Naivedhya

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Naivedhya (Sanskrit:नैवेध्य) is a Sanskrit word which refers to offering of food to God, before eating it. As such, tasting during preparation or eating the food before offering it to God is forbidden. The food is placed before an idol and prayers are offered. Then the food is consumed as a holy offering.

Pronounced in Sanskrit as 'Naivedhyam' is not necessarily a food offering to God. It actually means 'offering to God' in the stricter sense of the words. It could be any offering, tangible or intangible. A resolution, a promise or even a willingness to do, perform or restrict from certain things can also be connoted as offering to God.

God, prayers and wishes are more a belief and hense an offering to God is an extension of this belief. However, one needs to differentiate Naivedhya from 'Prasad'. Prasad is actually what one get from the God. The meaning of these words is usually attributed to food as we invariably offer to and receive from the house of Gods in the form of eatables.