Most of us render bhog (food offering) to God following stringent rules and rituals as a part of our daily worship. We lavish the altar with the most exquisite delicacies. And after a while, carry the plate away and eat it. But, do we ever pause to think if God has eaten what we offered, just as we inspect the plates of our loved ones?

Once, Swami Mukundananda asked a devotee about her bhog offering ritual. She shared her daily practice: placing a thali (plate) of food before the altar, ringing a bell, closing her eyes, and then taking the plate away to eat. Swamiji gently probed, “When you open your eyes, did you see how many rotis God ate? Which sabzi He relished more? Did He touch the sweets?” The answer, of course, was, “No, Swamiji”.

On enquiring why she did not notice these things, the devotee remarked, “Swamiji, but God doesn’t eat.”

Swamiji responded with a profound question: “If you believe He doesn’t eat, why are you offering it in the first place?”

Does God Really Feel Hungry?

Indeed, it is a fact that God does not need to eat. The Vedas confirm that God is complete in all aspects and beyond desires. The Chhandogya Upanishad states:

ya ātmāpahatapāpmā vijaro vimṛtyurviśoko vijighatso'pipāsaḥ satyakāmaḥ satyasaṃkalpaḥ (8.7.1)

God is free from sin, old age, death, sorrow, and from hunger and thirst. Hence, He neither feels hungry nor thirsty, nor does He suffer.

Yet, history and the scriptures are replete with stories where God hungers for food offered with love by His devotees. As a small child, He is seen running after the gopis in the lanes of Vraj, pleading for buttermilk and laddoos. As the King of Dwarka, He snatches away the impoverished Sudama’s tandul—an offering of dry rice tied in a tattered cloth. As Lord Ram, He eats the half-eaten berries of the tribal woman Shabari, with relish. He appeared before numerous saints and devotees like Dhanna Jatt, eating with them most intimately. Have you ever wondered why? Does God really feel hungry? What is He hungry for?

God Is Beyond Needs, Yet Moved by Love

Among all the infinite potencies of the Supreme Being, none is more profound and wondrous than the power of divine love. So potent is this force that it causes the all-powerful, sovereign Lord to willingly become subordinate to the devotee endowed with bhakti—unalloyed love for the Divine. The Śhrīmad Bhāgavatam bears testimony to this exalted truth:

aham bhakta-parādhīno hyasvatantra iva dvija

sādhubhir grasta-hṛidayo bhaktair bhakta-jana-priyaḥ

(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 9.4.63)

Shree Krishna declares: “Though I am supremely independent, I become as though bound by the love of My devotees. Their devotion captivates My heart, rendering Me dependent upon them. Such devotees are exceedingly dear to Me.”

Whenever the Supreme descends into this world in a manifest form, He reveals enchanting divine pastimes that vividly illustrate this truth—that He, the Lord of all creation, becomes enthralled by the unalloyed love of His devotees. Countless scriptural verses extol this divine paradox: the unconquerable Lord is conquered by love.

Singing glories of the divine pastimes of Bhagavan, who showered the nectar of divine love on the Brajvasis, Jagadguruttam Shree Kripalu Ji Maharaj writes in the pad “Braj Ras Barasi Rahyo Braj Bithin” in his Prem Ras Madira:

Jehi maya-vas vishwa charachar Brahmand-nayak vidhi, hari har Nachat jyon nat parvash banar Tehi dai chhachh neku si chhorin, kotin nach nachay

That Supreme Lord, whose external potency Maya controls the animate and inanimate of the universe, and makes the governors of the universe, Brahma, Vishnu and Shankar dance under its control, in Braj, that same Supreme Lord, is made to dance innumerable times by the young maidens just for a handful of buttermilk.

Hence, when it comes to the love of the devotee, God does respond. And He not only responds, He becomes enslaved by their unconditional love. That is when He becomes hungry—not for the bhog, but for the bhav—loving devotion.

