'Sacred fruit,' from shri (splendour, or the goddess of fortune) and phala (fruit). In the classical lexicons the name belongs first to the bilva (bael) fruit sacred to Shiva, and it was extended to the coconut as a pure gift fit to offer a deity.

Where this term appears

• Why is a coconut broken in Hindu ceremonies? Journal →

  That sealed purity is one reason the coconut is honoured as sriphala , a "sacred fruit," from shri , splendour and the goddess of fortune, and phala , fruit.

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