Sacrifice, Offering

[Bhaktajan II]

At some time in a golden age there were bonefide ways of communing with god and by the time of the golden calf the methods had become aberated?

 

[RJM]

was that ever the norm? I thought the fatted calf was always cooked for those who tended the temple.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burnt_offering_(Judaism)

A burnt offering in Judaism (Hebrew: קָרְבַּן עוֹלָה, korban olah) is a form of sacrifice first described in the Hebrew Bible. The term is first used of the sacrifices of Noah. As a tribute to God, a burnt offering was entirely burnt on the altar. A sacrifice (short for sacrifice of well-being) was partly burnt and most of it eaten in communion at a sacrificial meal.[1]

During the First Temple and Second Temple periods, the burnt offering was a twice-daily animal sacrifice offered on the altar in the temple in Jerusalem that was completely consumed by fire. The skin of the animal, however, was not burnt but given to the priests respective of their priestly division. These skins are listed as one of the twenty-four priestly gifts in Tosefta Hallah.[2]

 

[Bhaktajan II]

place fruit, milk and other offerings on the alter

My understanding of the goal of religion* is
to develop the etiquette needed to go to Heaven +
to develop the etiquette needed to behave in heaven.

The House of God was the place where such etiquette is acculturated.

So, to bring offerings was to bring gifts upon visiting ---simply civil behavior as a rehearsal for
really getting the audience of the Big House and Big Daddy and his family.

After you knock and the door is opened...well?
That would be the time to state your business...

Like a lawyer in law school ---practice in front of practice Juries are the "standard of measure"
for those to plead cases.





[*The etymology of religion lies with the Latin word religare,
which means “to tie, to bind.”
btw, the word Yoga comes from the Sanskrit root.
The word Yoga comes from the Sanskrit root “Yuj” which means “to join.”
Yoga is a science that teaches us the method of joining the
individual soul and the Supreme Soul. ]

 

[Bhaktajan II]

As a tribute to God

(Mlechchh) म्लेच्छ meaning in hindi
Mleccha meaning "non-Vedic", "barbarian" is a Sanskrit term referring to foreign or barbarous peoples in ancient India, as contradistinguished from Aryas. Mleccha ... Mleccha is used for one who is impure, dirty or uncultured. It is derived from the root mlich~mlech, ...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mleccha

VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV


מלך – king – Hebrew
Absolute state. מֶלֶךְ. melech. king. מְלָכִים. melachim. kings. Construct state. מֶלֶךְ־. melech-. king of ... מַלְכֵי־. malchei-. kings of .
The Hebrew word melekh, meaning king, has a broad meaning, applying to several classes of leading “magisterial” figures, our modern “king” is just one ...

VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV

PS:
Mohini (Sanskrit: मोहिनी, Mohinī) in Hindu mythology is a goddess and the only female ... The name Mohinicomes from the verb root moha, meaning "to enchant, perplex, or disillusion," and literally means "delusion personified." In the ...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohini


OTOH ---yet similarly:
Mata
"Mātā" (माता) is the Hindi word for "mother", from Sanskrit matr. (मातृ)

but

"matar"
"matar" is the Spanish word verb root "to Kill"
matar derives from the. Latin verb mactare meaning "to sacrifice" ; that it is a derivation of. the late Latin verb matare which in turn came from the adjective. mattus - stupid or brutish ; and finally that the origin of the Spanish.

Can you identify these two similar looking scripts?
This text is read left to right:

This text is read right to left:

 

[Namaste Jesus]

again, I've seen these plates of offerings in Hindu temples... Was told that food was consumed by the temple priests and workers...

That's the case in my wife's tradition as well for more formal ceremonies. Whole fruits are 1st placed on or near the alter. After the proceedings, the fruits are portioned and passed out among all those attending the ceremony to consume. At home, we slice the fruit placing the 1st slice on the alter before eating the rest. God's portion is always given before our own.