Puranic Rules for Prasadam

Mahanidhi Madan Gopal Das

#Puranas #KrishnaPrasadam #RulesForEating #Health #HowToTakePrasadam

When describing grhastha life, the Vishnu Mahapuranam (3.11.76-98)mentions a few rules about how to properly take food/Krishna prasadam. Most of these verses are also quoted by Sri SanatanaGoswami in Hari Bhakti Vilasa (# 9).

To begin with, Vishnu Puranasays, “If one follows these rules, one will attain perpetual good health, strength and intelligence.” (v. 76)
ihacarogyavipulam, balabuddhistathanrpa

Then Vishnu Mahapurana continues, “When eating one should wear clean cloth; face east or north; be happy, attentive and have a pleasant face. Don’t eat if in a bad mood. Eat fresh, tasty food and nothing stale.Before eating, chant purifying mantras and prayers, mantra bhimantritam (v. 84)

Eating Sequence:
“Start with sweet tasting liquid items,
ashniyat tan mayo bhutvapurvamtumadhuramrasam. (v. 87)
Middle of meal eat salty and sour items,
madhyekatutiktaadhikamstatah.
End meal/prasadam with bitter and pungent items.
One who starts the meal with fluid items; takes solid foods in the middle and concludes the meal with fluid items—will always be strong and healthy. (v. 88)

“One should eat in silence and only take five handfuls of food to maintain his/her five live airs. (v. 89)
panchagrasammahamaunam
pranaadyapyayanam hi tat

“After eating, one should cleanse the mouth and hands, sit down peacefully, meditate upon Radha and Krishna and pray, ‘May this food/prasadam be fully digested and assimilated and thereby give my body strength and satisfaction.’ [ed. to serve Krishna better!] (v. 90-94)After reciting this prayer, one should rub his/her stomach with one’s hand palm.” (98)
ityuccaryasvahastenaparimrjyatathodaram

Rubbing the belly after eating is a very ancient practice, common in India. As an alternative to the prayer mentioned above, we suggest the following verse from Sri Bhagavad Gita (15.14):
ahamvaishvanarobhutva
praninamdehamashritah
pranapanasamayuktah
pachamyannamchaturvidham
Bhagavan Sri Krishna said, “O Arjuna, I am the fire of digestion in all living entities, and I mix with the prana and apana life airs to digest the four kinds of foodstuff.”

We have personally seen that after taking Krishna prasadam, many Vrajavasis, GaudiyaVaisnavas and Brahmins rub their bellies and chant the Gita verse above. Although prescribed for grhastas, these basic rules of eating will benefit anyone who follows them. And for this, we have offered this post.
Sri Jagannathamaha-prasadamki jai!  Jaya Jaya Sri Radhe!