How to Perform Ritual for Hindu Prasadam

Prasadam is food offered to and spiritualized by a god in the Hindu tradition. The god to whom the food is offered depends upon which god the worshiper is devoted to. Prasadam is vegetarian, although dairy products are allowed. Prasadam is prepared for the god and is a form of bhakti, devotion. Prasadam frees you from karma.

Things You'll Need

• Prasadam recipes
• Altar to god
• Appropriate kitchen utensils, dinnerware

Instructions

1. 

   Approach the entire prasadam ritual with devotion and reverence. You are preparing food for the Lord's pleasure.

2. 

   Offer only fresh, organic fruits, vegetables, legumes, dairy products, ghee. Prepare all offerings yourself. Pre-packaged foods have chemicals and have been prepared in environments that are not worthy of food offered to the Lord. Asafetida is an excellent substitute for garlic or onion and is found in most whole food grocers.

3. 

   Clean your kitchen. Wash your hands. Use plates, bowls and cups that are kept as dinnerware for the Lord. As you prepare food, contemplate devotion to God.

4. 

   Offer the prepared food, arranged pleasantly on the special dinnerware with a simple prayer, such as, "My sweet Lord, please accept this food." As you ring a bell three times, repeat a prayer to your guru, to an avatar of the god and to the Lord. Sing and dance songs of praise to the god.

5. 

   After you have offered the food to the Lord, wait five minutes. Remove the food from the special plates, wash them and put them away. Now you can enjoy food blessed by God, which frees you from karma. As you eat, maintain an attitude of devotion and gratitude for such enjoyable food.

Tips & Warnings

• Commit to share prasadam with others, especially those less fortunate

• Avoid onions, garlic, meats, fish, eggs, caffeine, alcohol

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• How to Offer Food to the Lord
• Krishna.com Food Channel
• Food for Life Global