This prayer is said before each meal in the three canteens/cafeterias at Prasanthi Nilayam.

mp3 file of the prayer

Brahmarpanam Brahma Havir The act of offering is God, the oblation is God
Brahmagnau Brahmana Hutam By God it is offered into the Fire of God
Brahmaiva Tena Ghantavyam God is That which is to be attained by him
Brahmakarma Samadhinaha       who sees God in all

Aham Vaishvanaro Bhutva Becoming the life-fire in the bodies of living beings
Praninaam Dehamaa Ashritaha mingling with the upward and downward breaths,
Prana Pana Samayuktah I digest the four kinds of food.
Pachamyannam Chaturvidham

The two verses are from the Bhagavad Gita:

Bhagavad Gita, Chapter IV, verse 24,

Bhagavad Gita, Chapter XV, verse 14.

Swami's explanation of this prayer

We should partake food with a sathwic (pure, serene) mind. Our ancestors recommended the offering of food to God
before partaking. Food so partaken becomes prasad (consecrated offering). Prayer cleanses the food of the three
impurities caused by the absence of cleanliness of the vessel, cleanliness of the food stuff, and cleanliness in the
process of cooking. It is necessary to get rid of these three impurities to purify the food, for pure food goes into the
making of a pure mind. It is not possible to ensure the purity of the cooking process because we do not know what
thoughts rage in the mind of the man who prepares the food. Similarly, we cannot ensure the cleanliness of the food
ingredients because we do not know whether it was acquired in a righteous way by the person who sold it to us.
Hence, it is essential on our part to offer food to God in the form of prayer so that these three impurities do not afflict
our mind.

The prayer:

Brahmaarpanam Brahma Havir

Brahmaagnau Brahmanaa Hutam
Brahmaiva Tena Gantavyam
Brahma Karma Samaadhinaha
Aham Vaishvaanaro Bhutva
Praaninaam Dehamaashritha
Praanaapaana Samaa Yuktaha
Pachaamyannam Chatur Vidam
Harir Daatha Harir Bhoktha
Harir Annam Prajaapatih
Harir Vipra Shareerastu
Bhoonkte Bhojayathe Harih.

"The food thus offered to God is digested by 'Vaishwanara" in the digestive system. Since God exists in the form of
fire as Vaishwanara, He digests the food along with the impurities. So, man will not be affected even i the impurities
enter the food."

Sathya Sai Baba

Summer Showers in Brindavan 1993, Page 86
Potency of Brahmaarpanam Mantra

"When I was in Brindavan in May this year, I had the opportunity to attend the morning talks at Sai Krishan Kalyana
Mandap. On one of the days, Uncle Prahlad Rao gave a talk and he covered the potency of the food mantra stated
below.

In the early days (70s if I recall), Swami had asked all the Brindavan campus college boys to join Him for lunch. At
that time, only about 100 boys were there. Kirlian photographer Dr Baranowski was also there and was invited for
lunch. The sumptuous food was laid out on plates in front of the boys. The boys were waiting for Swami to come and
join them. Dr Baranowski then used his Kirlian camera and took photos of the food laid out on the plates. No aura
was found around the plates of food.

Later, Swami arrived and joined the boys for lunch. The boys recited the Brahmaarpanam mantra before partaking
the food. After the mantra was recited, Dr Baranowski again took pictures of the food. This time, a blue aura was
found around the plates of food. He was excited, but, having a scientific mind, asked Swami for the reason for the
blue aura around the food. Swami said that the Brahmaarpanam mantra is a very powerful mantra and that after
recitation, the food is converted to prasadam, since it has been offered to God. It further purifies the food and all
items around it. That is why the blue aura was found around the plates of food after the mantra was recited.

The mantra and its meaning is given below.

Brahmaarpanam Brahma Havir

Brahmaagnau Brahmanaa Hutam
Brahmaiva Tena Gantavyam
Brahma Karma Samaadhinaha

The whole creation being the gross projection of Bramham,

the Cosmic Consciousness itself;
the food too is Brahmam, the process of offering it is Bramhan
it is being offered in the fire of Brahman.
He who thus sees Brahman is action, reaches Bramham alone.

Aham Vaishvaanaro Bhutva

Praaninaam Dehamaashritha
Praanaapaana Samaa Yuktaha
Pachaamyannam Chatur Vidam

I, the Supreme Spirit, abiding in the body of living beings

as the Fire (Vaiswanara) in their stomach I am associated
with their Praana and Apaana, digest the four type of foods
(solids, fluids, semi-fluid and liquid) which they eat.

Reference: Daily Prayers to Bhagwan, compiled by Smt. Kausalya Rani Raghwan.