Brahmaarpanam
From Bhagavad Gita 4.24 and 15.14
Brahmaarpanam Brahma
Havir
Brahmaagnau Brahmanaa Hutam
Brahmaiva Tena Gantavyam
Brahma Karma Samaadhinaha
[This is 24th verse from the 4th chapter of
Bhagavad Geetha] The act of offering is Brahman. The offering
itself is Brahman. The offering is done by Brahman in the sacred
fire which is Brahman. He alone attains Brahman who, in all
actions, is fully absorbed in Brahman. (As we chant this prayer we
are offering the different types of food to Brahman).
Aham Vaishvaanaro Bhutva
Praaninaam Dehamaashritha
Praanaapaana Samaa Yuktaha
Pachaamyannam Chatur Vidam
[This is 14th verse from
the 15th chapter of Bhagavad Geetha] This sloka is a sort of
acknowledgement and assurance to us from Brahman. "I am
Vaishnavara, existing as fire God in the bodies of living beings.
Being associated with ingoing (prana) and outgoing (apaana) life
breaths, I will digest all the four different types of food (that
which we bite and chew; that which we masticate with the tongue;
those which we gulp; that which we swallow) and purify them."
Harir Daatha Harir Bhoktha
Harir Annam Prajaapatih
Harir Vipra Shareerastu
Bhoonkte Bhojayathe Harih.
Oh Lord Hari, You are the food, You are the enjoyer of the food,
You are the giver of food. Therefore, I offer all that I consume
at Thy Lotus Feet.
Swami's
explanation of this prayer
We should partake food with a Sathwic mind. Our ancestors
recommended the offering of food to God before partaking. Food so
partaken becomes "Prasad" (consecrated offering). Prayer cleanses
the food of the thre impurities; caused by the absence of
cleanliness of the vessel, cleanliness of the food stuff, and
cleanliness in the process of cooking. It is necessary to get rid
of these three impurities to purify the food; for, pure food goes
into the making of a pure mind. It is not possible to ensure the
purity of the cooking process, since we do not know what thoughts
rage in the mind of the man who prepares the food. Similarly, we
cannot ensure the cleanliness of the food ingredients as we do not
know whether it was acquired in a righteous way by the seller who
has sold it to us. Hence, it is essential on our part to offer
food to God in the form of prayer, so that these three impurities
do not afflict our mind. The prayer:
Brahmaarpanam Brahma Havir
Brahmaagnau Brahmanaa Hutam
Brahmaiva Tena Gantavyam
Brahma Karma Samaadhinaha
Aham Vaishvaanaro Bhutva
Praaninaam Dehamaashritha
Praanaapaana Samaa Yuktaha
Pachaamyannam Chatur Vidam
Harir Daatha Harir Bhoktha
Harir Annam Prajaapatih
Harir Vipra Shareerastu
Bhoonkte Bhojayathe Harih.
"The food thus offered to God is digested by 'Vaishwanara" in
the digestive system. Since God exists in the form of fire as
Vaishwanara, He digests the food along with the impurities. So,
man will not be affected even i the impurities enter the food."
- Baba
Summer Showers in Brindavan 1993 Page 86
Potency of Brahmaarpanam
Mantra
When i was in Brindavan in May
this year, i had the opportunity to attend the morning talks at
Sai Krishan Kalyana Mandap. On one of the days Uncle Prahlad Rao
gave a talk and he covered the potency of the food mantra stated
below.
In the early days (70s if i
recall) Swami had asked all the Brindavan campus college boys to
join Him for lunch. At that time only about 100 boys were there.
Kirlian photographer, Dr Baranowski was also there and was invited
for lunch. The sumptuous food was laid out on plates in front of
the boys. The boys were waiting for Swami to come and join them.
Dr Baranowski then used his Kirlian camera and took photos of the
food laid out on the plates. There was no aura found around the
plates of food.
Later Swami arrived and joined
the boys for lunch. The boys recited the Brahmaarpanam mantra
before partaking the food. After the food mantra was recited, Dr
Baranowski again took pictures of the food. This time, blue aura
was found around the plates of food. He was excited but yet having
a scientific mind asked Swami on the reason for the blue aura
around the food. Swami said that the Brahmaarpanam mantra is a
very powerful mantra and that after recitation, the food is
converted to prasadam, as it has been offered to God. It further
purifies the food and all items around it. Thus, the blue aura was
found around the plates of food after the mantra was recited.
FOOD MANTRA
Brahmaarpanam Brahma Havir
Brahmaagnau Brahmanaa Hutam
Brahmaiva Tena Gantavyam
Brahma Karma Samaadhinaha
Aham Vaishvaanaro Bhutva
Praaninaam Dehamaashritha
Praanaapaana Samaa Yuktaha
Pachaamyannam Chatur Vidam
The meaning of Brahmaarpanam Mantra. It is as under:
Brahmaarpanam Brahma Havir
Brahmaagnau Brahmanaa Hutam
Brahmaiva Tena Gantavyam
Brahma Karma Samaadhinaha
The whole creation being the
gross projection of Bramham, the Cosmic Consciousness itself; the
food too is Bramham, the process of offering it is Bramhan; it is
being offered in the fire of Brahman. He who thus sees Brahman is
action, reaches Bramham alone.
Aham Vaishvaanaro Bhutva
Praaninaam Dehamaashritha
Praanaapaana Samaa Yuktaha
Pachaamyannam Chatur Vidam
I, the Supreme Spirit, abiding in
the body of living beings as the Fire (Vaiswanara) in their
stomach I am associated with their Praana and Apaana, digest the
four type of foods (solids, fluids, semi-fluid and liquid) which
they eat.
Reference: Daily Prayers to
Bhagwan compiled by Smt. Kausalya Rani Raghwan.
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