Bhakshya
Bhakshya · bhakshya, “that which is to be eaten”
Grammar: neuter noun; from the root bhaksh (to eat): “that which is to be eaten”.
Meaning: food; in the Sūrya rites, a sweet cake of flour, jaggery and ghee.
In the scriptures: in the rites of Bhagavān Sūrya, the Bhavishya Purāṇa calls the bhakshya the best naivedya. It is made of wheat or barley flour, jaggery and ghee, to the measure of a kuñcam. Keeping speech restrained, one gives a bhakshya-vāyana, a gift of cakes, to a brāhmaṇa and then eats, and with it one gives dakshiṇā to a brāhmaṇa who is a paurāṇika. It is given in a clean gold vessel, or placed before Bhagavān Sūrya, with the giving mantra (Bhavishya Purāṇa, Brahma Parva, Chapter 82).
The giver’s mantra says: “Born of Sūrya, formed from Sūrya’s tejas, made by the hands of Rājñī: this bhakshya I give to you for my welfare, bowing to Sūrya with bhakti. O best of vipras, receive it.” The receiver’s mantra says: “Giving what is wished, giving happiness, in keeping with dharma, giving wealth, giving sons, may this bhakshya protect you. This, dear to Bhāskara, I receive.”
If a devotee offers ghee bhakshyas to Bhagavān Sūrya on the day of the rite, he has tejas like Indra‘s and goes to the sthāna of Bhagavān Sūrya (Chapter 85). In another rite, a gift of bhakshya equals a gift of a cow (Chapter 92). Offering bali to Bhagavān Sūrya of vermicelli, pāyasa, bhakshyas and laḍḍus with sesame flour fulfils every wish (Chapter 93).
Related terms: Naivedya · Vāyana · Dakshiṇā
Sources
- Bhavishya Purāṇa, Brahma Parva, Chapters 82, 85, 92–93