Sanjeevani Sacred Plants

Indian Journal of Plant Plant Sciences ISSN: 2319 – 3824(Online) 3824(Online) An Open Access, Access, Online International International Journal Available at http://ww http://www.cibtech.org/jps.h w.cibtech.org/jps.htm tm 2014 Vol. 3 (4) October-December, pp. 32-37/Kumar

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SACRED PLANTS OF DISTRICT KATHUA, J&K *Gupta Sanjeev Kumar Department Department of Botany, Govt. Degree Degree College College Billawar, Billawar, District District Kathua, (J&K) (J&K) 184204 184204 *Author for Correspondence Correspondence ABSTRACT Plants have been intimately associated with mankind even before the beginning of human civilization. The basic necessities of food, shelter and clothing were met from the plants. Even today numerous plants are used by man for various reasons. A number of plants are used to perform religious ceremonies and rituals of different kind everywhere and are thus sacred to mankind. They are so important that the religious rituals cannot be performed without their availability. Pertinent to mention that the leaves and or bark of 108 plants are used for Nakshtar Shanti. Shanti. Some of the plants of similar kind are mentioned in this study. Because of their sacred nature some plants like Ficus religiosa, religiosa, Ocimum sanctum, sanctum, Aegle Aegle marmelos, marmelos, Emblica officinalis officinalis received human attention and have well prospered whereas others like Jurinea macrocephala and Eragrostris and Eragrostris cynosuroides have been overexploited over the years and the former is definitely facing the threat of extinction in near future. Keywords: Sacred Plants, Kathua Abbreviations

Bashduwa: Bashduwa: An important religious ritual of Hindus for the wellbeing of cattle. Chranamrit : The holy water after the holy bath of the idol mixed with curd, Tulsi, honey etc. Doona: Doona: A substitute of small bowl made by stitching together the coriaceous leaves. Kumbh: Kalash: Kalash: An earthen pot containing water. Mandal : The sanctum sanctorum where religious ceremony is performed by chanting of mantras by the priest. Mokh: Mokh: A religious ceremony of Hindus which marks the culmination of fasting of specific events like Purnima, Ikadashi Ikadashi etc. etc. Pindas: Pindas: The ladoos made ladoos made of barley flour and offered to the departed soul as per Hindu mythology. Saamdhien: Saamdhien: The wood of certain plants is used to lit the holy fire in the performance of religious ritual. Tricholi: Tricholi: A mixture of dry fruits like peanut, walnut, soaked rice etc. which is offered to the holy fire and also eaten thereafter . thereafter . Yug-purush: Yug-purush: The wooden sculpture of human being carved out of the wood of Plash. INTRODUCTION The area of research is one of the 22 districts of the state of Jammu and Kashmir adjoining Punjab to the south and Himachal Pardesh to the east. Its terrain is diverse consisting of rich agricultural plains along the Punjab border and a mountainous Pahari region Pahari region in the north. Kathua district, the gateway of J&K, lies between between 320 -17' to 320-55' North latitude and 750-7' to 760-17', East longitude longitude.. The district Kathua is subdivided into five tehsils- three of them Billawar, Basohli and Bani lie in Shiwalik Himalayas whereas Kathua and Hiranagar are in the plains. The number of villages in the district is 512 and the population of the district is 6.15711 Lacs (as per 2011 census).The mainstay of the population is agriculture agriculture and rearing livestock. livestock. The area has a very rich floral diversity diversity particularly in the Shiwalik Hills. Tools & Techni Techni ques ques

The tools employed in the study include cutters, plant press, magnifying lens, Photographic camera, field note-book and polythene bags etc. The author has conducted many field trips in randomly selected © Copyright 2014 | Centre for Info Bio Technology (CIBTech)

