P R A S A D A M

[Guest guest]

P R A S A D A M

SPL 70-08-05 SUBHADRA

Yes, you are certainly right when you say Radharani cooks prasadam for Lord

Krsna. Whenever He returns in the evening from herding cows with His cowherd

boy friends, Radharani has a nice preparation waiting for Lord Krsna.

BG 2.63

Whereas an impersonalist tries to avoid good eatables, a devotee knows that

Krsnais the supreme enjoyer and that He eats all that is offered to Him in

devotion. So, after offering good eatables to the Lord, the devotee takes the

remnants, called prasadam. Thus everything becomes spiritualized, and there is

no danger of a downfall. The devotee takes prasadam in Krsna consciousness,

whereas the nondevotee rejects it as material. The impersonalist, therefore,

cannot enjoy life, due to his artificial renunciation; and for this reason, a

slight agitation of the mind pulls him down again into the pool of material

existence. It is said that such a soul, even though rising up to the point of

liberation, falls down again due to his not having support in devotional

service.

BG2.64

prasadam—the mercy of the Lord;

BG 6.17

Thakura Haridasa would not even accept prasadam nor even sleep for a moment

without finishing his daily routine of chanting with his beads three hundred

thousand names.

BG 17.10

Any food cooked more than three hours before it is eaten (except prasadam, food

offered to the Lord) is considered to be in the mode of darkness. Because they

are decomposing, such foods give a bad odor, which often attracts people in

this mode but repulses those in the mode of goodness.

BG 17.13

Any sacrifice performed without regard for the directions of scripture, without

distribution of prasadam [spiritual food], without chanting of Vedic hymns and

remunerations to the priests, and without faith is considered to be in the mode

of ignorance.

TYS 2

Your service begins with the tongue. How? By the tongue you can chant Hare

Krsna, and by the tongue you can taste Krsna prasadam, spiritual food. So, the

beginning of the process is very nice. You can chant Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna,

KrsnaKrsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare—and whenever

prasadam is offered to you by Krsna, by His kindness, you accept it. The result

will be that if you become submissive, and if you begin this service—chanting

and eating prasadam—Krsna will reveal Himself before you.You can’t understand

Krsna by speculation; that is not Possible, because your senses are imperfect.

But if you begin this process of service, then it will be possible—one day

Krsna will reveal Himself to you: "I am like this." just as Krsna is revealing

to Arjuna. Arjuna is a devotee, and he is submissive, and he is in contact with

Krsnaas a friend. Therefore Krsnais revealing to him.

The Bhagavad-gita was spoken to Arjuna, not to any Vedantist philosophical

speculator. In the beginning of the Fourth Chapter, you will note that Krsna

says, "I am speaking to you that ancient system of yoga." It is stated, "unto

you." Arjuna was a Ksatriya, a fighter. He was a householder, not even a

sannyasi, not a renouncer—but these are not qualifications to understand Krsna.

Suppose I say I have become a sannyasé mendicant—this is not a qualification,

that I can now understand Krsna. Then what is the qualification? This: One who

has developed the service spirit, with love and devotion, can understand Me."

No other. Not the big scholars and mental speculators; but a child can

understand Krsna, if he has full faith in Him. So faith and devotion qualify

one.

 

SB 6.4.26 P The Hamsa-guhya Prayers

Atah sri-krsna-namadi na bhaved grahyam indriyaih: as long as one is situated in

duality, on the sensual platform, gross or subtle, realization of the original

Personality of Godhead is impossible. Sevonmukhe hi jihvadau svayam eva

sphuraty adah: but when one engages his senses in the service of the

Lord--specifically, when one engages the tongue in chanting the Hare Krsna

mantra and tasting only Krsna prasada with a spirit of service--the Supreme

Personality of Godhead is revealed.

KB 24Lord Caitanya has recommended that since Krsnais worshipable, so His

land—Vrndavana and Govardhana Hill—is also worshipable. To confirm this

statement, Lord Krsna said that Govardhana-puja is as good as worship of Him.

>From that day, Govardhana-puja has been going on and is known as Annakuta. In

all the temples of Vrndavana or outside of Vrndavana, huge quantities of food

are prepared in this ceremony and are very sumptuously distributed to the

general population. Sometimes the food is thrown to the crowds, and they enjoy

collecting it off the ground. From this we can understand that prasadam offered

to Krsna never becomes polluted or contaminated, even if it is thrown on the

ground. The people, therefore, collect it and eat with great satisfaction.

Madhya 4.93

A demoniac civilization will never bring peace within the world. Since eating is

the first necessity in human society, those engaged in solving the problems of

preparing and distributing food should take lessons from Madhavendra Puré and

execute the AnnakuTa ceremony. When the people take to eating only prasada

offered to the Deity, all the demons will be turned into Vaisnavas. When the

people are Krsna conscious, naturally the government will be so also. A Krsna

conscious man is always a very liberal well-wisher of everyone. When such men

head the government, the people will certainly be sinless. They will no longer

be disturbing demons. It is then and then only that a peaceful condition can

prevail in society.

SPL 71-11-25 SATSVARUPA

I want that all the hippies should come to me and I shall solve their problems.

Actually all these hippies should join us. I am seeing that in this Delhi city

many hippies from your country are coming, but they are simply hungry and dirty

and being cheated. During our pandal program some of them came to me and became

my disciples. So we must look out for them and take interest that they should

be delivered from this miserable condition. They are our best customers. If we

give them place to sleep comfortably and nice prasadam, and if they agree to

follow the four rules and attend our aratis and classes, why not invite the

hippies to live with us? Gradually they will become devotees.

SPL 69-03-19 TOSAN KRSNA, BHURIJANA

Yes, you are two ideal ones for preaching there, and I can understand that

things are going very nicely. This is very much encouraging to me. Hold kirtana

and serve Prasadam, and gradually people will come, more and more. That is the

program. And you are both sincere students, and very intelligent boys, and

Krishna will supply you all facility for your preaching work if you try

sincerely.

SPL 76-12-14 GURUKRPA

It is a nice idea to sell prasadam at the beaches from a vehicle.

SPL 68-10-17 DAYANANDA

Please accept my blessings. My program is already above mentioned. Regarding the

idea of Prasadam restaurant, I am advocating it since very beginning. If you can

manage such Prasadam eating place and the temple at one place it will

super-excellent. I shall personally assist you in this affair because I like

this idea very much. Our chanting is medicine and our Prasadam is the diet for

curing material disease.

SPL 71-07-07

The restaurant proposal is very nice. It should be very neat and clean and in

the center column there should be Guru Gauranga altar. Everything prepared

should be offered and kept on a table and the customer or guest should come and

take prasadam on a plate to his full satisfaction. He can sit at table with

chair. The items of prasadam you already know; Kacori, Luglu, Samosa, sweet

balls, simply wonderful, vegetables, chutneys, puspana, halavah, etc; The

ingredients are easily available. As other things are available, you can

increase your menu. And any party who pays more than $5.00 can be presented

with a small book like Easy Journey, or Krishna, the Reservoir of Pleasure, and

a copy of our magazine. And if possible, continually tapes should be played of

kirtanas and songs and record albums also.

SPL 68-11-30 HAMSADUTA

You are thinking of accepting a job but you are already in the job of Krishna,

so for the maintenance of Krishna's temple you can contemplate as Krishna

desires. But I will suggest, why do you not start the prasada program? It was

in our contemplation for a longtime and you and your wife are expert cooks.

There's ample space in our temple. Why not organize the prasada program. That

will be both spiritual propaganda and monetary gain also.

SPL 68-12-12 HAMSADUTA

So now there is plenty engagement for everyone at the temple and if you can

secure funds simply by selling our literature, by prasadam program and by some

sewing labor, then it will not be necessary to take karmi jobs outside. So

Krishna has given you very good facilities to be engaged and make profit at the

same time for the temple so even though you may live poorly, if you can support

yourselves simply with these activities it will be very good.

SPL 70-01-16 YAMUNA

If Prasadam is to be honored in the Temple room, the curtains may be drawn

before the Deities while the devotees are taking Prasadam. The best arrangement

is to honor Prasadam in a separate room for the purpose, if possible.

