Temples in Hinduism are centres of religious worship and hubs of social interaction. The deities are worshipped ritualistically and the temple prasad forms a key element of the worship. Devotees flock to temples to pray and worship and partake of the temple prasad, which is believed to be the fruit of their worship and considered highly sacred.
The food offering to the temple deities is known as Naivedya or Naivedyam, and after it has been offered to the deity, it becomes Prasad or Prasada or Prasadam and is distributed to the devotees in big and small temples across India. Many of the temple prasads are as famous if not more, than the temples themselves.
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Temple Prasad – Consecrated Food Offerings
The preparation of prasad, whether in temples or in homes during festivals or other religious events adheres to a strict code of conduct. It is prepared with the utmost cleanliness and purity, both physically and mentally. Prasad is mostly vegetarian and cooked without garlic or onion. Temple Prasad has a special flavour and taste which is unique and different from ordinary food, it is as if it has been infused with the blessings of divinity.
20 Famous Temple Prasad From Across India
The plain Sooji Ka Halwa transcends the physical frame and assumes the status of ambrosia when it is made as Prasad for Satyanarayana Pooja. The famous GI-Tagged Tirupati Laddu is infused with a sweetness that borders on the divine, and the food served in the Langars of countless Gurudwaras across the country mesmerizes devotees with a taste that can only be called heavenly.
We invite you to join us on a temple crawl that gives us an immersive experience of the tantalizing aroma and flavour of 20 famous temple prasad from across India.
Tirupati Balaji Prasad – Temple Prasad
Tirupati Balaji temple draws millions from across the globe. People throng the temple for a few seconds for darshan of Lord Balaji in all his splendour. They queue up for hours and even days for those few seconds of bliss, when they feel connected with divinity.
Tirupati is of course one of the richest temples in the world and this fact is well known. It is also famous for its Laddus that have now earned a GI (Geographical Indication) tag. The Tirupati Laddus are as much in demand as the darshan of Lord Balaji.
The laddus are sold at designated counters in Thirumala, and the number of Laddus that you can buy depends on how many darshan tickets you have. In addition to Laddus, Tirupati Prasadam like Puliyogare (Tamarind Rice), Curd Rice, and Chitranna (Lemon Rice), are distributed freely to the temple visitors. In addition, if you are doing special sevas like Kalyanotsavam at the Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple in Thirumala, you are given large quantities of special prasad. Free meals are also served to visitors as Annaprasadam.
Shirdi Sai Baba Temple Prasad
The temple of Sai Baba in Shirdi, Maharashtra, is another of India’s most revered temples. Dedicated to the saint who was known for his compassion towards all living beings, the Shirdi Sai Baba temple draws around 80,000 faithful devotees every day to its fold. People are drawn like puppets on a string to the temple and arrive at the feet of Baba, full of faith and devotion.
Much in demand is the Shirdi Sai Baba prasad which is not in the form of food but is Udi or ash. The Udi is the ash from a sacred fire that Baba kept burning forever. The fire still burns, making sacred Udi which is hope and salvation for millions. The Udi is believed to have miraculous powers. It can be applied on the forehead and can also be consumed. Apart from the famous Udi of Shirdi, other prasad at Shirdi includes dry fruits, Revdi, and Makhana.
Free food is served to devotees at the Shri Sai Prasadalaya, a large dining area with a capacity to seat 3,500 devotees. Food is prepared in a kitchen which is said to be the World’s largest Solar-Powered Free Food Kitchen. The meal served includes Rice, Dal, Chapatis, vegetables, and rice.
Jagannath Temple Prasad – Mandir Prasad
The ancient and historic temple of Jagannath in Puri, Odisha, is well known. It is one of the Char Dhams designated by Adi Shankaracharya which also has one of the four Amnaya Mathas established by him. Jagannath temple has achieved global recognition for its spectacular Rath Yatra. Equally famous is the temple prasad associated with Jagannath Puri. In fact among the many unexplained mysteries of Jagannath Puri is the one associated with the food that is cooked in the temple kitchens.
Jagannath temple is one of the Indian temples that offer unique prasads. Did you know that the quantity of food cooked in the kitchen of the Jagannath Puri temple is the same on any day, and it is always exact, in spite of the variance in daily visitors between 2,000 to 20,000? The Naivedya or offering to the deities in the Jagannath temple consists of 56 (Chappan) food items. This is famous everywhere as Chappan Bhog. After the offering to the deities, the offering assumes the form of Mahaprasad for the devotees.
