more lallan ki .... laeta jaoo ne savaria bidi panan ki

Translation

Please accept one pan on my mother-in-law's behalf, one in my sister-in-law’s behalf, and one on the behalf of my child.

aaoo Sri Krsna Hari patae besaroo
bajee khelaoon saare rainan ki .... laeta jaoo ne savaria bidi panan ki

Translation

O Krsna! O Hari! Please come and sit on this bench, and we will perform sporting pastimes.

Premananda kahe apoo prasadi
atali araja tore dasan ki .... laeta jaoo ne savaria bidi panan ki

Translation

To get Your remnants is the only desire of Premanada.

Purport:

Premananda Swami stresses very much on eating remnants of the Supreme Lord. He says that it is the only desire of him to get the remnants of Swaminarayan Mahaprabhu. If a great sanyasi like Premananda Swami has such desires, why do we, insignificant persons, who are so called satsangis have some other desires. Because we are not devotees. So let us try to take a small step towards transcendence by always eating maha-prasad and chanting the maha-mantra ‘Swaminarayan’.

Last Modified: Sunday, 11-Jan-2009 22:29:51 EST
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