# PRASADAM ## The Importance of Prasadam ![[letters/1968/681017_nandarani|Anyone who is cooking for himself, he is eating simply volumes of sin. In the material world, either a man is vegetarian or non-vegetarian, they’re simply eating sin, and they will have to suffer the consequence.]] —Nandarani, 17 October, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/681113_kris|So these foods can be offered in any shape, but prepared in various ways by the intelligence of the devotees.]] —Kris, 13 November, 1968 --- ## ==67-10 “Brown rice is generally doubly boiled, therefore it cannot be used for Kṛṣṇa prasadam. Unpolished rice which looks like brown [rice] can be used. Generally in America the brown rice is doubly boiled therefore is unfit. We do not mind polished or unpolished but doubly boiled mustn’t be used. Doubly boiled rice is considered impure. Sun baked rice is all right.”==([[letters/1967/671017_mahapurusa|Mahapurusa, 17 October, 1967]]) ![[letters/1967/671017_pradyumna|“Use brown or unrefined sugar if you can find it. Hope you are well.”]] —Pradyumna, 17 October, 1967 --- ![[letters/1968/680215_jadurani|we are buying so many things at the market which are not fit for offering to Krsna, but because we are purchasing them, we can offer.”]] —Jadurani, 15 February, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/681021_syama_dasi|ice cream purchased from the market may not be offered, because such ice cream contains sometimes undesirable things, which we should not offer. We must offer to Krsna only first-class prepared foodstuff, especially made at home.]] —Syama dasi, 21 October, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/681201_gurudasa|You have asked me about sassafras and yes, it may be offered. Mushrooms are generally not offered, but there is no prohibition; there is no harm in them.”]] —Harer Nama, 1 December, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/681219_rukmini|“So far as offering Krsna apple cider, this can be done only if is prepared by devotees. These food manufacturers do not take proper precautions in cleanliness nor do they have devotion to Krsna in their labors so it is not a very acceptable offer...]] —Rukmini, 19 December, 1968 --- ![[letters/1969/690324_kirtanananda]] —Kīrtanānanda, 24 March, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/690705_upendra|“Regarding frozen vegetables, they are not bad, but if they are twice boiled, then they should not be used. I do not know exactly, but I do not think it is twice boiled. Anyway, if it is, should not be used.”]] —Upendra, 5 July, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/690513_bibhavati|“No, it is not very good to use yeast in preparing prasadam. It is better to prepare bread in the process you have seen done in the temple. I hope this will answer all of your important questions.”]] —Bibhavati, 15 July, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/691225_krsna_dasa|But when we know something is adulterated, we should avoid it. But unknowingly if something is purchased, that is not our fault. Things which are suspicious, however, should be avoided.]] —Kṛṣṇa dasa, 25 December, 1969 --- ![[letters/1970/700211_harer_nama|“Any foodstuff suspects to contain untouchable ingredients should never be used in the temple.]] —Harer Nama, 11 February, 1970 --- ![[letters/1971/711117_himavati|“Because mushrooms grow in a filthy place, they are not usually offered to Krsna.”]] —Himavati, 17 November, 1971 --- ![[letters/1972/720219_upendra|there is no condition on which type of rice, the best available under the circumstances, that’s all. What matters is that everything is very nicely prepared and offered with great loving devotion, that is wanted.”]] —Upendra, 19 February, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/721022_jayapataka|“Regarding the preparation of rice by steaming and then drying, we can offer such rice even if it is twice-cooked. Gaudiya Matha offers, even during the presence of Prabhupada it was done, so there is no wrong. It is called cira. I never took cira...]] —Jayapataka, 22 October, 1972 --- ![[letters/1974/741112_jagadisa|“Regarding the lollipops, there is nothing wrong. It is something attractive I can understand, an introduction of friendship. What is the wrong? It is sugar, so it can be offered to the Deity. Just like here we can offer sweets purchased from the ...]] —Jagadisa dasa, 12 November, 1974 --- ![[letters/1976/760406_puru|Nothing should be offered to the Deities which is purchased in the stores. Things produced by the karmis should not be offered to Radha-Krsna.]] —Puru dasa, 6 April, 1976 --- ## Recipes ![[letters/1968/680409_aniruddha|“Milk and salt should never be mixed, it is improper, and will cause leprosy. But salt can be mixed with yogurt.”]] —Aniruddha, 9 April, 1968 --- ![[letters/1969/690615_krsna_devi|“I am pleased to learn that you are thinking of putting together a cookbook of our