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Jagadananda wait!

Wed, 26 Dec 2007 20:47:15 GMT

Have patience. The ecstacy we feel in the spiritual world is actually greater than the most ecstatic feelings we cultivate here. We are on the path, don't worry. Hang in there. Krishna is not finished with us yet. It only takes a little while.

posted in Krishna Food - 0 replies

Jagadananda Pandita Cooks for Mahaprabhu

Thu, 20 Dec 2007 20:34:59 GMT

"Three days later, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu went to the door of his room and said, "My dear Jagadananda Pandita, please get up.

"I want you personally to cook My lunch today. I am going now to see the Lord in the temple. I shall return at noon."

After Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said this and left, Jagadananda Pandita got up from his bed, bathed, and began to cook varieties of vegetables.

After finishing His noontime ritualistic duties, the Lord arrived for lunch. Jagadananda Pandita washed the Lord's feet and gave the Lord a sitting place.

He had cooked fine rice, mixed it with ghee and piled it high on a banana leaf. There were also varieties of vegetables, placed all around in pots made of banana tree bark.

On the rice and vegetables were tulasi flowers, and in front of the Lord were cakes, sweet rice and other prasada of Jagannatha.

The Lord said, "Spread another leaf with a helping of rice and vegetables so that today you and I may take lunch together."

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu kept His hands raised and would not accept the prasada until Jagadananda Pandita, with great affection and love, spoke the following words.

"Please first take prasada Yourself, and I shall eat later. I shall not refuse Your request."

In great happiness, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu then accepted the lunch. When He had tasted the vegetables, He again began to speak.

"Even when you cook in an angry mood," He said, "the food is very tasteful. This shows how pleased Krsna is with you.

"Because He will personally eat the food, Krsna makes you cook so nicely.

"You offer such nectarean rice to Krsna. Who can estimate the limit of your fortune?"

Jagadananda Pandita replied, "He who will eat has cooked this. As far as I am concerned, I simply collect the ingredients."

Jagadananda Pandita continued to offer the Lord varieties of vegetables. Out of fear, the Lord said nothing, but continued eating happily.

Jagadananda Pandita eagerly forced the Lord to eat so much that He ate ten times more than on other days.

Again and again when the Lord wished to get up, Jagadananda Pandita would feed Him more vegetables.

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu dared not forbid him to feed Him more. He just continued eating, fearful that Jagadananda would fast if He stopped.

At last the Lord respectfully submitted, "My dear Jagadananda, you have already made Me eat ten times more than I am used to. Now, please stop."

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu stood up and washed His hands and mouth, while Jagadananda Pandita brought spices, a garland, and sandalwood pulp.

Accepting the sandalwood pulp and garland, the Lord sat down and said, "Now, in front of Me, you must eat."

Jagadananda replied, "My Lord, You go take rest. I shall take prasada after I finish making some arrangements.

"Ramai Pandita and Raghunatha Bhatta did the cooking, and I want to give them some rice and vegetables."

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu then told Govinda, "You remain here. When the Pandita has taken his food, come inform Me.

After Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu had said this and left, Jagadananda Pandita spoke to Govinda.

"Go quickly and massage the Lord's feet," he said. "You may tell Him, 'The Pandita has just sat down to take his meal.'

"I shall keep some remnants of the Lord's food for you. When He is asleep, come and take your portion."

Jagadananda Pandita thus distributed remnants of the Lord's food to Ramai, Nandai, Govinda and Raghunatha Bhatta.

He also personally ate the remnants of food left by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Then the Lord again sent Govinda.

The Lord told him, "Go see whether Jagadananda Pandita is eating. Then quickly return and let Me know."

Seeing that Jagadananda Pandita was indeed eating, Govinda informed the Lord, who then became peaceful and went to sleep.

The affectionate loving exchanges between Jagadananda Pandita and Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu continued in this manner, exactly like the exchanges between Satyabhama and Lord Krsna related in Srimad-Bhagavatam.

Who can estimate the limit of Jagadananda Pandita's fortune? He himself is the example of his own great fortune.