SPL 68-11-13 KRIS

I have noted your questions carefully, and regarding your question about the

Prasadam recipes; Krishna is offered foodstuff in goodness. The foodstuffs in

the modes of goodness are wheat, rice, pulse (beans, peas), sugar, honey,

butter and all milk preparations, vegetables, flowers, fruits, grains. So these

foods can be offered in any shape, but prepared in various ways by the

intelligence of the devotees. The ingredients are always the same as above,

whether you fry them, boil them, bake them, powder them, or whatever way they

are combined or cooked, the idea is that they must come from this group of

foodstuffs. So you can make your own recipe if you like, so long as the

ingredients are within this group.

SPL 69-07-15 VIBHAVATI

no, it is not very good to use yeast in preparing prasadam. It is better to

prepare bread in the process as you have seen done in the temple.

PQPA 6

Krsna says positively, "I like these things." So we have to offer to Krsna what

He likes, and then we’ll take prasada. Krsnalikes Radharaëé. Therefore all the

gopés, they are trying to push Radharaëé to Krsna. "Krsnalikes this gopé. All

right, push Her." That is Krsnaconsciousness. To satisfy the senses of Krsna,

not to satisfy my senses. That is bhakti. That is called prema, love for Krsna.

"Ah, Krsna likes this. I must give Him this."

Bob: There is some prasada [food offered to Krsna]. It’s offered, and then we go

and eat, and different prasadams are served. Some I like, and some I find the

taste not at all to my liking.

Srila Prabhupada: You should not do that. The perfection is that whatever is

offered to Krsna you should accept. That is perfection. You cannot say. "I like

this, I don’t like this." So long as you make such discrimination, that means

you have not appreciated what prasada is.

A devotee: What if there is someone speaking of likes and dislikes? Say someone

is preparing some prasada...A devotee: Yes. But say someone prepares something,

like some prasada for Krsna, but he does not make it so good, and it is—Srila

Prabhupada: No, if made sincerely with devotion, then Krsna will like it. Just

like Vidura. Vidura was feeding Krsnabananas, but he was so absorbed in thought

that he was throwing away the real bananas and he was giving Krsnathe skin, and

Krsnawas eating. [All laugh] Krsnaknew that he was giving in devotion, and

Krsnacan eat anything, provided there is devotion. It does not matter whether

it is materially tasteful or not. Similarly, a devotee also takes Krsna

prasada, whether it is materially tasteful or not. We should accept everything.

A devotee: But if the devotion is not there, like in India...Srila Prabhupada:

If devotion is not there, He doesn’t like any food, either tasteful or not

tasteful. He does not accept it.

A devotee: In India... Somebody—Srila Prabhupada: Oh, India, India. Don’t talk

of India! Talk of philosophy. If there is not devotion, Krsna does not accept

anything, either in India or in your country. Lord Krsna is not obliged to

accept anything costly because it is very tasty. Krsna has very many tasteful

dishes in Vaikunthaloka. He is not hankering after your food. He accepts your

devotion, bhakti. The real thing is devotion, not the food. Krsnadoes not

accept any food of this material world. He accepts only the devotion.

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."] "Because it has been offered to Me with devotion and

love"—that is required. Therefore we do not allow anyone to cook who is not a

devotee. Krsna does not accept anything from the hands of a nondevotee. Why

should He accept? He is not hungry. He does not require any food. He accepts

only the devotion, that’s all. That is the main point. So one has to become a

devotee. Not a good cook. But if he is a devotee, then he will be a good cook

also. Automatically he will become a good cook. Therefore one has to become a

devotee only. Then all other good qualifications will automatically be there.

And if he is a nondevotee, any good qualifications have no value. He is on the

mental plane, so he has no good qualification.

PQPA 6

Srila Prabhupada: Prasada is always prasada. But because we are not elevated

sufficiently, therefore we do not like some prasada.

Srila Prabhupada: Well... That is also due to not appreciating, but the cook

should have consideration. Krsna must be offered first-class foodstuffs. So if

he offers something last class, he is not performing his duty. But Krsna can

accept anything if it is offered by a devotee, and a devotee can accept any

prasada, even if it is spicy. Hiranyakasipu gave his son poison [and the son

offered it to Krsna], and the son drank it as nectar. So even if it is spicy to

others, taste, it is very palatable to the devotee. What is the question of

spicy? He was offered poison, real poison. And Putana Raksasi—she also offered

Krsna poison. But Krsna is so nice that He thought, "She took Me as My mother,"

so He took the poison and delivered her. Krsnadoes not take the bad side. A good

man does not take the bad side—he takes only the good side. Just like one of my

big Godbrothers—he wanted to make business with my Guru Maharaja [spiritual

master], but my Guru Maharaja did not take the bad side. He took the good side.

He thought, "He has come forward to give me some service."

SPL 69-1-09 BHAGAVAN

Regarding your first question about annamoya, this annamoya theory is for

persons who are in the lowest grade of transcendental realization. When you

take to Prasadam, it is directly on the spiritual platform. Annamoya concept of

life is not on the spiritual platform. Our process is therefore very easy and

effective in this age. So the prescribed methods which we have adopted under

authoritative scriptural injunctions are sufficient for our progress

Antya 11.20

Maha-prasada is nondifferent from Krsna. Therefore, instead of eating

maha-prasada, one should honor it. It is said here, karila vandana, "he offered

prayers." When taking maha-prasada, one should not consider the food ordinary

preparations. Prasada means favor. One should consider maha-prasada a favor of

Krsna. As stated by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, Krsnabaro dayamaya karibare

jihva jaya svaprasada-anna dila bhai. Krsna is very kind. In this material

world we are all very attached to tasting various types of food. Therefore,

Krsnaeats many nice varieties of food and offers the food back to the devotees,

so that not only are one’s demands for various tastes satisfied, but by eating

prasada he makes advancement in spiritual life. Therefore, we should never

consider ordinary food on an equal level with maha-prasada.

SSR 5

Therefore the çastras recommend that to become Krsnaconscious, you should eat

remnants of food left by Krsna. If a tuberculosis patient eats something and

you eat the remnants, you will be infected with tuberculosis. Similarly, if you

eat Krsna-prasadam, then you will be infected with Krsna consciousness. Thus our

process is that we don’t eat anything immediately. First we offer the food to

Krsna, then we eat it. This helps us advance in Krsna consciousness.Mr. Faill:

You are all vegetarians?Srila Prabhupada: Yes, because Krsnais a vegetarian.

Krsnacan eat anything because He is God, but in the Bhagavad-gita (9.26) He

says, "If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, fruit, or

water, I will accept it." He never says, "Give Me meat and wine."

SPL 68-11-19 RAYARAMA

We are not meant for moving anyone's sentiment against animal slaughter, we are

neither Buddhists or Jains, whose main propaganda is against animal slaughter.

Even the so-called vegetarians who do not take Krishna prasadam are as much

sinful as the non-vegetarians. Our propaganda is different, to make people

Krishna Conscious, which automatically makes them sympathetic against any kind

of animal slaughter. According to Srimad-Bhagavatam, one living entity subsists

on the life of other living entities, either vegetarian or non-vegetarian. But

we are neither of them. We are not vegetarian nor non-vegetarian. We are

transcendental. We are concerned with Krishna Prasadam. Try to popularize

Krishna Prasadam as you have already done. People will naturally become

vegetarian without any ghastly propaganda. The pictures of a mahajana or

similar pictures for propagating the Bhagavata conclusion should be our

objective

SPL 68-11-26 HRSIKESA

Regarding the Christmas Day meal with your family, I do not think you should

partake of the food prepared by non-devotees. Better you should prepare your

own foodstuffs and offer to Krishna and then, if you like, you may offer these

remnants to Lord Jesus. I think that Lord Jesus will also appreciate this. Of

course you may sit down with your family and take fruits and milk which they

offer but rather than taking the foods which they have prepared, you may

prepare and offer your own prasadam for Lord Krishna, and then offer the same

to Lord Jesus.

SPL 70-07-11 HAMSADUTA

So accident is accident; do not be worried, be careful in future. There is a

common proverb in Sanskrit that when travelling one should avoid accompaniment

of women--pathe nari vivarjayet. So far her stay in the hospital is concerned,

she has already written to me about this. It is good that you are carrying

Prasadam to the hospital.

 

SPL 74-04-05 TAMALA KRSNATamala Krsna Goswami has just had a successful hernia

operation which was arranged free of charge at one of the most modern

hospitals, and there is also a girl devotee undergoing operation there also.

Tamala Krsna is now living in a room at our temple; the devotees see that he

gets all facility, a hospital bed, proper prasadam, and personal care and

visiting. So there is no question of ill treating of our own Godbrothers simply

because they are sick, nor should you allow such neglect to go on. So long we

have this material body there will be sickness, but we have to remain on the

transcendental platform nevertheless.

SSR 6

Lieutenant Mozee: If I could return to my original purpose for coming, might I

ask what advice you could give to assist us in reducing crime? I recognize that

the first and foremost way would be a return to God, as you say—there’s no doubt

about that—but is there something that we could immediately do to diminish this

spreading criminal mentality?Srila Prabhupada: Yes. As I’ve already outlined in

the beginning of our talk, you should give us the facility to chant the holy

name of God and distribute prasada. Then there will be a tremendous change in

the population. I came alone from India, and now I have many followers. What

did I do? I asked them to sit down and chant the Hare Krsnamantra, and

afterward I distributed a little prasadam. If this is done on a mass scale, the

entire society will become very pleasing. This is a fact.

MG 3

In Bhagavad-gita the peace formula is clearly given. We have to understand that

Krsna is the only enjoyer. The consciousness of this is developed in a

Krsnaconscious temple where the central point of all activities is Krsna. All

cooking is carried on for Krsna, not for one’s own purposes. Ultimately we

shall eat the prasadam (offered food), but when we cook we should think that we

are cooking for Krsna and not for ourselves.

Madhya 3.41

According to the Vedic principles, there must always be a guest in a

householder’s house. In my childhood I have actually seen my father receive not

less than four guests every day, and in those days my father’s income was not

very great. Nonetheless, there was no difficulty in offering prasada to at

least four guests every day. According to Vedic principles, a householder,

before taking lunch, should go outside and shout very loudly to see if there is

anyone without food. In this way he invites people to take prasada. If someone

comes, the householder offers him prasada, and if there is not much left, he

should offer his own portion to the guest. If no one responds to his call, the

householder can accept his own lunch. Thus the householder’s life is also a

kind of austerity. Because of this, the householder’s life is called the

grhastha-asrama. Although a person may live with his wife and children happily

in Krsnaconsciousness, he also observes the regulative principles followed in

any temple.

JSD 3.1

So, when you apply your energy in the service of Krsna, do not think that it

remains material. Everything used in Krsna’s service is spiritual. For example,

each day we distribute fruit prasadam [fruit that has been offered to Krsna].

Now, one may ask, "Why is this fruit different from ordinary fruit? It has been

purchased at the market like any other fruit. We also eat fruit at home. What is

the difference?" No. Because we offer the fruit to Krsna, it immediately becomes

spiritual. The result? Just go on eating Krsna-prasadam, and you will see how

you are making progress in Krsna consciousness.

Here is another example. If you drink a large quantity of milk, there may be

some disorder in your bowels. If you go to a physician (at least, if you go to

an Ayur-vedic physician), he’ll offer you a medical preparation made with

yogurt. And that yogurt with a little medicine in it will cure you. Now, yogurt

is nothing but milk transformed. So, your disease was caused by milk, and it is

also cured by milk. How is that? Because you are taking the medicine under the

direction of a qualified physician. Similarly, if you engage the material

energy in the service of Krsna under the direction of a bona fide spiritual

master, that same material energy which has been the cause of your bondage will

bring you to the transcendental stage beyond all misery.

JDS 4.2

JSD 4.2 The Bona Fide Spiritual Master

catur-vidha-sri-bhagavat-prasada-

svadv-anna-trptan hari-bhakta-sanghan

krtvaiva trptim bhajatah sadaiva

vande guroh sri-caranaravindam

The spiritual master encourages distribution of prasadam (remnants of Krsna's

food) to the public. Ours is not a dry philosophy--simply talk and go away. No.

We distribute prasadam, very sumptuous prasadam. In every temple, we offer

prasadam to anyone who comes. In each and every temple we already have from

fifty to two hundred devotees, and outsiders also come and take prasadam. So

prasadam distribution is another symptom of the genuine spiritual master.

If you eat bhagavat-prasadam, then gradually you become spiritualized; it has

this potency. Therefore it is said that realization of God begins with the

tongue. Sevonmukhe hi jihvadau: If you engage your tongue in the service of the

Lord, then you realize God. So what is that engagement of the tongue? You chant

the holy name of the Lord, and you take this prasadam, remnants of food offered

to the Lord. Then you become self-realized, God-realized--by these two methods.

You don't have to be very highly educated or be a philosopher, a scientist, or

a rich man to realize God. If you just sincerely engage your tongue in the

service of the Lord, you will realize Him. It is so simple. It is not very

difficult. Therefore the guru, the spiritual master, introduces this prasadam

program. Svadv-anna-trptan hari-bhakta-sanghan. Hari-bhakta-sanghan means "in

the association of devotees." You cannot do it outside. Krtvaiva trptim

bhajatah sadaiva: When the guru is fully satisfied that prasadam distribution

is going on, he is very much pleased, and he engages himself in the devotional

service of the Lord by chanting and dancing. This is the fourth symptom.

SPL 77-011-8 ALL ISKCON TEMPLE PRESIDENTS

Please accept my blessings. Now you must arrange in each temple there must be

sufficient stock of prasadam for distribution. You can keep first class cooks,

two or three, and they should be always engaged. Whenever any guest comes, he

must get prasada. This arrangement must be made, that the cooks prepare

ten-twenty servings at a time, of puris and subji, and you can add halava and

pakoras, and the visitors must be supplied immediately. Whenever a gentleman

comes, he must be served. As the twenty servings are being distributed,

immediately the cooks prepare another twenty servings and store it. At the end

of the day, if no one comes, our own men will take, so there is no loss. You

cannot say, ``it is finished,'' ``it is not cooked yet,'' ``there is no supply

for cooking'' etc. This must be enforced rigidly. The temple is managed by

Srimati Radharani, Laksmiji; so why should there be want? Our philosophy is, if

anyone comes, let him take prasada, chant Hare Krsna and be happy. Everything is

being supplied by Krsna, Krsna is not poor, so why we should deny them? This

should be done at any cost. There is no difficulty, it simply requires nice

management. At the end of the day you may sell or give away. If we believe that

Krsna is providing and maintaining everyone, then why should we be misers? This

means losing faith in Krsna, and thinking that we are the doers and suppliers.

We are confident Krsna will supply! Let the whole world come, we can feed them.

So please do this nicely, begin at once.

Hoping this meets you all in good health.

Your ever well-wisher,

A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

SPL 75-07-07 LOCANANANDA

By chanting and giving prasadam you will get so many devotees.

SB 7.14

Factually, according to the instructions of Srimad-Bhagavatam, every grhastha is

a great communist who provides the means of living for everyone. Whatever a

grhastha may possess he should equally distribute to all living entities,

without discrimination. The best process is to distribute prasada.

A grhastha should not be very much attached to his wife; he should engage even

his own wife in serving a guest with all attention. Whatever money a grhastha

accumulates by the grace of God he should spend in five activities, namely

worshiping the Supreme Personality of Godhead, receiving Vaisnavas and saintly

persons, distributing prasada to the general public and to all living entities,

offering prasada to his forefathers, and also offering prasada to his own self.

