Prasad is the reverse of dakshina in Hindu religious and
spiritual practices - it is a gift from the guru or god back to
the devotee, usually in the form of food. The devotee, having
offered his or her gift, is given a sweetmeat or a piece of
fruit from a large bowl. This is prasad, and represents the
offering of divine grace to the devotee in return for their own
gesture of practice and devotion. On special occasions and large
feasts the prasad at a Hindu temple gets a little more fancy -
large handfuls of Biryani rice and mouthfuls of sweet yoghurt
are common. Prasad is tremendously important in Hinduism, and in
the traditions of guru-devotion, and if a devotee is lucky
enough to be given a significant piece of prasad, for example a
personal item of the guru, it will be treasured as if it was
made of solid gold for the rest of that person's life. Often a
guru will give his sandals as prasad to the most advanced or
favoured of devotees.