You are at Hindu Fasts and Festivals >> Hindu Rituals and CustomsWhy do we offer a coconut ?In India one of the most common offerings in a temple is a coconut. It is also offered on occasions like weddings, festivals, the use of a new vehicle, bridge, house etc. It is offered in the sacrificial fire whilst performing homa. The coconut is broken and placed before the Lord. It is later distributed as prasaada. The fibre covering of the dried coconut is removed except for a tuft on the top. The marks on the coconut make it look like the head of a human being. The coconut is broken, symbolising the breaking of the ego. The juice within, representing the inner tendencies (vaasanas) is offered along with the white kernel – the mind, to the Lord. A mind thus purified by the touch of the Lord is used as prasaada ( a holy gift). In the traditional abhishekha ritual done in all temples and many homes, several materials are poured over the deity like milk, curd, honey, tender coconut water, sandal paste, holy ash etc. Each material has a specific significance of bestowing certain benefits on worshippers. Tender coconut water is used in abhisheka rituals since it is believed to bestow spiritual growth on the seeker.The coconut also symbolises selfless service. Every part of the tree -the trunk, leaves, fruit, coir etc. Is used in innumerable ways like thatches, mats, tasty dishes, oil, soap etc. It takes in even salty water from the earth and converts it into sweet nutritive water that is especially beneficial to sick people. It is used in the preparation of many ayurvedic medicines and in other alternative medicinal systems.The marks on the coconut are even thought to represent the three-eyed Lord Shiva and therefore it is considered to be a means to fulfill our desires. You can help us!Today this one man operated website has 250 Vedic scriptures online. Plus 17 major Sashtras of astrology, 200 MP3 Stotras and the 4 Vedas in MP3. All this and plenty more are given freely. A good part of the money earned by this site goes to support the three charitable causes - Scriptures for the blind , helping the slum children of Delhi and helping a Gurukul Vedasala. The space occupied by these audio files and their monthly usage bandwidth is in Gigabytes and costs me a pile. If you like the work I am doing, please feel free to make a donation. Your continued donations will keep this site running and help in expanding.
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About Poojas Poojas Introduction How Poojas work Who performs them When & where What guarantee Our Homam pictures Free Advise Pooja by Purpose For health For wealth For Success in job For Love & Marriage For happy Marriage For Mangala Dosha For Saturn Sadesati For children Namakarana Pooja For Education Vastu Dosha Shanti Griha Pravesh For Dosha removal Blackmagic removal Fears, Phobias To clear obstacles Litigation & disputes For Specific goals Full list of poojas Poojas of Planets Navagraha Poojas Nakshatra poojas Poojas of Deities Ganesha Pooja Shiva Pooja Devi Pooja Vishnu Pooja Lakshmi Pooja Satyanarayana Pooja Saraswati Pooja Kartikeya Pooja Hanuman Pooja Dhanavantri (Health) Pooja |