Queries on Temple prasAdham

Many times in the temples, some devotees (not from our community) with vessels, give prasAdham to all other devotees who pass by. Can that be accepted and consumed by us? Or should prasadam be accepted only from the authorized people?

prasAdham should only be accepted from srivaishnavas.

Consider the case when we come to the temple after the prasAdha viniyOham is over. If a devotee (not from our community) gives us a bit of that prasAdham, should that be accepted?

No.

Can/Should we accept prasAdham from all srivaishnavas (one who had pancha samskAram) irrespective of their age, jnAnam and anushtAnam?

No.

What if the prasAdham during viniyogam falls down from our hands? Is it still edible after picking it up from the temple floor?

No.

Is it true that the temple prasAdham (both flowers and food) that we get, can be offered to our (sAlagrama) perumAL at home?

We can do that if we know that the temple (kainkaryaparars) maintains anushtAnam. swAmy said only two divyadhEsams maintain proper anushtAnam nowadays (could not confirm which two divyadhEsams but paramapadham and ksheerAbdhi are probably the safest ones to assume). Queries on food in general

What is the remedy if we have had food at a house where no AchAram has been practiced under some unavoidable circumstances?

One day upavAsam (fasting)

Krishnan says in gIthai that if one jAmam passes by after making the food, it should not be consumed. Does this hold true for bakshanams and pickles?

bakshaNams fried in oil dont fall under this category.

Is it true that in srivaishnava sampradayam, the concept of ishta pandhi holds good? So can dhivasa food at any bandhus house be consumed?

No. We can only share/consume pithru sEsham of Athma bandhus.

A BhOgi should have food only twice a day as per sAstram (yOgi - one meal, bhOgi (enjoyer) - two meals, rOgi (person with disease) - three meals). Do milk, fruits and prasAdha viniyOham make a bhOjanam?

No. Since it is not complete meals, they can be consumed in addition to the two meals.

Is it true that on amavsya days evening food should be consumed before sunset?

No. We cannot consume food after sunset on amAvAsyai.

What types of food should be avoided at night?

keerai thandu(leafy vegetables), curd, etc..

During travels, Can We Consume Fruits that are purchased?

Yes, one can. One has to wash it with water and then offer it to EmperumAn and then consume. Queries on water

Is there a rule that when we go to somebodys house, we should have atleast water in their house and not come on empty stomach?

No.

Are the restrictions about eating only for food or also for water? The reason behind this is the story where Krishnan sends Indran to give water to Udhankar Maharishi. Udhankar refuses since Indran comes in the form of a chandalan.

Yes. There are restrictions.

Should water also be consumed in the morning only after a bath? (is snAnAthva bhunjItha applicable here?)

Yes. We can consume only anything after thiruvArAdhanam for our home perumAL. Queries on milk

Is it correct that milk should not be consumed in day time?

No. It can be consumed.

Is powdered milk permissible?

Dont know how they make.

Is sOya milk permissible?

Dont know how they make. But since this is sourced generally from outside bhAratha bhUmi, this should not be consumed. Queries on Permissible/Prohibited fruits/ vegetables /food items: Are the following food permissible: Vegetables Potato Tomato Beans Carrot Capsicum Keerai types other than Agathi keerai and molai keerai? Cabbage Caulilflower Peas Corn / Sweet Corn Koththammalli Pudina Mango Inji kovakkai Ladies finger Spinach Menthium Keerai Y/N N N N N Y Y (some) N N N Y Y Y Y N Y ? Y Pink is Ok, No for white Y/N Y N Y N N Y Y Y

Brinjal (white/pink) Fruits Dates Custard Apple Aththi Pazam (Fig) Papaya Water Melon Pineapple Orange Guava

Plum Girni Pazam Nongu Green grapes Apple Sapota Pear Food Items Barley Oats

N Y N Y Y Y N Y/N ? ? ? If broken locally, it can be consumed. ? process. N N N N? N N Y Y ? Y N ? ? N ? ? process, traditionally only brown bulk sugar is used.

Rava Maida (finely milled and refined wheat floor) Javvarisi (Sago) Panan kalkandu aval Pori (Puffed Rice) prepared at home Boiled Rice Panneer (made from milk) Almonds Pista Bajra (pearl millet) Ragi (finger millet) sOmbu cooking soda baking soda cheese sOya

white sugar

"?" indicates doubtful about the raw material or the process involved. When in doubt about the raw material or the process involved, it is always better to avoid such food items.