The Glory of Prasad: The Story of Devotee Angad Ji

Never consume food that has not been offered to God. Partake only of that food which has been offered to God as bhog, in the form of prasad. There was a devotee whose name was Angad Ji. By nature, he had atheistic tendencies at first, but his wife was a devotee of God. In her father's house, there was continuous service to saints, and she had the opportunity to hear the teachings of her guru. After marriage, when she came to her in-laws' house with Angad Ji, she found that while there was royal splendor, there was no opportunity to see any saint, no coming and going of saints, no discourse about God, and no satsang.

The Queen's Distress and the Invitation of Saints

The Queen became very distressed. In her father's house, she received the prasad of saints every day, and had the darshan of her guru, but here there was no atmosphere of bhakti at all. However, Angad Ji had one quality—he held great reverence for his wife as a devotee of God and placed no opposition to her path of bhakti. But he himself neither practiced bhakti, nor held reverence for saints and sages, nor worshipped God.

After many days had passed without the darshan of saints, the Queen became extremely distressed. She wrote a letter to her father's house requesting that they petition the guru to please visit here once and grant darshan, as she could not leave here and her husband was not devoted to saints. When the royal family of her father's house pleaded with the guru, he, being compassionate, agreed to come.

The Queen was overjoyed at the arrival of the guru. She partook of the charanamrit, performed the aarati, offered bhog, and seated the guru on a seat. Then she gently began to massage his feet. Just then Angad Ji arrived and saw his queen holding the feet of a saint. Seeing this sight, he became angry and spoke harshly to the saint. The Queen was beside herself! After so much prayer, the guru had come himself, and now her own husband was insulting him! But the guru glanced at the Queen and signaled her to remain calm, then rose and left.

The Queen's Vow and Angad Ji's Transformation

The Queen spoke with firm resolve, "Now I will not preserve my life. Since my guru has been insulted, I will not touch you, nor will I speak to you, nor will I partake of food or water from your house. I will destroy myself, because it is due to my calling that my guru was insulted."

Angad Ji was extremely attached to his wife. Upon hearing this vow, his heart became distressed. He also gave up food and water. When many days had passed, he held his wife's feet and said, "You know I cannot live without you. Please tell me how I can please you?"

The Queen said, "If you truly wish to please me, then hold the feet of our guru, seek his forgiveness, pacify him and bring him back, and have him offer bhog here. If he consents to partake of bhog here, we will receive his prasad and our daily life will return to how it was before."

The Guru's Grace and Angad Ji's Heart Transformation

Angad Ji went to his wife's guru not out of devotion, but due to attachment to his wife. He held the feet and sought forgiveness. The nature of saints is compassionate—no matter how many times someone insults them, when someone bows with a true heart, they readily show grace. The guru agreed to go with him.

Together they washed the guru's feet, offered bhog, and then partook of charanamrit. However, Angad Ji did all this not out of devotion, but to please his wife. But as soon as he partook of the guru's charanamrit, repentance arose in his heart. He began to think, "How much of an atheist I have been! How much ill-will I held toward saints! And see how compassionate these saints are!"

Now his intellect, which had previously entertained opposing thoughts, began to entertain favorable ones. He said to his wife, "Our life until now has been wasted. Please tell me how I should practice bhakti?" Gradually he began to assist in the service of Thakur. Now he would not consume anything without first offering it to Thakur as bhog. Over the years, this became his daily practice—first offer bhog to Thakur Ji, then partake only of prasad. Moreover, Angad Ji appointed four pársads whose task was to invite any saint they saw to their home and offer them bhog.

Angad Ji Offered a Precious Diamond to Jagannath Ji

Angad Ji was a very valiant man, and also the nephew of a king. Once he attacked a certain king, defeated him, and seized his crown. That crown had 101 diamonds set in it, one of which was extremely precious. Angad Ji knew the value and importance of this special diamond. He returned the remaining diamonds to the defeated king, but kept that precious diamond for himself and said, "This diamond will be set in the crown of Jagannath Ji."

Some ministers of the king and worldly-minded courtiers incited the king, saying, "That diamond is worth more than your entire treasury. You must recover it at all costs!" The king humbly urged Angad Ji, "Please give that diamond to us." But Angad Ji remained firm, "No, we have already offered this diamond to Jagannath Ji."

The King Devised a Plot Against Angad Ji

It does not take long for a person's intellect to change. The king's intellect too became corrupted, and he resolved that Angad Ji should be killed. But since Angad Ji was his uncle, it did not seem right to kill him directly, or there would be censure in the royal court. The king devised a plot.

He tried to win over Angad Ji's sister, who prepared the royal palace kitchen, to his side. Food in the royal family was prepared only by highly trusted people, and Angad Ji's sister was engaged in this work. The king tempted her and said, "I will give you as much money as you want. Just mix poison in Angad Ji's food."

The king brought poison before her and had her mix it into the food. Angad Ji had no inkling of this conspiracy. As was his custom, he first offered the food to Thakur Ji, presented it as bhog, and then sat down to eat.

The Glory of Prasad – The Poison's Effect on Angad Ji Failed

Angad Ji's sister's daughter, who used to sit with him and eat every day, had suddenly been made to disappear from the house. Angad Ji asked, "Where is my daughter? Call her!" His sister lied, "She has gone to play." Angad Ji said firmly, "No, I will not eat until she comes." These words had a profound effect on his sister. She began to think, "How can I poison someone who loves my daughter so much?" Finally she said with tears, "Brother, do not eat this food!" Angad Ji was startled, "Why?"

She burst into tears, "The king tempted me and led me astray. My intellect became corrupted, and I have mixed poison into this food." Angad Ji told his sister, "You need not worry. I have already offered this food to Thakur Ji. If this food was poisoned, it has now become the prasad of Thakur Ji. How can I reject it?"

After this, Angad Ji consumed the entire meal—even licking and eating the leftover plates clean. But the remarkable thing was that the poison had no effect on him! He remained completely healthy and safe, as if nothing had happened.

The Glory of Prasad – Conclusion

Pujya Pandit Gaya Prasad Ji Maharaj says: "Never eat food without first offering it. Whenever you receive food, consider it as the prasad of Thakur Ji. If you are in a situation where Thakur seva is not possible and food is before you, then close your eyes for a minute, remember your Ishta Dev, offer it to the Lord, and then chant the naam a few times before consuming it."

Do not even drink water without offering it to the Lord. By doing this, your intellect will become pure and clear.

Guide: Pujya Shri Hit Premanand Govind Sharan Ji Maharaj