Sometimes, we all need a little encouragement from Lord Krishna to keep serving with faith. We all need a bit of Krishna magic – a moment where we feel his presence and realise he’s real and a person. These experiences strengthen our faith and inspire us to dedicate ourselves even more.
About ten years ago, I entered the deity kitchen where an elderly Bengali lady was preparing breakfast offerings for Radha Gokulananda. She explained that before starting her service, she always practices her sadhana and listens to her spiritual master’s teachings.
“My spiritual master emphasises the importance of being very serious in our spiritual practice when serving Lord Krishna,” she told me.
She prepared curry, halva, puri bread, hot milk and fruit salad.
I carefully transferred the food she made into Lord Krishna’s plates. Before leaving the kitchen to present the offerings to the altar, I asked her for blessings so I could offer her cooking to Radha Gokulananda.
“Bless you, my son,” she said, placing her hand on my head.
I went to the altar, chanted the appropriate mantras and requested the Lord to accept the offerings from Mataji.
Fifteen minutes later, when I returned to collect the offerings, I noticed something peculiar. On the plate from Radha Gokulananda someone had taken a bite of puri and it was precisely the size of Lord Krishna’s mouth. I was astonished.
“We definitely don’t have mice on the altar and no one else could have taken a piece of the puri!” I thought to myself.
I had made a plate for the offering so I knew exactly how it looked when I chanted the mantras and presented the food.
“It must have been Krishna!” I concluded.
I quickly transferred the prasadam to another room next to the altar and went to perform the arati ceremony. All the devotees who were serving there also saw the plate where Lord Krishna had taken a bite of the puri.
After the arati ceremony concluded, the entire temple was already familiar with the story. Mataji, the cook, approached me in tears of joy, expressing her gratitude to Lord Krishna for accepting her offering and offering prayers to her spiritual master. Her spiritual master had guided and blessed her in taking her cooking service so seriously.
“Your life is perfect,” I told her. “Lord Krishna has accepted your offering.”
The Lord doesn’t need to physically consume the offering; he can accept it simply by glancing at it. However, sometimes he does eat to strengthen our faith.
Since then, whenever I encounter this devoted lady, I always touch her feet and seek her blessings. I also share this inspiring story with anyone who’s around, which has instilled in us immense faith and encouragement in devotional service.
A few days ago, I met her again outside the temple room entrance while speaking with my friends. I asked for her blessings and requested a photo together as a keepsake.
Despite being in her late 70s, she daily reads scriptures, chants japa for two hours, listens to the classes from her spiritual master, visits the temple, and preaches to pilgrims.
It’s no coincidence that Lord Krishna accepted her offering. Her sincere adherence to her spiritual master’s instructions and her unwavering devotion have earned her special blessings from Radha Gokulananda.
I pray daily that one day I can also bring a smile to Lord Krishna’s face and perhaps he will accept whatever small service I offer Him.
If I consistently seek blessings from those who have already pleased him, then anything is possible!
Bhagavad-gītā As It Is 9.26: If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, a fruit or water, I will accept it.
Ananta Gopal Das
07.05.2026
Bhakti Wisdom 