Sai Gems - Food

Sri Sai Maharaj tells us of the importance of pure food on the spiritual path and ways to purify it. The translation of the food prayer and its importance is posted below:

Food Prayer
Brahmār pañam Brahma Havir Brahmā gnau Brahmañā hutaṃ,
Brahmaiva Tena Ganta vyam Brahma karmā Samādhi naha.
Aham Vaishvā naro Bhutvā Prāñinām Ḍehamā shritaha,
Prāñā pāna Samā yuktaha Pachām yannam Chatur vidham.
Om Shanthi Shanthi Shanthi

The food thus offered to God is digested by 'Vaishwanara" in the digestive system. Since God exists in the form of fire as Vaishwanara, He digests the food along with the impurities. So, man will not be affected even if the impurities enter the food.
Summer Showers in Brindavan, 1993

Potency of Brahmaarpanam Mantra
"When I was in Brindavan in May this year, I had the opportunity to attend the morning talks at Sai Krishan Kalyana Mandap. On one of the days, Uncle Prahlad Rao gave a talk and he covered the potency of the food mantra stated below.
In the early days (70s if I recall), Swami had asked all the Brindavan campus college boys to join Him for lunch. At that time, only about 100 boys were there. Kirlian photographer Dr. Baranowski was also there and was invited for lunch. The sumptuous food was laid out on plates in front of the boys. The boys were waiting for Swami to come and join them. Dr. Baranowski then used his Kirlian camera and took photos of the food laid out on the plates. No aura was found around the plates of food.
Later, Swami arrived and joined the boys for lunch. The boys recited the Brahmaarpanam mantra before partaking the food. After the mantra was recited, Dr. Baranowski again took pictures of the food. This time, a blue aura was found around the plates of food. He was excited, but, having a scientific mind, asked Swami for the reason for the blue aura around the food. Swami said that the Brahmaarpanam mantra is a very powerful mantra and that after recitation, the food is converted to prasadam, since it has been offered to God. It further purifies the food and all items around it. That is why the blue aura was found around the plates of food after the mantra was recited.
The mantra and its meaning is given below.
Brahmārpañam Brahma Havir BrahmāgnauBrahmañāhutaṃ,
Brahmaiva Tena Gantavyam BrahmakarmāSamādhinah.

The whole creation being the gross projection of Brahman, the Cosmic Consciousness itself; the food too is Brahman, the process of offering it is Brahman; it is being offered in the fire of Brahman. He who thus sees that Brahman is action reaches Brahman alone.

AhamVaishvānaroBhutvā PrāñināmḌehamāshritaha,
PrāñāpānaSamāyuktah PachāmyannamChaturvidham.

I, the Supreme Spirit, abiding in the body of living beings as the Fire (Vaiswanara) in their stomach I am associated with their Praana and Apaana, digest the four type of foods (solids, fluids, semi-fluid and liquid) which they eat.
Daily Prayers to Bhagwan, compiled by Smt. Kausalya Rani Raghwan