Saturday, December 19, 2015

Why coconut offered to Gods In India

WHY COCONUTS ARE OFFERED

One of the most common items that are offered to the Deities in the temple is the coconut. You will also see it being used to start special occasions, like weddings, festivals, etc., when it is offered and then broken. You may also see it sitting on top of a pot with mango leaves. This is a representation of Lakshmi devi, the goddess of fortune, or sometimes Lord Shiva. The coconut is offered to the Deity as a representation of the body (the coconut shell), mind (the white fruit) and soul (the milk). All these are offered to the Deity, and then it is broken to let out the milk and fruit. This indicates the breaking of the ego. Then, after it is offered to the Lord, what remains is accepted as remnants from the Lord, as prasada. This represents a complete circle in which God accepts our offering of the body, mind and soul and gives back the mercy, prasada, of the Lord.

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