prasadam offering

[Guest guest]

> Dear Devotees, I would also like to add to Maharaja's remark about prasad

> being offered just by the maha-mantra, if I may. During the installation

> of Radha London-ishwara, there was an interesting incident. As the

> ceremony was very lengthy due to many mishaps and inexperience, some guest

> began to depart, and seeing this, His Divine Grace requested that they be

> offered prasad.` Now in our neophyte minds, prasad meant a GREAT BIG HUGH

> PLATE FILLED with EVERYTHING! So, we said, "It's not ready." Prabhupada

> said, "Bring something...cut up some fruit." Which was done, very

> elaborately and taking even more time, then the pujari brought it in and

> placed it on the alter and began the entire proceedure of offereing.

> Prabhupada said, "Distribute!" "Oh, Prabhupada, it's not offered yet,"

> we knowinging said.(Thereby commiting another apparadh by correcting the

> Spiritual Master.) "Give then," he commanded, adding,"factually, as soon

> as it touches the alter, it is offered!" Of course, we could then

> understand that the offering began a long time ago, with the purchase, the

> preparation, the cooking, etc. All are part if the offering. And these

> prayers and bells are for our purification and help us to further our

> devotion. Then he instructed width emphasise that NO-ONE should ever leave

> our temples with-out "little prasad." (nor should we ever cheaply immitate

> this!) your servant, Malati dd

 

Srila Prabhupada wanted us to serve our Guests. We are observing Narasimha

Caturdasi which stems from Lord Sri Krishna's servants who didn't care for

GUESTS (Jaya & Vijaya with 4 Kumaras) properly. So in a general sense food

coming from Lord Sri Krishna in a temple is also prasadam. Technically we

may like to formally offer it, but seeing the Guests don't leave empty

stomached is a higher principle that Srila Prabhupada was following. Serving

Guests is a basic essential aspect of vaisnava etiquette. Srila Prabhupada

wrote many times to feed every visitor to a temple.

 

For example, probably Malati dd remembers the letter Srila Prabhupada wrote

about offering Puri's in the morning and keeping the dough all day and

giving hot puris to any guests coming to the temple?

 

Yours in service,

 

Jayapataka Swami

[Guest guest]

> In a message dated 4/29/99 8:50:24 PM Eastern Daylight Time,

> Jayapataka.Swami (AT) com (DOT) bbt.se writes:

>

> <<

> For example, probably Malati dd remembers the letter Srila Prabhupada

> wrote

> about offering Puri's in the morning and keeping the dough all day and

> giving hot puris to any guests coming to the temple?

> >>

> Yes, this is a good example of practical instructions in Krishna

> Conciousness. This particular instruction was also repeated with regards

> to managing KC restaraunts. yr servant, Malati dd

 

Thankyou.

 

Your servant,

 

Jayapataka Swami