VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING KRISHNA PRASADAM.ALL MUST READ THIS AND TRY TO FOLLOW THIS.

COOKING BHOGA

We have to understand that Krishna is the only enjoyer. The consciousness of this is developed in a Krishna Conscious temple, where the central point of all activities is Krishna. All cooking is carried out for Krishna, not for one's own purposes. Ultimately we shall eat the prasadam, but when we cook we should think that we are cooking for Krishna and not for ourselves. When you cook, if you think, "Oh, this nice thing is being cooked. I shall eat it very nicely," then it is not Krishna. But while cooking, if you think, "Let me do it very nicely so that Krishna will taste it," it is Krishna consciousness. 

- [Lecture: SB 1.5.13, New Vrindaban, 13/06/69]

Ingredients:

The purpose of food is to increase the duration of life, purify the mind and aid bodily strength. This is its only purpose. In the past, great authorities selected those foods that best aid health and increase life's duration, such as milk products, sugar, rice, wheat, fruits and vegetables. These foods are very dear to those in the mode of goodness. Some other foods, such as baked corn and molasses, while not very palatable in themselves, can be made pleasant when mixed with milk or other foods. They are then in the mode of goodness. All these foods are pure by nature. They are quite distinct from untouchable things like meat and liquor. 

- [BG 17.8 – 10 Purport]

Krishna is offered foodstuff in goodness. The foodstuffs in the modes of goodness are wheat, rice, pulse (beans, peas), sugar, honey, butter and all milk preparations, vegetables, flowers, fruits, grains. So these foods can be offered in any shape, but prepared in various ways by the intelligence of the devotees. The ingredients are always the same as above, whether you fry them, boil them, bake them, powder them, or whatever way they are combined or cooked, the idea is that they must come from this group of foodstuffs. So you can make your own recipe if you like, so long as the ingredients are within this group. This foods group is stated by Krishna in the Bhagavad-gita, and we follow accordingly. 

- [Letter to: Kris, Los Angeles, 13/11/68]

Forbidden Foods:

Ice cream purchased from the market may not be offered. Because such ice cream may contains undesirable things, which we should not offer. We must offer Krishna only first class prepared foodstuff, especially made at home. We shall try to avoid as far as possible goods purchased from the market and offer to Krishna. 

- [Letter to: Syama Dasi, Seattle, 21/10/68]

Cocoa and chocolate are not to be taken as they are intoxicants. 

- [Letter to: Surasrestha, Los Angeles, 14/06/72]

Because mushrooms grow in a filthy place, they are not usually offered to Krishna. 

- [Letter to: Himavati, Delhi, 17/11/71] 

Mushrooms are generally not offered, but there is no prohibition, there is no harm in them. 

- [Letter to: Harer Nama, LA, 12/01/68] 

It is not very good to use yeast in preparing prasadam. It is better to prepare bread in the process as you have seen done in the temple. 

- [Letter to: Vibhavati, LA, 15/07/69]

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Brown rice generally is doubly boiled; therefore it cannot be used for Krishna prasadam. Unpolished rice, which looks like brown can be used. Generally in America the brown rice is doubly boiled therefore unfit. We do not mind polished or unpolished but doubly boiled mustn't be used. Doubly boiled rice is considered impure. Sun baked rice is all right. 

- [Letter to: Mahapurusa, Calcutta, 17/10/67] 

Use brown or unrefined sugar if you can find it. 

- [Letter to: Pradyumna, Calcutta, 17/10/67]

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Yogurt can be prepared in the temple, it is not very difficult. Boil the milk at night, put a little yogurt in it, and next morning you will find it full of yogurt. 

- [Letter to: Harer Nama, LA, 11/02/70]

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As far as possible we should not offer to the Deity things which are prepared by non-devotees. We can accept from them raw fruits, grains or similar raw things. So far cooking and preparing, that should be strictly limited to the initiated devotees. And aside from this, vinegar is not good; it is tamasic, in the darkness, nasty food. So I think we shall not accept this pickles. 