Krsna prasada recipes.]] —Kṛṣṇa devi, 15 June, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/690705_kirtanananda|Perhaps you did not note it what I said that this cheese should be made into sandesa;]] —Kīrtanānanda, 5 July, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/690721_kirtanananda|The cheese you have already sent was not bad, but this procedure will improve upon it further.”]] —Kīrtanānanda, 21 July, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/690806_kirtanananda|“Regarding your recipe for pickling foodstuffs, it is all right, but it will be nicer still if you follow the following procedure:]] —Kīrtanānanda, 6 August, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/690817_govinda|“Regarding mango recipe directions, it may be done as follows:]] —Govinda dasa, 17 August, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/691003_brahmananda|“Please send mango slab. I just learned it is not available here.”]] —Brahmananda, 3 October, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/691120_gaurasundara|“Srimati Jayasri dasi sent me some dried banana chips and they are very nice for my Ekadasi food. Is it possible to send us in large quantity this foodstuff? If not, please try to send me at least one small packet like that every fortnight. It is ...]] —Gaurasundara, 20 November, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/691126_upendra|“I have also received the fresh macadamia nuts which you have sent me, and they were very delicious.”]] —Upendra, 26 November, 1969 --- ![[letters/1970/700122_dinesh|“Salt should be added to vegetables after they are in masala, it should not be cooked directly in the ghee. Regarding recipes for a cookbook, I think Yamuna devi has made one collection of prasadam recipes so you may contact her in this connection.”]] —Dinesh, 22 January, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700124_gaurasundara|“I have also received the dried banana, 8 packages altogether and they are being fully utilized. For the time being she may not send any more of them, but I think if she prepares more of them in the sunshine of Hawaii and keeps them in stock, they...]] —Gaurasundara, 24 January, 1970 --- ![[letters/1971/710713_dinesh_candra|these are exciting spices and should be avoided; vegetable ghee is all right if real ghee is not available or easily acquired.”]] —Dinesh Candra, 13 July, 1971 --- ![[letters/1975/750918_satsvarupa|I am very fond of mangoes and when they are produced on our own property, then they become more palatable. It is a fact that if you purchase fruit in the market, it is not as palatable as if it comes from your own tree. Even Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s ...]] —Satsvarupa Maharaja, 18 September, 1975 --- ![[letters/1976/760204_sukadeva|“As you say that the mango season is fast approaching, then I will come and visit by April or May. Everyone knows that I am very fond of mangoes. Actually amongst all fruits I like the most. They are considered the king of fruits. And Hawaii has v...]] —Sukadeva dasa, 4 February, 1976 --- ![[letters/1976/760708_balavanta|From the green mangoes you can make pickles.]] —Balavanta, 8 July, 1976 --- ## Cooking and Kitchen Rules ![[letters/1967/671228_madhusudana|there is no objection if you taste it by smelling. But you should not smell for other purposes. The whole idea is that devotional service should always be immune from sense gratification.”]] —Madhusudana, 28 December, 1967 --- ![[letters/1968/680215_jadurani|“If, in the cooking process, food falls on the floor, if it is raw and can be washed nicely, then it can be offered. But if it is prepared and cannot be washed, then it is not to be offered, but can be eaten rather than wasted.”]] —Jadurani, 15 February, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/680312_rupanuga|“Regarding kitchen affairs, as a rule those who are not initiated may not enter into the kitchen affairs, but uninitiated members can work under the guidance of another initiated member when there is great need. So the direction which you are givi...]] —Rupanuga, 3 March, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/680316_jadurani|“The dishwashing occupation is open to anyone who wishes to help. There is no restriction. Also, non-initiates may help in cooking prasadam under the direction of devotees. That is all right.”]] —Jadurani, 16 March, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/680328_mahapurusa|“Yes, a non-initiate can work under the direction of a devotee in the kitchen. So Eric can certainly work under your direction in the kitchen for distribution of prasada. That is very nice.”]] —Mahapurusa, 28 March, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/680409_aniruddha|“Milk and salt should never be mixed. It is improper and will cause leprosy. But salt can be mixed with yogurt.”]] —Aniruddha, 9 April, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/680616_aniruddha|The