- Anugraha : His Holiness Sri Sri Vidyamanya Teertha Swamiji
(As narrated in 11th Conference of Shrimanmadhwaradhanta Samvardhanaka Sabha ) - Translator : Akshay Venkatesh
pāvanam viṣṇu naivēdyam subhōjyam rishibhi smrutam |
anya dēvasya naivedyam bhuktvā chāndrāyaṇam charēt||
Although a man’s food could be vegetarian, sourcing it would invariably involve violence. By feeding on grains, pulses, roots, vegetables and water, many organisms are harmed. To avoid incurring sin from such violence, we should have the following thought while partaking food – “This food is for the purpose of offering to the Almighty, I am partaking it after offering it to Him”. Thus, an offering to God would not account to violence or sin. The food that is made with the sole intention of offering it to the Almighty would also never amount to sin and violence. The act of offering food to God and then partaking it is called “yajnēshwara svīkāra”. This would also absolve us off sins, let alone being called sinful.
“yajna śiṣṭāśinaha santhō muchyantē sarvakilbiṣaihi” are the words of Geethacharya (Lord kriṣṇa), which means ‘yajnēshwara svīkāra’ absolves us off all sins. Thus all riṣis and jṇānis have proclaimed the importance of partaking the food offered to Lord.
Uddhava along the same lines prays to Lord kriṣṇa
tvayōpabhukta sraggandha vāsōlankāra charchitāha|
ucchiṣtabhōjinō dāsāha tava mayām jayēmahi||
“Your servants, who partake the food enjoyed by you, who adorn the sandal, clothes, perfume and embellishments, only after you have enjoyed them, will be free of the binding to nature” . It is thus clear that the virtousness needed to ward-off this bondage is attained by the power of partaking his offering.
Offerings to other demigods are not for partaking : The shlōka in which the first half stresses the importance of partaking Lord’s offering, culminates emphasizing that one should not partake the offerings to other demigods. Doing so would amount to grave sin. As an atonement, one must observe – chandrāyaṇa vrata.
Ramaa-kalatrana Daasa-vargake Namipenanavarata || Always at the humble feet of Sri-Hari’s dasas!!