Part 1
What is Prasadam? And what's in it? And why it has saved my life ♡
Hare Krishnas are most infamous for their beautiful, delicious, offered food to god, which is called prasadam or prasada. The pronounciation varies from region to region. This is food that has been carefully prepared, prayed for / blessed, and offered to Krishna. Devotees are to always pray and offer their food to Hare Krishna all the time. This can be done by having an image of Krishna at home or with you, so that you can always offer it. You may also have images of Srila Prabhupāda, the main spiritual teacher in the Hare Krishna movement and faith. Eating prasadam is purifying for the mind, body, and soul. It is prepared carefully in respect to ayurveda and sattvic methods. It is said that unoffered food is sinful food. In my experience, I can feel directly the difference between offered and unoffered food.
Not all prasadam is vegan, some prasadam may contain ghee - clarified butter or biodynamic dairy. So, you must ask if you prefer not to participate in the spiritual dairy. There are many Hare Krishnas and hindus who do not use dairy anymore because of the dairy industry. Normally, the dairy used in Hare Krishna practices are taken from grass feed cows cared for by temple devotees or families. So, it is very important to keep awake in the scriptures of Krishna how he loved and adored cows. Cows and animals are sacred to Hare Krishnas, there is no sense to use dairy that has come from suffering. Many Hare Krishna and hindus know this and refer to the important ideas of veganism.
I want to raise awareness for the various different practices of veganism verses vegetarianism in Hare Krishna because many know me as a vegan and I do subscribe to the vegan philosophy in which, many feel and think it is unnecessary to eat any animal product at all costs. So, I too believe it is not necessary and when you think about it, it does not feel very correct to eat any animal products simply because it doesn't belong to us. However, again raising awareness that in the Hare Krishna practice - this dairy is taken as a very sacred fluid from the animal and for medicinal purposes.
The next story I want to share is truly how prasadam has been a life saver for me as well as the spiritual practice and philosophy. All who are doing yoga need to know the vedas. Naturally, my soul has been seeking spiritual and nourishing food in many forms. I was becoming very worn down from social care activities and food that was not coming from the place that I needed during these difficult months of low financial abundance. Miraculously, Hare Krishna and Vaishnavi Vani Mataji came to me after I connected with the Zurich temple. And like coming back home, I was greeted with love, abundance, and delicious prasadam!
So, in respect to my raw vegan and vegan path, I have made an exception for Krishna, given that the practice is mindful. I try to avoid participating in any of the dairy unless it is from a reliable source. And as some other devotees have expressed, only if it is offered. So, make sure to ask where your group leader's ghee or dairy is from. Let them know you are vegan for the animal rights and philosophy. Some leaders, may not be fully aware yet of the horrible dairy practices in the industry so let them know.
Thank you always for reading my articles and experiences. I would love to know your journey to prasadam, veganism, and god. I am so grateful to my brothers and sisters of Hare Krishna, come join us soon for chanting, discovering, and prasadam.
Part 2
Message from beloved Vaishnavi Vani Mataji 15.02.2020 ♡
It was so delicious and divine because Bhuvana mataji made this with devotion to lord Krishna. That's the secret ingredient:). We will send you the recipe. Hare Krishna.
I would take this opportunity that we have to try to tell the below prayer before honoring prasadam or spiritual food. Because ordinarily food is cooked for our own sense gratification. But here we cook carefully for the pleasure of the Lord. We don't talk anything unnecessary while cooking and listen to chanting of Hare Krishna mantra while cooking. We have to honor it with the feeling that it is the remnants of the food of the Supreme lord Shri Krishna.
Part 3
Message from beloved Vaishnavi Vani Mataji 15.02.2020 ♡
Song Name: Maha Prasade Govinde
maha-prasade govinde
nama-brahmani vaisnave
svalpa-punya-vatam rajan
visvaso naiva jayate
(Mahabharata)
(1)
bhai-re!
sarira abidya-jal, jodendriya tahe kal,
jibe phele bisaya-sagore ta'ra madhye jihva ati, lobhamoy sudurmati
ta'ke jeta kathina somsare
(2)
krsna baro doyamoy, karibare jihva jay, swa-prasad-anna dilo bhai
sei annamrta khao, radha-krsna-guna gao, preme dako caitanya-nitai
TRANSLATION
O king, for those who have amassed very few pious activities, their faith in maha-prasada, in Sri Govinda, in the Holy Name and in the Vaisnava is never born.
1) O brothers! This material body is a network of ignorance, and the senses are one's deadly enemies, for they throw the soul into the ocean of material sense enjoyment. Among the senses, the tongue is the most voracious and verily wicked; it is very difficult to conquer the tongue in this world.
2) O brothers! Lord Krsna is very merciful-just to control the tongue He has given us the remnants of His own food! Now please eat these nectarean grains while singing the glories of Their Lordships Sri Sri Radha and Krsna, and in love call out "Caitanya! Nitai!"
