आम्र पल्लव (आम के पत्ते) - The Mango Leaves

Sacred Leaves

आम्र पल्लव (आम के पत्ते) - The Mango Leaves

               Mango leaves are used on auspicious occasions and in special Hindu worships. Be it a "Vivaha" (Marriage), Worship of "Satyanarayan Swami", "Grih Pravesh Puja" (Worship on the occasion of shifting to newly built house) or "Yajna - Homa"; mango leaves are necessary. Just like Lord Ganesha who brings auspiciousness and keeps evil eyes away, so is the effect of mango leaves. Base twigs of mango leafs are fastened to a string at regular interval of about six inches so that it hangs downwards. This string with hanging mango leaves is stretched over gates as "Torana" or fastened all around the house, marriage Mandap or "Yajna-Mandap". After worship the holy water called "Shanti-jala" (water that keeps peace) is sprinkled with a bunch of mango leaves over devotees and the devotees cover their feet with body clothes so that "Shanti-jala" should fall over the body and does not touch their feet. 

 

Mango leafs in "Toranam"

             In most of the worships related to Vishnu a pot full of water is placed near the God, it is call "Kalasha" or "Kalasham". On the "Kalash" is kept five green leafed bunch of mango leafs. Over it is kept a husked coconut. The things of worship that is kept inside the "Kalash" water differ from region to region. Outer side of the "Kalash" is decorated with rice paste and vermilion (Sindoor) and similarly the coconut is wrapped in red cloth.

                 In the process of "Homa" (होम) "Aahuti" (आहुति) of different things are put in the fire. One of these offerings is that of Ghee (Clarified butter from cow's milk) which is taken with a long handled spoon shaped wooden stick. If this thing is not available in small scale "homa" the priest allows to pour ghee in the fire with a mango leaf which tip is broken.

                    Marriage is such an occasion in which lots of people gather and bride and bridegroom are at the center of attraction all. So keep evil eyes away a ritual involving mango leaf is performed in eastern part of India. On the day of marriage the pundit wraps a mango leaf in thread (Kuchcha Dhaga) and ties to right wrist of bridegroom and to left wrist of bride. It is called "Kangan". This "Kangan" of mango leaf is only put off after the ritual worship of fourth day of marriage (Chaturthi) and then they are supposed to start physical relationship of their conjugal life. The mango leafs also signify fertility and God Kamadeva, this is also a reason to use it in marriages.

                   In fact all parts of a mango tree is used in worship, be it mango wood, mango flower (Amra Manjari - ) or mango fruit itself about which I will write in some blogs in future.

A mango tree laden with Mango Flowers, आम्र मञ्जरी 

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