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Why do we offer a coconut?

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praveen

Life is a dream
Staff member
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.



author: kapil dev
source: knol
 
Dear Sri Praveen ji,

Generally any item containing water cannot be preserved. Green Vegetable containing water could not be preserved beyond few days even under refrigerated condition. If they are dehydrated, probably they could be preserved for few months. However Coconut is the only exception were it is preserved including the water in the ordinary weather conditions without any refrigeration.

Even the full coconut (including outer cover, coir and the full shell) is offered to Lord Vinayaga during Ganapathi Homam Agni.

Coconut grows even near sea shore. As you rightly said Coconut breathes `sea breeze', consumes salt water but there is no trace of salt either in tender coconut or in other parts. Even in the normal soil were coconut is growing, salt is placed near roots of the coconut tree but there will not be any trace of salt in the end products.

Lot of research is possible about coconut tree and its end products.

எண்ணாயிரம் ஆண்டு யோகம் இருப்பினும் கண்ணார் அமுதனை கண்டறிவாரில்லை உள் நாடி ஒளி பெற உள்ளே நோக்கினார் கண்ணாடி போல கலந்து நின்றானே
 
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