The Mahaprasad of Jagannath Puri Temple is sold in the temple at the Anand Bazar and is of two categories, namely Sankudi consisting of food items like rice, ghee rice, dal, different curries, etc… The other category is Shukhila which consists of dry sweets. The Mahaprasad of Jagannath Puri temple is treated as God incarnate, and considered as, “Anna Brahma.”
Golden Temple Kada Prasad – Temple Prasad
The Golden Temple in Amritsar, Punjab, India, is one of the holiest shrines of the Sikhs. It is however visited by people of all religions and is an ocean of serenity and harmony. The divine ambience of the temple draws the devout in droves to the temple. Equally compelling is the Kada Prasad or Karah Prasad which is served to all visitors to the temple.
Kada Prasad is a standard offering and prasad is served in different Gurudwaras. It is a preparation of flour and is cooked according to a prescribed method of making. Another important Prasad of Amritsar is the free food served in the Langar of the Golden Temple, which too is blessed by the Guru and a form of Prasad.
Mata Vaishno Devi Prasad | Vaishno Devi Ka Prasad
The Mata Vaishno Devi temple which is one of the 108 Shakti peeths, is a much-visited spiritual destination in Jammu, India. Devotees trek up the hill to have a glimpse of the deity and return back with the treasured prasad of the Goddess. Prasad can be obtained from the designated counter located outside the exit tunnel and just beyond Amrit Kund. The edible prasad is in the form of Mishri Prasad.
Prasad is given in pouches that contain Mishri, and a consecrated coin with an image of the Holy Pindis – the deity inside the sanctum of the temple. You can also get a special prasad known as Khazaana Prashad which consists of special coins. It is believed that these coins bring prosperity and good luck and should be kept inside cash boxes or places of worship in homes or offices. Other prasad items are in the form of sacred Chunnis and Cholas that have adorned the deities.
Mahakaleshwar Prasad – Mandir Ka Prasad
The famous Shree Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain is a Shiva temple where one of the 12 Jyotirlingas is located. The prasad that is available at the Mahakal Ujjain temple is in the form of Laddus, that are in high demand. The laddus can be bought in the temple counters.
See the Live Darshan of Mahakaleshwar in Ujjain here.
Somnath Temple Prasad
The Somnath Shiva temple in Somnath, Gujarat, is believed to be the oldest of the 12 sacred Jyotirlingas. Located near Junagadh, the temple is one of the most sacred pilgrim destinations in India.
Somnath temple prasad consists of Mava Chikki, Peanut Chikki, and Laddu. These can be ordered online from the official website of the Somnath temple, here.
See the live darshan of Somnath Jyotirlinga here.
When in Somnath, you can also visit the famous Bhalka Tirth temple which is the place where the end of Krishna Avatar was initiated,
Ananta Vasudeva Temple Prasad
The Prasad in temples across India is as varied as the cultural diversity of the country. The Ananta Vasudeva Temple is a temple to Vishnu located in Bhubaneshwar, the capital of Odisha, in the 13th century. The temple resembles the Jagannath temple in Puri in many ways, including the bhog or Naivedya to the deity which is available as Prasad to devotees after consecration.
The Ananta Vasudeva temple Prasad includes food items like Arna (a rice preparation similar to Khichdi), Dalma, Dali, Besara, Saga, Pachedi, and Kheer, among others.
Shreenathji Prasad – Shrinathji Temple, Rajasthan
The famous Shreenathji Temple of Nathdwara, Rajasthan is an important destination on the Krishna circuit of India. It is a temple where Krishna is worshipped as a seven-year-old boy lifting the Govardhan mountain on his little finger.
The Shreenathji temple prasad is one of the unique prasad in temples across India. It is known as Saagar or Sagar Prasad and consists of Badam Chakki, which is made of almonds, sugar, and clarified butter or Ghee. Other food items available as prasad of Shreenathji include Sev Laddu, Mesur (Mysore Pak), Khaja, Thor, Mohanthal, etc.