Anyone who hears about the loving exchanges between Jagadananda Pandita and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, or who reads Jagadananda's book Prema-vivarta, can understand what love is. Moreover, he achieves ecstatic love of Krsna.

PURPORT: The word vivarta means accepting something to be the opposite of what it appears. Here, Jagadananda Pandita appeared very angry, but this anger was a manifestation of his great love for Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Prema-vivarta is also the name of a book written by Jagadananda Pandita. Therefore the author of Caitanya-caritamrta, Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami, uses the words prema-vivarta to refer to one who reads the book or hears about Jagadananda Pandita's relationships with Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. In either case, such a person very soon achieves love of Krsna."

Caitanya-caritamrta, Antya lila 12:121-154
Bhaktivedanta Book Trust. HDG A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada.

posted in Krishna Food - 2 replies

Great prasadam site!

Sat, 01 Dec 2007 00:33:03 GMT

Two nights ago i prepared this recipe of Spinach paneer. The recipe i had found on the wonderful ISCKON prasadam site:
http://www.harekrsna.com/practice/prasadam/recipes/savouries9.htm

Chopped Spinach with Panir (Palak Panir Sak)

Serves 5 or 6

1-2 hot green chilies, diced
½ inch piece of fresh ginger root, diced
4 tablespoons whey or water
½ tablespoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon turmeric
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon garam masala
½ teaspoon paprika
4 tablespoons ghee or oil
fresh panir cheese made from 6 cups milk, cut into ½ inch cubes
2 pounds fresh spinach or two 10-ounce packs frozen spinach, defrosted
1 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons cream or cream cheese cut into small pieces

1. Heat the ghee or oil in a pan over a moderate heat until it is hot but not
smoking.

2. Add the ginger and chilies and fry for a minute until the ginger browns slightly.

3. Add the spicing and fry for one minute and then add the spinach. Cook for 8
minutes, add the panir and cream or cream cheese and cook for another 5 minutes.

posted in Krishna Food - 3 replies

Mud Ladhus from the Ganga

Sun, 05 Aug 2007 14:56:23 GMT

Mother Jahnava could make laddhus out of ganges mud she was such a good cook. Sometimes, when the part of her sari that was covering her head started to fall while she was cooking she would manifest an extra set of hands to place it back up.

posted in Krishna Food - 0 replies

Chocolate Cheesecake

cintamani — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 23:58:00 GMT

Who has a recipe for vegan cheesecake, one you've tried please that has plenty of cream cheese....???
Also, I like to put chocolate on the cheesecake. can we offer chocolate?

posted in Krishna Food - 3 replies

Offering our food to Lord Krishna

Mon, 23 Jul 2007 12:34:51 GMT

One member pm'd me about what to offer to Krishna, some good recipes to encourage him and how to do it. He is waiting for some RECIPES instead of all this philosophy. So I told him I would say something over here.
We have to eat something. Just to live. Human beings are advanced more than the animals, so once we understand that Krishna is the Supreme we also learn as devotees to offer our foodstuffs to Him in order to make spiritual advancement, become free from karma, please Lord Krishna, etc.
Here's how to do it. Buy a brand new plate, cup and spoon and set them aside for your altar. Place up a copy of one of Srila Prabhupada's books on a shelf for an altar. When you cook for Krishna, don't eat the food until it is off the altar. First take some hot fresh rice and put it on the plate, along with some water or a cool drink, some vegetable prep, some dahl soup, a sweet, whatever you have cooked. Bring these in front of your altar, which could also be a picture of Srila Prabhupada and Krishna and Radharani or Lord Caitanya and Nityananda, etc.
Say the mantras for Srila Prabhupada three times, the Hare Krishna mantra three times, there is another special mantra or two that can be learned later. The plate should be pretty full, enough for a hungry cowherd boy, and you should wait enough time to give Lord Krishna time to eat. When chanting the mantras pray that Lord Krishna and Radharani accept the offering on behalf of your guru who always feeds Krishna four kinds of delicious foodstuffs?
Then when you are ready come up to the altar and pray that you can take the plate away and do it. Transfer the prasadam to another clean container of sometimes back into the pot and wash and dry the Deity Plate and paraphernalia, clean the altar, etc.
Then take the remnants as Krishna's mercy. Invite guests if possible