hands should always be washed when preparing prasada, and in this way, everything shall be prepared very cleanly and purely. What is the difficulty in enforcing these rules?]] —Aniruddha, 16 June, 1968 --- ![[letters/1969/690324_kirtanananda|as far as possible we should not offer to the Deity things which are prepared by non-devotees. We can accept from them raw fruits, grains or similar raw things. So far as cooking preparing, that should be strictly limited to the initiated devotees.]] —Kīrtanānanda, 24 March, 1969 --- ![[letters/1970/700110_bhagavan|When we cook foodstuffs in the kitchen for eating ourselves, it is a different thing from the foodstuff which is prepared and offered to Krsna. The same dal, rice is material for one purpose but the same thing becomes spiritual when it is dovetail...]] —Bhagavan dasa, 10 January, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700315_harer_nama|“So far chaunce is concerned, I think you have been wrongly advise to burn the cumin seeds and chilies until they are very black.]] —Harer Nama, 15 March, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700707_yamuna_gurudasa|“I thank you very much for sending me the Jaganatha pera. This is a very nice sweetmeat, so you learn the art how to prepare it. I think it is purchased from some Indian shop. But you should try to prepare it yourself.”]] —Yamuna, 7 July, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700726_yamuna|“I have also received the pera and it is very nice. I know that you prepare everything very carefully for the Deities. You can offer the Deities as many varieties of sweetmeats as possible.”]] —Yamuna, 26 July, 1970 --- ![[letters/1971/710122_sudama|unless he is properly initiated, he cannot help you either in the kitchen or with Deity worship, but he can help you in translating and other activities.]] —Sudama, 22 January, 1971 --- ![[letters/1971/710127_sukadeva|Only initiated devotees may tend the Deity or cook for Him]] —Sukadeva, 27 Januar, 1971 --- ![[letters/1971/710404_nayanabhirama|“As far as possible, non-initiated devotees may not enter the kitchen or Deity area. They can help from outside.”]] —Nayanabhirama, 4 April, 1971 --- ![[letters/1971/710519_jadurani|“Yes, do not take too much foodstuffs; take so that no remnants are left. Immediately after, the dishes should be washed, or paper dishes thrown away. But do not throw away prasadam. Better to take a little less than to have leftover for saving. T...]] —Jadurani, 19 May, 1971 --- ![[letters/1971/710708_laksmi_narayana|In the kitchen also, things should be kept spotless and cooking should only be done by brahmanas; others may assist. That is the same procedure followed with Deity worship.]] —Laksmi Narayana, 8 July, 1971 --- ![[letters/1971/711106_kirtanananda_vrindaban_candra_silavati_vrindaban_candra_silavati|cooking can go on after the Deity’s plate is made. Without offering to the Deity, nobody can be supplied, but after the offering if there are so many men and more is required then how can it be stopped?]] —Kīrtanānanda Maharaja, 6 November, 1971 --- ![[letters/1974/741123_kirtanananda|“The right thing is that only twice initiated brahmana disciples cook in the temple.”]] —Kīrtanānanda Swami, 23 November, 1974 --- ![[letters/1974/741123_kirtanananda_swami|he is not initiated to cook in the temple. Any paid cook is not desirable.]] —Kīrtanānanda Swami, 23 November, 1974 --- ![[letters/1974/741124_sukadeva|“Regarding the cooking, a non-brahmana may assist but he cannot cook.”]] —Sukadeva dasa, 24 Novemer, 1974 --- ![[letters/1974/741217_parvati|And you can turn all those milk products into wonderful preparations to offer to Radha-Krsna and thus your life will become perfect.]] —Parvati, 17 December, 1974 --- ![[letters/1975/750526_aksayananda_swami_and_dhananjaya|In the evening, you must have many varieties of first-class ghee cooked preparations offered to the Deity and you can sell the prasada.]] —Aksayananda Swami and Dhananjaya, 26 May, 1975 --- ![[letters/1975/750528_anangamanjari|“In your country the Deity should not go without shirt. Gaura-Nitai may wear turbans. Nothing should be offered to Krsna unless it is prepared by the devotees themselves.”]] —Anangamanjari devi, 28 May, 1975 --- ![[letters/1975/751110_upendra|“I very much appreciate your service. In the kitchen you should please see that nothing is wasted.”]] —Upendra dasa, 10 November, 1975 --- ![[letters/1976/760106_aksayananda_maharaja|The kitchen department should be very clean and things should not be wasted. This is the first consideration.]] —Aksayananda Maharaja, 6 January, 1976 --- ![[letters/1976/760711_gopala_krsna_dasa|“Unless one is initiated they cannot cook. They must be regular disciples then they can do Deity worship. So there is no question of the outsiders cooking in the New Delhi temple.”]] —Gopala Kṛṣṇa dasa, 11 July, 1976 --- ![[letters/1976/761004_balavanta|“Regarding