View source for Engaging the Tongue to Chant and Take Prasādam

In the science of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, the path to spiritual perfection is not achieved through severe austerities or dry philosophical speculation, but through the joyful engagement of the senses. Śrīla Prabhupāda frequently highlights that the process of ''bhakti-yoga'' begins with the tongue. By engaging this organ in two specific activities—chanting the holy names of God and tasting sanctified food known as ''prasādam''—a practitioner can easily transcend the material concept of life. This article explores the profound importance of these simple yet powerful practices in checking the demands of the senses and awakening one's dormant love for Kṛṣṇa.

<div class="toc-right">__TOC__</div>

=== Service Begins with the Tongue ===

Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that spiritual realization is not a matter of mental adjustment but requires practical service, starting with the control of the tongue. The Vedic scriptures state ''sevonmukhe hi jihvādau'': by engaging the tongue in the service of the Lord, the Lord reveals Himself to the devotee.

* [[Vaniquotes:The seva, the service, begins from the tongue, service. Not with the hand but with the tongue. If you simply chant Hare Krsna, this is seva, and if you take prasadam, then your business begins immediately|The seva, the service, begins from the tongue, service. Not with the hand but with the tongue. If you simply chant Hare Krsna, this is seva, and if you take prasadam, then your business begins immediately.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Jihvadau: this (devotional) service begins with the tongue, with chanting and with taking the prasada of Krsna|Jihvadau: this (devotional) service begins with the tongue, with chanting and with taking the prasada of Krsna.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:With the tongue begins spiritual life. If we restrict our tongue not to talk uselessly, simply talk of Krsna or chant Hare Krsna, read Krsna books, and when you are hungry, take krsna-prasadam, then it will be possible, you can control the tongue|With the tongue begins spiritual life. If we restrict our tongue not to talk uselessly, simply talk of Krsna or chant Hare Krsna, read Krsna books, and when you are hungry, take krsna-prasadam, then it will be possible, you can control the tongue.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:The devotional service begins with the tongue. It is also another astonishment. Service with the tongue. Service with the tongue means if you chant this Hare Krsna mantra, that requires tongue. And if you simply take krsna-prasada, that requires tongue|The devotional service begins with the tongue. It is also another astonishment. Service with the tongue. Service with the tongue means if you chant this Hare Krsna mantra, that requires tongue. And if you simply take krsna-prasada, that requires tongue.]]

=== Universal Formula ===

This movement presents a universal program that can be accepted by anyone, regardless of their background or intellectual capacity. Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that the simple combination of chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa, dancing in ecstasy, and taking ''prasādam'' is sufficient to elevate anyone to the highest platform of spiritual understanding.

* [[Vaniquotes:Engage this tongue for these two business: chant Hare Krsna and take prasadam. He will forget dog-eating. There is no exception. Everyone can become Krsna conscious if he follows, beginning, these two rules: chant Hare Krsna and take prasadam. That's all|Engage this tongue for these two business: chant Hare Krsna and take prasadam. He will forget dog-eating. There is no exception. Everyone can become Krsna conscious if he follows, beginning, these two rules: chant Hare Krsna and take prasadam. That's all.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Chant, dance and take prasadam. Still we are unwilling. We cannot accept this tapasya. You see. We are so fallen|Chant, dance and take prasadam. Still we are unwilling. We cannot accept this tapasya. You see. We are so fallen.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Simple thing. Chant Hare Krsna, dance, and take krsna-prasadam. And if you are not educated, you are illiterate, hear. Just you have got natural gift, ear. You have got natural tongue|Simple thing. Chant Hare Krsna, dance, and take krsna-prasadam. And if you are not educated, you are illiterate, hear. Just you have got natural gift, ear. You have got natural tongue.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:We are requesting everyone, "Chant Hare Krsna." That is beginning with tongue. "And take prasadam and go home." That's all. Philosophy later on|We are requesting everyone, "Chant Hare Krsna." That is beginning with tongue. "And take prasadam and go home." That's all. Philosophy later on.]]

