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In ISKCON, devotees first offer bhoga, or prepared food, to the deity or picture of Lord Krishna. This sanctifies the food, strengthens devotion to the Lord, and frees one from sinful reactions. Prasadam, the remnants of food offered to the Lord, is considered non-different from the Lord Himself.
Anyone can offer food to the Lord at home. With a clean body and mind, first arrange the bhoga plate. Place Tulasi leaves on the preparations and keep a glass filled with fresh water beside them. While ringing a bell, chant the Bhoga Offering Mantra given below:
- Offering to Srila Prabhupada (3 times)
nama om vishnu-padaya krishna-preshthaya bhu-tale
srimate bhaktivedanta-svamin iti namine
namas te sarasvate deve gaura-vani-pracharine
nirvishesha-shunyavadi-pashchatya-desha-tarine - Offering to Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (3 times)
namo maha-vadanyaya krishna-prema-pradaya te
krishnaya krishna-caitanya-namne gaura-tvishe namah - Offering to Lord Krishna (3 times)
namo brahmaṇya-devāya
go-brāhmaṇa-hitāya ca
jagad-dhitāya kṛṣṇāya
govindāya namo namaḥ
Chant Panchtatva Mantra (3 times)
jaya sri-krishna-caitanya prabhu nityananda
sri-advaita gadadhara srivasadi-gaura-bhakta-vrinda
Chant Hare Krishna Mahamantra (3 times)
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
How to offer Bhoga to Lord Krishna
To offer Bhoga to Lord Krishna is very simple, only you need is a little devotion and Tulasi leaves. These are the steps for Bhoga offering:
- 01First, ensure that the preparation is made without onion and garlic and with the intention of offering it to the Lord.
- 02Arrange the following items: Deities or picture of Srila Prabhupada, Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Lord Krishna, Tulasi leaves, Bhoga plate, small bowls (for each preparation), glass of fresh water, and a small bell.
- 03Place one Tulasi leaf on each preparation and a glass of fresh water. Dried Tulasi leaves can also be used for offering.
- 04Place the offering in front of the Deity or picture, and chant the offering mantra while ringing the bell.
- 05After offering mantras, pray to the Lord to accept the offering. Leave the room and wait for 10 minutes. During this time, try to remember the Lord by chanting one round of the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra.
- 06After about 10 minutes, gently knock on the door or clap your hands once while chanting the Hare Krishna mantra.
- 07Pay obeisances and chant Srila Prabhupada mantra, Panch tatva mantra, and Hare Krishna mantra one time. Transfer the Prasad back to the main vessel and wash the offering vessels before honoring prasadam.
Conclusion
Offering everything first to Lord Krishna is the culture of ISKCON, which sanctifies the offering and protects us from the reactions of karma. By honoring prasadam with devotion, one's heart is purified, and godly qualities gradually develop.
Our mind and senses can only be controlled if we take a vow to eat only prasadam throughout our lives.
