Chanting And Prasādam Distribution As The Recommended Yajña For This Age
The International Society for Krishna Consciousness is founded on the dynamic principles established by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, primarily the chanting of the Holy Names and the distribution of sanctified food, known as prasādam. This article explores Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings on how these two activities form the essential tracks of the preaching mission, offering a practical and joyful means for the conditioned souls to re-establish their relationship with the Supreme Lord. By engaging the tongue in chanting and tasting kṛṣṇa-prasādam, one performs the only recommended sacrifice, or yajña, suitable for the current age.
The Bona Fide Sacrifice for Kali-yuga
Śrīla Prabhupāda consistently explains that the elaborate fire sacrifices and rituals of former ages are neither feasible nor effective in the Age of Kali. Instead, the process of saṅkīrtana, accompanied by the distribution of sumptuous prasādam, is the authorized method to satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead and bring peace to human society.
- In this age an intelligent person worships the Panca-tattva (Lord Caitanya, Nityananda Prabhu, Sri Advaita Prabhu, Sri Gadadhara Prabhu and Srivasa Thakura) by the method of chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra and, if possible, distributing prasadam.
- One should worship Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His four associates, the Panca-tattva, by distributing prasadam and holding congregational chanting. Indeed, that, yajna or sacrifice, is most recommended in this Age of Kali.
- Chanting of the Hare Krsna mantra and distribution of prasada - is the most perfect and bona fide way of offering sacrifice for the pleasure of Yajna, or Visnu.
- All the family members can sit down together and simply clap their hands and chant the maha-mantra. Somehow or other, everyone can manage to perform such a yajna & distribute prasada to the people in general. That is quite sufficient for this age of Kali.
Diet and Medicine for the Soul
Material existence is often compared to a disease, and the cure requires both a specific medicine and a regulated diet. Śrīla Prabhupāda identifies the chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra as the medicine that cleanses the heart, while prasādam is the diet that purifies the senses and drives away the influence of māyā.
- In order to cure him from these material desires we shall give him medicine, hari-nama, and diet, prasada. We have no such program, to make him vegetarian. That is not our program.
- Distribute prasadam, and chant Hare Krishna. For the mass of people this is the only medicine.
- We want to distribute our literature and books within as well as our prasadam, and injecting our Hare Krishna medicine within the ear. So, reading of the literature and hearing of the chanting is the medicine, and prasadam is the diet.
- Both Sri Dhama and Nandakisora are good administrators of Prasadam which is our peak medicine for driving away Maya; so I have all blessings for them. Let them chant Hare Krsna and distribute Prasadam, and things will come very quickly.
Liberal Distribution Without Discrimination
The distribution of prasādam is distinct from mundane altruism or "poor-feeding," as its goal is spiritual emancipation rather than temporary physical relief. Śrīla Prabhupāda instructs that everyone, regardless of their financial status, is suffering from a lack of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, and therefore this mercy should be distributed liberally to all.
- We distribute prasadam to everyone, not particularly to the needy. We make no discrimination, rich or poor.
- Not that because he is poor man and we are giving prasada, no. This is not our idea. To our eyes, the so-called poor man and rich man, they are all suffering, not that the simply poor man suffering and the rich man is not suffering.
- In the Vedic system, prasada is distributed, as recommended here (in SB 8.16.55), without discrimination as to who may take the prasada.
- To distribute prasada to millions of hungry people hankering for spiritual emancipation is the mission of the Krsna consciousness movement.
The Preaching Strategy of Lord Caitanya
Following in the footsteps of Lord Caitanya and His associates, such as Nityānanda Prabhu, the movement utilizes prasādam distribution as a primary preaching instrument. Śrīla Prabhupāda notes that while dry philosophy may not appeal to everyone, the combination of melodious kīrtana and palatable food successfully softens the heart and attracts the public to the devotional service of the Lord.
- On principle, Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu would distribute prasadam at the end of kirtana performances. Similarly, the members of the Krsna consciousness movement must distribute some prasadam to the audience after performing kirtana.
- Kirtana and prasada distribution. This is our preaching mainly. And if they hear little philosophy, that is very good. Otherwise simply kirtana and prasada distribution is sufficient. Caitanya used to do that. He was not speaking philosophy to everyone.
- Whatever the Spiritual Master gives in His own hand, it should be accepted immediately as His grace. In the beginning in New York I was cooking myself and was distributing at least one or two capatis to all my disciples.
- Simply by eating. Because you are so dull, you cannot understand the philosophy. You know the belly like the animals. So therefore we are giving facility, "All right, fill up your belly, fill up your belly. And you'll be infected".
Conclusion
The dual program of chanting the Holy Names and distributing prasādam is the heart of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement and the specific yajña ordained for this age. Śrīla Prabhupāda established this method not only as a cultural tradition but as a potent spiritual technology that purifies the senses and awakens the dormant love for God in the hearts of the masses. By liberally distributing the mercy of the Lord in the form of food and sound vibration, devotees perform the highest welfare work, offering true spiritual nourishment to a starving world.
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 Prasadam Distribution. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.