Is Chanting 16 rounds offensive if Prasadam is not taken?
A male devotee (Name hidden) asked like this:
“Hare Krishna dandvat pranam prabhuji, Please help me clear one doubt, I read in the post that we should take only Krishna Prasad am when we go beyond 4 rounds of chanting. I have been chanting 16 rounds since around an year. But unable to take Krishna Prasadam only. As onion, garlic and meat or eggs are cooked at home. I quit meat. I offer fruits or curd to Krishna every morning. Can I take Krishna Prasadam only after marriage, or is it essential to reduce rounds to 4 to avoid offences.”
REPLY:
If one is chanting 16 rounds or more, he is advised to honour only prasadam.
You are chanting 16 rounds now.
But you are unable to have prasadam because of your family conditions.
(How to get Prasadam in functions of friends and Relatives? READ HERE!)
Now, you ask: Shall I reduce my chanting rounds to four that has no rules of taking only prasadam?
No.
Don’t reduce your chanting rounds. Set it at 16 only.
Reducing the chanting rounds is not necessary and not advisable.
Chant even more than 16 rounds if it is possible for you.
Never reduce the number of rounds.
You can also prepare easy south Indian foods like Idly, dosa, Kitchedi, rice, curd, pickle, roti with tomato chuteney, coconut chatinie, etc separately and offer to Krishna separately and take them as prasadam.
You can even prepare dosa using wheat flour, Ragi flour, etc.
If you prepare a tomato chuteney, it will take just 5 minutes to prepare. A dosa will take just 5 minutes.
Idly can beprepared while doing other works easily.
If you prepare them and offer them to Krishna, He will happily accept.
(Can we offer Krishna Prasadam to other gods and accept the Prasadam of other gods? READ HERE!)
Why do you see what your family prepares?
You prepare for Krishna yourself.
If you truly like to please Krishna in any situation, you can offer simple preparations to Krishna and you too can take that as prasadam.
Where there is a will, there is a way.
Our fire to please Krishna should be that much serious.
“I will prepare and offer even some simple preparations to Krishna at any cost”.
You should have this conviction.
I have been doing this for 34 years. See the image above. This image was taken before I added Tulasi leaf on all items. Everyday, I offer this much of cooked and raw foods, fruits, vegetables, etc until I get satisfied.
See the items: Rice, cooked dishes, Mango fruit, Tomato, Ladies finger, Orange, Carrot, Sweet fruits, Ghee cake, Pomegranate, Amla and Water.
These are my daily offerings to Krishna in the morning breakfast most of the days. Items reduce only rarely.
I offered bhoga to Krishna all the 365 days and only one day was avoided when my mother died. But I restarted offering next day itself because I have no prayers to Krishna except His service. So, no Sutak for me.
Other than cooking time of one hour, It takes more than 30 minutes even to prepare all items properly on this plate.
My intention is that we should offer the best to Krishna and as much items as possible because He is keeping us with all dignity and honour.
It is our duty to take pains to please Krishna.
(Is Offering love instead of Food to Krishna acceptable? READ HERE!)
If I can do this in spite of so much of services for 16 hours a day, why can’t a young guy, you can’t do?
Let us not take excuses since it is easy to give.
Take some pains for pleasing Krishna.
If you sincerely review and plan, you can find an easy way according to your family situation.
Ok, if you are truly unable to prepare using separate vessels, take only the items prepared without onion, garlic, meat, etc. Continue to offer fruits to Krishna.
But don’t take the exemptions as granted. Honestly look for alternative ways to prepare food and offer.
Though you could not take prasadam, don’t reduce the chantging rounds and try your best to prepare bhoga for Krishna.
This is my reply for your question.
(How to manage if you are unable to get Prasadam in job? READ HERE!)