Our Sacred texts and scriptures have looked with deep insight into the pros & cons of the offerings, which are made to the deities.

There are strict guideline as to what should be offered to the deity and what should be not. For example it has been prohibited to offer Akshata (grains or rice offered to deities during worship) to Lord Vishnu, the leaves of basil to Ganesha, Durvaa Grass to goddess Durga, and bael fruit to the Sun God.

The reason why leaves of the basil plant must be offered to Lord Vishnu is that Lord Vishnu rest on Sheshnaga in KsheerSoagara. The body of the Sheshnaga being cold Tulsi is considered as good offering, as it property is hot, Akshata (rice grains) having cold-property is also prohibited for the same reason.

Lord Shiva who is also known as Aashutosha had consumed poison, which was discovered while churning the ocean. This poison was not allowed to pass beyond the throat. The property of poison being very hot, the fruit of bael having cold property is considered ideal for him.

WHAT SHOULD BE OFFERED TO LORD GANESHA

Lord Ganesha who is also known as VRIKODARA which means who has fire by the name of VRIKA in his stomach i.e. one who has great hunger. So Durvaa Grass which has both cold and medicinal properties in it is considered as an ideal offering for Lord Ganesha.

Lord Ganesha, should not be offered such things which have hot properties, as it would magnigy the heat and hunger. Beside that Durvaa has also medicinal properties if the juice extracted from the Durva grasses are applied to any part of the body having a wound it cured the wound. The reason for offering Durvaa grass to Lord Ganesha is that, since Lord Shiva had cut Ganesha's head and an elephant head was fixed later on, So to heal the wound which still might not have healed, Durvaa grass is offered.