Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Come, son, come.
Devotee:
Gurudev, we bring back the Mahaprasad from this Jagannath temple as a holy offering. From the temple's side, they provide dried rice grains in a small, pillow-like packet.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
The tradition behind that is this: if a dog bites someone or if there is a poisonous bite, we feed them those rice grains. We don't mix it with regular rice; it is kept stored in the house. If a dog bites, we feed them that rice. This is one of our customs, specifically for dog bites.
Devotee:
Does the poison subside? I've heard so, and we have used it many times. We have it in our house too. I believe many people who have visited Puri keep it in their homes as Mahaprasad. That rice is dried and kept as a sacred offering.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
That Mahaprasad is also used for children's Annaprashan (first rice ceremony). Many things can be done with it. That Mahaprasad is powerful. Everything can be accomplished through it.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Those who are fasting put a few pieces of it in their food—exactly. Sometimes it's even put inside a medicinal pill or something similar. Dried rice.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
That dried rice is the Lord's prasad. We feed that Mahaprasad if a dog or something bites. Not for snake bites, but specifically for dog bites, we feed it.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
I've heard that the poison disappears after consuming it; I know this for a fact. And for children's Annaprashan, that rice is mixed into the payesh (rice pudding) to make it Mahaprasad. Yes, there are many such traditions.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Mahaprasad is no trivial matter. It is always salt-free; there is no salt in Mahaprasad. In fact, no sacred offering contains salt; they are all salt-free.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Lord Jagannath eats everything without salt. Now, Balram has different items, and Jagannath has different ones. They are not the same. Jagannath is associated with coarse rice and coarse cloth. And he loves cinnamon rice very much.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Coarse rice and coarse cloth for Jagannath. He loves to eat tubers and earth-grown vegetables. That's what is cooked for him—wild potatoes, tubers, and various leafy vegetables.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
A dish with leafy vegetables is prepared for him. That's his food. Actually, there are 52 types of dishes—56 types, rather. Fifty-six types of food are offered to Balram.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
For the Lord, it's coarse rice and cloth. He doesn't mind. When he stayed at that Scheduled Caste house, he was fed like that. When he stayed there, he was fed that way.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
And that is his food. Meaning, apart from Lord Jagannath, Balram, who is beside him, has 52 or 55 types of food. Fifty-six types, to be exact.
Devotee:
Gurudev! Today, you are sitting here in front of Mother Goddess. Let me show everyone that Mother is present here. Gurudev is in front of the temple, and there is also a small child in his lap. Gurudev, could you explain why you are sitting here with this child in front of Mother?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
This child was born by Mother's grace. The parents wished for me to feed him his first rice. So, here is the rice, and he is being fed. The Annaprashan is taking place right here in front of Mother. Sit down, sit down.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Now, tell me, what will you eat? You are witnessing that by Mother's grace, this child was born. The child is now in Gurudev's lap, and Gurudev is performing the first feeding ceremony. Yes, eat.
Narrator:
This beautiful moment is captured on camera. Jai Tara! Jai Jai Tara! Eat, eat, Jai Tara!
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Jai Tara! Little one, drink some water. He isn't crying, is he? He's a good boy. Now, give me a one-rupee coin and a pen. I need a coin and a pen for the ritual. Now, little one, eat. Offer the prasad with that coin.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Take it. What will you choose? Money in this hand, a pen in the other. Look, he picked the pen! He dropped the money and picked the pen! He will be a scholar. Bless him, Gurudev. May he grow up to be a fine human being.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Wait, he still has the money in his hand. Now he's putting the pen in his mouth.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Little one, Jai Ma Tara. It's done. Oh, look, he dropped it. Where's the money? The money is lost!
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Where did you drop it? Jai Ma, Jai Ma. You saw Gurudev feeding him and performing all the rituals.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Take this, Mother. This child is very quiet; he didn't cry at all. Look here, little one. What are you staring at so intently? Viewers, you are witnessing the Annaprashan rituals.
Narrator:
So, the Annaprashan is finished. Come along now. Okay, Gurudev, my respects to you.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
I have to feed them like this sometimes. Those who are born of this grace have their first rice ceremony performed here. What else can be done? Throw away this water and the ritual remains. My respects. Throw it in the pond over there.