the offering of spinach, just it should be very clean]] —Balavanta dasa, 4 October, 1976 --- ## Offering Prasadam ![[letters/1968/680125_balai|leave Krsna’s plate for fifteen to twenty minutes or more, not more than a half hour. After offering the plate, the balance in the pots should be distributed immediately.]] —Balai, 25 January, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/680201_madhusudana|“Yes, fifteen minutes is sufficient time for the offering to remain on the altar.”]] —Madhusudana, 1 February, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/680201_madhusudana|“Yes, when Jaganatha goes to sleep and when He rises up, to ring the bell is the custom. Ringing of bell is required even for offering prasadam. That is the system in all the temples in Vrndavana.”]] —Madhusudana, 1 February, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/680201_madhusudana|“Foodstuffs can be offered at any place but with devotion and formalities.”]] —Madhusudana, 1 February, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/680215_jadurani|the custom is to offer the foodstuff first to the spiritual master; we cannot do anything directly. The spiritual masters accepts the offering on behalf of his disciple and offers the same to Krsna.]] —Jadurani, 15 February, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/680225_karunamayi|“Once prasadam (water or foodstuffs) is offered to the Lord, His plate should remain on the altar for about fifteen to twenty minutes (while the portion in the pots may be taken by the devotees). Water need only remain there for a few minutes. Onc...]] —Karunamayi, 25 February, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/680322_balai|“Yes, you may say the prayer to the spiritual master three times and also the namo brahmanya… prayer three times when offering prasada. That is very nice, to say the mantra three times. Also, you may, after offering to the spiritual master, offer ...]] —Balai, 22 March, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/680528_harer_nama|for offering prasada, simply prayer to the spiritual master is sufficient. The process is that everything is offered to the spiritual master and the spiritual master is supposed to offer the same foodstuff to the Lord.]] —Harer Nama, 28 May, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/680616_aniruddha]] —Aniruddha, 16 June, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/681021_syama_dasi|whatever you make in routine work to offer Him foodstuff, that should be continued. Do not change it.]] —Syama dasi, 21 October, 1968 --- ![[letters/1969/690214_kirtanananda|“Regarding prasadam offered to the Deities, you will take from the cooked foodstuffs in a plate just sufficient for one man’s eating, and this prasadam should be offered to the Deity, not the whole quantity.]] —Kīrtanānanda, 14 February, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/690612_tamala_krsna|“It is all right to make up the plates for the feast as you have suggested so the guests will not have so long a wait after the offering. The first plate made up, Krsna’s plate, should be kept in a high place, a separate place, and covered. Then i...]] —Tamala Kṛṣṇa, 12 June, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/690616_arundhati|“Regarding your question about offering prasada, whatever is offered to the Deity actually goes through the spiritual master. The spiritual master offers to Lord Caitanya and Lord Caitanya offers it to Krsna.]] —Arundhati, 16 June, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/690704_pradyumna|If she wants to offer prasada to the Deities she can simply chant the Hare Krsna mantra.]] —Pradyumna, 4 July, 1969 --- ![[letters/1970/700615_tulasi|“Please see that the schedule of offering is done regularly without any break.]] —Tulasi dasa, 9 November, 1970 --- ![[letters/1971/710809_indira|“…at every offering of bhoga to the Deities there must be one Tulasi leaf on the plate.”]] —Indira, 9 August, 1971 --- ![[letters/1973/730104_dhruvananda|“Yes, the leaves of Srimati Tulasi devi may be offered to all Visnu-tattva expansions of Krsna, including Nityananda and Balarama.”]] —Dhruvananda, 4 January, 1973 --- ![[letters/1974/741014_frederico_lourenco|“Regarding prasadam, Krsna does not accept any foodstuff offered by a person who is not a devotee.]] —Frederico Lourenco, 14 October, 1974 --- ![[letters/1975/750522_anangamanjari_devi|“Nothing should be offered to Krsna unless it is prepared by the devotees themselves.”]] —Ananga-manjari devi, 22 May, 1975 --- ## Taking Prasadam ![[letters/1968/680409_aniruddha|“For dishes, best thing is everyone who is eating prasadam should wash his plate. Otherwise, one man has to do so many dishes. So even the guests should also wash their dishes, that is the system in the temple; not leaving one man to do it.”]] —Aniruddha, 9 April, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/680413_yadunandana|How