4 After the new grains were cut

and brought home from the
paddy fields, the people began to
observe the navanna ceremony every-
where, in the presence of the Lord as
Sri Krsna and Baladeva.

According to Vedic culture, learned men consider all natural
products, such as food grains, fruits, flowers, and milk, to be
God-sent. No one can manufacture these things in manmade
factories, however scientifically advanced people may be. People
can make preparations of such God-sent foodstuffs, but they
cannot manufacture the natural ingredients. Spiritually cultured
men, therefore, feel obliged to the Lord when they get sufficient
natural foodstuffs by the grace of the Lord.

The navanna praSana ceremony is observed as a way of ac-
knowledging the gifts of God. Newly collected grains would first
be offered to the Lord by the villagers, either individually or
collectively, and in either case all the members of the village
would partake of the prasadam thus offered to the Lord. Such
ceremonies make the people happy and prosperous.

126
