Significance Of Coconut

 

COCONUT:

(Sanskrit:Sriphala = God's fruit)

Hindus believe that the coconut is the purest offering and in India it is one of the most common offerings in the temples. Coconut plays a vital role in all puja rituals. The coconut is unique in many aspects and is a satvic fruit. The sweet, nectar-like water that it holds is pure and untouched by the human hand. The tree draws from its very base to its highest level. It is sacred, pure, clean, and health giving, endowed with several properties. It is also offered on occasions like weddings, festivals, the use of a new vehicle, bridge, house etc. It is offered in the sacrificial fire-whilst performing homa. The coconut is broken and placed before the Lord. It is later distributed as prasaada. The marks on the coconut are even thought to represent the three-eyed Lord Shiva and therefore it is considered to be a means to fulfill our desires. Coconut as alone is also used to symbolize 'God'.

 

AdiShankara, the spiritual Guru par excellence, was instrumental in ensuring that this undesirable practice of 'Narabali' was discontinued at many spiritual centres. He denounced the practice as having no spiritual sanction whatsoever.The coconut was chosen as a suitable substitute by people who did not want to give up the practice of 'bali' sacrifice of other beings, but wanted a similar ritual for fulfillment of their desires.

 

The coconut resembles the human head in many ways - the coir outside resembles the human's tuft of hair, the hard nut the skull, the water inside the blood and the kernel is akin to the mental space. Another interpretation equated the outer shell to the human being's gross physical body and the kernel to the subtle body. The coarsely knit outer fibers of the coconut represent the jealousy, greed, lust, selfishness and other vices of man, which must be broken up and removed if one is to penetrate and reach the white inner purity and thereafter taste the sweet untouched nectar of spiritual purity and bliss.

No other fruit has the three distinct eyes of the coconut. These symbolize the Trinity of Evolution - Creation, Preservation & Dissolution.

The eyes also represent the three eyes of man - the two physical eyes plus the third or 'inner eye' can penetrate the false, outer facade and reach the ultimate truth. It alone distinguishes right from wrong.

The composition of the coconut is characteristic of the three elements of man. The hard, outer shell, with its coarse fibers,represents the physical composition. The inner white fruit represents man's psychological element, and the untouched water signifies his spiritual composition. The breaking of coconut is considered as breaking of our ego or Ahankara, because He expects his devotees to be ego-less and pure.

Having been offered to God by way of prayer, the coconut is later eaten by Hindus as blessed food or prasadh in the belief that it has now received divine vibrations from God and will therefore give good health and prosperity.

 

The coconut also symbolizes selfless service. Every part of the tree - the trunk,leaves, fruit, coir etc., is used in innumerable ways like thatches, mats,tasty dishes, oil, soap etc. It takes in even salty water from the earth and converts it into sweet nutritive water that is especially beneficial to sick people. It is used in the preparation of many ayurvedic medicines and in other alternative medicinal systems.