 

740531BG.GEN Lectures

Prabhupada: He can eat the whole world, but you cannot do that. You must follow

his instruction, "Thou shall not kill." You must have discrimination. You are

human beings; you are not cats and dogs. You must have discrimination, what to

eat, what to not eat. Because we have to eat some other living entity, it does

not mean that I shall eat my sons and daughters. "Discrimination is the best

part of valor." So far we are concerned, we are eating certainly vegetable, but

not directly. We eat krsna-prasadam. Krsna says, patram puspam phalam toyam yo

me bhaktya prayacchati: "Anyone who offers Me with love and affection

vegetables, grains, milk, I eat." So if there is any sin for eating vegetables,

that is Krsna's sin, not our sin. We take the prasadam. We are teaching people

to eat krsna-prasadam. We are not teaching people to become vegetarian or

nonvegetarian. That is not our business. After all, we have to eat, so if we

eat krsna-prasadam... That is stated, yajna-sistasinah santo mucyante

sarva-kilbisaih: "If you accept prasadam which is offered to God, then you are

free from all sinful resultant action."

660808BG.NY

Now, at the present moment, after the, we have got sva-raja, or independence,

the government has interfered with this sort of service. They say that "This is

waste of money. Why you are offering?" They are becoming atheist. But this is

not waste of money. At the cost of the rich men, the prasadam was being

distributed to the poor class of men at a nominal cost. You see? Now, poor men,

they go to hotel. But if they take prasadam in a temple, oh, the far better

quality foodstuff is supplied to him only at nominal cost. In a hotel, what

will be charged, one dollar, he can have it in the temple for ten cents. So

this is still more sane.

In our childhood, when I was a boy of eight or ten years, sometimes I used to

accompany my father. My father was a great devotee. He would take prasadam from

the temple. So I have got experience that we paid for two dishes, four annas.

Four annas means, according to modern exchange, it is five cents only, five

cents according to your exchange value. For five cents we were, very nice

prasadam we can get. Two persons we were fed. Still there is a place which is

called Nathadvara. Nathadvara, if you pay there two annas, you will get worth

prasadam, two dollars worth. So this system is going on still.

So if one has got sufficient means, he should supply Krsna to his best capacity.

But when Krsna wants that "You give Me..." He says... This is the lowest common

factor. Patram puspam phalam toyam. Anyone, any poor man in any part of the

country, they can supply Krsna and take the prasadam. So that by taking that

prasadam, you become free from the, I mean to say, responsibility of being

sinful. That is the point. That you will find in Bhagavad-gita, that

yajna-sistasinah santo mucyante sarva-kilbisaih: "If you take the remnants

after offering Krsna, that foodstuff makes you free from all kinds of sin."

750701 MW.DEN

Devotee (1): So if there is, let us say there is grain and rice being offered to

the Deities, and one finds that if he eats this, his service is impaired. Like

so many times I’ve seen, practically myself if I overeat grains in the

summertime, I drive around doing my service and I’m falling asleep.Prabhupada:

Then which foodstuff suits you?Devotee (1): Fruits are more... they keep me

more active.Prabhupada: So you take fruit. Fruit is also offered to the Deity.

There are varieties of prasadam. So whichever suits, you can take. Anything

artificial is bad.

Yadubara: Srila Prabhupada, in Los Angeles they are charging money for the

prasadam, and we find that it’s cheaper to buy our own prasadam and offer it

ourself.Prabhupada: Hm?Yadubara: They are charging money in Los Angeles for the

prasadam each meal, so we find it is cheaper to...Prabhupada: Prepare your

own?Yadubara: Yes.Prabhupada: So you do that.Harikesa: Yes. They will not let a

householder take unless they pay money first.Yadubara: 75c for noon prasadam and

50c for breakfast.Prabhupada: So if you can prepare cheaper, you can do that.

750829MW.VRN

Gopala Krsna: Oh, yes. Nirnayika just wanted to use their scale, and they would

try and cheat him. They would ask him for money just to let us use their scale

to weigh the vegetables we buy. So I intervened one day, and then he got so

angry that he abused Krsnaalso. These are such big demons, these people. They

live in Vrndavana but...Prabhupada: So give them prasada; they will be all

right. Yes. Give them prasada.Harikesa: The perfect solution.Brahmananda: We

were also demons before we took prasada. (laughter)Prabhupada: Jaya. Our

preaching means to turn demons into devotees. That is our preaching. If you

keep them demon, then your preaching is lacking. Give them prasadam today and

tell them, "Whenever you come, take prasada."

751004RC.MAU

Cyavana: It’s too difficult.Prabhupada: Therefore this process is recommended.

Caitanya Mahaprabhu argued with Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya, Prakaçananda

Sarasvati, not with ordinary public. Ordinary public—"Go on chanting Hare

Krsnaand dancing." Never argued, neither He discussed Bhagavatam. For ordinary

public—four hours’ kirtana, chanting and dancing, bas. And then give them

sufficient prasadam: "Take prasada." This process... Because unless he has got

little sraddha, he will simply put some false argument and waste your time. Not

in the beginning. Mad-bhakteñv abhidhasyati. First of all create him a devotee a

little. Chant Hare Krsna—harer nama harer nama harer namaiva kevalam—only.

Because this is Kali-yuga, people are so fallen, so downtrodden, so rascal,

cats and dogs. It is very difficult. But this process—chanting of Hare

Krsnamaha-mantra, giving them chance to hear it and take prasadam—that will

cure. And that is easily accepted by anyone. It doesn’t matter what he is.

Anyone will accept. To chant and dance and take prasadam—no one will disagree.

So this is the process. When they come to the temple... Just like these boys.

You are offering obeisances; they are also offering. But that will go to their

credit, to become bhakta. This process should be adopted. Not in the beginning,

but in the beginning give them prasadam, chant Hare Krsna. And try to sell some

book. You pay something. That means he is giving some service, the hard-earned

money. That will also go to his credit. And then, when he’ll concerned that "I

have paid for it. Let me see what this nonsense has written. All right. Read."

And that will also convince him. This is the way. He’ll keep this body, book,

and show some friend, so the infection will go on.

751004rc.mau Conversations

Prabhupada: Therefore Krsna said that "Bhagavad-gita should be discussed amongst

My devotees, not amongst the rascals." It will be waste of time. Ya imam paramam

guhyam mad-bhaktesv abhidhasyati. Find out this verse.

Pusta Krsna:

ya idam paramam guhyam

mad bhaktesv abhidhasyati

bhaktim mayi param krtva

mam evaisyaty asamsayah

"For one who explains the supreme secret to the devotees, devotional service is

guaranteed, and at the end he will come back to Me."

Prabhupada: Not to the fools and rascals. So first of all, to give them chance,

let them come to the temple, take prasadam, hear sankirtana, offer obeisances

by imitating others. In this way, when they become little devotee, then

instruct. Otherwise it will be useless. You'll waste your time by arguing.

Pusta Krsna: You have given the example that the field has to be plowed before

the seed is sown, cultivated.

Prabhupada: Yes.

Cyavana: The mind has to want that higher taste.

Prabhupada: Ceto-darpana-marjanam. So this process... Bring the... Invite them.

Chant Hare Krsna, dance, give them prasadam. Everyone will take part in this

way, not immediately instructing that "You are not this body; you are soul." He

will not be able to.

Cyavana: It's too difficult.

Prabhupada: Therefore this process is recommended. Caitanya Mahaprabhu argued

with Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya, Prakasananda Sarasvati, not with ordinary public.

Ordinary public--"Go on chanting Hare Krsna and dancing." Never argued, neither

He discussed Bhagavatam. For ordinary public--four hours' kirtana, chanting and

dancing, bas. And then give them sufficient prasadam: "Take prasada." This

process... Because unless he has got little sraddha, he will simply put some

false argument and waste your time. Not in the beginning. Mad-bhaktesv

abhidhasyati. First of all create him a devotee a little. Chant Hare

Krsna--harer nama harer nama harer namaiva kevalam--only. Because this is

Kali-yuga, people are so fallen, so downtrodden, so rascal, cats and dogs. It

is very difficult. But this process--chanting of Hare Krsna maha-mantra, giving

them chance to hear it and take prasadam--that will cure. And that is easily

accepted by anyone. It doesn't matter what he is. Anyone will accept. To chant

and dance and take prasadam--no one will disagree. So this is the process. When

they come to the temple... Just like these boys. You are offering obeisances;

they are also offering. But that will go to their credit, to become bhakta.

