Question: I am taking prasadam only in limited quantity three times a day. I do simple offering by chanting the holy names and offering to the Lord because this is what my guru has instructed. I have a separate plate for Lord but I offer without tulsi leaves, as they are not available. Due to the mercy of the Lord and Prasadam, my senses are controlled, but I am not able to lose weight. I have heard that Prasadam is above action and reaction. If it is so, then why I am unable to lose weight? I am asking this because I have not seen fat devotees in general and I am a fat guy. However, I want to become a servant of Vaisnavas and Krsna.
I should not expect any material desires from Lord, but I doubt: is Krsna not accepting my offering? Because I don’t think I have much devotion in the present time.
So, I beg to ask what should I do that Lord Krishna accepts my offerings?
Answer by Romapada Swami:
Prasadam means Krishna’s mercy. It is the remnants of something that has been prepared for the pleasure of Krishna and offered to Him with love for His enjoyment. Because Krishna has tasted it or enjoyed it, prasadam is not a material thing. It becomes transcendental.
What you have stated in your question is correct, that prasadam is above action and reaction. Just like any other activity (provided it is not vikarma, or abominable) done with the intention to please Krsna becomes devotional service. That means the activity does not bear any reactions – good or bad. In other words, it is karma free or it is called akarma activity. Honoring prasadam is one such devotional activity, which does not bring about any reaction. That is the meaning of it being above action and reaction.
The Lord describes in BG 9.26 what He accepts as offerings: “If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, fruit or water, I will accept it.” Thus, we can see that the Lord does not need anything, but if one offers fruits, grains, and vegetarian foods, He will accept it. The Lord does not accept foods like meat, fish or eggs, but only those that are pure and naturally available without harming others.
Srila Prabhupada writes in the purport to Bhagavad Gita 3.14:
“the devotees of the Lord, who are in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, offer food to Kṛṣṇa and then eat – a process which nourishes the body spiritually. By such action not only are past sinful reactions in the body vanquished, but the body becomes immunized to all contamination of material nature. When there is an epidemic disease, an antiseptic vaccine protects a person from the attack of such an epidemic. Similarly, food offered to Lord Viṣṇu and then taken by us makes us sufficiently resistant to material affection, and one who is accustomed to this practice is called a devotee of the Lord. Therefore, a person in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, who eats only food offered to Kṛṣṇa, can counteract all reactions of past material infections, which are impediments to the progress of self-realization. On the other hand, one who does not do so continues to increase the volume of sinful action, and this prepares the next body to resemble hogs and dogs, to suffer the resultant reactions of all sins. The material world is full of contaminations, and one who is immunized by accepting prasādam of the Lord (food offered to Viṣṇu) is saved from the attack, whereas one who does not do so becomes subjected to contamination”
You can inquire from your local ISKCON temple or devotee association more details about standard ways to offer your food items to Krsna. Likely they can also provide you with tulasi leaves, or even a tulasi plant to maintain in your home.