Swami Mukundananda brings this principle to life through the timeless tales of Krishna in his Srimad Bhagavatam Series. Let us relish two such sweet stories of Divine Love.

The Divine Mischief: Krishna’s Makhan-Chori Leela

Lord Krishna’s legendary butter-stealing began not in the homes of the gopis, but in His own. One day, when Yashoda was away in her prayer room, Krishna toddled into the pantry and began indulging in His favorite treat—butter. There, He noticed His own reflection in a polished pillar and mistook it for another boy.

Thinking it was a guard appointed by His mother, Krishna pleaded with the reflection, “Don’t tell Maiyya, or she’ll scold me. Here, have some butter too!” He generously smeared butter on the pillar, believing He was feeding His partner in crime.

Soon, Yashoda heard the murmurs and arrived to find Krishna deep in conversation with Himself. Innocently pointing at His reflection, Krishna exclaimed, “Look, Maiyya, there’s a thief! I tried to stop him, but he wouldn’t listen!”

Yashoda, amused yet concerned, wondered what the future held for her playful son. This divine mischief was not just childish play—it was a leela, overflowing with love and designed to steal hearts.

Krishna's craving for love extended beyond His home. The gopis, while churning butter, often meditated on Nandlal, yearning for His presence. Knowing the longing in their hearts, Krishna responded with innocent love.

He began visiting their homes, forming a band of butter-thieves with other children of Braj, their leader none other than Shree Krishna Chandra Himself. One by one, He fulfilled the gopis' unspoken prayers—not by words, but by the sweetness of His butter-stealing and other playful pastimes.

Thus, even in stealing butter, Krishna was offering the supreme gift: divine love. 

Inspiration

Why would Krishna steal butter from the gopis' homes? Was He really hungry? No, but the love with which it was churned attracted Him to them. God hungers for that bhav—those pure devotional sentiments which enrapture Him. This is the essence of all spiritual principles. Swami Mukundananda quotes the popular bhajan Bhāv ke bhūkhe Prabhu hain, bhāv hī ik sāra hai, enumerating this eternal bond between God and His devotees situated in divine love:

Jo bhī Prabhu meṁ bhāv rakhkar, lēte hain unakī sharaṇ. Bhakt aur unke hṛday kā, rahtā hai iktār hai. Bāndh lētē bhakt unko prēm kī jañjīr meṁ. Isīliye is bhūmi par hotā unka avatār hai.

Those who surrender to God with devotion in their hearts, Remain ever connected to Him in divine harmony. Between the devotee and God’s heart, An everlasting thread of love and unity flows. Devotees bind the infinite Lord In chains of their divine love. That is why He descends upon this earth— To respond to the love of His devotees.

Shree Krishna’s divine purpose of descending on earth was thus to impart the bliss of divine love to His devotees who have accepted Him as their own.

Vidurani’s Banana Peels are Sweeter than the Chappan Bhog!

Swamiji recounts the episode from the Mahabharata, where Lord Krishna visited the Kaurava court to negotiate peace. He requested just five villages for the Pandavas to avoid war. Duryodhana arrogantly refused, declaring he would not part with even a needle’s worth of land.

Krishna then revealed His Virat Roop—His cosmic form. Yet, Duryodhana remained unmoved, even mocking Krishna and ordering Him to be imprisoned. Dhritarashtra had to intervene to stop the sacrilege. Duryodhana tried to cover up the insult by inviting Krishna to a grand Chappan bhog meal.

Krishna retorted, “One eats for two reasons: either out of hunger or when the food is offered with love. In this case, neither applies. Besides, I have an invitation from Vidur’s home.”

Vidur, no longer a minister, was unaware that Krishna was coming. When he heard his name mentioned in the assembly, he rushed to the market to get something for his Lord. Meanwhile, Krishna reached His home and began knocking.  

