Why do we offer naivedyam to God?

[Guest guest]

Dear Sir,

 

 

 

The various thoughts expressed by all were read that were presented in

its nice manner. Not contradicting anybodies thought, the undersigned

is presenting a thought in addition to those expressed there in.

 

 

 

Once I attended a religious discourse given by a saint in Kakinada,

(sorry, name of the Saint is forgotten, it does not matter here, of

course) He said in a funniest way, people offer " Prasad " to the

Almighty since he does not take any thing. If he takes away a part of

it or in full, people stop offering it. It is on the lighter side of it.

 

 

 

We worship God in several ways, like, " JAPA " , " DYANA " , " TAPA "

(PENANCE), YANTRA AND " MUDRA " . The method of " JAPA " follows

" ANUSTHANA " that is from beginning to the end, it follows offering of

all services with an imagination of presence of GOD before one. It

starts with " Sankalpa " offering a petition to the Almighty why is he

doing it and what he wants from God. It continues with " Kalasaradhana "

honouring the vessel that bears water and inviting Water from all holy

Rivers, " Avaahana " the welcoming, " Prana Prathistha " Energising the

idol, Offering Seat " Simhasana " , Offering water to wash his hands and

feet, Giving water to drink, " Anga Pooja " praising all limbs starting

from Feet to head (In some Sakti Pooja, it starts from head to feet),

then making him to bathe in holy water, and various liquids prepared

for the purpose, Finally giving bath in water to wash off various

liquids used. Offering water for drinking (With a feeling that he got

tired by taking all these baths), Then offering Jyoyi (Lighting a

lamp), Dhoopa (Incense Stick), Naivedya (Solid, Liquid and gravy with

six tastes of food), " Tamboola (Offering Pan, the contents of the pan

is described) Mantra pushpa or Pushpanjali (Vote of Thanks), Swasti

(Expressing gratitude for coming in for taking the offerings and tells

him to resign to his place of rest), Atma Pradakshin (Expressing

sincerity with request not to find fault if any thing that is missed)

and finally Dana (To offer to some one in the name of God)

 

 

 

So it is not the Prasad alone, all " Anusthan " are carried out in a

phased manner. This is basically imparting training to the mind to

take one to the next stage of " DYANA " . While performing " JAPA " it is

important that one understands the meaning of Sanskrit mantras and

mentally involve in it. Further it is important that one should feel

that he is performing these activities to God who is sitting there. In

addition one should prepare one self by taking bath (Bahya Suddhi)

before starting " Japa "

 

 

 

The next stage " Dyana " , does not follow all the rituals but by sitting

quite and engrossed oneself completely on God. Here there is no

importance given to Bahya Suddhi and Antar Suddhi (Purity of mind)

takes the importance. " TAPAA " is the stage of sitting in a similar

way and chanting the mantra given by one's GURU continuously for

longer periods of time, may be weeks, months or years and so on. Mudra

is another stage where in the God is worshipped by folding hands and

fingers in a way taught by ones Guru. Similar way is Yantra Where in

God is worshipped in the form of various patterns made for the purpose.

 

 

 

So offering Prasad is the part of " JAPA " to a personified God before

one and getting the complete satisfaction of taking to him and serving

him with all the rituals described above. Now days various theories of

worship is being advocated by the people having the authority. One of

which insists that one should talk to God and express one's feelings

just like one is talking to a person sitting right in front of him.

 

 

Comments on the above are welcome to enrich the undersigned understanding.

 

Regards,

 

KS Rao,

Navi Mumbai

Cell: 93242 94531