ordinary rice, dal and capatis turns into spiritual prasadam is to be understood by advancement of Krsna consciousness,]] —Yadunandana, 13 April, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/681006_brahmananda|As you will pay for the dinner, for the food, you can offer them to Krsna within your mind, then eat them as Krsna prasada. Any foodstuff, when it is paid for, becomes purified.]] —Brahmananda, 6 October, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/681231_brahmananda|“So far as portioning off part of the kitchen for prasada taking area, the idea is very nice. But as usual, no prasada should be taken in the kitchen where cooking is going on.”]] —Brahmananda, 31 December, 1968 --- ![[letters/1969/690115_dhindro_vanalata_mullick|you should take only the prasada of Jaganatha Deva. This practice will so much help you in your spiritual life.]] —Dhindro and Vanalata Mullick, 15 January, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/690227_uddhava|“I can see from your photographs that you are preparing such big ISKCON bullets. It is very attractive and unfortunately I cannot share them with you. But I am very satisfied that you are enjoying such thing as the prasadam of Jaganatha Swami.”]] —Uddhava, 27 February, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/690812_jayapataka|“These yoga societies are useless. If you do go, you should not eat their food. We cannot eat anything not offered to Krsna, and we cannot offer anything to Krsna which is not cooked by a devotee. I hope this will clear up the matter for you.”]] —Jayapataka, 12 August, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/690827_hayagriva|“Lufthansa is a very respectable airline and the ladies and gentlemen, and stewardesses and hosts, were very kind in their treatment. One girl was insisting that we take some food, and when we refused she was very sorry, but she brought us a suffi...]] —Hayagriva, 27 August, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/691109_bhagavan|this anna-maya theory is for persons who are in the lowest grade of transcendental realization. When we take to prasadam, it is directly on the spiritual platform.]] —Bhagavan dasa, 9 November, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/691120_gargamuni|I do not know what you are eating, but the eating program should be nutritious and simple, not luxurious.]] —Gargamuni, 20 November, 1969 --- ![[letters/1970/700116_yamuna|“If prasada is to be honored in the temple room, the curtains may be drawn before the Deities while the devotees are taking prasada. The best arrangement is to honor prasada in a separate room for the purpose if possible.”]] —Yamuna, 16 January, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700426_umapati|“So it is very good now that all the devotees can take prasadam together. All the devotees must keep together, that will be an extra strength.”]] —Umapati, 26 April, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/701121_upendra|“Although we respect the demigods, we may not take their prasadam if invited. We observe the system followed in Jaganatha Puri. First the foodstuff is offered to Lord Jaganatha and then His prasadam is offered to the different demigods; then we ma...]] —Upendra, 21 November, 1970 --- ![[letters/1971/710519_jadurani|“Yes, do not take too much foodstuffs; take so that no remnants are left. Immediately after, the dishes should be washed, or paper dishes thrown away. But do not throw away prasadam. Better to take a little less than to have leftover for saving. T...]] —Jadurani, 19 May, 1971 --- ![[letters/1971/711127_kirtiraja_dasa|“Regarding prasadam, leftovers should always be taken if they have not spoiled or if they have not been touched by diseased persons. We should never waste Krsna prasadam. Best thing is to cook only what is required and then give each person what h...]] —Kirtiraja dasa, 27 November, 1971 --- ![[letters/1972/720228_caturbhujaa|“Krsna prasad is always all right. The consideration of spoiling foodstuff after three hours, that is ordinary or it is so for persons who are not advanced in accepting Krsna prasada as transcendental,]] —Caturbhuja, 28 February, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/720509_bhavananda|“So far accepting water, no, practically from one who is not initiated we should not accept any eatables or drinkables. This should not be discussed, but you should remember it. But if there is some dire necessity, there is no question of prohibit...]] —Bhavananda, 9 May, 1972 --- ![[letters/1975/750804_vedavyasa|“Regarding the attitude for taking prasada, if you think it is something palatable, so let me take more and more, then that is sense gratification. But still it is prasadam so it will act. Prasada is transcendental, but one should not take too muc...]] —Vedavyasa dasa, 4 August, 1975 --- ![[letters/1975/750804_vedavyasa|“You may not be so advanced that you