Prayerful Eating
(Extracted from The Yoga Way: Food for Body, Mind & Spirit by Sri Swami Satchidananda)
In almost every culture there are different ways to say prayers before consuming food. Most of these prayers offer an
opportunity to express the gratitude we feel to have the food we are about to eat. They sometimes give us pause to
also reflect upon those who are less fortunate and may not be blessed with a bountiful abundance or variety of foods.
Praying together reminds us that we are a family, a community, one world.
Before each meal at Satchidananda Ashram–Yogaville, and at all Integral Yoga Institutes and Centers, a meal prayer
is recited. The prayer is in the ancient Sanskrit language, renowned for its profound and calming vibrational qualities.
By offering a prayer before meals, we are reminded of several things: We eat to live (rather than living to eat). We have
gratitude for the many blessings in our lives. We take a few moments to calm the mind and prepare the body to receive
nourishment.
This meal prayer was composed in the 8th Century by the great sage Adi Shankaracharya. The prayer is then followed
by the English translation, given by Sri Swami Satchidananda*:
Annapür∫e Sadåpür∫e
¸aõkara Pråna Vallabhe
Jñåna Vairågya Sidhyartham
Bhiksham Dehî Cha Pårvati
Måtå Cha Pårvati Devî
Pitå Devo MaheΩvaraha
Båndhavå˙ ¸iva Bhaktåha
SvadeΩo Bhuvana Trayam
Hari OM Tat Sat Brahmåpa∫amastu
Lokå˙ Samastå˙ Sukhino Bhavantu
Jai Srî Sat Guru Mahåråj Ki! Jai!
OM Beloved Mother Nature,
You are here on our table as our food.
You are endlessly bountiful, benefactress of all.
Please grant us health and strength,
wisdom and dispassion,
to find permanent peace and joy,
and to share this peace and joy
with one and all.
Mother Nature is my mother.
My father is the Lord of all.
The whole creation is my family.
The entire universe is my home.
I offer this unto OM, that truth which is universal.
May the entire universe be filled with
peace and joy, love and light.
May the Light of Truth overcome all darkness.
Victory to that Light!
*Hear Sri Swami Satchidananda recite the meal prayer here: www.yogaville.org (search: meal prayer).