This process should be adopted. Not in the beginning, but in the beginning give

them prasadam, chant Hare Krsna. And try to sell some book. You pay something.

That means he is giving some service, the hard-earned money. That will also go

to his credit. And then, when he'll concerned that "I have paid for it. Let me

see what this nonsense has written. All right. Read." And that will also

convince him. This is the way. He'll keep this body, book, and show some

friend, so the infection will go on.

751017mw.joh Conversations

Prabhupada: This hari-kirtana, chant. Somehow or other, induce them to chant

Hare Krsna. Everything all right. By flattering, by soliciting, by giving him

prasada, by elevating him, that "You are the best man in the world"--in this

way inducing him, "Please chant Hare Krsna," then he will be recitified. This

is Hare Krsna movement. There is no other way. He is ruined, and the more the

Kali-yuga advances, he becomes more and more ruined. All other attempts will

failure. Don't you see in your country the LSD-addicted hippies? Government

spends so much money to recitify them--failure. But as soon as they come to our

camp, immediately success. How it is possible?

760121MW.MAY

Prabhupada: Not voracious. They want very palatable things, the tongue. Ta’ra

madhye jihwa ati, lobhamoy sudurmati, very greedy. So if you supply them

Krsna-prasadam at the same time to satisfy their greediness, then you conquer.

This is the secret.

Gopala Krsna: You conquered a lot of devotees by prasadam.

Prabhupada: (laughs) Yes. Ta’ra madhye jihwa ati, lobhamoy sudurmati, ta’ke jeta

kathina samsare, Krsnabaro doyamoy, koribare jihwa jay, swa-prasad. So prasadam

should be so nice that he’ll (be) conquered. He’ll not go to the restaurant;

they will come to Mayapura.

770227rc.MAY

Prabhupada: I have suggested already, already suggested that "Take milk powder

and ghee from Australia, and every center distribute prasadam like anything."

And in India at least, if you give them nice puri and chana preparation and

sweet preparation from milk, oh, they’ll be so glad, both poor man and rich

man. Yesterday I was eating kacuris. What is this kacuri? Made of ghee. Samosa,

made of ghee; rasagulla, made of... Cow is so important. She can deliver so many

nice preparations, sweet and salty. The whole world does not know how to eat.

Like raksasas they are killing the poor animals. So we have to teach. This is

an introduction of new type of civilization for making life successful.

771021rc.VRN

Prabhupada: We restrict the tongue practicing. Anything can be done by practice.

So if we take Krsna-prasadam, the tongue is restricted, locked to some

limited... Then our all other senses become controlled. And spiritual life

means sense control. We are not going to kill the senses. The yogis, they

artificially want to stop the activities of the senses, but that is not

possible. Senses are there. Life means senses. Aprakata, prakata. And when

senses are engaged in Krsna’s service, that is aprakata, transcendental. That

is described, sarvopadhi-vinirmuktam. Our senses are now upadhi—"I am Indian,"

"I am American,I am this,I am that." Senses are there, everywhere, but it

is designated. So we have to free the senses from this material designation. And

when the designations are washed away, at..., with that senses, hrsikena

hrsikesa-sevanam bhaktir ucyate. Purified senses without any designation, when

we engage in the service of Krsna, that is called bhakti.

770216RC.MAY

Prabhupada: Yes. That must be done. Anyone who comes to see the arati, at least

two puris, little vegetable, halava should be given. Prasada distribution

should go on everywhere. Who said that that is my trick? Who was...?Hari-sauri:

He was just saying last night.Prabhupada: Oh, somebody...Hari-sauri: Secret

weapon.

Prabhupada: (laughs) Yes.

740411BG.BOM

maha-prasade govinde

nama-brahmani vaisnave

svalpa-punyavatam rajan

visvaso naiva jayate

Maha-prasada, the foodstuff, remnant of foodstuff of Narayana, Krsna, the

same.... Maha-prasade govinde. And Govinda, Krsna. And maha-prasade govinde

nama-brahmani. And in the holy name of Hare Krsna maha-mantra. Maha-prasade

govinde nama-brahmani vaisnave. As also in Vaisnava. Svalpa-punyavatam rajan

visvaso naiva jayate. Those who are less pious, they cannot believe in these

things.

BG 3.14

Therefore, a person in Krsna consciousness, who eats only food offered to Krsna,

can counteract all reactions of past material infections, which are impediments

to the progress of self-realization. On the other hand, one who does not do so

continues to increase the volume of sinful action, and this prepares the next

body to resemble hogs and dogs, to suffer the resultant reactions of all sins.

The material world is full of contaminations, and one who is immunized by

accepting prasadam of the Lord (food offered to Visnu) is saved from the

attack, whereas one who does not do so becomes subjected to contamination.

BG 4.29

The practice of reduced eating is automatically done when one eats only

Krsna-prasadam, or food which is offered first to the Lord. Reducing the eating

process is very helpful in the matter of sense control. And without sense

control there is no possibility of getting out of the material entanglement.

Antya 16.59

The remnants of food offered to Lord Krsnaare called maha-prasada. After this

same maha-prasada has been taken by a devotee, the remnants are elevated to

maha-maha-prasada.

Antya 16.112

Since everyone had previously tasted these ingredients, why had they become

extraordinary and spiritually tasteful? This was proof that food, prasada,

becomes uncommonly flavorful and tasteful by touching Krsna’s lips.

SPL 73-12-06 KRITIDA KANYAKA

Please accept my blessings. Thank you very much for the Tulasi leaves offered to

Lord Caitanya's lotus feet. If one is fortunate enough to receive such holy

prasadam then all sinful reactions are immediately purified within the heart

and pure devotional service is very easily obtained.

SB 3.20.43

The performance of sraddha, or offering oblations with prasada, is still current

in India, especially at Gaya, where oblations are offered at the lotus feet of

Visnu in a celebrated temple. Because the Lord is thus pleased with the

devotional service of the descendants, by His grace He liberates the condemned

souls of forefathers who do not have gross bodies, and He favors them to again

receive a gross body for development of spiritual advancement.

SB 5.2.2 P The Activities of Maharaja Agnidhra

The purpose of the sraddha ceremony is to please the Supreme Personality of

Godhead, Lord Visnu, so that after pleasing Him one may offer prasada to one's

forefathers and in this way make them happy. The inhabitants of Pitrloka are

generally men of the karma-kandiya, or fruitive activities category, who have

been transferred there because of their pious activities. They can stay there

as long as their descendants offer them visnu-prasada. Everyone in heavenly

planets such as Pitrloka, however, must return to earth after exhausting the

effects of his pious acts. As confirmed in Bhagavad-gita (9.21), ksine punye

martya-lokam visanti: persons who perform pious acts are transferred to higher

planets, but when the effects of their pious acts are over, they are again

transferred to earth.

Antya 3.222

Sraddha is prasada offered to the forefathers at a certain date of the year or

month. The sraddha-patra, or plate offered to the forefathers, is then offered

to the best of the brahmanas in society.

NOD 5

similarly, we are obliged to our forefathers, because we take our birth in a

particular family, where we take all advantages and inherit property.

Therefore, we are indebted to the forefathers and have to offer them pinda

(prasada) after they are dead.

SPL 73-01-04 KRSNA GOPAL

Your letter December 30, 1972, is in hand, I have only just now got it, so

tomorrow is your Sharadh ceremony of your father, so I do not know if this

letter will reach you in time to be of any help in the matter. But for

conducting Sharadh ceremony, that should be done in our temple, and feasting

should be arranged in the temple. Afterwards, the prasada should be distributed

to friends and relatives. Perform kirtana, give lecture and readings, just like

our ordinary program. The idea is that in addition we are offering sumptuous

prasadam of Visnu to the soul of father and mother. Therefore Visnu's prasada

should be distributed in sufficient quantities, not otherwise.