posted in Krishna Food - 2 replies

Rice

Mon, 23 Jul 2007 12:42:55 GMT

We probably all can make fresh rice to offer to Krishna. It takes a little endeavor but is well worth the result. Krishna likes fresh rice so try to time it so that it is ready just before your offering, not an hour ahead of time.
Start out by sorting the dry rice looking for stones, things that should not be there and so on. Wash the rice three times. Place in a pot with double the amount of water and some salt and bring to a boil. Stir one more time and lower to a simmer and cover and let cook for twenty minutes or so. Lid may have to be opened at the end to let the steam out, sometimes more water needs to be added. After time and experience it becomes easy to make.
Add butter at the end or some devotees like to add half of the recommended amount of butter in the beginning and half at the end. Keep everything clean while cooking and pray that Krishna accepts the offering to Mother Jasoda or Srimati Radharani while preparing? Use your clean utensils to place the rice on your Deity plate to offer the rice to the Deities.
Offer to Krishna with heartfelt prayers that he please accept the offering on behalf of your spiritual master and if you don't have one then Sriila Prabhupada.

posted in Krishna Food - 1 reply

Jagadananda Pundit (the real one)

Fri, 13 Jul 2007 23:58:56 GMT

Sri Jagadänanda Pandita was Sriman Mahäprabhu’s intimate
devotee and a singer in His kirtana. He knew no one other than
Sriman Mahäprabhu. In Krsna’s pastimes he was Sri Krsna’s
principal queen, Satyabhämä-devi.1 He used to serve Sriman
Mahäprabhu in Puri-dhäma.
Once Panditaji went to Bengal and collected from Sivänanda
Sena a cooling oil made from fragrant sandalwood paste and
other ingredients. He filled a pot with the oil, brought it to Puridhäma
and gave it to Mahäprabhu’s servant, Govinda, saying,
“Apply a little of this oil to the Lord’s head to minimise the
excess of bile and air in His body.” Sriman Mahäprabhu, however,
forbade anyone to use the oil on Him. He told Govinda, “With
great effort Jagadänanda has brought this oil from Bengal. Give
it to the Jagannätha Temple for the Lord’s servants to use in the
oil-lamps. I’m a sannyäsi and cannot accept it.” When Govinda
again told Mahäprabhu that Jagadänanda had requested Him to
use the oil, Mahäprabhu became angry. He retorted, “Why only
oil? Why not also arrange for a masseur to massage Me daily
with that oil! Did I accept the renounced order for these
pleasures? You have nothing to lose if I use that oil, but I will be
ruined and all would laugh. I will be labelled a däri-sannyäsi, a
tantric renunciant who keeps women.”
Jagadänanda was most upset, and the next day he went to see
Sriman Mahäprabhu. He took the pot of oil and smashed it to
the ground before the Lord. Oil spread everywhere. Then he
returned to his residence, bolted the door and refused to eat or
drink for three days. All he did was weep.
Although Mahäprabhu was by nature extremely grave, He
was unable to remain calm upon seeing Jagadänanda’s reaction.
On the morning of the fourth day He went to Jagadänanda’s
residence and said, “I’m now on My way to take bath in the
ocean, but I’m very hungry. Cook something quickly and I will
come back soon.” Forgetting all pride, Sri Jagadänanda took
bath and absorbed himself in cooking. He finished in no time
and when Mahäprabhu returned Jagadänanda offered Him a
beautiful sitting place and mahä-prasäda. Mahäprabhu said,
“Today we shall honour mahä-prasäda together,” and silently
took His seat. But Jagadänanda turned his face away from
Mahäprabhu. “First You should take prasäda,” he said, “and
then I will take.” “Alright,” the Lord said, “but you must prove
true to your word.”
“My word will never be proven untrue,” Jagadänanda responded.
“I could never transgress Your order.” The Lord
honoured prasäda to His complete satisfaction and told
Govinda, “Inform Me when Jagadänanda has honoured
prasäda.”
Jagadänanda never approved of the Lord’s austere
renunciation. When Mahäprabhu took rest He would lie on the
ground on His outer garment. One day Jagadänanda brought a
saffron-coloured cloth, filled it with soft cotton and laid it where
