When offering food (Amudhu) to Perumal, should the rice be hot or cooled down? Should dishes like Kariyamudhu (vegetable sides), Kootu, and Kuzhambu be hot or cooled down? When we consume the prasadam, should we eat it hot or after it has cooled down? According to the scriptures, what is correct?

Perumal is Sarva Saktan (all-powerful), so He will consume it even if it is very hot. We are only offering it to Him as a Nivedhanam (offering). Furthermore, the offering for Perumal should generally be normal, not excessively hot. Since we offer it with the emotion (Bhava) that He is consuming it, it should possess some warmth. Health-wise, it is said that one should not eat food that has completely cooled down, nor eat it boiling hot. According to the scriptures, cooked food should not be eaten after three hours (Yatha Yamam).