Offering Bowls

 

In both Buddhism and Hinduism, offering bowls hold profound spiritual significance. They are used to present offerings such as water, rice, flowers, or incense to deities, bodhisattvas, and spiritual teachers. These offerings symbolize purity, generosity, and the practitioner’s devotion, creating a bridge between the human and the divine.

  • In Tibetan Buddhism, it is common to offer seven bowls of water on an altar, representing the seven offerings of reverence, hospitality, offerings, love, morality, patience, and wisdom.
  • In Hindu rituals, offering bowls are used to present a variety of items, including flowers, incense, and food, as a way to honor and invoke the blessings of the deities.
  • Offering bowls are often placed in a specific order on the altar, each representing different elements and aspects of spiritual practice.