We had a couple of people over for a festival and we were exchanging naivedyam. Theirs was a bit bland and ours was tasty as usual. Then the lady says she did not taste it while cooking as it is said that we should refrain from tasting the naivedyam before offering it to God. That pushed me to put this ranting on paper. One side of the coin is that as a cook your job is to know a person's taste without needing to taste the food while cooking and yet be sure of the perfectness of the food. It takes experience/practice/passion to do that. But for people who lack in this area, I think it is not wrong to taste it before offering to God. I do not support the notion that tasting a food before offering it to God contaminates the food in any way. For us or for our relatives, we sometimes taste it to check if it will satisfy us or our guests. I see no harm doing the same with naivedyam*. It depends on what one believes. As for me, I can tell if the flavours and spices are sufficient without tasting. But I do taste it to confirm that I'm right. It's no different than getting the right answer to a question :) Now you think I'm crazy....no problem :)
People, how can God be offended when you just want to make sure he/she gets tasty food? This
reminds me of the beautiful story about Sabari and Rama. Sabari tasted the fruits she from her basket and she offered to Lord Rama those she found sweet and ripe.Rama relished the fruits she offered with so much devotion; while partaking of them he said, "Mother! these fruits are as sweet as your own heart. Really, these are not fruits that grew on trees. These are the fruits that have grown on the tree of life, on the branches of the pure mind, in the sunshine of love. I am indeed debted in all manner of ways for you have offered me devotion that is pure, steady, and selfless and which is love springing from the heart and surging from it in all directions and towards all beings. You have not cast aspersions on anyone, even while dreaming ! That is what makes your mind so pure. Your mind does not blossom when good comes to you, nor does it wither when bad comes. You are blessed in all ways". Seeing Rama in this mood Lakshmana was happy beyond words, for Rama had not eaten fruits with joy since all these days Lakshmana had to persuade him to taste a few, with a good deal of parley, pleading and praying even after the fruits were peeled, cut and placed before Him. Rama was so afflicted by the separation from Sita. Inspite of all the efforts of Lakshmana, Rama would eat only half a fruit or so, never was Lakshmana satisfied with the quantity that his brother ate. Today, Sabari gave him the fruits which had dropped ripe from the trees, she used to dust them and clean them and keep them for him everyday and when Rama did not arrive, she consumed them herself as sacramental food, given to her by Rama himself! Day after day, she roamed the forest in search of sweet ones to be placed before Rama. Thus, daily the fruits were saturated with her love and devotion and the fruits became doubly desirable. Lakshmana noticed that this was the reason Rama was eating them with joy. He was filled with delight and he admired the devotion of Sabari that was so richly rewarded.So if you are devoted to God, the little things like what you offer and how you offer will never matter.
patram pushpam phalam toyam
yo me bhaktya prayacchati
tad aham bhakty-upahritam
ashnami prayatatmanah
(If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, fruit or water, I will accept it.)
(Bhagavad Gita 9.26)
* Naivedyam is created by a process of giving and receiving between a devotee and God. It is any material thing we offer to God along with prayer and then distributed in the God's name. The Naivedyam has the deity's blessing residing within it.