SPL 73-11-14 REVATINANDANA

Regarding the auto accident, just hold a condolence meeting for Raghava dasa

brahmacari and pray for his soul to Krsna for giving him a good chance for

advancement in Krsna consciousness. Certainly Krsna will give him a good place

to take birth where he can again begin in Krsna consciousness activities. That

is sure. But, we offer our condolences to a departed soul separated from a

Vaisnava. Do you know that there must be prasadam distributed? After three days

after the demise of a Vaisnava a function should be held for offering the

departed soul and all others prasadam. This is the system.

SB 3.29.24

This gratitude and love for God is exhibited by a pure devotee, who knows that

the Lord lives in every living entity. As such, temple worship necessarily

includes distribution of prasada. It is not that one should create a temple in

his private apartment or private room, offer something to the Lord, and then

eat. Of course, that is better than simply cooking foodstuffs and eating

without understanding one’s relationship with the Supreme Lord; people who act

in this manner are just like animals. But the devotee who wants to elevate

himself to the higher level of understanding must know that the Lord is present

in every living entity, and, as stated in the previous verse, one should be

compassionate to other living entities. A devotee should worship the Supreme

Lord, be friendly to persons who are on the same level and be compassionate to

the ignorant. One should exhibit his compassion for ignorant living entities by

distributing prasada. Distribution of prasada to the ignorant masses of people

is essential for persons who make offerings to the Personality of Godhead.

SPL 74-01-11 TAMALA KRSNA

Yes, I fully agree that ``What is the use of a temple if there is no prasadam

distribution?'' Prasadam distribution on a large scale must be resumed. Such a

temple where there is no such distribution has no value, I agree.

SPL 74-03-03 MAHADEVA

We will present our program at Bhaktivedanta Manor exactly in the line of Lord

Caitanya, by kirtana, prasadam distribution and speaking from Bhagavad-gita. We

cannot deviate even an inch in order to attract the followers of the ecology

philosophy or any other materialistic, utopian movement. You say you know a

number of influential leaders of this group, but what is the use of knowing

them, since you yourself found them deficient and left them? Our ideal Vedic

community will attract everyone on its own merit, and we shall be glad to

welcome and accept everyone who comes without our compromising in order to

attract them.

SB 3.29.28

In the previous verse it was explained that living entities should be honored by

charitable gifts and friendly behavior, and in this verse and in the following

verses, the description of different grades of living entities is given so that

one can know when to behave friendly and when to give charity. For example, a

tiger is a living entity, part and parcel of the Supreme Personality of

Godhead, and the Supreme Lord is living in the heart of the tiger as Supersoul.

But does this mean that we have to treat the tiger in a friendly manner?

Certainly not. We have to treat him differently, giving him charity in the form

of prasada. The many saintly persons in the jungles do not treat the tigers in a

friendly way, but they supply prasada foodstuffs to them. The tigers come, take

the food and go away, just as a dog does. According to the Vedic system, a dog

is not allowed to enter the house. Because of their uncleanliness, cats and

dogs are not allowed within the apartment of a gentleman, but are so trained

that they stand outside. The compassionate householder will supply prasada to

the dogs and cats, who eat outside and then go away. We must treat the lower

living entities compassionately, but this does not mean that we have to treat

them in the same way we treat other human beings.

SB 4.6.53

But unless one pleases the demigods, there will be no regulated seasonal

activities or rainfall. Everything is controlled by the demigods. Under the

circumstances, in this age, in order to keep the balance of social peace and

prosperity, all intelligent men should execute the performance of

sankirtana-yajna by chanting the holy names Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna

Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. One should invite

people, chant Hare Krsna, and then distribute prasada. This yajïa will satisfy

all the demigods, and thus there will be peace and prosperity in the world.

SPL 70-11-24 BALI MARDAN

Regarding staying in the various Temples of demigods that is quite alright, but

you should not take prasadam from the demigods if you are offered. Our method

is to follow the system as it is done in Jagannatha Puri. There, the bhoga is

first offered to Lord Jagannatha and then His Prasadam is distributed and

offered to various demigods who reside in some nearby Temples. Then the

remnants of such Prasadam may be taken by us

SB 4.7.55

Lord Visnu should be offered everything, and His prasada should be distributed

to all the demigods. This practice is still followed in the temple of

Jagannatha at Puri. There are many temples of demigods around the main temple

of Jagannatha, and the prasada which is offered first to Jagannatha is

distributed to all the demigods. The deity of Bhagalin is worshiped with the

prasada of Visnu, and also, in the famous Lord Siva temple of Bhuvaneçvara, the

prasada of Lord Visnu or Lord Jagannatha is offered to the deity of Lord Siva.

This is the Vaisnava principle. The Vaisnava does not deride even ordinary

living entities, including the small ant; everyone is offered proper respect

according to his position.

SB 4.19.36 P King Prthu' s One Hundred Horse Sacrifices

Lord Siva is also a great Vaisnava and never eats nonvegetarian food, and the

goddess Kali accepts the remnants of food left by Lord Siva. Therefore there is

no possibility of her eating flesh or fish. Such offerings are accepted by the

associates of goddess Kali known as bhutas, pisacas and Raksasas, and those who

take the prasada of goddess Kali in the shape of flesh or fish are not actually

taking the prasada left by goddess Kali, but the food left by the bhutas and

pisacas.

SB 4.8.56

The devotee should not be anxious about cooking food; whatever is available in

the forest or in the city among the fruit and vegetable groups should be

offered to the Deity, and the devotee should be satisfied eating that. He

should not be anxious to have very palatable dishes. Of course, wherever it is

possible, one should offer the Deities the best foodstuffs, prepared within the

category of fruits and vegetables, cooked or uncooked. The important factor is

that the devotee should be regulated (mita-bhuk); that is one of the good

qualifications of a devotee. He should not hanker to satisfy the tongue with a

particular kind of foodstuff. He should be satisfied to eat whatever prasada is

available by the grace of the Lord.

SB 4.8.72

As far as our ISKCON movement is concerned, we simply ask that one observe the

four prohibitive rules, chant sixteen rounds and, instead of indulging in

luxurious eating for the tongue, simply accept prasada offered to the Lord.

This does not mean that with our fasting the Lord should also fast. The Lord

should be given foodstuff which is as nice as possible. But we should not make

it a point to satisfy our own tongues. As far as possible we should accept

simple foodstuff, just to keep the body and soul together to execute devotional

service.

720422RC.TOK

Prabhupada: Oh yes. But not guru. Ekadasi observed by jiva-tattva, not by

Visnu-tattva. We are fasting for clearing our material disease, but

Radha-Krsna, Caitanya Mahaprabhu... Caitanya Mahaprabhu also may not be offered

grains because He is playing the part of a devotee. Only Radha-Krsna, Jagannatha

can be offered grains. Otherwise, Guru-Gauranga, no. And the prasadam should not

be taken by anyone. It should be kept for next day.

SB 4.9.24

Our Krsnaconsciousness movement is designed to teach people (and to learn

ourselves) the exact instruction of the Personality of Godhead. In this way we

shall continuously perform the saìkértana-yajïa and continuously chant the Hare

Krsnamantra. Then at the end of our lives we shall certainly be able to remember

Krsna, and our program of life will be successful. In this age, distribution of

prasada has replaced distribution of money. No one has sufficient money to

distribute, but if we distribute Krsna-prasada as far as possible, this is more

valuable than the distribution of money.

 

NoD 9 Further Considerations of Devotional Principles

There is this specific statement in the Padma Purana: "A person who honors the

prasada and regularly eats it, not exactly in front of the Deity, along with

caranamrta [the water offered to the lotus feet of the Lord, which is mixed

with seeds of the tulasi tree], immediately can achieve the results of pious

activities which are obtained through ten thousand performances of sacrificial

rites.

