BHOG NAIVEDYA: FOOD OFFERINGS TO THE GODS

"Bhog Naivedyam: Food offerings to the Gods" is the first work of non-fiction by CA Sujata Shukla Rajan. Shukla's passion for food, history, myth and travel fuse amalgamate together to create this mouthwatering book on Bhog, the food offered to the deities in various temples across the length and breathe of the country. Bhog, the daily meals of the gods, should not be confused with prasad, or the food items distributed to the congregation following worship. Shukla goes to great lengths to locate each temple in a complex matrix of history and myth, peppering the narrative with juicy titbits from her own ethnographic work at each of these sites. These personal touches really bring the narrative alive. The book engages with food and the divine from a place of both academic curiosity, and the humane tenderness of Bhakti, without following down the cliched "Eat, Pray,Love" or "Karma Cola" path. My favourite sections remain the chapter on the Shiridi Sai Baba mandir, which explores Shiridi beyond the Sai Baba mandir, the aside on the syncretism of the Jammah Mapilahs of Coorg, and the Pongal festival of Thiruvananthapuram. The section on the devara kadus also resonated with my own personal eco consciousness.With a sound and insightful introduction, the book is well organized in chapters centered around different deities, complete with rich endnotes, a glossary and a table of the temples covered. Given the vastness of field and research work done, indicated in the introduction, I am sure this is the beginning of a series of culinary narratives, and will establish Shukla on the literary landscape of both culinary writing and Indian writing.There are some books that appear once in a lifetime, and Bhog Naivedyam is on such shooting star!

I just finished reading the book today, with deep appreciation for the inside world behind what always felt like a set of institutions whose stories were rather obviously in the public eye... the temples of India. Having grown up loving the prasadam at the temples we visited, I never quite imagined that the food of the deities were a different world altogether.This book is a journey through culture and time, and a fascinating one at that, for it speaks to an important part of the food culture of our country, a subject that deserves study as modern day food culture increasingly traverses the same journey... local produce, seasonality, the healing nature of traditional fats against the backdrop of mythology. Sounds familiar? Well, be prepared to also meander through the nostalgia of 'maargazhi' in Chennai and encounter the occasional reference to Somerset Maugham, Divine weddings and Celestial dances. A read that was rivetting and nostalgic all at the same time as I consider the author's personal journey. I am struck by the richness of the tapestry of stories and the generosity of the story-telling.

I am not particularly religious and therefore not much of a temple goer. But am an avid food lover. And thats what prompted me to buy this book. Also had'nt ever heard of a book written purely on temple offerings (foods/prasad).The book is not only about the offerings, it also informs the readers about the various lore and beliefs behind why the customs are followed the way they are for each temple. This was enlightening for me. The prasadams are described in vivid details and my mouth was watering while going through these passages.The book covers a wide range of temples from south, north, east and west. The writing is simple and direct. I am now motivated enough to visit some of the temples mentioned, if not for prayer, for the prasadam (offering) atleast.All in all a great debut effort from the author.

There are very few books that cater to the meeting grounds of religious and foodie, culture and temple lore. Exquisitely written with a sumptuous mix of religious beliefs behind the practices, Diety specific customs across key temples of India and practical insights on the puja timings and offerings distributed!! As the author rightly points out, its not an exhaustive list of Indian temples and offerings practice.....but an amazing pilgrimage of sorts, through it all.

As the author says in her preface, if you are interested in food, Hindu temples, ritual behavior, Indian culture, or any combination of the above, there will be something in the book for you. I've been to some of the places and temples she discusses, and I really wish I had had the opportunity to read this book before seeing them way back then.If you have no experience with Indian culture, the wealth of new terms and names the author uses may seem a bit daunting. However, another nice thing about the book is the repetition of the new words will help you pick up lots of new vocabulary that will add flavor to the read (pardon the pun).You can tell this was a long term project the author had a lot of passion for, and the details of her experiences really bring it all alive.Lastly, beware of reading this book when you haven't eaten, because it will stimulate your appetite!Highly recommended!