The word apavitra anna refers to food that is unacceptable for a Vaisnava. In other words, a Vaisnava cannot accept any food offered by an avaisnava in the name of maha-prasadam. This should be a principle for all Vaisnavas
Expressions researched:
"The word apavitra anna refers to food that is unacceptable for a Vaisnava. In other words, a Vaisnava cannot accept any food offered by an avaisnava in the name of maha-prasadam. This should be a principle for all Vaisnavas"
Sri Caitanya-caritamrta
CC Madhya-lila
Having made their plot, the Buddhists brought a plate of untouchable food before Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and called it mahā-prasādam.
The word apavitra anna refers to food that is unacceptable for a Vaiṣṇava. In other words, a Vaiṣṇava cannot accept any food offered by an avaiṣṇava in the name of mahā-prasādam. This should be a principle for all Vaiṣṇavas. When asked, "What is the behavior of a Vaiṣṇava?" Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied, "A Vaiṣṇava must avoid the company of an avaiṣṇava (asat)." The word asat refers to an avaiṣṇava, that is, one who is not a Vaiṣṇava. Asat-saṅga-tyāga,—ei vaiṣṇava-ācāra (CC Madhya 22.87). A Vaiṣṇava must be very strict in this respect and should not at all cooperate with an avaiṣṇava. If an avaiṣṇava offers food in the name of mahā-prasādam, it should not be accepted. Such food cannot be prasādam because an avaiṣṇava cannot offer anything to the Lord. Sometimes preachers in the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement have to accept food in a home where the householder is an avaiṣṇava; however, if this food is offered to the Deity, it can be taken. Ordinary food cooked by an avaiṣṇava should not be accepted by a Vaiṣṇava. Even if an avaiṣṇava cooks food without fault, he cannot offer it to Lord Viṣṇu, and it cannot be accepted as mahā-prasādam. According to Lord Kṛṣṇa in the Bhagavad-gītā (9.26):
- patraṁ puṣpaṁ phalaṁ toyaṁ yo me bhaktyā prayacchati
- tad ahaṁ bhakty-upahṛtam aśnāmi prayatātmanaḥ
"If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, a fruit or water, I will accept it."
Kṛṣṇa can accept anything offered by His devotee with devotion. An avaiṣṇava may be a vegetarian and a very clean cook, but because he cannot offer Viṣṇu the food he cooks, it cannot be accepted as mahā-prasādam. It is better that a Vaiṣṇava abandon such food as untouchable.
- This Word
- Refers to (Sanskrit)
- Food
- That Is
- Unacceptable
- Vaisnava - Devotees of God
- In Other Words
- Cannot Accept
- Acceptance of a Devotee of God
- Offer
- Avaisnava
- In the Name of
- Maha-prasadam
- Devotees of God Should Carefully Avoid Eating Food Offered by Nondevotees
- Should Be
- Principles of a Devotee of God
- For All
- All Devotees of God
- Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila Chapter 09 Purports - Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's Travels to the Holy Places
- Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila Purports
- Sri Caitanya-caritamrta - 62 Chapters, All Purports
Page Title: | The word apavitra anna refers to food that is unacceptable for a Vaisnava. In other words, a Vaisnava cannot accept any food offered by an avaisnava in the name of maha-prasadam. This should be a principle for all Vaisnavas |
Compiler: | MadhuGopaldas |
Created: | 20 of Sep, 2012 |
Totals by Section: | BG=0, SB=0, CC=1, OB=0, Lec=0, Con=0, Let=0 |
No. of Quotes: | 1 |