(1) Do not accept prasäda before the Deity.
One should not accept prasäda before the Deity. [NOD 8]
If Prasädam is to be honored in the Temple room, the curtains may be drawn before the Deities while the devotees are taking Prasadam. The best arrangement is to honor Prasadam in a separate room for the purpose, if possible. [Letter to: Yamuna, Los Angeles, January 16, 1970]
(2) Do not touch even mahä-prasädam offered to Viñëu on Ekädaçé
In the Bhakti-sandarbha, by Çréla Jéva Gosvämé, there is a quotation from the Skanda Puräëa admonishing that a person who eats grains on Ekädaçé becomes a murderer of his mother, father, brother and spiritual master, and even if he is elevated to a Vaikuëöha planet, he falls down.
On Ekädaçé, everything is cooked for Viñëu, including regular grains and dhal, but it is enjoined that a Vaiñëava should not even take Viñëu-prasädam on Ekädaçé. It is said that a Vaiñëava does not accept anything eatable that is not offered to Lord Viñëu, but on Ekädaçé a Vaiñëava should not touch even mahä-prasädam offered to Viñëu, although such prasädam may be kept for being eaten the next day. It is strictly forbidden for one to accept any kind of grain on Ekädaçé, even if it is offered to Lord Viñëu. [CC Ädi 15.9 Purport]
(3) Do not waste Kåñëa Prasädam
Leftovers should always be taken if they have not spoiled or if they have not been touched by diseased persons. [Letter to: Kirtiraja, Vrindaban, November 27, 1971]
Do not take too much foodstuffs; take so that no remnants are left. Immediately after, the dishes should be washed, or paper dishes thrown away. But do not throw away prasadam. Better to take a little less than to have leftover for saving. That is not good. [Letter to: Jadurani, Calcutta, May 19, 1971]
(4) Do not Spoil Food Grain
If anyone takes more than he requires then he is to be understood a thief. Nobody should accumulate for future consumption of family, society, or nation, more money or more grains or more vegetables or more eatables, one should have only as much as he requires. If there is greater production, that should be distributed to persons who need them. Because food grains, especially, they are meant for all living entities, they should not be spoiled. Next point, therefore, one who spoils food grains unnecessarily, he is criminal. [Letter to: Rayarama, Seatlle, October 17, 1968]
Çréla Prabhupäda recollects: In our childhood, actually what I am doing, it was all taught in our childhood by our parents, my family. We were taught, "There is a grain of rice on the ground, and if it is touched by your feet, you should pick up the grain and touch on your head." This was our training. The idea behind – that the grain of rice is not man-made. It is sent by God. "O God, give us our daily bread." So here is the bread. It is God's mercy. [Room Conversation, Melbourne, June 28, 1974]
(5) Honor Immediately
Prasädam is transcendental, and there are no transformations or contaminations, just as there are no contaminations or transformations in the body of Lord Viñëu Himself.
The following references are given in Çré Caitanya-caritämåta:
çuñkaà paryuñitaà väpi nétaà vä düra-deçataù
präpti-mätreëa bhoktavyaà nätra käla-vicäraëä
One should eat the mahä-prasädam of the Lord immediately upon receiving it, even though it is dried up, stale or brought from a distant country. One should consider neither time nor place. [Quoted in CC Madhya 6.225]
na deça-niyamas tatra na käla-niyamas tathä
präptam annaà drutaà çiñöair bhoktavyaà harir abravét
The prasädam of Lord Kåñëa is to be eaten by gentlemen as soon as it is received; there should be no hesitation. There are no regulative principles concerning time and place. This is the order of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. [Quoted in CC Madhya 6.226]
In the Båhad-viñëu Puräëa it is stated that one who considers mahä-prasädam to be equal to ordinary rice and dhal certainly commits a great offense. Ordinary edibles are touchable and untouchable, but there are no such dualistic considerations where prasädam is concerned.
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