Peda with 4 Flavors For Janmashtami

( Click image for enlarged view )

Today is Janmasthami the birthday of our dear lord sri krishna, the most lovable incarnation of god who can be loved as a baby, or for his playfull pranks as a boy, or for his youth and grace to protect the righteous in this world. Lord Sri Krishna has mentioned in the bhagawad gita (can buy here)

Whoever offers me with devotion, a leaf, a flower, a fruit or water,(patram,

pushpam, phalam, toyam) I accept that, the pious offering Of the pure in heart.

Can there be a simpler offering that god could ask for.

On this beautiful occassion I want to share a lila of krishna with you all...last year we went to vrindavan as my hubby is a krishna devotee...there are lot of beautifull temples one of them is the RADHA RAMAN Temple .

500 years back a great devotee of krishna Sri Gopala Bhatta Gosvami used to worship twelve Shaligram silas. Wherever he would go he would bring them with him in a piece of cloth tied at the corner. One day a wealthy man (Seth) came to Vrndavana and offered Gopala Bhatta a variety of clothing and ornaments for his Shaligrams. Being very impressed with the Gosvami he wanted his darshan and to render some service which he presented in the form of some valuable cloths and ornaments. However, Gopala Bhatta couldn't use these for his round-shaped Shaligrams, so he advised the donor to give the Deity decorations to someone else, but the Seth insisted. Gopala Bhatta kept the cloths and ornaments with his shilas.

While Gopala Bhatta Gosvami was absorbed in remembering how the half-man, half-lion form of the Supreme Lord had manifested from the pillar in Hiranyakasipu's palace, he prayed in transcendental lamentation to the Lord: "Oh my Lord, you are very merciful and always fulfill the desires of your devotees. I wish to serve you in your form, having arms and legs and blissful smiling face, with lotus eyes.... If I had a Deity then I would be able to decorate Him so nicely with these clothes and ornaments."

In the evening after offering some bhoga and arotika to his Shalagram shilas, Gopala Bhatta put them to rest, covering them with a wicker basket. Late in the night, Gopala Bhatta took a little rest and then, in the early morning went to take bath in the Yamuna river. Returning from his bath, he uncovered the Shalagramas in order to render the puja for Them, and saw amongst Them a Deity of Krishna playing the flute. There were now eleven shilas and this Deity. The "Damodara shila", had manifested as the beautiful three-fold bending form of tri-bhangananda-krishna.

Read the above story in detail and have darshan of radha raman on video here

There are so many spiritually magnificent temples in vrindavan, though it is a very rustic place it will fill you with spiritual bliss if you plan to go there...each temple has a beautifull lila

On this auspicious occasion I have prepared peda with four flavors pista,chocolate,mango and vanilla.

( Click image for enlarged view )

The peda originated in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, and the variety from the city of Mathura in that state is considered to be the best.Another significance of Mathura Peda is that they are also used as 'Prasad'( In Sanskrit it means "grace", "clarity" or "tranquility" that which comes from God as His grace, gift, and greetings; consecrated food. People visiting the temples of Mathura can buy peda from the neighboring shops and offer to first and then taken as prasad.

I have used ricotta cheese which is basically made with cows milk instead of khoa..and here is the recipe

Ingredients:

15 oz container of Ricotta cheese
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup milk powder
2 tbsp butter
a pinch of cardamom powder
1 tbsp cocoa powder
3 tbsp mango puree
2 tbsp almond pista fluor(made apowder of 5 almonds n 10 pista)
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 drop of green organic food color

Cooking Procedure

Heat butter in a pan, once it is melted add the ricotta cheese and cook for 20 mins on low heat till all the water evaporates and it becomes one solid lump.

Now add the sugar and once the sugar is dissolved, add the milk powder and stir so that it will blend nicely with the cheese.

(Click image for enlarged view)

Divide the whole mixture to 4 parts

In one part add almond pista flour 2 tbsp milk and a drop of food color
In the 2nd past add coco powder and 2 tbsp milk
In the 3rd part add vanilla extract
In the 4th part and mango puree and cardamom powder

And cook all the mixtures separatly for 10 min each ,stir well and switch of the stove

Once the mixture is slighty cools ,divide each portion into 4 parts n make each one to round ball n press it and make a small depression at the centre on one side and garnish with pista n enjoy