Interviewer:
Friends, paying my respects to the Mother and Father of Shantikunj, I am beginning today's episode. I welcome those who are new to the Gupta Sadhak Shyamakapa YouTube channel and thank our long-time friends for their continued support. Today, I have a special question for Gurudev. Greetings, Gurudev!
Gurudev:
Greetings, child. Greetings.
Interviewer:
Gurudev, there is something we would like to know. In various monasteries and temples across the world, there is a tradition of "Mahaprasad." How did this Mahaprasad first come into existence on this earth?
Gurudev:
There is a story behind it. Once, Sage Narada performed penance for twelve years to please Goddess Lakshmi, with the sole desire of obtaining the Mahaprasad of Lord Narayana. After twelve years, Goddess Lakshmi was pleased and asked him what he wanted. Narada said, "I wish to partake in the Mahaprasad of Narayana." She agreed and gave him some of the remnants of Narayana's meal.
Gurudev:
Narada was so overjoyed after eating it that he lost himself in ecstasy. He was so overwhelmed that he even forgot to wash his hands! In that state of bliss, he rushed straight to Kailash to meet Lord Shiva. He told Shiva, "Father, I have partaken in the Mahaprasad!"
Gurudev:
Lord Shiva was surprised and asked, "You ate Mahaprasad? Did you bring any for me?"
Gurudev:
Narada replied, "No, Father, I ate it all."
Gurudev:
Shiva then noticed, "Wait, let me see your hands. You haven't washed them yet." There was a single grain of rice—the Mahaprasad—stuck to Narada's hand. Lord Shiva immediately took that grain and ate it. He was instantly overcome with such divine joy that he began performing the Tandava dance.
Interviewer:
He started the Tandava dance out of joy!
Gurudev:
Yes! He was ecstatic because he had partaken in Mahaprasad. When Goddess Durga heard about this, she was upset. She thought, "Will I not get any?" She then began her own penance to Lord Narayana to obtain the Mahaprasad.
Gurudev:
Narayana appeared and told her, "I am Narayana now, but in the future, when the Kali Yuga arrives, I will take a human-like form. At that time, I will feed Mahaprasad to everyone." That form is Lord Jagannath of Puri. To this day, the food offered to Jagannath is called Mahaprasad.
Gurudev:
In Puri, there is Goddess Vimala (a form of Durga or Parvati). The Mahaprasad is first offered to Jagannath and then to Goddess Vimala before it is distributed to the people.
Interviewer:
Is Goddess Vimala the same as Durga or Parvati?
Gurudev:
Yes, she is an embodiment of the Mother. It is said a part of the Mother's body fell there. In the Vimala temple, even fish and meat are sometimes offered as part of local traditions, but in the main Jagannath temple, only pure vegetarian food is offered. This is known as the "Mahaprasad" that everyone enjoys.
Gurudev:
Lord Narayana promised, "I will not give this only to you; I will give it to all my children in the world." That is how the tradition of Mahaprasad began.
Interviewer:
Gurudev, you mentioned that in Puri, people have to buy Mahaprasad at the Ananda Bazar. Is that true?
Gurudev:
Yes, it is available for purchase at Ananda Bazar. Sometimes you might not find a priest or a guide to help you, so anyone can go to Ananda Bazar and buy the Lord's prasad.
Interviewer:
But in many other temples, prasad is given for free.
Gurudev:
That is a separate matter. Many temples do give it for free. But whether free or purchased, the prasad of the Father or Mother is invaluable. I believe partaking in Mahaprasad has great benefits. It is said to cleanse a person of diseases and liberate the soul. That is the main quality of Mahaprasad.
Gurudev:
Another interesting fact: Mahaprasad is cooked without any salt. All the dishes offered to Lord Jagannath are completely saltless.
Interviewer:
So, in other temples where they use salt, is it different?
Gurudev:
I won't speak for other temples, but specifically in Jagannath's case, no salt is used. Some say it's because there was a high prevalence of goiter in that region in ancient times, and perhaps it was a health measure, but spiritually, it remains a unique tradition established by the Lord.
Gurudev:
There is also a strict rule: Lord Jagannath is a Param Vaishnava (a supreme follower of non-violence). On the days of Ashtami and Navami (during Durga Puja), when animal sacrifices (Bali) are offered to Goddess Vimala, the doors of the Jagannath temple are kept completely closed. Lord Jagannath does not witness the sacrifice. Even though both temples are in the same complex, the Lord's doors remain shut during those rituals.
Interviewer:
Gurudev, I asked a small question about Mahaprasad, and you explained it so beautifully through these stories. We are very grateful. Pranam, Gurudev!
Gurudev:
Blessings to you, child. Blessings.