BreakingCoconutForPuja
Do you know why we break the coconut for the Puja?
2. The coconut.
Breaking is to remove the three impurities ( = Mummalam = மும்மலம்) enveloping the soul: Māyai, Kaṉmam and Āṇavam. The fibrous husk represents Māyai Malam.
See diagram:
3. The thin outer layer (exocarp) represents the Māyai Malam. The fibrous husk of mesocarp is the Kaṉma Malam and when removed, the hard shell endocarp) is visible and represents the Āṇava Malam. Upon breaking the hard globular shell into two halves, the coconut water spills exposing the white flesh.
4. The white flesh (endosperm) is the Pēriṉpam (Heavenly Bliss). Thus, When the three Malams are removed, we can attain Divine Bliss.
5. Another principle exists in the coconut. The water inside the coconut is symbolism for man’s desires in this world. The hard shell of the coconut is unbreakable and the water of desires believes the adamantine shell provides safety
6. Believing in the permanence of youth’s beauty and strength, we nurture a multiplicity of desires. When the mind matures, we realize the impermanence of the body. As the water diminishes in amount by becoming part of the coconut flesh, the coconut itself never goes bad and contrarily becomes sturdy. Likewise, wandering in this world of desires, gaining experiential wisdom and increasing maturity help us give up the passel of desires: That is the implied principle.