Mahäprabhu usually took rest. “Who has made this bedding?”
the Lord asked.
When Govinda told Him it was Jagadänanda the Lord said
nothing further, but threw the bedding outside, saying, “Bring a
comfortable bed as well. You all want to engage Me in sense
gratification, but as a sannyäsi, it is proper for Me to stay far
away from sense enjoyment.”
But Svarüpa Dämodara supported Jagadänanda and devised
another plan to give the Lord some bedding. He tore some bark
of a plantain tree into fine fibers and filled an old outer cloth
with it. After much coaxing by the devotees Mahäprabhu
accepted the bedding.
Everyone was satisfied that the Lord had accepted it – all
except Jagadänanda, who was angry inwardly, but appeared
happy. Previously Mahäprabhu had rejected Jagadänanda’s
request to go to Vrndävana. Now, concealing his anger and
unhappiness, Jagadänanda again asked for permission to go.
The Lord answered, “You’re going to Vrndävana because
you’re angry with Me; therefore, you will merely become a
beggar and see faults in Me.” Jagadänanda repeatedly insisted
on receiving Mahäprabhu’s permission and finally He gave it.
In Vrndävana Jagadänanda stayed with Sri Sanätana Gosvämi.
One day while Jagadänanda was cooking kichri, Sanätana
Gosvämi entered the room wearing a red cloth tied around his
head. Jagadänanda Pandita thought that this cloth must have
been Sriman Mahäprabhu’s remnants, so he asked Sanätana
Gosvämi, “From where did you get this cloth? Did the Lord give
it to you?” Sanätana Gosvämi answered, “Mukunda Sarasvati
gave it to me.” Upon hearing that the cloth had come from an
advaitavädi sannyäsi Jagadänanda burned with anger and
losing all control, he raised a cooking pot to beat Sanätana
Gosvämi. Sanätana Gosvämi became somewhat ashamed so
Jagadänanda put down the pot and said, “You are one of
Mahäprabhu’s chief associates and very dear to Him, yet you
wear the cloth of another sannyäsi, a renunciant of the
impersonalistic school, on your head! I cannot tolerate this.”
When the exalted Vaisnava, Sanätana Gosvämi, who was both
wise and tolerant, witnessed Jagadänanda’s firm faith in
Mahäprabhu, he became extremely pleased and told him, “Your
fortune is unlimited.”
Once, at the time of Ratha-yäträ, Sri Sanätana Gosvämi
journeyed to Jagannätha Puri to take darsana of Sriman
Mahäprabhu. As he travelled through the deep Jhärikhanda
forest, mosquitoes bit him and he drank water from rivers and
canals. Consequently pussy boils developed all over his body.
Despite this, Mahäprabhu still lovingly embraced him. This
saddened Sanätana Gosvämi, who forbade Mahäprabhu to
embrace him as long as his body was in such a condition.
Mahäprabhu, however, did not obey him. Distressed, Sanätana
Gosvämi asked Sri Jagadänanda what he should do.
Panditaji replied, “It appears that it is not proper for you to
stay here. It would be auspicious for you to return to Vrndävana
after the Ratha-yäträ.” Somehow or other Mahäprabhu found
out about this conversation. Displeased, He told Sanätana, “Jagä
is a new student, but he has become so proud that he has even
begun to instruct you, who are My instructor and like My
spiritual master.”
Sanätana responded, “Today I can understand how dear
Jagadänanda is to You. You make him drink the nectar of Your
loving quarrels with him, whereas on the pretext of giving me
honour You make me drink bitter neem juice. This is my
misfortune.”
Sriman Mahäprabhu became somewhat embarrassed, and to
satisfy Sanätana Gosvämi He said, “Don’t think Jagadänanda is
more dear to Me than you are, but I’m unable to tolerate the
transgression of rules and regulations of etiquette. You are an
authority on the scriptures and Jagä is a young boy. The bodies
of Vaisnavas are never material. To test Me, Sri Krsna has made
your body erupt with these sores. If I didn’t embrace your body,
I would be committing an offence to a Vaisnava. To Me your
body is more fragrant than sandalwood paste from the Malayana
mountains.”
There is no reference to the exact location of the residences
of Sri Svarüpa Dämodara and Jagadänanda, but it is known that
they were close to the residence of Sriman Mahäprabhu.

