Offering Food to God Before Eating

। । जय श्री हरि । ।

ब्रह्मार्पणं ब्रह्म हविर्ब्रह्माग्नौ ब्रह्मणा हुतम् |
ब्रह्मैव तेन गन्तव्यं ब्रह्मकर्मसमाधिना || 4.24||
brahmārpaṇaṁ brahma havir brahmāgnau brahmaṇā hutam
brahmaiva tena gantavyaṁ brahma-karma-samādhinā

“The ladle and other offerings is Brahaman; the oblation is Brahaman; the sacrificial fire is Brahaman; by that person is offered is Brahaman; the process of offering is Brahaman, Certainly by that what is to be attained is Brahaman and by offering of karma one completely absorbed in Brahaman Consciousness.” : Shri Mad Bhagwat Geeta 4.24

Good Morning Friends ! Have you taken today’s Meal ? Yes ? Good…What’s your general tendency before taking it ? (Pet me Choohe dod rahe hai aur bhojan aaya aur gatagat !! ),(Feel so hungry and can’t wait more, the food came and just swallowed it …). ..Hmmm…Just wait…., for a moment, See it, See it Mindfully and Pray to Lord, Thanks Him for this. Now you ask Why ? and How?. Let’s try to find the rocket Science and reverence behind that…..

  Most of us follow the practice of offering food to God before eating it, it’s called  ‘Naivedya’. Many of us follow the tradition without knowing the reason behind it. Others follow it as a practice taught to us by our elders. But do you the basic reason behind this ?
Hindus offer food to God during puja or worship. It’s called prasaad of God’s Gift. It’s bascially a rite of purification and liberation. But in reality this act free us from our Selfish Ego.

Why should we offer food to GOD ?

• Gratitude Towards Divine

We offer food to God to express our gratitude toward him and it’s just repay of our debt to God. You can also do it silently and with reverence. The attitude is more important than the act.  In Bhagwat Geeta Lord also says, “The spiritually-minded, who eat food that is first offered in sacrifice, are released from all kinds of sin. Others, who cook food for their own enjoyment, verily eat only sin. “

यज्ञशिष्टाशिन: सन्तो मुच्यन्ते सर्वकिल्बिषै: |
भुञ्जते ते त्वघं पापा ये पचन्त्यात्मकारणात् || 3.13||

Therefore one should always feed others or offered to Lord before eating it.

• Remove Negative Energy:

The food when it is prepared sometimes catches all negative energy around it. The emotions of the cook can come in the food and ultimate transfer to the people who consume it. So to remove such impurities also food is first offered to the God. Like when something is offered in the Fire it becomes pure, the same way the negative emotions are burnt in the oblation of offerings.

• Become More Mindful :

We always saw how  mindfully our saints partake their meals just enjoying each morsel, like the nectar of divine. This is the reason behind that they eat it is as Maha Parasadam. When you eat food slowly and consciously you find wholesome taste in each bite, makes you more mindful and peaceful and helps you to enjoy your meal.

• Food is Life:

The food we consume is ultimate our life energy called prana. Until it’s in the plate it is just food but as soon as we eat it, it converted into sapt dhatu ( Rakta-Blood, Rasa-Saliva, Mamsa-Flesh, Meda-Fat, Majja-Marrow, Asthi-Bones, Shukra-Creative Fluid). So it should be taken more peacefully and with full enjoy. When the same food is offered to Lord First, it gets more energy into it you can say spiritual energy  which helps the process of conversion it into Life force more efficiently.

Tips for how to Eat Right

Which Mantra to chant while offering:

When the Plate of food is ready to take and is full ready in front of you to eat. Just before eating sit relax and remember the Lord or Any Diety you wish to call. Offer him/her mentally and ask his/her permission to take the residue. You can chant the following mantra silently  if you wish,

हर्रि दाता हर्रि भोक्ता हर्रि अन्नं प्रजापति |
हर्रि: सर्व शरीरस्थो भोक्ते भुज्यते हरी: ||
Harir Data Harir Bhokta Harirannam Prajapati |
Harir Sarva Sarirastu Bhunkte Bhojayate Hari ||

ॐ प्रणाय स्वाह: Om Praanaaya Swaha
ॐ अपानाय स्वाह: Om Apaanaaya Swaha
ॐ व्यानाय स्वाह: Om Vyaanaaya Swaahaa
ॐ उदानाय स्वाह: Om Udaanaaya Swaha
ॐ समानाय स्वाह: Om Samaanaaya Swaha

(Shri Hari, the lord of all beings, is the giver, the enjoyer and the food itself. The body of Everyone is SHRI HARI. Shri Hari is the one who eats and also the one who feeds.)

Hope you like this article. I will appreciate all of your comments regarding how you offer Food to Lord

Picture Credit:https://in.pinterest.com/ 

Jai Shri Hari