Six home-grown herbs for worship

Six home-grown herbs for worship 

Introduction

In Vedic tradition, the highest physical worship of almighty is via fire, sun and Soma (prana). However due to dissipation of Vedic knowledge, lay people are out of touch with these methods.

Learned sages, scholars etc have introduced simple forms of worship so that the Vedic tradition is invariably followed by lay people. Overtime, this became the foundation for higher Vedic worship.

In simple forms of worship, offering of flowers has dominated all traditions. 

However, offering leaves of certain herbs has much more benefits at physical level, mental level and also at spiritual level.

Dharma Shastras encourage offering of home-grown flowers and discourage offering of the purchased flowers. So it is always advisable to grow a small amount of flowers in-house combined with few other herbs which can be offered to the almighty during daily worship. These herbs offered to the almighty can be consumed or otherwise absorbed to enhance one's health and well-being as well.

Vedic Tribe is happy to bring you this introductory series on six such herbs which can be easily home-grown and offered to almighty during daily worship. (Tulasi, Bilva, Marva, Durva, Tambula/ Saptashira, and Amra). 

Our intention is to create enough curiosity in you to start a simple daily worship, which helps you progress in your spiritual journey.

Madhwesh K

Vedic Tribe

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1. Tulasi (Ocimum tenuiflorum)

In Devi Bhagavata, Tulasi is called Vrindavani, Viswapujita, Viswapavani, Krishna-jivani etc. It says the deities do not get pleased without the offer of tulasi even if loads of flowers are offered, because tulasi was blessed by Lord Vishnu. (9:25:18-44)

Growing tulasi in-house is very easy and in many traditions "tulsi vrindavan" is an essential part of the patio at home.

Offering tulasi leaves are also an essential part of daily worship, abhishika, naivedya…etc. Tulsi leaves are invariably consumed along with food, as part of "teertha" etc. It's stem is turned into beads and worn as tulsi-mala.

In Ayurveda and Siddha, tulasi is an extensively used herb, due to its medicinal properties. Dry tulsi leaves are stored with grains to repel insects. In recent research, its extracts are shown to disinfect water and contain antimicrobial properties.

You may easily grow Tulsi at home and adopt a practice of offering tulasi leaves to the almighty during your daily worship. Those leaves then can be soaked in your drinking water. You may also adopt the practice of adding a few Tulsi leaves to your food to indicate offering of the food to the almighty. These practices not only elevate your spiritual journey but also improve your health.

In our next write-up, we will discuss "Bilva" , another herbal plant which can be easily home-grown.

Madhwesh K

Vedic Tribe

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2. Bilva (Aegel Marmelos)

Skanda Purana says that, in Bilva plant, Dākṣāyaṇī is present on stem, Maheśvarī on branches, Pārvatī on leaves, Kātyāyanī on fruit, Gaurī on bark, Aparṇā at the middle of the bark, Durgā in the flower and Umā in the branches and twigs (250: 14-16)

Different forms of Goddess Shakti are considered to dwell in Bilva plant and hence considered to be favorite to Lord Shiva. Hence offering Bilva leaves is an essential part of worship of Lord Shiva.

Bilva leaf contains a small amount of toxin and it is medically NOT recommended for oral consumption in its raw form. In Ayurveda its leaves are used to produce juice/ kashaya which is recommended to treat the digestive system among others. Nonetheless, its presence in the house makes us absorb its essence indirectly which benefits our health.

You may easily grow Bilva at home and adopt a practice of offering its leaves to the almighty during your daily worship. Those leaves then can be consumed by preparing Kashaya (following appropriate instruction from an ayurveda expert). These practices not only elevate your spiritual journey but also improve your health.

In our next write-up, we will discuss "Marva" , another herbal plant which can be easily home-grown.

Madhwesh K

Vedic Tribe

— 

3. Marva (Origanum majorana)

Marva has a strong fragrance and is generally added to flower garlands to enhance their redolence.

It is traditionally used in the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases, skin diseases, sore throat, cough etc. It is considered as a good emmenagogue and cardio-protective spice.

