The phenomenon of something changing from material to spiritual is an extraordinary one, but it is something that devotees are involved in daily, often several times a day.  How, you ask?  It happens when bhoga (unoffered food) becomes prasadam, or food sanctified by Lord Krishna.  The proof is when we eat prasadam and observe the effect that it has on us.

As Lord Krishna says, pratyaksavagamam dharmyam: “The principle of religion is understood by direct experience.”  (Bhagavat Gita 9.2) or in this case, the proof is certainly in the tasting.  Those who have tasted Krishna’s prasadam know that it has extraordinary potency, and eating it is a very different experience from eating food which isn’t offered to the Lord with love and devotion.  Moreover, as stated by Lord Krishna, in the Bhagavad Gita 3.13) The devotees of the Lord are released from all kinds of sins because they eat food which is offered first for sacrifice.  Others, who prepare food for personal sense enjoyment, verily eat only sin.

So when does bhoga become prasadam?  When it is offered, certainly.  But for an offering to be successful, it must be accepted.  When Krishna accepts what we offer to Him, it becomes prasadam.  The word prasadam means “mercy” and in the Bhagavat Gita, Lord Krishna says, prasade sarva-duhkhanam hanir asyopajayate: “Receiving the mercy of the Lord destroys all misery.” 

Therefore, when we eat (or, as we say, honor) prasadam, we feel elated.  Prasadam destroys the results of our past sinful activities.  Srila Rupa Gosvami, a great sage in the Vaisnava tradition, says it makes us feel “very auspicious”.  The food we eat is important in determining who we are - slowly by eating prasadam our mentality and desires will become clean, pure and God conscious. 

And what is it that is really being accepted?  Is it the food itself?  Krishna says in the Bhagavat Gita (9.26) “If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, fruit or water, I will accept it.”  He says “I accept the bhakti.”  In other words, you may offer a leaf, a flower, fruit, milk, or preparations cooked in ghee (clarified butter), but the devotion is what carries those preparations to Krishna and that’s what makes Him inclined to accept it.  

Sri Isopanisad (Mantra 5) tells us, tad dure tad v antike: although Krishna is very far away, He is also close.  So wherever we are, when we offer something to Krishna, devotion brings Him right to us.

Offering food to Lord Krishna is a really simple process, which also helps us develop a personal and close relationship with him.  Offering is done by placing the food to be offered in a plate, bowls and a cup, along with a spoon - these utensils are to be utilized for serving Lord Krishna only.   Place everything on the altar and light some incense.  Then, while ringing a small bell, recite the following Sanskrit mantras :

1. Namo Om Vishnu Padaya Krishna Presthaya Bhutale Srimate Bhaktivedanta Swamin Iti Namine
2. Namaste Sarasvati Deve Gaura Vani Pracharine Nirvishesa Sunyavadi Paschatya Desha Tarine
3. Namo Maha Vadanyayah Krishna Prema Pradayate, Krishnaya Krishna Chaitanya Namine Gaura Tvise Namaha.         4. Namo Brahmanya Devayah Go Brahmanya Hitayacha, Jagat Dhitaya Krishnaya Govindaya Namo Namaha
5. Jaya Sri Krishna Chaitanya prabhu Nityananda, Sri Advaita Gadadhara Srivasadi Gaura Bhakta Vrinda
6. Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare. 

Each of the above mantras is to be repeated three times before proceeding to the next one. 

Leave the food on the altar for about 10 minutes for The Lord to partake of your offering.  To remove the offering, offer obeisances, ring the bell and clap your hand 3 times, then take away the food from the altar.  Remember to thank The Lord for his kind mercy!

Transfer the food from Lord Krishna's utensils into general plates and cups, and distribute The Lord’s maha prasadam to everyone.