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Res Research Ar ticl e villages of the research area and interviewed the villagers particularly the Pandits. Pandits. The common names of the plants were ascertained by way of investigations. The twigs of the plants or some other specimens were collected, collected, brought back and preserved for further reference. reference. The photographs of the concerned concerned plants were also taken for the purpose of identification and record as well. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 1. Ficus religiosa, L.; Eng. Peepal Tree; Hindi Pipal ; Vern. Bar, Bar-Brahma; Bar-Brahma; Family- Moraceae; Status-Common. It is worshiped by the Hindus every day. Planting a Peepal tree is considered important in the lifetime of a person. Watering Watering of P eepal trees forms an important component of worship. It is also important in death related rituals. Peepal tree occupies a very high position in the life of Hindus. 2. M angif angif era i ndica, ndica, Linn.; Eng. Mango; Hindi Aam Hindi Aam ; ; Vern. Amb Vern. Amb ; ; Family- Anacardiaceae. The Mango leaves are considered sacred in ceremonies like marriage, hawan-yagia, hawan-yagia, Mokh etc. Mokh etc. The wood is used as saamdhie as saamdhien n in hawan-yagia, mokh and marriages etc. 3. Bu tea monospe Plash; Vern. Plah; Plah; Familymonosperr ma, Kuntz.; Eng. The Flame of Forest, Dhak; Hindi Plash; Papilionaceae; Status-Common. Status -Common. The leaves are ar e used for making plates and doona to perform death related ceremonies and such rituals cannot be performed without the Plash leaves. Wood is also used for making wooden articles like yug-purush yug-purush and Garud to to perform religious rituals like Bar-mokh like Bar-mokh and grehand greh parvesh. It is also used as saamdhien. as saamdhien. 4. Ocimu m sanctum, L.; Eng. Holy Basil; Hindi Tulsi ; Vern. Tulsi; Tulsi; Family- Lamiaceae. It an annual undershrub planted by Hindus in almost every house. The plant is worshiped in the morning and evening as well. A special ceremony/ritual is also performed on a special day ( Ikadashi ( Ikadashi of kartik kartik shukal pakh) pakh ) to mark the wedding of Tulsi with Tulsi with lord Rama. It is well decorated on the day and the ritual of marriage is performed by the singing of folk songs by women. The leaves make one of the constituents of charnamrit . Leaves or fruits are also added to the offerings to lord Vishno. 5. M usa paradi si aca, Linn.; Eng. Banana; Hindi Kela Hindi Kela;; Vern. Kela Vern. Kela;; Family- Musaceae. The leaves of banana preferably preferably alongwith alongwith pseudostem pseudostem are used to perform perform religious religious rituals like like hawan-yagia, mokh etc. Banana fruits are also used in various religious rituals. The tree is planted in the temples by Hindus. It is also worshiped on Varehaspati-shanti Varehaspati-shanti Poojan. Poojan. 6. Aegle marm el os, os, Corr.; Eng. Bael, Bengal Quince; Hindi Bel ; Vern. Bil-patri; Bil-patri; Family- Rutaceae; Status-Common. The leaves and fruits are offered to the worship of lord Shiva. It is in far more demand by Hindu devotees devotees on on the day day of Shiv-ratri. Shiv-ratri. 7. Cal otr opis procer Vern. Ak-datura, Jangli Ak ; procer a, R. Br.; Eng. Akund, Swallow wart; Hindi Safed ak ; Vern. Ak-datura, Family- Asclepiadaceae ; Status-Common. The leaves or twigs are used to the worship of lord Shiva on the day of Shiv-ratri. It Shiv-ratri. It is also used as saamdhien as saamdhien to perform (ashub (ashub)) religious rituals. 8. Er agrostri s cynosur cynosur oides, oides, R. and S.; Hindi Dab; Dab; Vern. Dabb; Dabb; Sanskrit Kusha, Puvitrung ; FamilyPoaceae. Dab Dab grass is used in performing marriage, hawan-yagia, hawan-yagia , mokh mokh etc and also in death related rituals by Hindus. A ring of the grass is borne in the finger by the persons as well as by the Pandit and the ceremony is performed by the chanting of mantras. mantras. It is also placed beneath the pindas. pindas. It is also put in the water kept in house during solar or lunar eclipse. There is hardly any religious ritual of Hindus which is performed without this grass. Shravan Puran orders that the dab should dab should be pulled out of the ground on Pithori Amavasya, Amavasya, and that unless this is done the plants are not considered fit for use in any religious ritual and it is adhered. 9. Cyanodon dactylon, (L.) Pers.; Eng. Bermuda grass, Bahmas grass; Hindi Dub; Dub; Vern. Druva, Druva, Khabbal ; Sanskrit Durva; Durva; Family-Poaceae. The fresh tender short and erect culms are used in various rituals of worship like marriage, hawan-yagia, mokh, Bashduwa etc. Bashduwa etc. The beginning of marriage ceremony is also marked by the offering of dhrub dhrub by the bride family to the family of groom. It is of utility in almost every ritual. In old days men ( Dogras) Dogras) used to decorate their turbans by this grass.

