Re: Naivedhya & prasad
hariḥ oṁ
~~~~~~
namasté
I'd like to offer a comment on one word , nivedyaṁ. It is defined as an offering of food - we say to the Supreme. Offering food to the Supreme can be done at meal time or during pūjā or yajña. If we look at its components of nivedyaṁ it assists us with a better understanding:
- nivedyaṁ = nivedya = ni + vedya
- ni = dāna - the act of giving; gift . It also means ( 3rd derivation) purification; dāna is also the distribution of food.
- vedya = being acquired ( the reciever in this case of ni ); vedya also means that which is learnt due to this word
also meaning relating to veda ( knowledge).
Now the interesting part ( for me) is ni can also be used to express ( or in lieu of) a few words :
- kṣepa - throwing , casting , tossing ; stretching, sending , dismissing; pride , haughtiness
- dāna - mentioned above
- upa-rama - going to or approaching + pleasing , delighting , rejoicing
- āśraya - attaching to , choosing , taking , joining, union ( note that śraya = approaching for protection )
- mokṣa - liberation from ingnorance ; the re-recognition of one's own Being.
Via these definitions nivedyaṁ becomes very robust. Nivedyaṁ comes back to the giver as prasāda¹. Hence this prasāda takes on the qualities of nivedyaṁ - lets take a look:
The offerings (dāna) of pure food ( recall ni = pure) one is approaching (upa-rama) and choosing (āśraya) ; he/she is casting off (kṣepa) pride or haughtiness (kṣepa). What is learned (vedya) ? Liberation from ignorance ( mokṣa) through the process of purificaiton ( ni) that brings delight (upa-rama).
You can see why smaranam suggests the food be whole ( bhūmán) , pure (ni , some may say amala - clean , pure, without blemish) and sattvic ( the quality of pure, of Being, absence of tamas).
words
- prasāda - graciousness , kindness ; calmness , tranquility ; well-being , welfare
- note prasad = to settle down , grow clear and bright , become placid or tranquil
यतस्त्वं शिवसमोऽसि
yatastvaṁ śivasamo'si
because you are identical with śiva
_
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