Namaskaram! Why we cut the coconut into halves while offering to God whereas other fruits/vegetables are not cut. Any dharmic reasoning/ special values to coconut? Please explain.
Namaskaram! Why we cut the coconut into halves while offering to God whereas other fruits/vegetables are not cut. Any dharmic reasoning/ special values to coconut? Please explain.
Sri Ramanuja Munaye Namaha,
Sri Velukkudi Krishnan Swami Guruvae Namaha,
Dear BhagavAta,
Reason 1:
In SriVaishnavism, srivaishnavaites treat Supreme BhagavAn SriKrishna as a child in “Vatsalya bhaavam (mothers love)” following PeriyaAlwar’s mogherly love/affection towards BhagavAn.
When we offer any fruits to BhagavAn, like banana, we peel the layer and offer it, since we cannot expect child to eat banana by itself. We have to feed the child in proper way. So there is no way, a child can break a Coconut and eat by itself. So we have to break it and offer.
Reason 2:
SriVaishnavsites eat the “Ucchishtam” of BhagavAn as prasadam.
Coconut and Banana are the only plants that DOESN’T grow from seeds. It grows by itself from தென்னை கன்று and வாழை கன்று, where as Other plants/fruits grow from the seeds that are spit on the ground by other humans (etchil) after consumption of the fruit.
So coconut and banana are Virgin/Pure Sathvik fruits that doesnt grow from seeds.
With Sri Velukkudi Swami’s anugraham and adiyens Acharya Krupai, adiyen believe these two are the Dharmic reasons:
why ‘coconut is split and banana is peeled’ and
why these two fruits are offered in temples for BhagavAn Sriman NarayanAn.
Adiyen Sri Velukkudi Krishna Dasan,
Uyya Oraey Vazhi UdayavAr ThiruvAdi,
Sarvam SriKrisharpanam Asthu