Prasad (प्रसाद)

Prasad (प्रसाद | prasāda) literally means grace or mercy. In devotional practice, it refers to the sacred remnants of food or other items enjoyed or used by God or the Guru, which devotees receive as a form of Divine grace.

Although Prasada is commonly associated with food, it is not limited to food. It may include:

• Food: Remnants of meals offered to God.
• Vastra (clothing): Garments or ornaments worn by God or the Guru.
• Flowers and garlands: Those that have adorned God or the Guru.

Uddhava's Declaration

In the Shrimad Bhagavatam, Uddhava tells Shri Krishna that he will overcome His otherwise invincible Maya by eating the remnants of food Krishna has eaten and wearing the clothes and garlands Krishna has already used.

However, merely eating or wearing these objects does not automatically confer spiritual benefit. The devotee must accept them as Prasad, with the loving sentiment that they have been enjoyed or used by God. Without this divine sentiment, the person receives only the material benefit of those objects.

Thus, the spiritual benefit of Prasad depends not merely on the object, but on the divine sentiment with which the devotee receives it.

Go Deeper

Is Worship of Idols Right?

Question God's form is divine. He cannot be casted into a material objects. Why then, do people worship idols made of stone, or pictures? Answer The word idol is translation of Sanskrit word moorti . To really answer this question three things have to be understood. First understand the definitions

Kripalu Vedic WisdomJKP Literature

Reference

Sadha Sadhya - The Way to God's Love, March 2023