Naivedyam
నైవేద్యం
Sanskrit: नैवेद्य · Category: Ritual
Quick Definition
Food offering to the deity — typically vegetarian, sattvic, freshly prepared.
Detailed Explanation
Naivedyam is the 13th of the 16 upacharas in puja. Common items: kheer, payasam, fruits, coconut, betel leaves, sweets (laddu, peda, jilebi). Different deities have specific favorites — Ganesha: modaka; Krishna: butter; Hanuman: laddu. After offering, the food becomes prasadam.
See Also
Related Terms
Author & Sources
Compiled by Pandit Ramachandra Sharma, Vedic Astrologer & Panchangam Scholar. Definitions cross-referenced against classical texts: Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra, Muhurta Chintamani, Surya Siddhanta, Gṛhya Sūtras. See the full Vedic Glossary for 58 terms across Panchanga, Astrology, Calendar, Dosha, Ritual, and Sanskara categories.