When pure vegetarian food is offered to Krishna, it is called prasadam. When asked what the importance of prasadam is, Srila Prabhupada called it “Krishna’s special favour”. It’s said that even without knowing it, simply eating prasadam will give people a chance to awaken their original Krishna consciousness.

Prasadam is meant to be eaten and to be distributed. Prasadam means “mercy”, and this mercy is to be given out to as many people as possible, in as many different ways as possible – whether it is by cooking and offering at home and inviting people to come and eat, serving prasadam in a restaurant, selling prasadam in a shop or café, or taking to the streets and distributing prasadam freely to anyone in need of a warm meal. There is no limit to how it can be distributed, it just has to be made with devotion using vegetarian ingredients and offered to Krishna for His pleasure.

Preparing karma-free vegetarian food is a devotional focal point in bhakti-yoga. By preparing pure, natural vegetarian dishes and then offering them to God in a spirit of devotion, we turn a daily necessity into an enlightening experience. ‘Offered’ food, called prasadam, is considered ‘the mercy of the Lord’ and it nourishes the body and transforms the consciousness.

If you’re interested in volunteering in the Manor Kitchen, or wish to discover other prasadam distribution opportunities then you can become a volunteer and help out! Click the button below to find out more