Bhagwan Shree Hari gets a wonderful Annakut prepared.
Suvrat said:-
While he was thus, praised by His devotees, Rati standing at a distance, told him, ‘food is ready’. 1
Then, Shri Hari, asked the Brahmin priest to keep the Annakoota ready in front of Lord Shri Krishna. 2
The chief of the Brahmin who used to worship RadhaKrishna daily, made proper arrangements for the Annakoota. 3
Then Vasudevanand and other eminent devotees brought the vessels full of sweets and other food-preparations, respectfully. 4
O King! He then made proper arrangement of the Annakoota preparation and offered it to Lord Shri Krishna. 5
As instructed by Shri Hari, Mukundanand, a distinguished ascetic, who was firmed, approached him and having purified himself, waved the lights before the Shri Krishna. 6
Narayanmuni (Shri Hari) having heard the ringing of the bells came there and hurriedly bowed down to Lord Krishna with folded hands. 7
While praising their exceptional skill, Shri Hari witnessed the setting of the Annakoota arranged by the eminent Brahmins. 8
He then cast his eyes on the delicious porous, circular khajas arranged in heaps, one over the other. 9
Shri Hari also gave a passing look over the white, soft and sweet baked/fried cakes with their edges turned rightwards and which were piled in circular heaps by the Brahmins. 10
He then, looked at the sweet Halwa made of Suji, ghee and sugar kept in a big plate and which again smeared with (lot of) ghee, was heaped in a plate resembling a mountain. He also saw heaps of big pieces of Barfi (paprika) arranged in a plate on all sides. 11-12
He looked at the pedhas, Laddus, (sweet balls) & sweet sticks made of Jaggery (Granthika-Gathia), round oval-shaped sweat dumplings (Modak), Motichur (Besan) Laddus, Laddus prepared of mix-flour, and Sattu flour, Laddus made of roasted wheat flour and sesame seeds.13
White (Suhalio)? white sev, Mandas, Gheevar, puris, white chapatis, porridge (payas); curd-rice, milk-rice, saffron-rice, Mung-Halwa, small cakes of pounded sesame, balls of rice-flour and sugar; 14-15
Shrikhanda, Sukhadi, Sutar-feni, Battasa, Ghurghura (Karanji) Laddus made of edible gum, Malpuva, Motichur laddus, Kalimba, Chhataka, Sthiraka Bananas mixed with ghee and sugar; 16-17
He then saw various types of cooked vegetables placed in a big pan (which included) Tuvar (Koshataka) garnished with curds and seasoned with cloves, bay-leaves etc., Rajakoshataki, Gavar, Lady’s finger, beet-root white-gourd properly seasoned. 18-19
Various kinds of Baingan, raddish, beans, sugar-cane, kidney-beans, cucumber, sweet-apple, etc; 20
He saw Rajma beans, soft sprouted grains, (pulses) sweet Bimba fruit, yam water melon, bitter gourd, pumpkin, suran, Parvar, various kinds of beans nicely seasoned; Fenugreek leaves (Methi), Tandulja, Raddish, Shepu, Amla Loni, Dodi, Fangya, Rajagira, Karanja, properly seasoned. Then he saw various kinds of Raitas made of white gourd, sweet apple, pumpkin, banana beetroot grapes, dried dates, Sangari, mixed with curds. Roasted egg-plant, Raita mixed with curds, kept in nickel pots; mustard seeds (powder) mixed with curds and cakes and puffed pakodas, made of Alu leaves (Aravi), Bananas, Egg-plant, Pumpkin, White gourd, Suran, Gilka etc. Shri Hari also saw heaps of white soft cooked rice. It‘s smell spread in all directions. He saw a big nickel pot full of lentil soup placed near by the side of the heap of rice. He also saw big round horse-gram dal fried in ghee, seasoned butter-milk, curds, butter milk, whipped cream and Papad; some vessels filled with condensed milk, added with sugar, and some vessels filled with ghee; In some other plates lump of butter with sugar and some pickles nicely seasoned, kept in small pans; chutney prepared from coriander leaves, salt, ginger, lemon juice which the enjoyer of the food would certainly find tasty. He saw a round glittering golden plate placed near Lord Krishna which resembled the full-moon. It was surrounded by sixty-four, shining silver bowls. It was enchanting sight to the onlookers. 21-36
Shri Hari was extremely pleased to notice the display of one hundred and one food-preparations which he had already seen. 37
Shri Hari witnessed the Annakootatsava with his devotees. He took His seat on the ground and thus (in a way) adhered to the norms of decency. 38
He made the Munis to recite the benedictory verses about the Govardhana mahotsava composed by renowned poets. They (Munis) while staring at His face sang with the accompaniment of Vina, Vipanchika, Mrudung cymbals, such other musical instruments. 39-40
Thus, Shri Hari, who was very much pleased, witnessed the waving of lights and the Annakoototsava celebrations, prostrated himself on the ground and thus concluded the ritual. 41
All the sages and other people, witnessing the Annakoota festival, were delighted and expressed their joy with the words, Jay! Jay! 42
O Lord of the Earth! The men and the women devotees of Hari, who had come there, were very much excited to have that eye-catching look of the Annakoota. 43
Thus ends the eighteenth chapter entitled, ‘Narration of description of several food items prepared for Annakutotsava,’ in the third prakaran of Satsangi Jivan, the life story of Lord Narayan, also titled as Dharmashastra, (the rules of the code of conduct). 18