Offering and Prasada

 


                                   Offering and Prasada




      It is said in the scriptures that one should not go to see a deity. preceptor and a king empty-handed . So it is customary for the devotees to take some flowers or fruits, dry fruits or sweets as a token to temple.

It is said ' Food is Brahman.' It is the food that contributes to our health and vitality. Whatever we eat or drink has been made available to us by the grace of god. We express our gratitude to him by offering a token of this to him in worship.

In the Bhagavadgita also, Lord Krishna says that whatever a devotee does or eat, that should be first offered to him. So all the offerings are dedicated to god.

During worship flowers, dry fruits, fruits, sweets are offered to the Lord. After offering them to the deity, the priest distributes this as ' Prasada  (imbued with the blessings of the god ) ' to all people there. Apart from this water ( charanamrita ), Tulasi leaves, Vibhuti ( sacred ash ), Sindoor ( vermillion ) are also given in Prasada to the devotees.

It is believed that the flower remains the same though the bee sucks honey from that. Similarly, the quantity of offerings does not decrease, only the subtle portion of them is taken by the deity. It is a faith. It is believed that the offerings are charged with mysterious powers by the chanting of the mantras and hymns during the worship. When the devotee places his offerings at the feet of the deity, the same offerings become Prasada after the worship. Prasada is that which gives peace and happiness. The grace of the deity descends on the offerings. Each deity is offered different kind of offerings with special significance attached to each. The benefits of Prasada and water ( charanamrita ) are beyond description . They have the power to cure diseases in many cases. Prasad is an antidote for misery, pain and anxiety. The faith and hope are the key factors. It is spiritual elixir. It is divinity in manifestation. Offering and partaking of offering is significant in another way also. It reiterates the truth that all things which man gets are from Nature ( Lord ). And through offering them to God first and then sharing among the people, man expresses his gratitude to the Lord. This also points out that Nature's bounty not for amassing and enjoying alone but for sharing it with all. Nothing he owns. Man cannot have anything without His grace. This feeling of gratitude erases the ego and brings humility in devotees.