The centrality of
transactions or exchanges—both between humans and between humans and
superhuman beings—is a prevalent reality in Hindu religious life.
Because of the significance of these exchanges, varied gifts
are an important aspect of Hindu religion.
The upacharas are a collection of sixteen gifts offered to a
god as part of devotion, based on the idea of treating the deity as an honored
guest—inviting the deity inside, providing the deity a seat, offering the deity
a glass of water, and so on.
In the naivedya, one gives the god food, which is possibly
the most basic of all politeness.
