Pariprashnena — Q&A Archive

...it sounds bogus, I have never heard it, whats the point , " yahoo ! I get to suffer like a dog for 699 more life times, as who knows what " because I had a ladu at the sunday feast once.

I havent found this in Vedabase. But here is a reply:

http://www.veda.harekrsna.cz/bhaktiyoga/bhaktiyoga-5.htm#8

It is not about taking prasadam, it is about consciousness, appreciation of prasadam. To appreciate, one needs knowledge and regulation of attachments. Until understanding of -prasadam being non different from Krsna- is developed, exclusive attachment developed and appreciation manifested, birth and death goes on. Its 7 or 700 or 7 millions or 7 whatever.... But when one understands Krsna, and appeciates prasadam, then one lifetime. See quotes below.

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Male devotee: Srila Prabhupada, if someone takes prasadam even once, is it true that theyre guaranteed at least a human body in their next life?

Prabhupada: Yes. You go on simply eating, thats all. (laughter) And all of my devotees, they have come to me simply by eating prasada. You are also? (laughter) So we give all facilities. If you cannot do anything, please come and eat with us. All right, thank you very much. (end)

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Bhagavad-gita 13.4 -- Miami, February 27, 1975

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Bali-mardana: I believe Ive heard you said in other lectures that a person who takes prasadam, even a plant or a..., any kind of living entity who takes prasadam or hears the name, that it will come back at least to human form of life. Is that correct?

Prabhupada: No, if hes devotee, then hell come. But this taking of prasadam, or hearing Hare Krsna mantra is advancement for becoming a devotee. But if he takes prasadam not as ordinary prasadam, foodstuff, he believes that "This is remnants of foodstuffs given to God," if he understands this philosophy, then guaranteed. If he takes the prasadam as ordinary food, "All right, these people are distributing, prasa... Let me take it. It is very tasteful," that will give him chance to accept prasadam next, next, next... In this way, one day hell come to the point that "This prasadam is not ordinary foodstuff." Then hell... There is guarantee. Because only the devotee can appreciate that "This prasadam is not ordinary foodstuff. It is Krsnas remnant of..." Therefore, he understands Krsna. That is said in the Bhagavad-gita, janma-karma ca me divyam yo janati tattvatah [Bg. 4.9]. In truth, when he understands, then his life is guaranteed. Why guaranteed? He goes back to home next life. Tyaktva deham punar janma naiti [Bg. 4.9]. If you simply can understand what is Krsna and what is your relationship with Krsna, that is sufficient to take you back to home, back to Godhead. That is sufficient. It is so nice.

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.16.23 -- Hawaii, January 19, 1974

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Chant, dance, take prasadam, live very happily, and look very brilliant, and next life go to home, back to Godhead.

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.1.50 -- Detroit, August 3, 1975

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In the Irdhvamnaya-tantra, Lord Siva declares to Parvati:

O supreme goddess, the prasadam of Lord Gauranga Mahaprabhu purifies all the living entities and cannot be attained by the sinful people.

(2) aham brahma tvam isani, devas ca pitaras tatha;
munayo rishayah sarve, prasada-yacaka dhruvam.

;I, Brahma, you, O goddess, the demigods, the forefathers, the munis and sages (rishis), all desperately beg for that prasadam.

(3) gaura-niveditannena, yashtavyah sarvada vayam;
pavitram gaura-nirmalyam, grahyam deyam janaih sada.

;All of us eternally worship the foodstuffs offered to Lord Gaura. Lord Gaura’s remanants are supremely pure and should always be distributed and accepted by everyone.

(4) jaty-abhimana-mohandha-vidyahankara-piditah;
dushkriti-dushitah sattvah, prasade rati-varjitah.

;They who are blinded by the pride and illusion of birth in a high family, they who are tortured by the pride of knowledge, and they who are contaminated in consciousness due to sinful activities are not attracted to this prasadam.

(5) aham tan raurave devi, nikshipya yatana-maye;
dandam dadami satyam te, vadami natra samsayah.
;O goddess, I cast them into a hell filled with great tortures. In this way I will severly punish them. I tell you the truth. Of this there is no doubt.

(6) yatra tatra navadvipe, yad annam tan-niveditam;
tad grahyam brahmana sakshac, candalad api candike.

O goddess Candika, if a brahmana is offered Gaura-prasadam anywhere in Navadvipa, he should accept it even if it is given by a candala (dog-eater).

(7) sushkam paryushitam vapi, nitam va bahu-duratah;
prapti-matrena bhoktavyam, natra kala-vicarana.

Whether dried up, stale, or brought from very far away, this prasadam should be eaten immediately when it is received. There is no consideration of whether it is the proper time or not.

(8) na desa-niyamas tatra, na patra-niyamas tatha;
na datri-niyamo devi, gaura-bhukta-nishevane.

“O goddess, in honouring the food enjoyed by Lord Gaura, there are no rules and restrictions of what is proper place and time, who is the proper recepient, or who is the proper giver.

(9) a-kantha-bhojanad devi, gaure bhaktih prajayate;
na cati-dharma-vadho ’sti, gaura-bhukta-nishevane.

“O goddess, by eating this prasadam until one is filled upto the neck, devotion of for Gaura is born. Overeating Gaura-prasadam is not against any religious principles.”