Well as we all know this famous verse: “Bhava Grahi Janardhana”
He does not see the items we offer, He sees the mood in which they are offered.
Krishna accepts all our bhavs and reciprocates it.
It is known that once upon a time when he visited Vidhur’s house who was Krishna’s
devotee he graciously ate banana peels from Vidurani (Vidhur’s wife). As vidurani was fully
absorbed in transcendental love and affection, she had discarded the bananas and served
the peels to Krishna in a childlike confusion. Krishna accepted and enjoyed the peel of
bananas with happiness because the offered meal was full of his devotee’s love and
affection. He says that the food offered to him with love tastes sweeter than any royal meal
prepared in any palatial kitchen.
When Krishna visited Duryodhana in an attempt to make peace between Arjuna and
Duryodhana, the latter had prepared delicious foods such as ladu, puri, Kachori, Makhan
and served Him in golden dishes and water in golden cups. But Krishna refused to eat it and
said that He could not eat with Him as he had no love and affection for Him. Without love
and devotion, he had no appetite for any form of meal whatsoever.
The world remembers Krishna’s love affair with butter, also known as Maakhan in Hindi. His
favourite vegetable is karela (bitter gourd). Generally he likes richly flavorful sweets,
especially laddus (with coconut), peda, panchamrit, dhaniya panjiri, kheer, makkhan mishri,
rabdi, malpua, halwa, and ras malai. He also likes poha or yellow sweet rice, shrikhand, or
simply milk and honey. He also loves most fruits.
Krishna also loves Tulasi leaves. That's why they are called – Krishna Jeevani — life of
Krishna. It is so dear to Krishna that it is believed that he comes to stay along with radha,
wherever there is a garden of Tulasi. Devotees believe that any meal offering or bhog
prasadam is only complete when adorned with a leaf of Tulsi over it.
And there are two types of Tulasi: Shyam Tulasi, Rama Tulasi. Both of these Tulasi are used
in the worship of Krishna.
Some savoury preparations like Muruku and Kodubale are also prepared on the eve of
Janmashtami to please Krishna by some south Indian communities.
Regardless of what you make, remember to offer it to Lord Krishna with a heart full of love
and devotion, only then will he be able to joyously enjoy the offering.
To feed the underprivileged people in Mumbai on this auspicious occasion of Krishna
Janmashtami, please visit www.akshayachaitanya.org and donate meals for the hungry.