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Res Research Ar ticl e 10. Ses Sesamum i ndi cum, Linn. ; Eng. Sesame; Hindi Til ; Vern. Til ; Sanskrit Vila, Tilaha Tilaha ; FamilyPedaliceae. The seeds are an important ingrdient of hawan-samagri. hawan-samagri. It is also an ingredient of Tricholi which is offered to the holy fire on the day of Lohri. Lohri. On the day of Sankat-chouth, Sankat-chouth, a fast is observed by women and ladoos ladoos of sesame are prepared on the day and eaten after the worship of Ganesha Ganesha in the evening. 11. H ordeum ordeum vul gare, gare, Linn.; Eng. Barley; Hindi Jau; Jau; Sanskrit Yava; Yava; Vern. Jau; Jau; Family- Poaceae; Status- Common. The barley flour is used to perform the death related rituals by Hindus like Pind-dhan. Pind-dhan. Barley grains are sown during Navratras Navratras and the seedlings (Sankh, ( Sankh, Reoli) Reoli) are immersed in river water to mark the culmination of the festival. Barley grains are also used as an ingredient of hawan. hawan. 12. Emblica off Amla; Sanskrit off icinali s, Gaertn.; Eng. Emblic Myrobalan, Indian Gooseberry; Vern. Amla; Amulki, amalaki, amala ; amala ; Family- Euphorbiaceae; Status- Common. The tree is worshiped on a specific day of Kartik month by the Hindus and food (khichdi) (khichdi) is cooked at the site and offering food to the Brahman couple is considered waving off one’s sins. sins . The twigs are used for funeral and cremation of dead body by the Hindus. 13. Dendrocal amus str i ctus, Nees. ; Eng. Bamboo; Vern. Chuanthi Chuanthi ; Hindi Baans Baans ; Family- Poaceae; Status- Common. The woody stems are employed to make the coffin for the funeral ceremony in the villages across the region because of its suitability and easy availability. 14. Vi tex negundo, L.; Vern. Bana, Vern. Bana, Nilpushpi Nilpushpi; Family- Verbenaceae. The leaves with 5-leaflets are placed on on the main main doors of houses houses in the night of Diwali Diwali to keep keep away the evil spirits. spirits. 15. Achyranthus aspera, Linn; Hindi Chirchita, Latzira, Apamarg ; Vern. Pudkanda; Pudkanda; FamilyAchyranthaceae; Status- Common. The leaves with 5-leaflets are placed on the main doors of houses in the night of Diwali of Diwali to to keep away the evil spirits. It is also used as saamdhien in saamdhien in the performance of sacred rituals. 16. Datur a stramonium, stramonium, Linn.; Eng. Thorn Apple, Stramonium; Hindi Dhatura Hindi Dhatura;; Vern. Datura Vern. Datura ; ; FamilySolanaceae; Status- Common. The leaves and fruits are offered to Shiv-lingam during Shiv-lingam during the worship of lord Shiva. 17. Saccha Ganna, Ikh ; Ikh ; Sanskrit Ikshu, Sanskrit Ikshu, rusala; rusala; Familyaccharu ru m of fi cinarum, Linn.; Eng. Sugarcane; Hindi Ganna, Poaceae; Status- Common. The cane is used in the Ganesha worship Ganesha worship on Sankat-choath Sankat-choath in the month of Magh. Magh. Also used in performing other religious rituals like Narain-bali, Panchak-shan Panchak-shanti ti etc. etc. 18. Jur in ea macroce macrocephala, phala, (Royle) C.B. Clarke; Eng. Incense Root, Incense herb; Vern. Dhooph, Mundia-dhup, Guggal ; Family- Asteraceae; Status- Endangered. The dried roots are beaten by adding desi-ghee, copra, desi-ghee, copra, kapoor, barley, sesame etc. to give dhup. It dhup. It is employed for incense by burning for the worship of deities in temples by the Hindus. It has become endangered because of overexploitation in the region. ; Vern. Kainu-di-teel 19. Agr osti osti s cynantha Vern. Kainu-di-teel ; Family- Poaceae. The soft and straight solid culms have been us ed traditionally traditionally for stitching stitching the leaves into plates (and dhoona) dhoona) in the performance of various religious rituals. Its use is similar to paper pins. 20. Or yza Hindi Dhan, Chaval ; Vern. Dhan, Chaval Dhan, Chaval ; ; Family- Poaceae. yza sati sati va, Linn.; Eng. Rice, Paddy; Hindi Dhan, Rice grains are used to perform religious rituals like marriages etc. The rice grains are also coloured with different colours to decorate the sarvtobhadar-mandal sarvtobhadar-mandal , lingtobhadar-mandal for for the religious rituals like marriages etc. The roasted rice ( phullian ( phullian)) is also used in marriage ceremony. The cooked rice is used in the rituals of of pind-dhan, pittarshradh pittarshradh etc. The paddy grains are placed beneath the Kumbh the Kumbh and and also beside the deadbody soon after the death. 21. Pyru s pashi Kainth ; Family- Rosaceae; Status- Common. The pashi a, Ham.; Eng. Elephant apple; Vern. Kainth ; twigs are used in death related rituals along with Ak-datura, Kareer etc. etc. The twigs ( saamdhien ( saamdhien)) are also used in performing religious rituals like Nariane-bali like Nariane-bali and and Panchak Panchak-shanti shanti.. 22. Puni ca granatum, Linn.; Eng. Pomegranate; Hindi Anar-dana; Anar-dana; Sanskrit Dadima; Dadima; Vern. Daduni ; Family- Punicaceae; Status- Common. It is is also considered sacred by Hindus.


