Dear Prabhujis and Mathajis,

Hare Krishna! Please accept my humble obeisances! All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Gurudev!

Whenever Maharajas or Sadhus visit our place the whole atmosphere is surcharged with spirituality. Normally after offering prasada to such mahatmas it is a common scene among devotees to run for mahaprasadam. Everyone tries to grab the plate and swallow the entire blessings. While we may do this, often there is a tendency to get too superficial about the whole concept of Mahaprasadam and eat it without understanding the real power of Mahaprasadam.

In SB 1.5.25 Srila Naradji says,

ucchishta-lepan anumodito dvijaih
sakrt sma bhunje tad-apaasta-kilbishah
evam pravrttasya vishuddha-cetasas
tad-dharma evaatma-rucih prajaayate

"Once only, by their permission, I took the remnants of their food, and by so doing all my sins were at once eradicated. Thus being engaged, I became purified in heart, and at that time the very nature of the transcendentalist became attractive to me."

From this we have to understand, it is not that the remnants of the food alone that turns one to the position of a great devotee. The bhaktivedantas are pure devotees. As a boy Naradji was infected with their qualities of purity by associating with them. He was already self-controlled and had no attachment for sports even though it is common for the boys of his age. Also he was not naughty and did not speak more than what is required. These are the qualities of sadhus. More than grabbing the mahaprasadam one has to grab the transcendental quality of the pure devotee which is the attraction for the Personality of Godhead's name, fame, qualities, pastimes, etc. Infection of the qualities of the pure devotee means to imbibe the taste of pure devotion always in the transcendental activities of the Personality of Godhead. Such a taste at once makes all material things distasteful. That is detachment. Once detachment from material activities and attachment to devotional activity comes, then even a grain of mahaprasadam taken one time also eradicates all the sins. That is the miraculous power of mahaprasadam. Although Naradji took the remnants by permission only, Srila Prabhupada writes such remnants may be taken even without permission of the pure devotees. Along with consuming mahaprasadam one has to imbibe the purity in the devotee.

Let us pray to the Supreme Lord and pure devotees like Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva to bestow their great mercy upon us so that we can perform sincere devotion unto their lotus feet.

Thank you very much.
Yours in the service of Srila Prabhupada and Gurudev,
Poorna prajna das
Abudhabi.