posted in Krishna Food - 13 replies

I need a nice chapati!

Fri, 13 Jul 2007 23:06:13 GMT

Nice and thin, fresh and buttered, with the little black burn marks of love, offered to Krishna. It has been so long! Am I qualified to offer some to my Deities? How else will I get some?
But what about Krishna? Think about how long it has been since He has had any at my home. I should feel ashamed, and I am.
No, I don't deserve any chapatis. Maybe just some leftover thick dry ones that are stale by material standards or too salty or something. If only I were pure.

posted in Krishna Food - 9 replies

baby cigars

Thu, 05 Jul 2007 18:17:38 GMT

what is the recipe for baby cigars that devotees pass out when they have a baby, the kind that are actually sweets?

posted in Krishna Food - 7 replies

Who should we pray to, Mother Jasoda or Srimati Radharani?

Fri, 13 Jul 2007 23:12:25 GMT

Some devotees have told me that when we cook for Lord Krishna we should pray to Mother Jasoda since she is Krishna's mother and cooks for him every day. She makes some of His favorite items that she packs in his lunch and so He likes her cooking. Other devotees say that Radharani also gets invited to cook for the Lord since she got a benediction that whatever she cooks will be like nectar and she never cooks the same thing twice. She goes to Krishna's house with her girlfriends and cooks for him every day so we should pray to her.
Some devotees say pray to both.
Which one is it? I am so confused, should we pray to Radharani or to Mother Jasoda or to both? If we pray to both should we pray to Mother Jasoda for our standard preparations that we cook often and to Radharani for something new we are cooking? I can't figure out who to pray to if someone tells me to pray to both. I need some advice!

