Betel Leaves

Betel Leaves in Hindu Rituals – Importance of Betel Leaves in Hindu Pujas

 

One of the most important puja items in Hindu rituals is the betel leaves, especially in South Indian pujas. In regional languages in India it is known as Pan, Nag Ve, Vetta or Vettila. The popular belief is that all the important deities are present in the betel leaf. It is also an important component in the Ashtamangalya items.

Elders say that –

Goddess Mahalakshmi is present in the lower tip of the betel leaf

Goddess Saraswati is present in the middle part.

Jyeshta Lakshmi is present at the portion that connects the betel leaf to the stem.

Goddess Parvati and Mangalya Devi is present on the left side.

Bhudevi or Mother Earth is present on the right side.

Sri Hari Vishnu resides inside the betel leaf.

Shiva resides on the outside of the leaf.

Shukra resides on the top portion.

Indra resides on the tip of the top portion.

Presence of Surya is felt throughout the leaf.

Kamdev – the god of love – resides on the outer portion of the leaf.

Betel leaves that have holes, that are dried and those that are torn from the middle are not used for pujas. In South India, Dakshina to priests and elders are given by keeping betel nut and a coin in the betel leaf. All-most all puja talis contain betel leaves and betel nuts.

 In some places people also use betel leaves to adorn the mouth of the Kalash pot One of the most important puja items in Hindu rituals is the betel leaves, especially in South Indian pujas. In regional languages in India it is known as Pan, Nag Ve, Vetta or Vettila.

 The popular belief is that all the important deities are present in the betel leaf. It is also an important component in the Ashtamangalya items. Elders say that –Goddess Mahalakshmi is present in the lower tip of the betel leaf Goddess Saraswati is present in the middle part. Jyeshta Lakshmi is present at the portion that connects the betel leaf to the stem.

Goddess Parvati and Mangalya Devi is present on the left side. Bhudevi or Mother Earth is present on the right side. Sri Hari Vishnu resides inside the betel leaf. Shiva resides on the outside of the leaf. Shukra resides on the top portion. Indra resides on the tip of the top portion. Presence of Surya is felt throughout the leaf.

Kamdev – the god of love – resides on the outer portion of the leaf. Betel leaves that have holes, that are dried and those that are torn from the middle are not used for pujas. In South India, Dakshina to priests and elders are given by keeping betel nut and a coin in the betel leaf.

All-most all puja talis contain betel leaves and betel nuts. In some places people also use betel leaves to adorn the mouth of the Kalash pot.

During worship or rituals, leaves from some select trees are used as essential accessories, but among them all the Betel Leaf enjoys a place of pride in India. In Hindu weddings, a betel leaf is tucked into the headgear of the bride and the groom.

The use of betel leaf is considered as a noble trait and on all auspicious celebrations, betel leaf has become a symbolic item denoting freshness and prosperity

The Skanda Purana says that the Betel Leaf was obtained during the ocean- churning by the Gods. The use of Betel Leaf in India is mentioned in the great epics, The Ramayana and the Mahabharatha as well as in Buddhist and Jain literatures

Paan has rich herbal properties. It is invigorating and energizing, a killer of germs and bacteria and an eliminator of cold. Before eating a paan, the stalk has to be cut, the edges have to be trimmed and the veins have to be scrapped because they may damage the brain.

Health reasons

According to Sushrata, the greatest of ancient Indian medicine men and the world’s first-ever surgeon, the betel leaf preparation keeps the mouth clean, strengthens the voice, tongue and teeth and guards against diseases. It is also said to aid in digestion (saliva produced due to the chewing of the betel leaf helps in the digestion process of our body). The alkaline in the saliva helps in reducing the spread of cancer. Science has proved that cancer cells die when kept in an alkaline solution.

The betel leaf contains a little bit of betel-oil (it is a volatile oil). It generates the spice and the taste that you feel when you chew the betel leaf. In ancient literature, this has been documented. It destroys foul odor too.

By itself, the betel leaf is a powerhouse of vitamin A and C. Further, it also contains plenty of calcium, which reduces or even prevents osteoporosis.

The other ingredients used along with betel leaf are very useful too. Fennel and betel nut help speed up digestion. Nutmeg dries up the mucous. Kattha also helps in drying up the mucous. The betel leaf is also a great blood thinner. And cardamom and cloves help in reducing gas and acidity. Kattha and betel present in paan help all those suffering from cold and cough by controlling mucous production.

There are whitish and blackish betel leaves. The black variety is said to be constipative and the white one eliminates cold and is a   digestive

When a lizard falls on your head

Lizards have long been looked at with suspicion. They are creepy and crawly, I agree, but what else do you expect from a reptile?

According to the Tirumal Tirupati Devastaana Panchaangam, a lizard's fall is an oemen that portends something bad for a particular relative. Let's find out what the fuss is all about...

