bali, naivedyam etc are different names for offering food items, according to the status of the deity..the main deities are offered the things in the name of naivedyam and some functional gods are offered the same in the name of bali... ...
just because one calls it bali it need not be flesh, blood etc, and in some saaktha systems flesh blood etc are offered in the name of naivedyam also.
In both Vaikhansa and Siva agama brahmotsavas, morsels of rice are offered to the eight masters of directions, (Ashtadik Palakas) indra, agni, yama nirruti, varuna vayu kubera isana as bali..
the bali is meant as food not only for the palakaas but their parshadas also.
Just like we offer havyam rice to agni, kavyam rice to pitrus... various terms are used..
it is all on account of functionality, and based on some protocol defined in the sastras or agamas.
However, the Vaama (Shaktha, Tantric ) type of worship are generally not meant for either Iyengars or Iyers.
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