Feeling for offering only to Krishna, not to other Gods? Nice Tips!
A male devotee (Name hidden) asked like this:
“I have two questions about Janmashtami. Could you kindly help me?
(1) In our home, we offer prayers to Narayana, Lakshmi, Ganesha, Saraswati, Durga, Hanuman, and our ancestors. On Janmashtami, are the other deities and ancestors also considered to receive the offerings we make, even though the main focus is on Lord Krishna?
It feels a bit unusual to offer only to Krishna when they are also present. What is the appropriate guidance in this case
(2) Is it permissible to pluck Tulasi leaves on Janmashtami?”
REPLY:
When you water Thulasi plant, you water at the main root only.
You are not pouring water on each leaf.
By pouring the water at the main root, it absorbs and passes that water to all the leaves and hence all the leaves are satisfied by getting water.
(If Demigods can’t clear our karma, do they just postpone karma? READ HERE!)
If you spray water on leaves, that water can’t penetrate into the leaves. The water will slip away and get wasted.
But when you water the main root, that root sends that water to all the internal and external parts of all the 100s of leaves.
What this shows?
Offering water to the main root alone will do good for all the leaves both internally and externally.
Same applies in our offerings also.
When you offer food to Krishna, all other gods will be happy!
How this happens?
There are 33 crores of demigods and celestials. Additionally, our ancestors are also there. If you decide to offer food to every demigod, can you offer food to all 33 crores of them?
You can satisfy one or two demigods, but not all of them.
So, giving only to 2 or 3 demigods will make you guilty for not offering to all other crores of demigods.
“Oh, I am offering to Ganesh ji. Will his brother Kartikeya get angry?”
Because, Ganesh ji & Kartikeya – both of them are of the same status.
(If all we offer to demigods go to Krishna, does meat also go to Him? READ HERE!)
So, there is no possibility to satisfy all those demigods, celestials, ancestors, etc.
When there are two or more same status demigods are present, there will be a confusion of whom to satisfy!
When there is only one authority, there will be no parallel authorities and hence there will be no confusion.
That is why, we offer food only to Krishna.
Then, Krishna distributes our food to all the 33 crores of gods.
All of them will get a feel of getting satisfied.
It will bring the blessings of all the demigods.
All the demigods will receive prasadam from Krishna. Receiving the food from Krishna is greater for them than receiving directly from us.
Because they too are the servants of Krishna like us.
They get satisfied when they receive prasadam from Krishna Himself who is their master also.
So by offering food to Krishna alone, you are making all the demigods, celestials, ancestors, etc., double happy.
So, No confusion. Just offer food to Krishna. All the others will get satisfied.
Your second question:
Tulsi leaves can be plucked the day before Janmashtami. And it can be kept inside a wet cloth. Then, it can be offered on Janmashtami.
You can offer Tulasi to Krishna though you store that for a few weeks
and you can offer even as dry leaves.
Tulasi is auspicious in any condition.
(If all we offer to demigods go to Krishna, does meat also go to Him? READ HERE!)