=== Purification Through Sanctified Food ===

The intake of food is not merely for filling the belly; it has a direct impact on consciousness. By eating ''prasādam'', or food first offered to Lord Kṛṣṇa, one becomes immunized against material contamination and gradually develops a spiritualized nature, much like a person contracting an infection becomes influenced by that infection.

* [[Vaniquotes:As you take foodstuff from a infected area, you become infected with some disease, so this is Krsna infected, prasadam. You take it, and one day you'll be diseased with Krsna consciousness. And that is a fact|As you take foodstuff from a infected area, you become infected with some disease, so this is Krsna infected, prasadam. You take it, and one day you'll be diseased with Krsna consciousness. And that is a fact.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:As far as eating is concerned, it can be regulated only when one is practiced to take and accept prasadam, sanctified food. BG 1972 purports|As far as eating is concerned, it can be regulated only when one is practiced to take and accept prasadam, sanctified food.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:One should take prasada at scheduled times and should not eat in restaurants or sweetmeat shops simply to satisfy the whims of the tongue or belly. If we stick to the principle of taking only prasada, the urges of the belly and tongue can be controlled|One should take prasada at scheduled times and should not eat in restaurants or sweetmeat shops simply to satisfy the whims of the tongue or belly. If we stick to the principle of taking only prasada, the urges of the belly and tongue can be controlled.]]

=== Open Invitation to Everyone ===

The International Society for Kṛṣṇa Consciousness was established to provide a facility where people could easily access these spiritual assets. Śrīla Prabhupāda's mood is one of open invitation, encouraging his followers to invite everyone to come, chant, and take ''prasādam'' without discrimination, as this process alone can unite human society.

* [[Vaniquotes:We invite everyone to come here to listen to our philosophy, take prasadam and sing and dance with us. This program is very nice. We do not make distinctions in human society|We invite everyone to come here to listen to our philosophy, take prasadam and sing and dance with us. This program is very nice. We do not make distinctions in human society.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:In all our centers, we have got this arrangement. We invite everyone - Come on, take prasadam|In all our centers, we have got this arrangement. We invite everyone - Come on, take prasadam.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Everyone is invited to join this movement, sit with us, take prasada and hear about Krsna|Everyone is invited to join this movement, sit with us, take prasada and hear about Krsna.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:We are inviting persons to come, sit down, chant with us Hare Krsna mantra and take prasadam and go home. That's all. This is our program|We are inviting persons to come, sit down, chant with us Hare Krsna mantra and take prasadam and go home. That's all. This is our program.]]

=== Conclusion ===

Ultimately, the process of Kṛṣṇa consciousness is designed to be joyful and easily performed. By restricting the tongue from useless talk and unsanctified food, and instead engaging it in chanting the ''mahā-mantra'' and eating ''kṛṣṇa-prasādam'', one's spiritual life is firmly established. Śrīla Prabhupāda assures us that this dual function of the tongue is sufficient to realize God, control the senses, and attain the perfection of life. It is a simple, sublime method that requires no prior qualification other than a willingness to participate.

=== Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani ===

Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category [[Vaniquotes:Category:Take Prasadam|Take Prasadam]]. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.

(See our [[Vanipedia:Methodology for AI-Assisted Articles|Vanipedia:Methodology for AI-Assisted Articles]])

[[Category:Vanipedia Gemini - Articles]]
[[Category:Vanipedia Articles - The Science of Prasādam Distribution]] 
[[Category:Vanipedia Articles - Chanting the Holy Names of God]]

<div id="vani-provenance" style="display:none;" data-source="Vanipedia" data-author="Srila Prabhupada Vani Temple" data-license="CC BY-NC-SA 4.0" data-origin-url="{{fullurl:{{PAGENAME}}}}">This content is a part of Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani Temple. Source: https://vanipedia.org</div>