posted in Krishna Food - 7 replies

Conversation with Srila Prabhupada

Fri, 13 Jul 2007 22:34:18 GMT

Bhagavan: Zucchini?
Hari-sauri: This is zucchini? This?
Bhagavan: Yes. We should show Prabhupada each thing that we're doing. (break)
Devotee (1): These are flowers which decorate the vases, they are very tall. They put in the vases every day on the altar, Krsna, and this morning, taking garlands made out of this, smells very nice. Also the carnation. It was the one I gave you yesterday on your walk. It has a very nice scent.
Prabhupada: No, you have got this cucumber?
Devotee (1): Yes, there is cucumber.
Prabhupada: So if fresh, why not eat?
Hari-sauri: We have fresh cucumber every day.
Prabhupada: But when I take it does not appear to be fresh.
Devotee (1): These are bulk cucumbers.
Devotee (2): This is fresh cucumber from the garden.
Prabhupada: Yes.
Devotee (2): Tomorrow.
Prabhupada: The cucumber which is supplied to me, that is not fresh.
Devotee (1): It is from the market. We were not aware that they had cucumber in the garden, because I asked...
Prabhupada: You are not aware? Why not?
Devotee (1): I was not aware.
Hari-sauri: He's our supplier.
Prabhupada: At least one cucumber, and this chili, you can make a nice salad. You say that there's no peas?
Devotee (1): They are just ready actually, Srila Prabhupada. They're just ready for picking now.
Prabhupada: Oh.
Devotee (1): Beans you have had every day from the garden.
Hari-sauri: Beans are very stringy.
Prabhupada: Oh, so many fresh things.
Devotee (1): From the greenhouse they are actually.
Hari-sauri: What is this?
Devotee (1): That is zucchini, only very small. (laughter) We let them get big to feed so many devotees.
Prabhupada: Very nice, very fresh, so many things can be done.
Hari-sauri: This is zucchini?
Prabhupada: This called, this is, I do not know what you call. It is called komura.(?) It is very nice.
Hari-sauri: We used to call them marrows.
Devotee (1): Tomato. It's an Italian type of tomato, and there's another one.
Prabhupada: This is apple?
Devotee (1): Yes, that's for cooking.
Hari-sauri: Cabbage.
Devotee (1): Pears.
Bhagavan: They're growing chick peas. They're not ripe yet.
Devotee (1): You can see inside, inside the pod. They have to go yellow on the plant and then we pick them and then put them in sacks for the winter.
Bhagavan: We had a whole field planted of chickpea. They're very expensive here, so it's nice.
Prabhupada: So you have got immediately some pods?
Devotee (1): And also you have been taking the fresh coriander, dhane.
Prabhupada: Oh, nice. So, this pod?
Devotee (1): Peas, beans.
Prabhupada: You have got some?
Devotee (1): Yes, plenty, Srila Prabhupada.
Prabhupada: Bring all them. (laughter)
Hari-sauri: He supplies us every day. What's this? Woman devotee: This is lemon spinach.
Devotee (1): A type of sour spinach.
Bhagavan: Tastes like a lemon.
Prabhupada: Yes. Very good.
Bhagavan: Anything else hidden in here? This is our apple? Woman devotee: Sweet peas.
Devotee (1): There's many varieties of flowers in the gardens, many flowers for garlands for almost the next two months.
Prabhupada: Grow more, more, all these fruits, flowers.
Bhagavan: This is from ours? Woman devotee: Yes.
Devotee (1): Rose. We are growing 2,500... (break)
Prabhupada: Go and live happily. This is a...
Devotee (1): Pear.
Prabhupada: You have got puffed rice? So bring some this pod. I shall, with puffed rice, I shall take this.
Hari-sauri: How do you want them cooking?
Prabhupada: Yes, I'll take it. Let them bring.
Hari-sauri: Bring some now? (laughter)
Bhagavan: Glories to Prabhupada.
Prabhupada: Hare Krsna. (break) Give Mandakini these peas. Tomorrow she can utilize it for kacuri. I've asked her to make kacuri. Let them use this.
Hari-sauri: They must have only just come ripe just this last week.
Prabhupada: So many things are growing. Puffed rice, you simply make it hot, dry, take it away, and then take some of the peas, put very little ghee and masala and some peas, fry it nicely. Then put little water and cover it. When it is soft, you can add with it little the green chilis.
Hari-sauri: These big ones?
Prabhupada: Yes. Not very much, but little.
Hari-sauri: These are not very hot, the big ones. The small ones are the hot ones, but we don't have any of those left.
Prabhupada: That's all right.
Hari-sauri: Then mix them or keep them separate?
Prabhupada: No, keep separate. They should be very soft. And the puffed rice hot. Then mix with little ghee and masala. Then, I'll take little.
Hari-sauri: Jaya. (end)

posted in Krishna Food - 2 replies

New moderator

Curtis — Sat, 07 Jul 2007 03:18:09 GMT

My new friend, Jagananda Pundit Das has spent many years in India, serving in temples there, cooking many varieties of Indian prasadam dedicated to Sri Krsna. I asked him, and he is willing to moderate this tribe, watch it over and offer advice to anyone who has a will to serve our own Lord Hari Krsna, can offer recipes, techniques, pictures of food, everything. I nominate Jagananda for tribe moderator.

posted in Krishna Food - 5 replies

Welcome to Krishna Food

Thu, 05 Jul 2007 18:16:39 GMT

Any and all recipes are welcome, or related discussions, for example, how to offer food to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, why Krishna is the best, how prasadam becomes transformed, recipes for special appearance days, and so on.

posted in Krishna Food - 2 replies