Food offering in the Vedic tradition is associated with Annapurna. “Annapurna, the goddess of food and nourishment, is an incarnation of the Hindu Goddess Parvati, the wife of Shiva. Annapurna is empowered with the ability to provide food to an unlimited amount of people. Temple art in India often depicts Lord Shiva with his begging bowl (skull), asking Annapurna to provide him food that gives the energy (Shakti) to achieve Self-knowledge and enlightenment.” – Richard at ‘Living in the Embrace of Arunachala‘.

Offering sattvic food is therefore an important daily meditative ritual.

Light an oil lamp and an incense stick on your altar that has a photograph of your Guru or your personal god (Ishtha). Place the food in a special bowl or plate that is reserved for food offering only in front of the Guru or Ishtha.

Here is a commonly known Vedic food prayer that you can use.

If you don’t know any specific mantras for the food offering, you may repeat your Guru Mantra for 21 or 108 times, a mantra related to your personal god, or simply sit in silence for some time. After offering the food in this way, it has become prasadam. Then add the food back into the pots and mix it with the cooked food.

The prasadam can now be eaten. Eat slowly and with awareness free of distractions.

After you have eaten your offered meal, offer your gratitude to the person who cooked for you, not to forget Existence, which has so lovingly provided you with your meal for the day.