Siddhivinayak Temple Prasad
The Siddhivinayak Temple in Mumbai enjoys an iconic status. From students to business tycoons, and from cine stars to sports celebrities, everyone makes the pilgrimage to this famous temple for the darshan and grace of Shri Siddhivinayak. It is one of the most popular Ganesh temples in the country.
The famous temple prasad of Siddhivinayak is Laddu. Other items include lockets of Siddhivinayak and Ganesh Stotra booklet.
For Live Darshan of Siddhivinakay click here.
Ganapatipule Temple Prasad
Ganapatipule temple is located on the western coastline near the town of Ratnagiri in the state of Maharashtra. It is one of the important Ganesh temples that dot the coastline along the Arabian Sea, stretching from Maharashtra to Karnataka, and Kerala.
Ganapatipule temple is known for its famous Khichdi Prasad which is served in the afternoon to devotees. The Khichdi is offered to the deity and then served as Prasad. The Khichdi Prasad is available at the temple counters at a very nominal cost.
Dwarkadhish Temple Prasad
Dwarka is famous as the mythological kingdom of Krishna. Located on the coast of Gujarat, it is home to many temples including the Rukmini Devi temple and the Nageshwar Jyotirling temple. However, its main claim to fame is the Shree Dwarkadhish temple.
Bhog is offered to the deity about 11 times a day. The consecrated offerings are then available to devotees in the form of Prasad. The Prasad can be bought from the counter within the temple complex. Prasad usually consists of items like Petha, Mathri, Mohanthal, and other sweets.
Shri Banke Bihari, Vrindavan – Mandir Prasad
The famous Banke Bihari temple in Vrindavan, near Mathura, is a historic site that attracts lakhs of devotees. The deity of the temple is a combined form of Radha and Krishna which is believed to have been manifested by Swami Haridas.
The famous prasad of Banke Bihari temple in Vrindavan is Pedha and Maakhan Mishri. A unique prasad of Banke Bihari temple is the Bal Bhog which is offered to the deity in the morning and then distributed as prasad. This includes Kachori, Pedha, and Laddu.
Baidyanath Temple, Deoghar – Temple Prasad
The Baidyanath temple of Deoghar in the state of Jharkhand, India, is a sacred Shiva temple and one of the 12 Jyotirlinga temples. It is also known as Baba Baidyanath Dham.
The special prasad of Baidyanath temple is Pedha, which devotees can buy at the temple.
Dhandayuthapani Swamy Temple, Palani – Temple Prasad
The Arulmigu Dhandayuthapani Swamy Temple is an ancient and sacred temple to Murugan, the brother of Ganesh. He is also known as Karthikeya and Subrahmanya. According to legend, after Murugan lost in a challenge to brother Ganesh, he decided to stay as a hermit on Palani Hill in the Dindigul district of Tamil Nadu, India.
The idol of Murugan in the temple is believed to have been made and consecrated by the Sidda saint Bogar. It is said that he made the idol using 9 different elements containing 9 different poisons known as Navapashanam. Hence the holy water used to do abhishekam to the idol and given as Tirtha to devotees is believed to be a master antidote, a panacea for all illnesses.
The famous prasad of Arulmigu Dhandayuthapani Swamy Temple is the Palani Panchamritam which has a GI (Geographical Information) tag. The Panchamritam is a concoction containing bananas, cardamom, jaggery, cow ghee, and honey.
Guruvayur Temple Prasad
The revered temple of Guruvayurappan in Guruvayur, Kerala, is well known. The temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and the deity is an idol of Vishnu in the form which was revealed to Devaki and Vasudev at the time of the birth of Krishna.
The prasad of Guruvayur temple consists of the Bhog or Naivedya to the deity at different times of the day. Ahassu is a prasad which is an assortment of different prasads of the day and includes items like Appam, Adda, Avil, Kalabham, and more.
Sankat Mochan Temple Prasad – Kashi
The Sankat Mochan temple is a 16th-century temple dedicated to Hanuman that stands near the banks of the Assi river in Kashi, also referred to as Varanasi, or Benares, in Uttar Pradesh, India. The temple was established by the Hindu saint and poet, Tulsidas. It is believed that the temple was built at the very spot where Tulsidas had a vision of Hanuman.
The special prasad of Sankat Mochan temple in Kashi is much sought after and relished by devotees. It is in the form of Besan Laddos, which can be procured at the temple premises.
