MAHAPRASAD VRS PRASAD

 

Maha Prasad versus Prasad:
 
In the enchanting city of Puri, lies a revered sanctuary that has mesmerized the Odia civilization for countless generations—the illustrious Lord Shri Jagannath Temple. Within its hallowed precincts, an extraordinary tale unfolds—the sacred journey of a humble Mahaprasad, which unveils the splendid tapestry of cultural traditions and deep-rooted sentiments that have captivated the hearts of devotees for thousands of years. Devotees believe that the food offered to Lord Jagannath in the temple becomes spiritually sanctified and is considered highly sacred. This Mahaprasad is distributed to devotees and is believed to grant spiritual blessings.This is a moment of unparalleled sanctity as the offering Mahaprasad divine approval and blessing. As devotees partake in this blessed offering, they not only nourish their bodies but also establish a deep connection with the divine. Prasad and mahaprasad are not same considering the sanctity as the offering Mahaprasad is a divine approval for Moksha (liberation, spiritual values, self-actualization).There is hell and heaven difference between Prasad and Mahaprasad considering sanctity ( no comparison with test) . Mahaprasad is the term applied to the 56 food items offered to Lord Prabhu Shri Jagannath in the holy Temple of Puri .The Bhog/Naivedya offered to him and later to Maa Bimala in the Grand Temple and thereafter it is known as ‘Mahaprasad’. ( some people have described as Maa Prasad) In most temples other than Shri Jaganath Temple, Puri , the food that has been offered to the Deities is called as 'Prasad' . However only in Lord Jagannath temple the food that has been offered is called 'MahaPrasad'. In Odia language 'Maha' means 'Great', so the word 'MahaPrasad' itself depicts the sagacity of greatness. Puja in Puri , lord Shri Jaganath Temple has been performed in sodas upachara. As the heart ❤️ of lord Shri Krishna is still inside the Navikendra of lord Shri Jaganath , Puri, the offerings are being made by chanting sodas puja mantra, which is absent in rest other Lord Shri Jaganath Temples located outside lord Shri Jaganath temple complex, Puri. In Puri lord Shri Jaganath Temple, when the cooked food is carried to the offering hall in slings of earthen pots no flavor comes up from the food but when the same is offered to Lord Jagannath and his siblings and finally Goddess Bimala and carried back to Ananda Bazzar (the sale point), a delicious smell spells along in the breeze to the pleasant surprise of the devotees. Now the food is blessed. Rice that is used for cooking (before being cooked) at Lord Jagannath Temple at Puri is called ‘Amunia’ (ଅମୁଣିଆ) Cooked rice in the temple kitchen is called ‘Anna’ (ଅନ୍ନ) When cooked rice moved out of temple kitchen, it's called ‘Chheka’ (ଛେକ) When kept on the Bhairavi Chakra of the offering hall, it is called as ‘Bhoga’ (ଭୋଗ) When Bhoga is offered to three deities, it is called ‘Naibedya’ (ନୈବେଦ୍ୟ) When Naibedya is offered to Goddess Bimala, it is called ‘Mahaprasad’ (ମହାପ୍ରସାଦ) When Mahaprasad is offered to Panch Parameswar, it is called ‘Kaibalya’ (କୈବଲ୍ୟ) After Kaibalya is consumed by devotees, any leftover Rice is dried up in hot sun and it is called ‘Nirmalya’ (ନିର୍ମାଲ୍ୟ). Those are consuming the Prasad of Jaganath Temple other than the Mahaprasad of Puri Shri Jaganath temple for them it is second grade . Every day throughout the year millions of devotees from around the world visit Jagannath temple to get the divine blessings of Lord Jagannath, the Lord of the Universe. It is believed that both Lord Jagannath and the Mahaprasad share an equal status. Sharing the Mahaprasad is considered as a blessing through which devotees get salvation from their sins. Therefore the visit to the Lord Jagannath temple is incomplete without having the Mahaprasad. There are two types of Mahaprasad. They are Sankhudi Mahaprasad and Sukhila Mahaprasad. Both the types are available for sale in Ananda Bazaar of the Lord Jagannath temple. Sankhudi Mahaprasad includes wet food items like rice, butter rice, hing-ginger rice, mixed rice, sweet dal, mixed vegetable curries of different types, and porridge, etc. Sankhudi Mahaprasad has shorter self-life. ‘Mahaprasad’ is a commonly used term by rest of the world, but the people of Puri also called the Sankhudi Mahaprasad as ‘Abhada’. Sukhila Mahaprasad includes dry food items like various salty and sweet dishes (Kahaja, Sarapuri, Amalu, Khurma, Magaja Ladoo, Kakara etc) made from flour, sugar, wheat, jaggery, rice flours, and ghee, etc. Sukhila Mahaprasad has longer self-life. ‘Nirmalya’ (dried Rice Mahaprasad in hot sun) is also another type of Sukhila Mahaprasad. Now one can imagine as to why the Prasad of Jaganath Temples other than the Shri Jaganath Temple, Puri is considered as secondary one. There is also another story about Mahaprasad.Lord Rama was very much pleased and over whelmed with the devotion of Urmila ( the wife of Laxman) hence,he uttered, ‘Oh Urmila’ ! I grant you this boon that in the Kalikala when I will be worshipped at Puri Temple, Laxman will be elder brother Balabhadra. You will be Mahaprasad and by your fragrance you will spread the flavour and will be worshipped. Any Prasad which will be offered to me will be offered to Goddess Bimala and then it will be Mahaprasad and will be taken by devotees. You will remain as Mahaprasad and Nirmalya for years to come. Devotees will worship you and they will earn Punya for you, So Tretaya’s Urmila is the Bimala in Kalikala. Lord Rama further said, ‘In Kaliyuga, you will be worshipped as Annabrahma’. Urmila further prayed, ‘When you will be on Ratna Singhasana I will come in Bay of Bengal as a wave, the ripple (Urmi) to touch your golden feet. Lord Rama granting this boon and said ‘Oh Urmila ! Your selfless love and sacrifice is unparalleled and par excellence; it will be immortalized forever.’ There is a belief among Hindus that if Nirmalya is given to a person on his death bed, he is certain to find a place for himself in the heaven after his death . ( Lokanath Mishra, USA 🇺🇸)