 | This article has multiple issues. Please helpimprove it or discuss these issues on thetalk page.(Learn how and when to remove these messages) (Learn how and when to remove this message)
|
Prasāda (Sanskrit pronunciation:[pɽɐsaːdɐ],Sanskrit: प्रसाद),prasad orprasadam is a religious offering inHinduism. Most oftenPrasada is vegetarian food especially cooked for devotees after praise and thanksgiving to a god.Mahaprasada (also calledbhandarā),[1] is the consecrated food offered to the deity in aHindu temple which is then distributed and partaken by all the devotees regardless of any orientation.[2][3][4]
Prasada is closely linked to the termnaivedya, also speltnaivedhya,naibedya or naived(h)yam. The food offered to the deity is callednaivedya, while the sacred food sanctified and returned by the deity as a blessing is calledprasada.[5][citation needed]
In Sikhism, the tradition takes the form ofKarah Parshad.
Prasāda is derived from the verbprasād which consists of the verb सद् (sad - to sit, dwell) which is prefixed with प्र (pra - before, afore, in front) and used as finite verb प्रसीदति (prasīdati - dwells, presides, pleases or favours etc.).[6] It denotes anything, typically food, that is first offered to adeity or saint and then distributed in His or Her name to their followers or others as a good sign.[7]
'Prasāda' is sometimes translated as gift orgrace.[8][9] The term connotes clarity, joy, and serenity.[10]
 | This sectionneeds additional citations forverification. Please helpimprove this article byadding citations to reliable sources in this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.(March 2023) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
Theprasada is to be consumed by attendees as a holy offering. The offerings may include cooked food,fruits and confectionery sweets. Vegetarian food is usually offered and later distributed to the devotees who are present in thetemple. Sometimes this vegetarian offering will exclude prohibited items such as garlic, onion, mushroom, etc.[2]
Non-vegetarian is prohibited in some of the temples. Offering of food items forms part of theupachara or services to a Hindu deity in many Hindu traditions but is not universal. Themurti (icon) is revered as a living entity who is offered food, fruits, and betelnut among others.
In its material sense,prasada is created by a process of giving and receiving between a human devotee and the god. For example, a devotee makes an offering of a material substance such as flowers, fruits, orsweets. The deity then 'enjoys' or tastes a bit of the offering.[11] This now-divinely invested substance is calledprasada and is received by the devotee to be ingested, worn, smelled, etc.[12] It may be the same material that was originally offered or material offered by others and then re-distributed to other devotees. In many temples, several kinds ofprasada (e.g., nuts, sweets) are distributed to the devotees.[citation needed]
Offering food and subsequently receivingprasada is central to the practice ofpuja.[11] Any food that is offered either physically to the image of the god or silently in prayer is consideredprasada.[13] At the same time, both conceptualizarions of and practices relating toprasada vary widely, for these are closely linked to particular philosophies and regions, among other factors.[14]
In Sikhism,karah parshad is served to the congregation after prayer and reading of scripture.[15] Parshad represents the same values aslangar in that it is served indiscriminately.[citation needed]
Kurukshetra Prasadam (Channa laddu) in48 kos parikrama of Kurukshetra,Tirupati Laddu andMathura peda in theBraj Parikrama aregeo-specialty prasada.[16]