Vidur’s wife, Vidurani, was bathing and asked who it was. Krishna lovingly said, “Aunty, I’m hungry.” Recognizing His voice, she ran to the door, overwhelmed that her Lord had come.  

So deep was her devotion that she even forgot to dress appropriately. Krishna, noticing her entranced state of love, gently covered her with His pitambar (yellow cloth) and asked to be invited in. 

Vidurani, still in a state of bhav, brought bananas to serve Him. In her divine absorption, she dropped the fruit and mistakenly fed Krishna the banana peels. Full of joy, Krishna savored every bite and said, “I’ve never tasted anything like this.”

Was it the peel He enjoyed? No—it was the flavor of her devotion.

Love Transcends Rituals

When Vidur returned, he was astonished to find Krishna being fed banana peels. In a mix of love and frustration, he offered halwa and puri, which he had bought from the market, and apologized.

Krishna graciously accepted it but remarked, “Vidurji, don’t mind, but the sweetness in those banana peels is missing in this halwa puri.” The message is crystal clear: God relishes not the gift, but the love behind it.

Inspiration

What is the right sentiment when offering bhog? Let every gesture of worship be filled with sincerity, love, and deep faith. Only then do rituals transform into divine experiences.

Swamiji urges devotees to reflect: “Don’t mechanically offer and assume He will not eat. Instead, offer it with heartfelt belief that He will partake. And if He doesn’t come physically, at least feel a gentle remorse that perhaps your devotion still needs deepening.”

This humility draws divine grace. It is better than assuming from the outset that God will not come. That assumption shows a lack of faith.

To know more about the story, watch this video.

Contemplation

This popular bhajan, sung as ‘bhog geet’, reflects Vidurani's spontaneous, unadulterated loving sentiments and how Shree Krishna reciprocated with equal measure.

Aaju harī āye Vidur ghar pāhunā,
Vidur nahīn ghar thī Vidurānī, āye the jab Sārangpānī. Phūlī nahiṁ samātī man meṁ, bhojan kahāṁ banāvanā. Kēlā baṛe prēm sē lāī, giri giri sab dēt girāī. Chilakā dēt Shyām mukh māhiṁ, ruchi ruchi bhōg lagāvanā. Itanē māhiṁ Vidur jī āē, khōṭē kharē bacan sunāē. Chilakā dēt Shyām mukh māhiṁ, kahāṁ gamāī bhāvanā. Chappan bhōg Vidur jī lāyē, baṛē prēm sē Shyām jīmāē. Haṁs kar Shyām Vidur sāṁ bōlē, vō svād nahiṁ āvanā. Āyā karo Sā̃vare, in galiyõ mẽ bhī jhum jhum.
Rūkhā sūkhā bhojan ham, garībõ kā bhī pāvanā. 

Let us follow the clip below and contemplate on this heartwarming episode of divine love to solidify our sentiments while offering bhog  to the Lord.

Conclusion

Krishna’s frolicking pastimes bear deeper spiritual significance. These episodes highlight that just as devotees forget the divine nature of Krishna's leelas, God also forgets His aishwarya roop (majestic form)to enhance the love of His devotees and get closer to them.

In the absence of His reverential form and aspect, a soul can perceive God as 'mine,' which creates an automatic bond of love. Developing love for God begins with the realization that He is eternally 'ours.' Devotion is thus, not about ritual perfection—it is about heartfelt connection. This intimate secret is cherished by those who truly share this loving bond with God.

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Resources

1. Mukundananda, S. (2024).Spiritual Secrets From Hinduism. Rupa Publications Pvt Ltd: New Delhi, India.
2.  God Is Hungry For Love | Does God Eat the Food Offered ?
3.  Why Shree Krishna is SO Mischievous? Divine Purpose of Yashodha Krishna Leela | Swami Mukundananda
4.  #1 Reason Shree Krishna Steals Butter - The Secret of Braj Gopi Krishna Leela | Swami Mukundananda