# Know your dharma Why do we break coconut

 

Know Your Dharma

People breaking coconut is a common sight in most temples in the South especially in Ganesha temples. Why do we break a coconut when we go to the temple or when we do a puja?

It is a simple everyday act that is performed at home when we have a festival or when we go to the temple. It might be amusing to kids, may generate some amusement in the neighbourhood and also give satisfaction to the person whose prayer it is.

We also know that we watch the coconut with hawks eye to ensure that it is not spoilt or does not break into three as a lot of emotions are attached to this coconut.

What is the significance of this act and why is it important in our dharma?

Coconut is a peculiar fruit (yes, although having the name nut in itself, it is a fruit) that has a husk and a hard shell outside and a soft inner core with sweet water still inside it. It also has three black dents that look like eyes when you remove the top handle like portion called as the kudumi. (Tamil).

The three black eyes on top of the coconut is considered to represent the three eyes of Shiva. There is an alternate belief that coconut is auspicious because when Lord Vishnu descended on earth he came with his consort Lakshmi, the divine cow Kamadhenu and the coconut. Hence the three eyes signify the trinity, Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma.

A cuter story about the origin of coconut claims that Shiva created coconut when the baby Ganesha came to touch his third eye. He made a three eyed ball like coconut and gave it to his baby son Ganesha to play. Perhaps that explains Ganesha’s particular affinity towards the coconut.

Many a math exam stress has come down when you promise your street corner Ganesha his share of coconut. Automatically with the reduction of stress and the blessings of Ganesha, you did do well in the exam.

Origins and cute stories apart, coconut is supposed to signify the journey towards the Parabrahmam that every Hindu is supposed to undertake all through their life. The outer core or the husk represents one’s own ego or the external attributes that cloud one’s realisation of the inner self.

Removing the husk and breaking the hard shell signifies an offering/breaking of one’s ego to God. The water that is normally let go when you break the coconut in temples signifies the exit of negativity. The inner white core represent peace and happiness that will come once you let go of your ego and negativity.

Whether the outer shell represents the trinity, core represents Gauri and the water represents Gangajal, it does not matter.

The important thing to understand is that shedding your ego (husk of the coconut) and breaking your hard coded “I” (the hard shell) can perhaps improve your ability to reach and attain more peace and happiness (as represented by the white coconut and the water).

Is there a difference in blessing if you break one versus one hundred and eight. Perhaps not. But if it gives happiness to the person whose prayer it is, there is really no harm.

If nothing else coconut is a wholesome creation of God, where every part of the fruit is used for some purpose or the other. The offshoot is also the creation of many super tasty dishes especially in the green state of Kerala.