Origin
and Importance
Once when the
earth was submerged in the water, Lord Brahma was immersed in the meditation of
Parbrahma (Almighty Vishnu). He was so overcome with emotion that tears started
rolling down his eyes and fell on to earth. The Amla tree germinated from those
tears.
The Amla tree had many branches and bore a lot of fruits. Since the Amla tree
was the first tree to manifest itself on earth, it is also known as ADIROHA (the
pre-eminent tree).
Lord Vishnu and all the other
deities became quite attached to this tree. One day while the deities was
looking at this Amla tree, they heard a voice from the sky: "This Amla tree
is the supreme among all the trees because it is dear to Lord Vishnu. The mere
remembrance of this tree bestows virtues twice as much as donating a cow. The
virtues attained by eating the Amla fruit are three times more than the donation
of a cow. So efforts should be made for this tree’s preservation.”
Eating the Amla fruit is very nutritious for the body. Bathing in water mixed
with Amla fruit juice has great curative values. The performance of 'Pindadana'
under the Amla trees extends salvation to the souls of dead ancestors. Ghosts
and other evil spirits do not trouble a house where Amla fruits are kept. One
who is desirous of acquiring wealth should bathe in water mined with Amla fruits
juice on a daily basis.
Those who wash their hair with Amla juice mixed with water attain 'Vishnuloka'
by destroying all their sins of this Kaliyuga.
Anyone who eats food under an Amla tree in the Hindu month of Kartik is released
from any ill effects of the food (annadosha) for one year.
Sage Vyasa has described all of the
above benefits of amla in the 'Skanda Purana'.
PEEPAL
The holy
Fig Tree The concept of divinity, even in vegetation and trees, has been
prevalent in Indian civilization since time immemorial and has been accepted as
a tradition.
Lord Sri Krishna has said in the Bhagawad Gita that the holy fig tree
personifies his own glory. The five-trees (Pancha-Vat) are considered very
sacred in India and these include:
Among these the
holy fig tree is considered the most sacred. A man who plants this tree goes to
the abode of Almighty God after his death. He can neither be tormented by the
miseries of 'Yamaloka' nor face any miseries in this world.
Lord Vishnu dwells in the roots of this tree, 'Keshav' (Krishna) in the trunk,
Narayana dwells in the branches, Lord Shri Hari in the leaves, and all the
deities dwell in the fruits. This tree is the personification of Lord Vishnu.
Great men serve the virtuous roots of this tree. Protection of this tree
liberates a man from all his sins and help in the accomplishment of every
desire.
The cutting of
a holy fig tree without justification is similar to cutting one's own ancestors.
By doing so, one destroys one’s lineage. As far as sacred activities like
'Yagya' (sacrificial fire) are concerned, cutting the tree for this purpose is
not sinful. On the contrary, it helps in the attainment of Heaven. The mere
worship of this tree worships all the deities. (Parikrama) moving around a holy
fig tree is reverence, and pouring water on it daily destroys all kinds of bad
luck. Pouring water on the roots of this tree in the month of May (Vaishakh)
gives immense virtues and worshipping it with devotion blesses one with a long
life.
There is a rule
regulating the three circumambulations of a holy fig tree. This tree should be
planted on any auspicious day followed by giving it water for eight years, just
as one would give to one’s son. Performing the sacred-thread (yagyopavita)
ceremony around this tree and worshipping it with properly bestows undiminished
wealth and fortune, continuation of lineage, long life, and the salvation of the
souls of dead ancestors.
From childhood, Hindu girls observe numerous fasts connected with this tree. A
girl whose horoscope indicates that she might be widowed must worship the holy
fig tree. After her bath, she should purify the soil around the holy fig tree by
cow dung paste, decorate the tree with threads and Ochre and worship it with the
help of a Brahmin. She should invocate Lord Vishnu and Laxmi who dwell in the
holy fig tree and worship them by chanting 'Purusukta' Mantras and by performing
"Havana' and 'Tarpana'. Then she should circumambulate the holy fig tree
for 108 times and tie a white thread around it.
The holy fig
tree has medicinal properties as well. According to Ayurveda, this tree has both
sweet and bitter taste and has a cooling effect on the body. Eating pieces of
the bark, fruit and buds cures diseases such as phlegm, bile, inflammation
swelling and indisposition etc. The soft bark and the bud of this tree cure 'Prameha'
(a disease where sperms emanate through the urine).
The fig fruit when eaten in powder form increases appetite and cures numerous
diseases. Therefore, the holy fig tree holds a very important place in Indian
civilization.
THE
HOLY BASIL (TULSI)
The holy basil
plant has an important place in scriptures and science. That is why it is
mentioned not only in the scriptures and in mythological texts but also in
Ayurveda. The holy Basil is as holy as Lord Vishnu because it is also known
as ‘Vishnupriya’, ‘Vishnukanta’ and ‘Keshavpriya’. The holy basil
originated from the hairs of Tulsi who in her previous life was blessed by Lord
Narayan.
In Hindu mythology a place where the holy basil plant is present is considered
the most holy. This is the reason why every Hindu tries to have it in the house.
Women have been worshipping it with the desire for good fortune and the well
being of their family.
It is believed that the lord of death does not dare to enter a place a holy
basil plant is present. Worshipping god with the new sprout of basil plants give
salvation. Such a man is freed from the cycles of birth and death. Even deities
desirous of attaining salvation get the basil plant’s assistance. Bathing
in water in which basil leaves have been mixed gives virtues similar to that of
all the pilgrimages put together.
The deities and places of pilgrimages have their dwelling places in the
basil-plant from its root to its shade. Any ceremony performed in the vicinity
of a basil plant enables a man to attain salvation.
Even the soil underneath the holy basil plant is of great importance. If it is
applied on the forehead all sins are destroyed and one attains happiness,
prosperity and numerous blessings. Wearing a string of beads consisting of
basil-seeds makes a man free from the fear of death. If basil beads are used for
chanting it helps one to accomplish even the most arduous tasks.
The use of basil leaves in ceremonies like ‘Shraddh’ and ‘Tarpan’
gives indestructible virtues to dead ancestors. The tradition of offering
basil leaves to a person approaching death has been continuing since time
immemorial. This act of offering basil-leaves terrifies the messenger of
‘Yama’ and helps the person is attaining to the abode of Lord Vishnu, after
his death. If the last rite of a dead
person is performed with the wood of the basil plant it helps the soul to attain
the abode of Lord Vishnu. Even if a piece of wood from the basil plant is kept
on the burning pyre all the sins of that person get destroyed.
Although the use of stale flower and stale water is prohibited in worship, this
is not applicable to basil leaves. However, there are some days when the use of
basil leaves is prohibited - Sunday, the last day of dark lunar phase
(Amavasya), the twelfth day of every Hindu month (Dwadashi), ‘Sanskranti’
and until 3 a.m. in the morning. Therefore the leaves should be collected well
before the days and times mentioned above.
The importance of the holy basil also called ‘Tulsi’ in India is celebrated
in the Hindu month of Kartik every year. This celebration gives great virtues
and benediction. The holy basil has the same importance in the Ayurvedic field
as it has in the spiritual and religious fields. It has miraculous curatorial
effects on numerous physical and mental ailments.
The holy basil plant keeps away germs capable of causing diseases from its
vicinity. It also helps in the purification of the mind by purifying the
atmosphere around it. This helps us to attain balanced physical and mental
health.
All the parts of the holy basil plant such as leaves, sprout, stem, and the soil
underneath, have great medicinal properties.