If the lizard falls on the back part of one's head, it spells misfortune for one's maternal uncle.

If the lizard falls on the right part of the head, it is harmful to one's brother.

If the lizard falls on the centre part of one's head, it brings illness to the person on whom the lizard has fallen.

Now, comes the scary part: if it falls on the tip of the back of the head, where the parting of one's hair ends, a place known as the Brahmarandhra, it means nothing short of Death itself! But if I were you, I would take this with apinch of salt, because, who is checking where exactly a lizard fell, when all one can do in such a situation is scream with fear!

However, if the lizard were to fall on the back side of the Brahmarandhra spot, it actually means good fortune awaits you. Wow!

If the lizard were to fall on the the hair only, it spells a phase of difficulties.

Guess what! In Kancheepuram, Tamil Nadu, at the Sri Varadaraja Swamy temple, there're images of golden and silver lizards. It is believed that if a person touches these images with dedication, whatever malefic effect a lizard may have caused them, would be nullified.

Beyond the head

There's more: If the lizard falls on the right side of a male, then it is considered auspicious; if it falls on the left hand side on a male, it is considered a bad omen. For women, it is just the opposite: If a lizard falls on the right side of a woman, then it is regarded as a bad omen; and if it falls on the left side, then it would bring good luck.

WHAT TREES, PLANTS SHOULD BE PLANTED IN THE HOUSE PREMISES AS PER VASTU

Plants play an important role in deciding the Vastu of a place affecting the same indirectly. It has been stated, observed and verified that a number of plants, if planted properly as per ancient rules, creates favourable effects and reduces the Vaastu defects. On the contrary, presences of a few plants at a place produce adverse effects upon the residents. Vaastu-affecting few plants are being discussed below:-

• Presence of plants in a residential as well as in a commercial unit is always favourable.

• Huge and dense plants should never be planted in North or East. Presence of such plants towards south or west is good.

• Garden should never be towards south-east or south-west. It creates undue tensions or problems.

• If a plant is just in front of the main gate, it creates "Dwarbedh". It should be shifted or removed according to the rules mentioned in the scriptures (Some rules have been given in this article also).

• No plant should be planted exactly in front of the house touching the median axis.

• There should not be any of the "Palas", "Kanchana" Sleshmantaka", "Arjun" and "Karanji" plants within the limits of a house. If any of them are already present they should be removed according to the method shown in our religious scriptures.

• Any kind of thorny succulent plants and exhibited as showy plants anywhere in the house bring tension and fraction in relations.

• "Ber" the ziziphus plant should be nourished uto a certain limit. It increases enmity.

• Latex bearing plants like "Madar" are not good within the limits of house, but if they are adjacent to the boundary in any direction outside, be sure to obtain favourable results.

• A Basil plant within the house limits is very positive. 

• People related to educational fields should plant and nourish "Amalaka", "Pakar", "Paras Peepal" and "Udumbara" plants in proper directions.

• Businessman should plant 'Sirish', 'Neem' and 'Bilva' towards north within the limits.

• 'Kshatriyas' should grow the plants of 'Sabja', 'Sudarshan', Madhuka, Panas and Eucalyptus' within the house limits.

• People other than Brahmins, Vaishyas and Kshatriyas should plant Amaltas, Moulshri and Palm trees.

• 'Bilva' plant, if planted in west direction, provides prosperity to the owner.

• 'Bamboo' (Bansa) should not be grown within the house limits of the house or factory.

• 'Madhuka' plant, if planted in West, provides progress. The same result is obtained when 'Udumbara' or 'Panas' is planted in the South direction.

• Denser and woody plants, except the few specified above, should be planted mostly in the North, within the boundary.

• Any kind of climber rising form bottom to top is favorable. For example, upward movement of money plants is good.

• 'Kanakchampa' in the North brings virtue and wealth.

• 'Peepal' should not be present towards the East and 'Banyan' tree not towards the West within limits. The vice versa condition is favourable. But one should avoid growing these within the boundary of the house. If they grow naturally in the limits of a residential area, they should be shifted and re-planted to any suitable open place. However within the limits of a factory, they should be nourished well when they grow in favourable direction.

• Coconut' plant is favourable when planted in favourable direction.

• 'Banana' plant is too favourable within the house limits.

Removal of a plant at a place should only be done according to the rules described in our ancient literatures, for example there is a simple rule according to which, to remove a plant 10 new plants should be planted before and then the step of removal should be undertaken and all those which are planted instead of, should also be protected till they begin to grow independently.

Toranam-Door Decorative

Toranam:

Decorating the main door of the houses, temples or any other place, where some ritual is performed, with a Toranam. It is part of the Indian culture. Normally, this kind of decoration is done during festivals or celebrations.