will take the karmi remnants as prasada. The karmis should not be given so much that there is waste. You can give them a little, and then if they like you can give them more. This system should be introduced ev...]] —Vedavyasa dasa, 4 August, 1975 --- ![[letters/1976/760122_jayatirtha|“So as far as prasadam and residence, they are already getting that free. But sometimes, grhastas make their own arrangement for cooking. For that we can give no expenditure. Just try to improve the prasadam system so nicely that one will not want...]] —Jayatirtha, 22 January, 1976 --- ![[letters/1977/770119_kunja_behari|“My instruction is that whatever food they serve, you should not eat meat, only bread, some butter, milk, vegetables and fruit if available. And always chant Hare Krsna.]] —Kunja-bihari dasa, 19 January, 1977 --- ## Prasadam Distribution and Preaching ![[letters/1968/680224_cidananda|“You can arrange to supply prasadam only to our devotees. We are not in a position financially to distribute foodstuff for the poor class of men. Such men may take shelter of some charitable institution. At the present moment, we are not in a posi...]] —Cidananda, 24 February, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/680616_satsvarupa|but I accepted a little fruits only, while they were eating all sorts of nonsense,]] —Satsvarupa, 16 June, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/680807_nathan_baruch|“So far sankirtana is concerned, that should be continued in all circumstances. Chanting of Hare Krsna sankirtana is our life and soul. Side by side, if possible, then you can attempt for the ISKCON restaurant and Krsna prasadam distribution, but ...]] —Nathan Baruch, 7 August, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/680822_hayagriva_kirtanananda|I am sure this prasada attraction will make our neighbors friendly and surely they will come in number in future so that New Vrndavana will be ideal place for visiting from the neighboring provinces, counties, I think so and it will be done nicely.]] —Hayagriva and Kīrtanānanda Swami, 22 August, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/681010_hansadutta|is known as Govardhana Puja and Annakuta Ceremony. In India, in all Vaishnava temples, this ceremony is observed and hundreds of people are given prasada according to the capacity of the temple.]] —Hamsaduta, 10 October, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/681126_hrsikesa]] —Hrsikesa, 26 November, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/681224_cidananda|Therefore, if you can actually start a prasadam distribution program, it will be very, very nice.]] —Cidananda, 24 December, 1968 --- ![[letters/1969/690715_pradyumna|Try to have very nice love feasts, because here in Los Angeles they are constantly attracting more and more members to join them, and the love feast program is one of the very strong attracting influences.]] —Pradyumna, 15 July, 1969 --- ![[letters/1970/700114_jadurani|“I do not follow what you mean by that they are starting to sell samosas. We should not sell any prasadam, we shall distribute prasadam and we can ask for contributions. That should be the method.”]] —Jadurani, 14 January, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700328_satsvarupa|“Both Sridhama and Nandakisora are good administrators of prasada which is our peak medicine for driving away maya, so I have all blessings for them. Let them chant Hare Krsna and distribute prasada and things will come very quickly.”]] —Satsvarupa, 28 March, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/701113_tirthapada|“Please maintain the program of temple worship, distributing of prasada, sankirtana party, distribution of literatures, study and Krsna work, all in order and make everything as nice as possible.”]] —Tirthapada, 13 November, 1970 --- ![[letters/1971/710121_sri_govinda|“I am glad to see that incense distribution is increasing and your method of distribution, that is with our literature, prasadam, etc. is very nice. So continue it.”]] —Sri Govinda, 21 January, 1971 --- ![[letters/1971/710216_bhagavan|“Also your college program sounds very nice. Preaching in schools, colleges and universities, along with distribution of our books and prasadam will flourish the propaganda of our mission.”]] —Bhagavan dasa, 16 February, 1971 --- ![[letters/1971/710221_citsukhananda|“Just keep yourselves to the standard by regular and attentive chanting, study, preaching, working, sankirtana, and distributing of literatures and prasadam. Then everything will be all right.”]] —Citsukhananda, 21 February, 1971 --- ![[letters/1971/710404_nayanabhirama|“So far as ’Krsna catering service,’ unless you have got sufficient time to accept such engagements don’t take it because everything must be done nicely.”]] —Nayanabhirama, 4 April, 1971 --- ![[letters/1971/710404_nayanabhirama|“For the time being you can go to the jail and lecture about Krsna