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Res Research Ar ticl e The wood of pomegranate is used in the performance of marriage ceremony and other religious rituals. The left-over of pooja-samagri pooja-samagri is placed underneath pomegranate tree. The twigs ( saamdhien ( saamdhien)) are also used in performing religious rituals like hawan-yagia, mokh etc. etc.

Figures: A) Zi zyphus mauri ti ana var. var. fruticosa B) F icus r eli giosa giosa C) Emblica offi cinalis D) Cedrus E) Bu tea monospe E) F) F) Cass deodara monosperr ma Cassia fi stul a

23. Pr un us per Vern. Aran, Aru; Aru; Family- Rosaceae; Status- Common. Common. In high hi gh per si ca, Benth. ; Eng. Peach; Vern. Aran, altitude hilly areas like Badnota like Badnota etc. etc. where Mango, Banana and Palash are not found other local plants are considered sacred. The fresh twigs of Peach are used to perform the marriage ceremony. It is considered as a symbol of fertility and prosperity. 24. Jugl ans r egia, Linn. ; Eng. Walnut; Hindi Akhrot ; Vern. Khoad Vern. Khoad ; Family- Juglandaceae. The walnut tree is planted in many houses. The fruits are considered as a symbol of fertility and find application in


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Res Research Ar ticl e marriage ceremony. Walnuts are also an ingredient of tricholi tricholi offered to the holy fire on Lohri celebration. 25. Cannabi s sati Ganja; Vern. Bhang ; Family-Cannabinaceae. The sati va, L.; Eng. Hemp; Hindi Bhang, Ganja; leaves of Bhang are offered to the worship of lord Shiva. An intoxication drink namely Shardai is prepared by using its leaves leaves on Shiv-ratri. 26. Taxus wallichiana , (Zucc) Pilger. ; Eng. Himalayan Yew; Vern. Brahmmi, Brihmmi, Sungul ; Family- Taxaceae ; Status- Rare and endangered.

Figures: G) Juglans regia H) Pyrus pashia I) Rosa brunonii J) Ocimum sanctum

The wood of Yew is also considered sacred and is used to make surcha & similar other articles of use in the performance of religious rituals. Dried leaves are one of the ingredients of hawan hawan alongwith shad guddi, shaleera shaleera , bala, bala, jau, til, dhoop, gud etc. etc. . var. fruticosa (syn. Z. jujuba) 27. Zi zyphus yphus maur maur it iana, Lamk jujuba) ; Eng. Jujube, Chinese date ; Vern. Fuadi; Fuadi; Hindi Ber, Pemdi Ber ; Sanskrit Ajapriya, badara, karkandhu, karkandhu, kuvala; kuvala; Family- Rhamnaceae; Status- Common. The tree is considered sacred for the performance of socio-religious ceremonies like marriages etc. The newlyweds are asked to take rounds (parikarma) around (parikarma) around the tree. The wood of berry also finds application (as saamdhien (as saamdhien)) in the performance of religious rituals. 28. F icus vir ens, ns, Aiton. (Syn. (Syn. F. infectoria) infectoria ); Eng. Java Fig; Hindi Pilkhan, Ram Anjeer ; Vern. Plakh; Plakh; Family- Moraceae; Status- Common. The wood of Pilkhan of Pilkhan is is used for saamdhien for saamdhien whereas whereas its leaves alongwith the leaves of Plakh, Plash, Plash, Bar, Baro & Rumbal are used as Panch-valabh Panch-valabh to be placed on the Kalash Kalash to take bath in performing the religious rituals. © Copyright 2014 | Centre for Info Bio Technology (CIBTech)