Its leaves can be directly added to food and can be consumed orally. Ayurvedic juice of Marva can be consumed to treat cold & cough - as directed by an Ayurvedic expert. 

You may easily grow Marva at home and adopt a practice of offering its leaves to the almighty during your daily worship. Those leaves then can be consumed directly or can be added to the food. These practices not only elevate your spiritual journey but also improve your health.

In our next write-up, we will discuss "Adhararutha" , another herbal plant which can be easily home-grown.

Madhwesh K

Vedic Tribe

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4. Durva (Cynodon dactylon)

In Bhavishya Purana, plant Durva appears from Lord Vishnu’s hands & thighs and hence considered highly auspicious in the worship of almighty. According to legend, Lord Ganesha swallowed Analasura, a demon, and to ease his stomach - consumed 21 Durva plants. Hence, offering 21 Durva plants to Lord Ganesh has become essential part of “Ganesha chaturti” ritual.

Durva is an invasive species and can completely change a habitat once introduced. For example, it was not native to the American continent but after its introduction by Europeans, it has spread tremendously changing many habitats.

In Ayurveda, Durva juice is used to treat eye disorders, herpes, uterine disorders, convulsions…etc. 

Though Durva is not toxic, the “ergot” (fungus) which grows on it is toxic. Hence, it is not medically recommended to consume Durva directly. Instead, Ayurvedic preparations can be used according to the advice of Ayurvedic experts.

You may easily grow Durva at home and adopt a practice of offering them to the almighty during your daily worship. Rather than consuming Durva, allow it to spread its essence in the house - to enable your body to indirectly absorb it. These practices not only elevate your spiritual journey but also improve your health.

In our next write-up, we will discuss "Tambul Panna" , another herbal plant which can be easily home-grown.

Madhwesh K

Vedic Tribe

— 

5. Tambula / Saptasira (Piper betle)

In Skanda Purana, Tambula / Saptasira is said to have emerged among other exotic objects during "samudra mathan". 

Tambula is the common name and Saptasira is its Vedic name. It is an essential part of Vedic culture and is used in almost all contemporary rituals. In Vedic tradition, an anonymous literature named "Tambula manjari" is a compilation of all the traditional knowledge & usage of Tambula in rituals and also in consumption. 

In Ayurveda, it is administered in tablet or powder form to treat headache, migraine, gastritis etc.

You may easily grow Tambula at home and adopt a practice of offering its leaves to the almighty during your daily worship. Those leaves then can be consumed directly after food with a very small amount of processed areca nuts or churned into "thambuli" which tastes great with curd. These practices not only elevate your spiritual journey but also improve your health.

In our next write-up, we will discuss "amra", another herbal plant which can be easily home-grown.

Madhwesh K

Vedic Tribe

— 

6. Amra (Mango/ Mangifera indica)

In Skanda Purana, Amra is said to have emerged among other plants (like parijata) during "samudra mathan". 

In classical sanskrit, Amra is called “chuta”. It is an essential part of Vedic culture and is used in almost all contemporary rituals. In Vedic tradition, Sakhyayana Grihya Sutra calls Amra as “phalottama” (best of all fruits).  

In Ayurveda, Amra leaf is administered as a paste to treat stomach pain, diarrhea, vomiting etc. Although Amra leaf does not contain any serious toxins, it is advisable to consume the same only via Ayurvedic preparations. Nonetheless, the presence of Amra leaves at home allows us to absorb their essence indirectly.

You may easily grow an Amra plant at home and adopt a practice of offering its leaves to the almighty during your daily worship. Those leaves then can be soaked in water and the same can be sprinkled inside the house. These practices not only elevate your spiritual journey but also improve your health.

Vedic Tribe is happy to have brought you this introductory series on six herbs which can be easily home-grown and offered to almighty during daily worship. 

Our intention is to create enough curiosity in you to start a simple daily worship, which helps you progress in your spiritual journey.

All the best

Madhwesh K

Vedic Tribe

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