Lakshmi Puja in Bengal feels incomplete without narkel naru — whether it’s made of coconut or sesame seeds. But why is naru considered indispensable in the worship of the Goddess of Wealth? There seems to be no clear scriptural or theoretical reason behind its necessity. Yet, through the wisdom passed down from elders, the answer can be found deep in cultural understanding.
The word naru comes from laddu. Yes, laddoo or ladduk
gradually transformed into ladu and eventually naru in colloquial Bengali. The naru
prepared for Lakshmi Puja is generally made from coconut, sesame seeds, sugar,
or jaggery.
But what are coconut and sesame essentially? Scientifically
or even colloquially, they are considered “fatty substances” — sources from
which oil can be extracted. The second major ingredient, sugar or jaggery, is
also a form of sweetness — and sweetness itself is an expression of affection (sneha
in Sanskrit).
And why not? Goddess Lakshmi herself embodies affection and
tenderness. As the shloka says:
“Maste sarvalokānāṃ jananīm abja-sambhavām, śriyamunīndra
padmākṣīṃ viṣṇu vakṣas-sthala-sthitām…”
When the ocean was churned, the Mother arose — resplendent
with vast treasures and jewels. The four directions were illuminated.
Lord Indra bowed before her, saying: “O Mother, you are the
mother of all worlds. Your gaze is as vast as the blooming lotus. You cradle
all within your gentle core. You dwell in the heart of Lord Vishnu Himself.
This entire universe is yours. I bow to you.”
Everywhere, Goddess Lakshmi is associated with grace,
wealth, affection, and beauty. She is the inner goddess of prosperity, the
embodiment of inner abundance — the one who upholds the four human goals: Dharma
(righteousness), Kama (desire), Artha (wealth), and Moksha (liberation).
Thus, the naru made of coconut or sesame symbolizes the
acceptance of maternal affection as divine offering — prasada. The naru is the
tangible form of a mother’s love.
Moreover, naru is spherical — a perfect circle, symbolizing wholeness, continuity, and the “never-ending.” Outwardly, we may see it as just a sweet ball, but within it lies a philosophy as profound as a mountain.