consciousness and the values of life. You can give this lecture simply by repeating different chapters from our books. And the same can be done in the mental hospital as well. Dist...]] —Nayanabhirama, 4 April, 1971 --- ![[letters/1971/710629_bill|“So do something wonderful there in Gainesville. Wonderful means simply you chant loudly and distribute prasadam. That is not very difficult. It is very easy. Simply if you do it enthusiastically and sincerely, then success will be there.”]] —Bill, 29 June, 1971 --- ![[letters/1971/710708_batu_gopala|We had a very large tent, displayed our literatures, had kirtanas and arati ceremony for Radha and Krsna, spoke some on Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam, and distributed prasadam sumptuously,]] —Batu Gopala, 8 July, 1971 --- ![[letters/1971/710902_sivananda|“In Jaganatha Puri, that temple was established over a thousand years ago and it is still going on. Always they have prasadam ready for at least a thousand people and bhoga is offered fifty-six times in a day.”]] —Sivananda, 2 September, 1971 --- ![[letters/1971/711101_bhagavan|After the demise of a devotee some special feast preparations should be offered to Lord Krsna and prasadam should be distributed.”]] —Bhagavan dasa, 1 November, 1971 --- ![[letters/1971/711121_satsvarupaa|“Yes, preaching is more important than managing. Just because you are preaching nicely and distributing so much prasadam, the management will follow like a shadow and Krsna will send you no end of help.”]] —Satsvarupa, 21 November, 1971 --- ![[letters/1971/711124_locana_dasa|“I am very pleased that you have accepted the responsibility of managing such an important center as Berkeley. I know that there are many students in that city, so just attract them to our Krsna consciousness movement by giving them prasadam and o...]] —Locana dasa, 24 November, 1971 --- ![[letters/1971/711127_lalita_kumara_and_jambavati_dasi|“Especially I want this school and college program. If only the intelligent class of men understand our Krsna philosophy, then our mission is successful. So try to attract these students with profuse prasadam and nice philosophy and they will appr...]] —Lalita Kumara and Jambavati dasi, 27 November, 1971 --- ![[letters/1971/711127_kirtiraja_dasa|“Regarding prasadam, leftovers should always be taken if they have not spoiled or if they have not been touched by diseased persons. We should never waste Krsna prasadam. Best thing is to cook only what is required and then give each person only w...]] —Kirtiraja dasa, 27 November, 1971 --- ![[letters/1971/711210_bhagavan|“I have just receive intimation from Rupanuga of a very large festival he is planning for Central Park. His conjecture is very nice, and I want that many such festivals should be held in every city. I have one suggestion, that on Sundays you make ...]] —Bhagavan dasa, 10 December, 1971 --- ![[letters/1972/720204_madhucara|“Simply demonstrate chanting and dancing, and induce them to participate, then give them nice philosophy talk, with questions and answers, distribute prasadam profusely, ask them to buy our books and magazines and study them closely—that’s all. Tr...]] —Madhucara, 4 February, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/720412_giriraja|According to our Vedic system prasada distribution should not be on the line of hotel or canteen business. Whatever prasadam we can distribute, that should be done free of charges. So to summarize, you should distribute free prasadam.”]] —Giriraja, 12 April, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/720412_giriraja|Please continue this program rigidly. By prasadam distribution you will do service to the Lord, and the public will be pleased upon you as well. Gradually increase the number of guests, and don’t deny anyone.]] —Giriraja, 12 April, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/720414_bhavananda|“The second important program is this distribution of prasadam, without any discrimination, so that everyone will get equal portion, no matter how little or how much there is there.”]] —Bhavananda, 14 April, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/720423_giriraja|“This food distribution program is to be done very, very nicely as I have already written in my last letter.]] —Giriraja, 23 April, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/720502_kirtanananda|“My blessings to Visnujana, Silavati and all the others. I am very much pleased with all these activities. This is carrying out the order of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. One thing, is prasadam being distributed profusely on this traveling party?”]] —Kīrtanānanda, 2 May, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/720513_gurudasa|And in every temple food distribution must go on profusely with American food supplies. Have the Americans given us the food supplies? Is there any tangible donation?]] —Gurudasa, 13 May, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/720515_giriraja|“So far prasada distribution, it is not a question of rich or poor. That will be karma-kanda. Our program therefore is that we offer prasada to everyone.]] —Giriraja, 15 May, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/720612_gurudasa|If you can persuade them to give us foodstuffs directly, then we shall use it properly and America’s prestige will be widely spread throughout India. We can organize for distribution of prasadam all over India, in factories, schools, and so on.]] —Gurudasa, 12 June, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/720801_bhavananda|I want that you shall distribute at least to hundreds of persons daily, and advertise very widely all over Nadia Province for people to come there and take prasadam daily without charge. Otherwise the whole thing is a farce.]] —Bhavananda, 1 August, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/721023_narottamananda|Yes, your chief weapon will be prasada, because everyone likes to eat nice foodstuffs, and then philosophy and other things will come gradually.]] —Narottamananda, 23 October, 1972 --- ![[letters/1974/740111_tamala_krsna|“Yes, I fully agree that ’What is the use of a temple if there is no prasadam distribution?’ Prasadam distribution on a large scale must be resumed. Such a temple where there is no such distribution has no value, I agree.”]] —Tamala Kṛṣṇa Maharaja, 11 January, 1974 --- ![[letters/1974/740316_satyahit|So I am hopeful that if we can widely distribute free foodstuffs to the people of India, by giving it out at our centers as well as by traveling parties to villages, we will win over the whole country and the whole world by this activity on Krsna’...]] —Satyahit, 16 March, 1974 --- ![[letters/1974/740509_jayapataka_bhavananda|“The news that you are able to keep up the prasadam program which is now up to 1,500 persons on Sunday is very welcome and I hope you can continue this without stoppage.”]] —Jayapataka and Bhavananda, 9 May, 1974 --- ![[letters/1974/740805_amogha|“I very much liked the report of the prasadam distribution at the club for businessmen. So I thank you very much for kindly sending me this report.”]] —Amogha dasa, 5 August, 1974 --- ![[letters/1974/741107_rupanuga|“The prasadam program must be continued and increased. It is very good program for attracting the students. They have never tasted this kind of foodstuffs.”]] —Rupanuga dasa, 7 November, 1974 --- ![[letters/1975/750526_aksayananda_swami_and_dhananajaya|In the evening, you must have many varieties of first-class, ghee-cooked preparations offered to the Deity and you can sell the prasada.]] —Aksayananda Swami and Dhananajaya, 26 May, 1975 --- ![[letters/1975/750618_dhananjaya_and_aksayananda_swami|You can keep a nice stock of these things, so that when a big man comes you can give him a nice plate of free prasada. In this way, our temple will become very popular,]] —Dhananjaya and Aksayananda Swami, 18 June, 1975 --- ![[letters/1975/750707_locanananda_dasa|“Your prasadam program is also very important. Continue it. By chanting and giving prasadam you will get so many devotees.”]] —Locanananda dasa, 7 July, 1975 --- ![[letters/1975/750718_dhananjaya|“Continue your prasada distribution. This is very important.”]] —Dhananjaya dasa, 18 July, 1975 --- ![[letters/1975/750807_candradevi_naik|According to Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s philosophy, prasadam should be taken up to the neck, akantha. In Jaganatha Puri, Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s only occupation was holding sankirtana at least four hours every day and distributing prasada to the devotees.]] —Dr. Naik, 7 August, 1975 --- ![[letters/1975/750926_kurusrestha_dasa|“Regarding your festivals with prasadam, yes do it occasionally.]] —Kurusrestha dasa, 26 September, 1975 --- ![[letters/1976/761102_hrdayananda_maharaja|“You have written that chanting, dancing, and book distribution are going on nicely. Prasadam distribution should also be introduced. This will make the program even more effective.”]] —Hrdayananda Maharaja, 2 November, 1976 --- ![[letters/1976/761214_gurukrpa|“I’m pleased to know the restaurant is again doing nicely. If palatable dishes are available people will certainly come. Srutakirti is a good boy. You can trust him. Cooperation must be there. It is a nice idea to sell prasadam at the beaches from...]] —Gurukrpa, 14 December, 1976 --- ![[letters/1977/770118_all_iskcon_temple_presidents|We are confident Krsna will supply! Let the whole world come, we can feed them. So please do this nicely, begin at once.”]] —all ISKCON temple presidents, 18 January, 1977 --- ![[letters/1977/770119_brsakapi_dasa|“This prasadam distribution is very important. Do it nicely. Our main programs are distributing prasadam and sankirtana.”]] —Brsakapi dasa, 19 January, 1977 --- --- **[← Back to Śikṣāmṛta](wiki/compile/siksamrita)**