Honoring Krishna Prasadam in Bulgaria

Wherever we travel around the planet earth, whenever we are in the association of the devotees (which is all the time except when we are in transit), there is always that most special and wonderful treat awaiting us, Krishna prasadam. Krishna prasadam means those foodstuffs that have been offered to Krishna with love and devotion. 

If you love someone truly, you will not serve Him those things He refuses to eat. Since Krishna refuses to eat meat, fish, eggs, onions, and garlic, we do not offer Him these things. We instead offer Him multi-varieties of delicious foodstuffs prepared from fruits, vegetables, dairy products, and grains according to traditional Indian recipes as well as the recipes of the many countries and cultures scattered across the globe.

When offered to the Lord with love and devotion the foodstuffs become transformed from matter into spirit and purify the souls of those who eat them. Such foods are called Krishna prasadam, the mercy of Krishna, because respectfully honoring them enables one to become free from all sins committed in millions of lifetimes. Before eating, devotees are enlivened to repeat this wonderful prayer of Bhaktivinode Thakur to put themselves into the proper mood for worshipfully accepting the Lord's mercy:

sarira avidya-jal, jodendriya tahe kal,
jive phele visaya-sagore
ta'ra madhye jihva ati, lobhamoy sudurmati,
ta'ke jeta kathina samsare
krsna bado doyamay, karibare jihva jay,
sva-prasad-anna dila bhai
sei annamrta pao, radha-krsna-guna gao,
preme dako 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 this 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, Lord Sri Krishna, are so very kind to us that have given us this nice prasadam just to help us conquer the tongue. So now let us take this prasadam to our full satisfaction and glorify Your Lordships, Sri Sri Radha and Krishna, and in love call for the help of Lord Caitanya and Prabhu Nityananda."

Those who have strictly adopted the path of ultimate self-realization do not put anything into their mouths except for Krishna prasadam, the remnants of foodstuffs offered to Lord Sri Krishna with love and devotion.

Stanka Prepared and Now Serves the Prasadam

Stanka Prepared and Now Serves the Prasadam, Bulgaria

Sankarshan Prabhu Prays Before Honoring Prasadam

Sankarshan Das Prays Before Honoring Prasadam, Sofia, Bulgaria

Answers According to the Vedic Version

Question: Why Don't You Behave Ordinarily?...

I'd like to know the need of enforcing one into spiritual realization by ISKCON devotees. If one wants spiritual realization he will eventually come. So what is the need to dance on the streets like madmen shouting, "Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna."?

Love of God should be within heart. So why is it that ISKCON is making a show of spiritual realization by chanting on streets and what not?

This is just an enquiry about your ideology. I am not questioning your legitimacy. i just want to know what is the need for enforcing bhakti.

Yours sincerely

Student

Answer: Mercy is Extraordinary, Not Ordinary...

Some people argue, "When there is drought the people come to the well. The well does not go to the people." But the real fact is that in times of severe drought those who are very merciful dig irrigation ditches so that everyone can receive profuse water.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

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