- [Letter to: Kirtanananda, Hawaii, 24/03/69]

Purchasing Bhoga:

Just like we are buying so many things at the market, which are not fit for offering to Krishna, but because we are purchasing them, we can offer. 

- [Letter to: Jadurani, LA, 15/02/68] 

Regarding purchasing things in the market, these items are considered as purified when we pay the price for them. That is the general instruction. [Drabyamulyena Suddhati] But when we know something is adulterated, we should avoid it. But unknowingly if something is purchased, that is not our fault. Things, which are suspicious, however, should be avoided. 

- [Letter to: Krishna Dasa, Boston, 25 /12/69]

Kitchen Rules:

The kitchen department should be very clean and things should not be wasted. This is the first consideration. 

- [Letter to Akshayananda, Nellore, 01/06/76] 

One cannot eat food from the kitchen unless it is offered to the Deity. If something is taken before being offered to the Deity, the entire preparation is polluted and can no longer be offered. Those engaged in Deity worship must know this very well so that they may be saved from committing offenses in Deity worship. 

- [SB 9.6.8 Purport]

1) One should never eat within the kitchen; there is ample place to eat so why should one eat in the kitchen? 

2) Kitchen should be considered as good as the Lord's room; and nobody should wear shoes in the kitchen; 

3) smelling and tasting of foods being prepared for the Lord should never be done; 

4) talking within the kitchen should be only what is necessary for preparing the prasadam, or about the Lord; and 

5) dirty dishes (those taken from kitchen and eaten from) should not be brought back into the kitchen (but if there is no other place to wash them, then they should be put into sink and washed immediately); hands should always be washed when preparing prasadam, and in this way, everything shall be prepared very cleanly and pure. 

- [Letter to: Aniruddha, Montreal, 16/06/68]

In the kitchen also, things should be kept spotless and cooking should only be done by brahmanas; others may assist. 

- [Letter to: Lakshmi Narayana, LA, 07/08/71] 

Any initiated girl can take part in preparation of prasadam, and even a boy who is not initiated cannot take part. 

- [Letter to: Balai, Los Angeles, 25/01/68] 

The dishwashing occupation is open to anyone who wishes to help. There is no restriction. Also, non-initiates may help in cooking prasadam under the direction of devotees. That is all right.

- [Letter to: Jadurani, San Francisco, 16/03/68]

Cleanliness:

The kitchen should be very neat and clean, washed twice daily, and smeared with water and gobar. 

- [Room Conversation, Melbourne, 22/04/76] 

Everything should be prepared very carefully and cleanly within the groups of foods listed. And nothing should ever be eaten before offering to the Lord. Best thing is to prepare separately each preparation. 

- [Letter to: Aniruddha, Montreal, 16/06/68]

If, in the cooking process, food falls on the floor, if it is raw and can be washed nicely, then it can be offered. But if it is prepared and cannot be washed, then it is not to be offered, but can be eaten rather than be wasted.

- [Letter to: Jadurani, LA, 15/02/68]

Food, which has been offered, should never be put back into the refrigerator with the unoffered foods, or brought back into the kitchen. 

You should prepare, as much as can be consumed, and after offering, nothing should be put back in the refrigerator, or kitchen. 

Refrigerator should always be very cleansed and pure. Everyone should be careful to make only as much as they can eat; they cannot keep any leftovers in refrigerator. 

I know this is a practice in your country, but in the temples or at homes of any Krishna Consciousness persons, a person should not indulge in such unclean habits. If there is any food extra, that should be kept separately; and if there is a separate refrigerator, not within the kitchen and not having in it any unoffered foods, then you may have such special refrigerator for leftover prasadam. But it cannot be kept within the same refrigerator as the unoffered, unprepared foods. That cannot be. 

- [Letter to: Aniruddha, Montreal, 16/06/68]

Jai Srila Prabhupada !

VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING KRISHNA PRASADAM