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Res Research Ar ticl e 29. Cedru s deodar deodar a, Loud.; Eng. Cedar Tree, Deodar; Hindi Deodar Hindi Deodar ; Vern. Diar Vern. Diar ; Family- Pinaceae. The wood of deodar is considered sacred in hilly areas of state and the district as well. It is used as saamdhien for saamdhien for the holy fire in marriages, hawan-yagia etc. hawan-yagia etc. 30. Cassia fistula, Linn.; Eng. Indian Laburnum, Golden Shower; Hindi Amaltas; Amaltas; Vern. Krongal ; Family-Caesalpiniaceae. It is considered sacred by some Rajput clans like Bhran. The Bhran. The newly wedded couple is asked to perform seven rounds around this tree as a ritual to complete the marriage. Vern. Kareer ; Family- Rosaceae. The twigs are 31. Rosa Rosa br br unoni i, Lindl.; Eng. Himalayan Musk Rose; Vern. Kareer used as saamdhie as saamdhien n to perform religious rituals like marriage, hawan-yagia, mokh etc. mokh etc. 32. Acacia catechu catechu , Willd.; Eng. Catechu, Black Cutch; Vern. Khair ; Family- Mimosaceae. The wood of Khair is is used as saamdhein as saamdhein in the performan the performance ce of religious religious rituals. 33. Valeri ana jatamans jatamansii ii , Jones.; Eng. Indian Valerian; Hindi Sugandhbala; Sugandhbala; Vern. Bala, Bala, Mushkbala; Mushkbala; Family- Valerianaceae; Status- Endangered. The roots are odorous and are an ingredient of hawan. hawan. Also used in perfumes and locally traded in J&K. 34. A sparagus Safed-Musli; Vern. Sainspaur , Chitti-musli; Chitti-musli ; Familyspar agus adscendens; adscendens; Eng. Asparagus; Hindi Safed-Musli; Liliaceae; Status- Common. The plant is used in performing the religious rituals of Greh-parvesh. of Greh-parvesh. 35. M itr agyna Hindi Kaim;; Vern. Sangla, Sangla, Kaim, Phaldu Phaldu ; Family- Rubiaceae. The agyna parvif parvif lora, Korth.; Hindi Kaim tree is mistakenly worshiped for Kadam ( Anthocephalus cadamba) cadamba) which is associated with the funfrolics of lord Krishna with Goppies. REFERENCES Brandis D (1998). Indian Trees Trees, Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, Dehra Dun. Chowdhary HS and Wadhwa BM (1984). Flora of Himachal Himachal Pardesh Pardesh (BSI (BSI Publication). Dhar U and Kachroo P (1983). Alpine Flora of of Kashmir Himalaya Himalaya (Scientific Publishers) Jodhpur. Kachroo P, Sapru BL and Dhar U (1978). Flora of Ladakh. Ladakh. Kanji Lal U (1969). Forest Flora of Chakrata, Dehra Dun & Saharanpur Forest Divisions, Uttar Pradesh. Forest Research Institute, Dehra Dun. Delhi. A Field Guide (Dorling Kindersley Pvt. Limited) (India). Krishen P (2006). Trees of Delhi. A Lambert WJ (1933). List of Trees & Shrubs for Kashmir & Jammu circles, J&K State. Forest Bulletin No. 80, Dehradun. 80, Dehradun. Polunin Oleg and Stainton Adam (1984). Flowers Flowers of the Himalaya Himalaya (Oxford University Press) New Delhi Trees of Himachal Himachal Pardesh, Pardesh, Indian Fund Fund Management Management Group 26(II) 88-89. Sharma OP (1977). Fodder Trees Flowers of the Himalaya Himalaya -A Supplement (Oxford University Press) New Delhi. Stainton A (1988). Flowers Vidyarthi OP (1997). Wild & Cultivated Plants of Jammu, Kashmir & Ladakh , Directorate of Social Forestry, Jammu & Kashmir. Vidyarthi OP (2010). Forest Flora Flora of Kashmir, Kashmir, Jammu & Kashmir Forest Department.


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Sanjeevani Sacred Plants

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