NoI 1

In this connection Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura says:

sarira avidya jala, jadendriya tahe kala,

jive phele visaya-sagare

ta'ra madhye jihva ati, lobhamaya sudurmati,

ta'ke jeta kathina samsare

krsna bada dayamaya, karibare jihva jaya,

sva-prasada-anna dila bhai

sei annamrta khao, radha-krsna-guna gao,

preme daka caitanya-nitai

"O Lord! This material body is a lump of ignorance, and the senses are a network

of paths leading to death. Somehow or other we have fallen into the ocean of

material sense enjoyment, and of all the senses the tongue is the most

voracious and uncontrollable. It is very difficult to conquer the tongue in

this world, but You, dear Krsna, are very kind to us. You have sent this nice

prasada to help us conquer the tongue; therefore let us take this prasada to

our full satisfaction and glorify Your Lordships Sri Sri Radha and Krsna and in

love call for the help of Lord Caitanya and Prabhu Nityananda." There are six

kinds of rasas (tastes), and if one is agitated by any one of them, he becomes

controlled by the urges of the tongue. Some persons are attracted to the eating

of meat, fish, crabs, eggs and other things produced by semina and blood and

eaten in the form of dead bodies. Others are attracted by eating vegetables,

creepers, spinach or milk products, but all for the satisfaction of the

tongue's demands. Such eating for sense gratification--including the use of

extra quantities of spices like chili and tamarind--is to be given up by Krsna

conscious persons. The use of pan, haritaki, betel nuts, various spices used in

pan-making, tobacco, LSD, marijuana, opium, liquor, coffee and tea is indulged

in to fulfill illicit demands. If we can practice accepting only remnants of

food offered to Krsna, it is possible to get free from maya's victimization.

Vegetables, grains, fruits, milk products and water are proper foods to offer

to the Lord, as Lord Krsna Himself prescribes. However, if one accepts prasada

only because of its palatable taste and thus eats too much, he also falls prey

to trying to satisfy the demands of the tongue. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu taught

us to avoid very palatable dishes even while eating prasada. If we offer

palatable dishes to the Deity with the intention of eating such nice food, we

are involved in trying to satisfy the demands of the tongue. If we accept the

invitation of a rich man with the idea of receiving palatable food, we are also

trying to satisfy the demands of the tongue.

NoI 4

However, if one accepts prasada only because of its palatable taste and thus

eats too much, he also falls prey to trying to satisfy the demands of the

tongue. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu taught us to avoid very palatable dishes even

while eating prasada. If we offer palatable dishes to the Deity with the

intention of eating such nice food, we are involved in trying to satisfy the

demands of the tongue. If we accept the invitation of a rich man with the idea

of receiving palatable food, we are also trying to satisfy the demands of the

tongue. In Caitanya-caritamrata (Antya 6.227) it is stated:

Offering gifts in charity, accepting charitable gifts, revealing one’s mind in

confidence, inquiring confidentially, accepting prasada and offering prasada

are the six symptoms of love shared by one devotee and another.

NoI 1

In Caitanya-caritamrta (Antya 6.227) it is stated:

jihvara lalase yei iti-uti dhaya

sisnodara-parayana krsna nahi paya

"That person who runs here and there seeking to gratify his palate and who is

always attached to the desires of his stomach and genitals is unable to attain

Krsna."

As stated before, the tongue, belly and genitals are all situated in a straight

line, and they fall in the same category. Lord Caitanya has said, bhala na

khaibe ara bhala na paribe: "Do not dress luxuriously and do not eat delicious

foodstuffs." (Cc. Antya 6.236)

Those who suffer from diseases of the stomach must be unable to control the

urges of the belly, at least according to this analysis. When we desire to eat

more than necessary we automatically create many inconveniences in life.

However, if we observe fasting days like Ekadasi and Janmastami, we can

restrain the demands of the belly.

NoI 1

Generally we should not allow the tongue to eat according to its choice, but

should control the tongue by supplying prasada. The devotee’s attitude is that

he will eat only when Krsnagives him prasada. That is the way to control the

urge of the tongue. One should take prasada at scheduled times and should not

eat in restaurants or sweetmeat shops simply to satisfy the whims of the tongue

or belly. If we stick to the principle of taking only prasada, the urges of the

belly and tongue can be controlled.

SB 4.18 7

The population has a right to use goods only after offering them to the Supreme

Personality of Godhead. This is the process of accepting prasada. Unless one

eats prasada, he is certainly a thief. It is the duty of governors and kings to

punish such thieves and maintain the world nicely. If this is not done, grains

will no longer be produced, and people will simply starve. Indeed, not only

will people be obliged to eat less, but they will kill one another and eat each

other’s flesh. They are already killing animals for flesh, so when there will no

longer be grains, vegetables and fruits, they will kill their own sons and

fathers and eat their flesh for sustenance.

Antya 6.275

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvaté Thakura remarks that people who are under the

bodily conception of life are called materialists. If we accept the offerings

of such people, place them before the Lord and invite Vaisnavas to partake of

the prasada, that attempt will gain us only a material reputation, not the

actual benefit of service to a pure Vaisnava. One should therefore try to serve

the Supreme Personality of Godhead by fully surrendering at His lotus feet. If

one engages for the service of the Lord whatever money one has honestly earned,

that is spiritual service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the spiritual

master and the Vaisnavas.

Antya 3.101 The Glories of Srila Haridasa Thakura

In the days of Haridasa Thakura, all the brahmanas worshiped Narayana in the

form of the salagrama-sila. Therefore begging from a brahmana's house meant

taking krsna-prasada, which is transcendental (nirguna). If we take food from

the house of others, such as karmis, we shall have to share the qualities of

those from whom we take alms. Therefore Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu took prasada in

the houses of Vaisnavas. This is the general process. The members of the Krsna

consciousness movement are advised not to take food from anywhere but a

Vaisnava's or brahmana's house where Deity worship is performed. Sri Caitanya

Mahaprabhu has said, visayira anna khaile dusta haya mana: if a devotee takes

alms or food from the house of a karmi who is simply interested in money, his

mind will be unclean. We must always remember that a devotee's life is one of

vairagya-vidya, or renunciation and knowledge. Therefore all devotees are

warned not to live unnecessarily luxurious lives at the cost of others.

Grhasthas living within the jurisdiction of the temple must be especially

careful not to imitate karmis by acquiring opulent clothing, food and

conveyances. As far as possible, these should be avoided. A member of the

temple, whether grhastha, brahmacari or sannyasi, must practice a life of

renunciation, following in the footsteps of Haridasa Thakura and the six

Gosvamis. Otherwise, because maya is very strong, at any time one may become a

victim of maya and fall down from spiritual life.

SB 4.21.24

For example, if one eats in a place which is very sinful, he shares in the

resultant reaction of the sinful activities performed there. (It is a Vedic

system, therefore, for a householder to call brahmanas and Vaisnavas to eat at

ceremonial performances in his house because the brahmanas and Vaisnavas can

immunize him from sinful activities. But it is not the duty of rigid brahmanas

and Vaisnavas to accept invitations everywhere. There is, of course, no

objection to taking part in feasts in which prasada is distributed.)

SB 4.26.13

When a person is initiated by a spiritual master, he changes his habits and does

not eat undesirable eatables or engage in the eating of meat, the drinking of

liquor, illicit sex or gambling. Sattvika-ahara, foodstuffs in the mode of

goodness, are described in the çastras as wheat, rice, vegetables, fruits,

milk, sugar, and milk products. Simple food like rice, dhal, capatis,

vegetables, milk and sugar constitute a balanced diet, but sometimes it is

found that an initiated person, in the name of prasada, eats very luxurious

foodstuffs. Due to his past sinful life he becomes attracted by Cupid and eats

good food voraciously. It is clearly visible that when a neophyte in Krsna

consciousness eats too much, he falls down. Instead of being elevated to pure

Krsna consciousness, he becomes attracted by Cupid. The so-called brahmacari

becomes agitated by women, and the vanaprastha may again become captivated into

having sex with his wife. Or he may begin to search out another wife. Due to

some sentiment, he may give up his own wife and come into the association of

devotees and a spiritual master, but due to his past sinful life he cannot

stay. Instead of being elevated to Krsna consciousness, he falls down, being

attracted by Cupid, and takes to another wife for sex enjoyment.

