please don't offer grain prasadam to devotees on Janmastami, GauraPurnima etc

[Guest guest]

Dear Maharajas and Prabhus

Please accept my humble obaisences

all glories to Srila Prabhupada

Some temples offer grain prasadam on Gaura Purnima and Janmastami midnight

and other days that should be ekadasi prasadam, I found this night website that

 

has many quotes from Srila Prabhupada why this is an incorrect standard:

http://www.salagram.net/E-prasad.htm most of these things can also be found

in the Prabhupada Siksamrita composed by Ajamila Prabhu .I suggest it be a GBC

law and made mandatory that no temple can offer devotees and guests grain

prasadam on these days.

 

 

Ekadasi Style Prasadam for Janmasthami and Gaura Purnima:

So we can understand from this there there are two separate instructions (i)

for ekadasi (ii) for Gaura Purnima and Sri Krishna Janmastami.

There are several quotes particularly from the earlier years regarding

observance of ekadasi fasting on days such as Janmastami and Gaurapurnima.

The first thing to understand is that Gaura Purnima and Janmastami are

totally different things from Ekadasi. On an Ekadasi if one takes grain then

all

manner of sin comes down upon him, as sin personified - the Papa Purush resides

 

in grain on the Ekadasi tithi. (More about Ekadasii from the Hari Bhakti Vilas

Vaishnava Smriti)

On such observance days as Gaura Purnima and Janmastami among the

Vaishnavas it is the proceedure to fast entirely, or to take just water on

these sacred days, up until the evening when the Lord appeared. Normally the

devotees would finish their vrata (austerity), maybe take some water or some

even

continue to fast until the next day. Then on the following day there would

be the utsav (festival - including feasting) to observe the advent of the Lord

(ie. Nandotsav after Janmastami, and the festival of Jagannath Misra after

Gaura Purnima). So feasting is done the next day, it is not that one HAS to

even

take foodstuffs on the vrata day.

The term Ekadasi feast or Ekadasi prasadam would be more

correctly termed Ekadasi sytle prasadam, meaning without grain(s).

There is a discription of Gaura Purnima in Mayapur India 1976 the final Gaura

Purnima when Prabhupada was still present from the biography "A

Transcendental Diary" Vol1 Mar.16. by Hari Sauri Prabhu: pg.461. "GAURA

PURNIMA. The

Appearance day of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Everyone fasted until moon rise and

then

took an Ekadasi feast, although Prabhupada said this was not compulsory.

(meaning one doesn't have to eat anything...... one may go one and fast as

everyone

else in 'India does!!!)

This is an interesting point, and reveals one's intentions upon the

conclusion one draws. We weak minded, and sensually lusty personalities find it

hard to

fast, even a few hours. And so, Prabhupada being extremely merciful, made an

exception and provided some small prasadams that didn't consider breaking a

fast if taken - fruits or boiled potatoes...(see below)

Suggestions to the devotees:

"So far the Advent Day of Lord Caitanya is concerned, I have written a full

suggestion to Montreal, in which the main points are that we should all

observe strict fasting up till moonrise, and at that time, an offering is made

to

Lord Caitanya of Ekadasi foods, fruits, peanuts, milk, and so forth. Then, on

the next day, Friday the 15th, a full-scale feast is held to celebrate His

Advent Day. On the 14th, chanting, reading of Srila Bhaktivinode's book, Life

and

Precepts and Caitanya Caritamrta, Introduction to Bhagavatam, may be held all

the day in the Temple." (San Francisco, 12th March 1968 letter to Balai)

"Lord Caitanya's Appearance day falls on March 22 (1970), that is on a

Sunday. The devotees should fast until evening, when there is a ceremony and

offering of a small amount of Ekadasi preparations. The next day, the devotees

should

celebrate amongst themselves with a small scale feast. You may hold the

celebration open to the public on the following Sunday. The preparation to be

offered specially on this occasion is bhuni kichri: Fry equal parts dal and

rice

in ghee and massala. Add two times water as dal and rice, and add vegetables

(if you use more ghee, use less water). Cook it until it is dried and the rice

is soft."(Letter to Krishna dasa. 18th February 1970. Los Angeles.)

"P.S. No feasting in the evening of Caitanya's birthday. Fasting all day till

evening moon rise. Then take Prasadam like Ekadasi. Next day you can have

full swing feasting. On the birthday if can take a procession of Kirtana on the

 

street it is very nice." (Post Script to Letter to Rayarama dasa. September.

Unknown place unknown date Ref:91-05-14.)

"You can take quotations from the above mentioned books, and have

discussions. Fasting should be continued up to evening, then you may have food

like on

Ekadasi, fruits, milk, etc. On the next day you may observe festival. Janardana

 

consulted me and said he thinks Sunday feasting would be best, so you may do

that if you like. Or you may do both days, as you feel best."(Letter to

Mahapurush. 7th March 1968. Regarding Gaura Purnima)

Proof that Srila Prabhupada followed this too:

"We performed Lord Caitanya's Birthday ceremony, not very gorgeously, but

amongst ourselves, and Govinda dasi cooked very nice Ekadasi foodstuffs. The

next

day I expected some big ceremony but it couldn't be performed. (A.C.

Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Letter to Purusottam. 6th March 1969. Hawaii)

There is an amusing discription of the first ISKCON janmastami "feast" as

described by Hayagriva Prabhu in his biography "Hare Krishna Explosion pg 62"

He

writes:"as midnight approaches, we hungrily envision the great birthday

feast of Lord Krishna, mountains of succulent prasadam: cake and kachoris,

halava

and puris, sabji, sweet rice, samosas and gulabjamuns. Just a few minutes

before midnight, Swamiji finally descends from his kitchen with the Prasadam.

But our faces drop. There is only a platter of cut fruit."

There is a discription of Gaura Purnima in Mayapur India 1976 the final Gaura

Purnima when Prabhupada was still present from the biography "A

Transcendental Diary" Vol1 Mar.16. by Hari Sauri Prabhu: pg.461. "GAURA

PURNIMA. The

Appearance day of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Everyone fasted until moon rise and

then

took an Ekadasi feast, although Prabhupada said this was not

compulsory.(meaning it was not compulsory to break the fast with anything but

to continue

fasting until the next day)

 

I hope it helps to understand what Srila Prabhupada wanted for ISKCON in

terms of fasting, and hopes this helps leaders implement Srila Prabhupadas

standard, I have no idea how many temples has this low standard but Potomac

temple

under Anuttama Prabhu from IC has, I am just now sending letters to the temple

commander and will talk to Anuttama Prabhu again about this.I was told some

temples serve grains prasadam on ekadasi to guests???Why would anyone serve

out sin in person?Papa Purusha takes shelter of grains on ekadasi

Your servant

Payonidhi das

 

Nectar from Hari Bhakti Vilas Tika Dikdarshini Tika

of Sanatan Goswami and Gopal Bhatta Goswami on Janmastami:

BHADRE BHAGAVATO JANMA DINE KARYO MAHOTSAVAH

VISESENA MAHA PUJAM VRATA PURNENA VAISNAVAIH

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 15/246 from KALIKA PURANA Vyasadeva speaks)

One should perform a festival on the birthday of Lord Hari, which falls in

Bhadrapada (August - September) month and on a Dvadasi day of Sravana (July-

August). It is the duty of all Vaisnavas to fast on these days and to do

specific great worship of the Supreme Lord.

PRAHLADA ADAIS CA BHUPALAIH KRTA JANMASTAMI SUBHA

SRADDHAYA PARAYA VISNOH PRITAYE KRSNA VALLABHA

PRAJAPATY ARKSA SAMYUKTA SRAVANASYA ASITA ASTAMI

VARSE VARSE TU KARTAVYA TUSTY ARTHAM CAKRA-PANINAH

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 15/267,268 from SKANDA PURANA)

Great kings such as Prahlada had fasted on the most dear of day of Lord Sri

Krsna named Janmastami, the birthday of Lord Krsna, to develop intense love

for Krsna. One should certainly fast on such an auspicious day of Lord Krsna's

birth named Krsnastami every year to please Lord Sri Krsna Who holds a disk in

His hand.

YE NA KURVANTI JANANTAH KRSNA JANMA ASTAMI VRATAM

 

TE BHAVANTI MAHA PRAJNA VYALA MAHATI KANANE

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 15/275 from SKANDA PURANA)

Oh greatly intelligent, any person, even with knowledge of Krsna's birthday

(Janmastami), who does not fast, he takes his next birth as a snake in a thick

forest.

SAMPARKEN API YAH KURYAT KASCIT JANMASTAMI VRATAM

VISNU LOKAM AVAPNOTI SO'PI PARTHA NA SAMSAYAH

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 15/295 from SKANDA PURANA)

If someone fasts on Janmastami day, with devotion, he attains the abode of

Lord Sri Visnu.

TASYAM VISNU TITHAU KECID DHANYAH KALIYUGE JANAH

YE'BHYARCAYANTI DEVESAM JAGRATAH SAMUPOSITAH

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 15/307 from BRAHMA PURANA Suta Gosvami speaks)

This day (Janmastami day) removes all kinds of sins. Specifically in

Kali-yuga, if someone fasts on this day, remains awake overnight and worships

Lord

Sri Hari properly, those people are worshipable.

IDAM EVA PARAM SREYA IDAM EVA PARANTAPAH

IDAM EVA PARO DHARMO YAD VISNU VRATA DHARANAM

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 15/312 from BRAHMA PURANA)

Fasting on the day of Lord Hari is the most auspicious thing, the topmost

austerity and the topmost meritorious action.

SAMPURNA CA ARDHARATRE TU ROHINI YADI LABHYATE

KARTAVYA SA PRAYATNENA PURVA VIDDHAM VIVARJAYET

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 15/370 from YAJNAVALKYA SMRTI)

If on the eighth day of the dark fortnight at midnight there is Rohini

constellation, on that day one should fast, but if it is combined with the

seventh

day, it should be given up in all circumstances.

DVAU BHUTA SARGAU LOKE'SMIN DAIVA ASURA EVA CA

VISNU-BHAKTI PARO DAIVA ASURAS TAD VIPARYAYAH

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 15/396 from AGNI PURANA and VISNU DHARMA)

There are two kinds of living entities created. One is divine and the other

is demonic. The devotees of the Supreme Lord Visnu are said to be divine

personalities. Those who are not His devotees are addressed as demonic.