What is the method of offering naivedya?
What is the method of offering naivedya?
After the first nine upchars in Shodashopachar Puja, there is a series of upchars of fragrance, flowers, incense, lamp and naivedya. Due to lack of knowledge of the scriptural method of offering naivedya, some people keep the plate of naivedya in front of God and close their eyes with both hands while some people press their nose. Some people offer bhog by sprinkling it repeatedly with basil leaves and some people offer unbroken rice. Similarly, some people and priests etc. show some propriety by showing a morsel of naivedya to God.
The scriptural method of offering naivedya is to serve it in a plate and serve ghee on that food. Leave one or two basil leaves. Cover the plate on which naivedya is served with another plate. Make a square circle with water in front of God. Place the plate of naivedya on it. Take two spoons of water with the left hand and sprinkle it in a circular manner. While irrigating water, chant Satyam Tvarten Parisinchami Mantra. Then leave a spoonful of water in the plate and say Amritopastaranamasi. After that, remove the lid of the Naivedya plate with the left hand and serve the Naivedya with the right hand. Show the food items as per your wish. The kind of love that a mother gives to her child while breastfeeding, the same kind of feeling should be there in the mind at that time. While showing the grass, chant the mantras Pranaya Swaha, Apanaya Swaha, Vyanaya Swaha, Udanaya Swaha, Samanay Swaha, Brahmane Swaha. If possible, show the following grassroots:
Prana Mudra - by index finger, middle finger, thumb.
Apana Mudra - by middle finger, ring finger, thumb.
Vyana Mudra - by ring finger, little finger, thumb.
Udana Mudra - by middle finger, little finger, thumb.
Sama Mudra - by index finger, ring finger, thumb.
Brahma Mudra - by all five fingers.
After offering naivedya, chant the mantra "Prashanarthe paniyam samarpayami" and show one spoonful of water to God and leave it in the plate. At this time, there is also a tradition in many places to put cardamom powder in a glass of water and keep it in front of God. Then show six spoonfuls as mentioned above. Finally, leave four spoonfuls of water in the plate. While leaving the water, chant the four mantras - Amritapidhanamasi, Hastaprakshalanam samarpayami, Mukhprakshalanam samarpayami and Aachamniyam samarpayami. Apply perfume to the flowers and offer them to God by saying Karodvartanam Samarpayami. If there is no perfume then make the flower fragrant by saying Karodvartanarthe Chandanam Samarpayami.
Make an offering. After offering naivedya, take that plate to the kitchen. Later, keep fruits, betel leaf and dakshina and perform Mahaniranjan i.e. Mahartikya.
