Anxieties a Million Miles Away

After a two hour flight from New Delhi and the congested hustle bustle at Mumbai's airport we have arrived at the sublime spiritual sanctuary of the ISKCON temple in Juhu, Mumbai. The spiritual oasis we are experiencing at ISKCON Juhu, is so powerful that it feels as though the entire universe is engulfed within it. It is amazing to see how well this large temple with its hundreds of monks is so nicely organized with its help desks, multi-departments and multi empowered managers. The main deities are Radha-Rasabihari and they are very, very beautiful. Simply entering into this temple one can feel how all of his anxieties are going a million miles away. This is Krishna consciousness.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Landing In Mumbai

ISKCON Juhu Mumbai Marble Temple

Temple Room

Answers According to the Vedic Version:

Question: Prasadam Thrown Away?

Your Grace,

As a humble beginner in Bhakti devotion, I already become aware of tiny sunshines of connection with the spiritual sky poking through this dense material covering. I have become so happy since being inspired by your website to read over and over the Bhagavad-gita, to do japa at least one round every day and to begin to learn the Sanskrit also. But I realize that my next step is to make contact with devotees.

My question today is about prasadam. There is one point that I would like confirmation on. As I understand it, small portions of each food that is to be consumed should be correctly offered with prayer at the altar. Are these small portions also to be consumed? Or are they offerings that should be discarded?

Hare Krishna

Robin

Answer: Prasadam Should Always Be Honored

I am very, very pleased with your progress in Krishna consciousness. Kindly continue advancing yourself in this way along the transcendental pathway back to home, back to Godhead and you will achieve the supreme perfection of existence, pure love of Godhead.

The special portions placed directly on the altar become the most potent manifestation of Lord Sri Krishna's mercy. They are so special that they have a special title also. All the food that it is offered to Krishna is call prasadam, but the portion put on the Lord's plate is called maha prasadam to signify its uniqueness. Maha means great.

Maha prasadam should be eaten with great devotion and relish. It must never be thrown away. Generally instead of using the word "eat", we use the word "honor" to describe the consumption of Krishna prasadam. Partaking of Krishna prasadam is a holy sacrament. It is not ordinary eating.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari