Monday, 20 March 2017

The difference between "Nivedana" & "Samarpana"

Nivedanam is a Sanskrit word with a direct meaning, "informing" or "making it known". How does this making known relevant when we use the word Nivedanam it in the context of pooja, where the word is in common use? It simply means, signifying our gratitude to God and His Nature, but for whose grace, the food we eat would not have been possible. The bhava here is one of expression of gratitude and consume what has been given to us by God as Prasaadam.

By placing food at the conclusion of pooja we make this our gratitude known to God. It does not mean we are offering the food for God to eat. Nor does God expect that, God does not even expect our expression of gratitude. It is for our own satisfaction and mental disposition so that we are alway
s conscious that the food we have got is not due to our effort alone. It is due to the cumulative contribution of God, Nature, Our fellow beings and lastly we. This kind of attitude will help in having a serene mind always. The food which is consumed after this gesture is called the prsaada or what is left to us by God.

The Sanskrit word "Samarpana" means offering or dedicating something we possess as not belonging to us. What has come to our possession due to whatever reason is not ours but belongs to some one to whom we dedicate it. By dedicating that thing to its rightful owner we have no claim over that thing either for consumption or for enjoyment. The bhava here is one of not being entitled to be the possessor of the thing that is dedicated

It will also be noted that in the context of pooja we use the words ‘ samarpayami’ for argyam, Paadyam, Aachamaneeyam, Aasanam, Pushpam, dhhopam, dheepam, Gandham, neeraajanam etc., These are dedicated to God and are not for us. When we present the food we use the word ‘ Nivedanam’ for, we are the consumers of that prasada after Nivedanam.

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