Cultural Importance:

Indians use a Toranam made of fresh and green mango leaves. However, leaves of other species like Neem are also used for this purpose. Most of us know that the green leaves absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen. This helps in keeping the surrounding atmosphere clean and hygienic. Keeping, the aesthetics in view, mango leaves are preferred, since their shape adds to the ambience. The general reason given for this act is that tying mango and neem leaves would not allow the evil powers to enter the house.

Scientific Reason:

Photosynthesis is a process where in plants take in carbon-di-oxide and give out oxygen. This process helps in circulation of oxygen and in turn keeps the room temperature at an optimum level.The air filled with carbon dioxide, which is lighter than the pure air, gets purified immediately while passing through the Toranam. In addition, insects get attracted to the green leaves. This stops the insects from entering the room.

In the Indian villages, dry mango leaves are used for treating certain ailments. The ash of dry mango leaves is used in the first aid for cuts and fresh wounds. This ash is applied directly on the wound or after mixing it with coconut oil.

Dry mango leaves’ ash has the capacity to check the bleeding. The dry leaves in the Toranam come handy for providing first aid in such cases.

It is also a scientifically established fact that the green colour keeps a person mentally fresh and even the modern day medicine advises the modern day man, who comes under severe stress during his normal working hours, to spend some time amidst greenery to freshen his mind and soul.

बांसुरी

अगर आपकी उन्नति में बाधा आ रही है . . या घर में वास्तु दोष है . . तो उसे दूर करते है . . बांसुरी . . से . .

 बांसुरी . . जब भी घर में लटकाये .. तो उसका मुँह नीचे की तरफ़ होना चाहिये . . थोड़ा तिरछा लटकाना चाहिये . .

 बांसुरी . . शुभता . . स्थिरता . . शान्ति और विकास का प्रतीक् है . . जिन व्यक्तियों के शिक्षा . . कैरियर . .व्यवसाय . .नौकरी में बाधा आ रही है . .तो अपने बेडरूम के दरवाजे पर दो बांसुरिया को लगावे .

 बांसुरी . .अगर घर में वास्तु दोष है . . दो या तीन दरवाजे सीध में है . . तो मुख्य दरवाजे के ऊपर दो बांसुरी लगावे . .

 बांसुरी . . अगर आप आकस्मिक संकटों से छुटकारा पाना चाहते है - तो मुख्य द्वार पर दो बांसुरी को क्रास की तरह लगावे . .

 बांसुरी . . यदि पति पत्नि में झगड़ा रहता हो - तो सिरहाने बांसुरी रख कर सोये . . और प्यार की बांसुरी बज़ाये ..

 बांसुरी . . अगर आपकी जन्मकुंडली में शनि सप्तम भाव पर अशुभ है . . या सप्तम भाव पर अशुभ दृष्टि डाल रहा है . तो शादी तो देर से होगी न . . अतः एक बांसुरी में चीनी या बूरा भरकर किसी निर्जन स्थान में गाड़ दे . .

 बांसुरी . .अगर बेडरूम में पलंग के ऊपर बीम हो - तो बीम के दोनों तरफ़ एक एक बांसुरी लाल फीते में बाँधकर लटका दे . .

 बांसुरी . व्यापार में वृद्धि और धन लाभ पाने के लिए दूकान के गल्ले या घर की तिजोरी में चांदी की बांसुरी रखना शुभ होता है . . .

 बांसुरी . घर के मंदिर में मोर पंख लगी बांसुरी रखने से घर-परिवार के अटके काम पूरे होने की संभावनाएं बनने लगती है . .

कौन से फुल से खुश करे

 " सूर्य ग्रह " = सूर्य देव को आंक का फुल - चढाने से आपका स्वास्थ्य उत्तम रहेगा

 " चन्द्र ग्रह " = शिवलिंग पर कोई भी सफ़ेद फुल - चढाने से आपका मन प्रसन्न रहेगा

 " मंगल ग्रह " = हनुमान जी को पारिजात - नामक फुल या कोई लाल फुल - रक्त सम्बंधित रोगों का शमन होगा

 " बुध ग्रह " = गणेश जी को पलाश के फुल - बुद्धि का विकास ओर बाणी उत्तम होगी

 " गुरु ग्रह " = केले पेड़ पर कनेर के फुल या कोई पीला फुल - विवाह ओर वैवाहिक जीवन के लिए उत्तम

 " शुक्र ग्रह " = श्री यन्त्र पर सफ़ेद फुल चढाने से - सांसारिक सुखों में वृद्धि होती है

 

 शनि ग्रह " = शनि देव को काले रंग के पुष्प चढाने से शारीरिक ओर मानसिक कष्टों से मुक्ति मिलती है

" राहु ग्रह " = भैरव जी को नीले रंग के फुल चढाने से आकस्मिक संकटों से छुटकारा मिलता है