The word Bali means “Sacrifice”. When we enter a temple we should sacrifice / surrender our Ego and bad thoughts in front of the Bali Peetam and enter with a pure mind. In order to preserve the sanctity of the temple and to prevent the humans from entering the temple with a polluted mind, these sacrificial pedestals (Bali Peetam) are in place. Devotees should bundle their ego, sacrifice all the bad thoughts and ill feelings, and then enter the temple with a pure mind. At the sacrificial pedestal, they should surrender totally to the Almighty, and then enter the temple with the mind filled with pure thoughts about the Lord. In the end, before leaving the temple, devotees should do namaskar/prostrate in front of the Bali Peetam with total humility and true devotion. The priests at the temple normally offer the prasad at the Bali Peetam. It is also considered as the “Seat of offerings”. This is normally done after offering the Naivedhya to the main Lord and other deities of the temple.