SB 4.28.35-36

We can definitely see that to advance in Krsnaconsciousness one must control his

bodily weight. If one becomes too fat, it is to be assumed that he is not

advancing spiritually. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura severely

criticized his fat disciples. The idea is that one who intends to advance in

Krsna consciousness must not eat very much. Devotees used to go to forests,

high hills or mountains on pilgrimages, but such severe austerities are not

possible in these days. One should instead eat only prasada and no more than

required. According to the Vaisnava calendar, there are many fasts, such as

Ekadasi and the appearance and disappearance days of God and His devotees. All

of these are meant to decrease the fat within the body so that one will not

sleep more than desired and will not become inactive and lazy. Overindulgence

in food will cause a man to sleep more than required. This human form of life

is meant for austerity, and austerity means controlling sex, food intake, etc.

In this way time can be saved for spiritual activity, and one can purify

himself both externally and internally. Thus both body and mind can be

cleansed.

SB 5.5.3

A householder should lead such a life that he gets full opportunity to hear and

chant. He should worship the Deity at home. observe festivals, invite friends

in and give them prasada. A householder should earn money for this purpose, not

for sense gratification.

SB 5.26.18 A Description of the Hellish Planets

A person is considered no better than a crow if after receiving some food, he

does not divide it among guests, old men and children, but simply eats it

himself, or if he eats it without performing the five kinds of sacrifice. After

death he is put into the most abominable hell, known as Krmibhojana. In that

hell is a lake becomes a worm in that lake and feeds on the other worms there,

who also feed on him. Unless he atones for his actions before his death, such a

sinful man remains in the hellish lake of Krmibhojana for as many years as there

are yojanas in the width of the lake.

As stated in Bhagavad-gita (3.13):

yajna-sistasinah santo

mucyante sarva-kilbisaih

bhunjate te tv agham papa

ya pacanty atma-karanat

"The devotees of the Lord are released from all kinds of sins because they eat

food which is first offered for sacrifice. Others, who prepare food for

personal sense enjoyment, verily eat only sin." All food is given to us by the

Supreme personality of Godhead. Eko bahunam yo vidadhati kaman: the Lord

supplies everyone with the necessities of life. Therefore we should acknowledge

His mercy by performing yajna (sacrifice). This is the duty of everyone. Indeed,

the sole purpose of life is to perform yajna. According to Krsna (Bg. 3.9):

yajnarthat karmano 'nyatra

loko 'yam karma-bandhanah

tad-artham karma kaunteya

mukta-sangah samacara

"Work done as a sacrifice for Visnu has to be performed, otherwise work binds

one to this material world. Therefore, O son of Kunti, perform your prescribed

duties for His satisfaction, and in that way you will always remain unattached

and free from bondage." If we do not perform yajna and distribute prasada to

others, our lives are condemned. Only after performing yajna and distributing

the prasada to all dependents--children, brahmanas and old men--should one eat.

However, one who cooks only for himself or his family is condemned, along with

everyone he feeds. After death he is put into the hell known as Krmibhojana.

SB 7.14.17 Ideal Family Life

The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Krsna, is the enjoyer of sacrificial

offerings. Yet although His Lordship eats the oblations offered in the fire, my

dear King, He is still more satisfied when nice food made of grains and ghee is

offered to Him through the mouths of qualified brahmanas.

PURPORT

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), bhoktaram yajna-tapasam 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. Furthermore, at the present time there is very little chance to offer

sacrifices by pouring oblations of food grains and ghee into the fire.

Especially in India, there is practically no ghee; for everything that should

be done with ghee, people use a certain type of oil preparation. Oil, however,

is never recommended for offering in a sacrificial fire. In Kali-yuga, the

available quantity of food grains and ghee is gradually diminishing, and people

are embarrassed that they cannot produce sufficient ghee and food grains. Under

the circumstances, the sastras enjoin, yajnaih sankirtana-prayair yajanti hi

sumedhasah: in this age, those who are intellectual offer yajna, or perform

sacrifices, through the sankirtana movement. Everyone should join the

sankirtana movement, offering to the fire of this movement the oblations of his

knowledge and riches. 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.

 

Madhya 14.36 Performance of the Vrndavana Pastimes

Following in the footsteps of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, a Vaisnava should be

fully satisfied simply to see a variety of food offered to the Deity of

Jagannatha or Radha-Krsna. A Vaisnava should not hunger for a variety of food

for his own sake; rather, his satisfaction is in seeing various foods being

offered to the Deity. In his Gurv-astaka, Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura

writes:

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 P Deliverance of the Yamala-arjuna Trees

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 Mower, 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 Krsnaconsciousness 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 çastra.

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 Båhad-Visnu Purana.

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 Padma

Purana. In Padma Purana 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 SriCaitanya Mahaprabhu and called it maha-prasada.

PURPORTThe 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?" SriCaitanya

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-saìga-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 a Vaisnava. If an

aVaisnava offers food in the name of maha-prasada, it should not be accepted.

Such food cannot be prasada because an a Vaisnava 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 a Vaisnava

should not be accepted by a Vaisnava. Even if an a Vaisnava cooks food without

fault, he cannot offer it to Lord Visnu, and it cannot be accepted as

maha-prasada. According to Lord Krsnain 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 a Vaisnava 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 viñayi 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 a Vaisnavas. Their association changes the

transcendental devotional service of Lord Krsnainto 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 Mayavadés 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 who have no respect for Srila Prabhupada create a

fearful situation by driving away devotees who have accepted the bonafide

Ritvik system of initiation which was authorised by him in July 9th

1977.(Ghostlike nondevotees motive is money and self-worship) Their offerings

are not accepted because they OBSTRUCT worship of the CURRENT ACARYA Srila

Prabhupada. Thus they offer first to a conditioned soul so-called guru. The

conditioned soul so-called gurus picture is incapable of 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.

Krishna does not accept anything from a conditioned soul therefore we have to

go through the via medium of His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada(the

self-effulgent acarya).

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 çaréra 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

Krsnamaha-mantra, one can always remain on the spiritual platform

(brahma-bhuyaya kalpate).

Madhya 19.213 Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu Instructs Srila Rupa Gosvami

This verse is from Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.19.36). The conditioned soul under the

clutches of maya, the material energy, is very much agitated by the urges of

the tongue and the genitals. Control of the urges of the tongue, the belly and

the genitals (which are situated in a straight line) is called dhrti. Srila

Bhaktivinoda Thakura says, tara madhye jihva ati, lobhamaya sudurmati. Among

the senses, the tongue is the most formidable enemy of the conditioned soul.

Urged by the tongue, one commits many sinful activities. Although Krsna has

given human beings nice food, people still commit sins by killing poor animals

for the satisfaction of the tongue. Not being able to control the tongue, the

conditioned soul eats more than he needs. Of course, everyone must eat to keep

the body fit for the Lord's service, but when one cannot control the senses, he

falls victim to the dictations of the tongue and the belly. Naturally, genital

agitation follows, and one seeks illicit sex. However, if one is fixed at the

lotus feet of Krsna, he can control the tongue. Bhaktivinoda Thakura further

states, krsna bada dayamaya, karibare jihva jaya, sva-prasada-anna dila bhai:

in order to conquer the tongue, Krsna has been very merciful and has given us

nice food that has been offered to Him. When a person is attached to Krsna's

lotus feet, he does not eat anything not offered to Krsna. 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 Krsnaconsciousness 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 1.32

This is the result of sadhu-saìga, consequent association with SriCaitanya

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 Krsnaand 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 Krsnaby chanting His holy name, then you will be

purified and one day will come—you will be Krsna ized. 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. Kirtanya sada

hari. 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 Krsnamantra 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 Krsnaand 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 çastras.

So those who are attached to Krsnaconsciousness 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 SriRamapur, 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 adaù. 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 Lectures

Now, as soon as you bring the collection before the guru... It was meant for the

guru, so it is guru's property. It is not your property. "Then what I shall do?

Everything is given to guru. Then what shall I do?" That is said: bhunjita yady

anujnatah. Now, these things will be prepared. 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, bhunjita yady anujnato. 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, patram puspam phalam 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 Vrndavana?

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 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.

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.

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 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 68-03-13 JADURANI

Also, non-initiates may help in cooking prasadam under the direction of devotees. That is all right.

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 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 Conversations

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.

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