Ayyappa Temple Sabarimala – Mandir Prasad
The Sabarimala temple is famous as one of the largest annual pilgrimage centres in the world. It is estimated that the temple sees between 10 to 15 million visitors every year. The temple of Sabarimala is located on a hill of the same name within the Periyar Tiger Reserve, in the state of Kerala, India. The temple is dedicated to Ayyappa who is believed to be the son of Vishnu and Shiva.
The famous Prasadam of Sabarimala Ayyappa temple consists of Aravana Payasam which is made from rice, milk, and jaggery. Another item of prasad at the Sabarimala temple is Appam which is made from rice batter and coconut milk. It is interesting to note that the rice used for the preparation of the Prasadam at the Sabarimala temple comes from the Chettikulangara Sree Bhagavathi Temple located in the Alappuzha district of Kerala.
ISKCON Temple Prasad | ISKCON Prasad
The International Society For Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) is a global organization, a part of the Hare Krishna movement, and has Krishna temples across India and the world. Apart from the temples, the organization also runs numerous community projects and vegetarian restaurants.
The different ISKCON temples in India and abroad are known for the Prasad that they serve visitors. Many of the temples serve free food to people in the form of Nitya Annadana. Apart from this various other food items can purchased from the temple counters.
Ambaji Prasad
Ambaji in the Sabarkantha district of Gujarat, India, is well known for its Shri Arasuri Ambaji Mata Temple, one of the sacred Shaktipeeths.
Mohanthal has been the traditional Prasad associated with the temple. However, recently the authorities changed the prasad to Chikki, leading to what is termed as the Prasad controversy. Many political parties and religious organizations have been protesting against the change.
Trimbakeshwar Prasad
The Shri Trimbakeshwar Shiva temple in the Nashik district of Maharashtra is one of the 12 Jyotirlinga temples. It is located about 28 kilometres from the city of Nashik.
The Prasad of Trimbakeshwar temple includes dry items like dry fruits and Mishri (Sugar Candy).
Click here for the live darshan of Sri Trimbakeshwar Jyotirling.
Temple Prasad Online – Temple Prasadam Online
One of the advantages of technology is that it can be harnessed towards your spiritual emancipation. Be it online darshan of your favourite temple deities or ordering online prasad from the temples that you have reposed faith in. There are many sites that offer temple prasad online from temples across India. However, please check the credentials and authenticity of the site from which you order. It is best to order prasad online from the official temple websites wherever the facility is available.
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We hope you found our post about the amazing temple Prasad across India interesting and informative. We would like to conclude that though there is a lot of sanctity aligned with various temple prasad from across India, in a way whatever we eat or drink is Prasad, a blessing from God, for which we need to be grateful.
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What an incredibly enlightening and mouthwatering journey through the diverse and spiritually rich landscape of India! Your blog post on “20 Famous Temple Prasad From Across India” is a true treasure trove of information and culinary delights. The way you’ve beautifully described the significance of each prasad, along with their unique flavors and rituals, is truly captivating. It’s not just a culinary exploration; it’s a cultural and spiritual immersion.
Reading your post felt like a spiritual pilgrimage in itself, and I appreciate the meticulous research and effort you’ve put into bringing these temple prasads to life for your readers. It’s evident that you have a deep respect for the traditions and customs associated with these temples.
Thank you for sharing this wonderful piece with us! It has not only expanded my culinary horizons but also deepened my appreciation for the rich tapestry of India’s religious and cultural diversity. Looking forward to more insightful and delightful posts from you.
What an interesting topic to write about! Wonder why I never thought about this. Being Bengali, all those ladoos and Bundiya so tempt me! Hope you cover the Bhog Prasad at Belur Math and Dakhsineshwar Mandir soon…
Among all the prasads mentioned here I simply love Kada Prasad given in Golden Temple Amritsar. Simply because it is made by the devotees most of the times and the taste everytime is the best and soul satisfying. At Iskon Delhi one gets a boondi ladoo that is also very tasty.
Sandy, this is such an incredible collection of famous temple prasad from different parts of India! I’ve never come across such a unique post before. It’s fascinating to learn about the diversity and significance behind these prasads. Thanks for sharing this insightful and informative piece.