Tagetes –Genda flower-गेंदा के फूल !

Tagetes –Genda flowers-गेंदा के फूल !

Genda Flowers -गेंदा के फूल {हिंदी में यहाँ पढ़ें}

            This is a very common worship flower found in different sizes and colors in different shades of yellow, saffron and maroon. Since yellow color is favorite of Vishnu and his avatars like Ram and Krishna, this flower is generously used in his worship. In addition to its beautiful looks this flower has a light and pleasant smell. Putting a garland in the neck of God during worship is also a part of "Sringaar" (Make up) of God. The garland of "Genda flowers" is most commonly used for this purpose. 

          It is also a favorite flower of Goddess Lakshmi due to its golden color. During festival of Deepawali  (Lakshmi Puja) the demand of "Genda flowers" increases manifolds. In addition to offering "Genda flowers" to Goddess it is also used in decoration of temples and houses in Deepawali festival. For decoration on different occasions, specially on weddings it is used with other flowers.

Genda and Lotus flower
Sold for Laxmi Puja

          During worship it can be offered to any god. The saffron color of ''Genda flowers" has a special significance for the Hindus. Saffron color is related to "Moksha" that is the desire of most of the religious Hindus.That is why we see "Saadhus" (Hermits) in saffron clothes. This combined with its easy cultivation makes it a favorite flower for Hindus. 

         "Genda flowers" have become a part of Indian culture. It is not only used for worship and decoration on festivals & religious events but also in the last rites after death. The flowers and its garlands are placed on the dead body.

           To fulfill the huge demand in the Indian markets this flower is cultivated on a large scale in India. Its cultivation has made the economic condition of many farmers better.

Tagetes –Genda flowers in flower beds
at "Fun Castle,Ranchi गेंदा के फूल !

       The tagetes flower is the beauty of a garden. The varieties having lesser height and multi-petaled ball like looks are planted in the garden. Such plants grow well during winter. Planted either in flower beds or in pots the give a fascinating look. I have seen a lover of "Genda flower" in Ranchi who decorates his double storied house with potted "Genda flowers"  along railings of terrace, roof and outer open stairs in winter. Pots are placed on the outer side of the railings in circular steel holders. Then that house looks amazing and awesome and keeps a permanent space in ones memory.

Tagetes is sometimes called by marigold which is a similar plant of European origin. In Sanskrit its name is "Sthulpushpa (स्थूलपत्र)".Some varieties of "Genda" has single layer of petals only but they are not preferred because their looks are not so lovely as the multi layered ones. Many years ago I had seen a multi-layered "Genda" flower which petals were conical in shape.

Tagetes Marigold –Genda flowers
The bright yellow flowers are fascinating!

   "Genda_flowers" have industrial and medicinal uses too. "Genda" flower oil is used in making perfumes and dried flower powder in poultry farming. Antiseptic property of "Genda" leaves is well known. It is also used in stomach and throat related problems. In eczema it is directly applied to the skin.

The herb of "Genda flower" is easily grown from dried full grown flower. The dried flower when opened shows pack of long thin seeds. These are sown in flower beds. After watering for few days numbers of small plants grow. After 4 - 5 centimeters height these are transferred and planted to desired places. It does not require much care. In fact if more fertilizer and watering given, it grows more but flowers less. This state in local Hindi language is called "palaa jana" (पला जाना). The smaller size variety flowers more in number than the bigger ones. It can also be grown in balconies in apartments for show or "Puja flower" where limited open space is available.

   

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Tulsi Leaves (तुलसी दल)

Tulsi Leaves (तुलसी दल)          हिंदी ब्लॉग के लिए यहाँ क्लिक करें

A Tulsi Plant with flowers (मंजर)

                        It is one of the sacred (पवित्र) things in the Hindu religion, especially in the Vaishnava sect. Also known as Vrinda (वृन्दा), it is so much liked (प्रिय) by Vishnu (Narayana) that one can not imagine his worship to be complete without it. "Vrindavan" near Mathura where Krishna resided in his childhood means a "forest of Tulsi". Tulsi leaves are offered to the Vishnu idols. The leaves of Tulsi are to Vishu what Bilva-Patras (बेल-पत्र) are to Shiva. On every offering of eatables (प्रसाद) to God at least a leaf of Tulsi is put on it, then only He accepts it. You may have noticed it in "Satyanarayan Puja". Every Hindu family keeps a plant of Tulsi near their house. It is planted in the courtyard (आँगन) in a two to three feet high flower pot which is called Tulsi-pinda (तुलसी पिंडा). It is kept cleaned and decorated. Due to a blessing given by God Vishnu to Vrinda (वृन्दा) (There is a story behind it), He always resides beneath the Tulsi plant. Hindus keep a round small stone called "Shaligram" near the stem of the plant in Tulsi-pinda (तुलसी पिंडा). "Shaligram" represents God Vishnu. This round small stone called "Shaligram" is preferably taken from the "Narayani" river or "Kali Gandaki river" that flows in Nepal and North Bihar. Devote Hindus have a daily routine of offering water (जल) to Tulsi-plant and Sun God (सूर्य), and show lamp (दीप) to them. Those not having a courtyard or sufficient space, they too keep a plant of Tulsi in a flower pot (गमला) in their veranda or balcony. They prefer not to keep it under shade but in open as is the rule. The fallen leaves of Tulsi on the ground are picked by hand and put in the pot and care is taken not to touch these fallen leaves by feet or by broom.

नव तुलसिका - A small Tulsi Plant

         Tulsi plant is commonly known as 'Holy Basil' in English but its biological name is 'Ocimum Tenuiflorum'. Generally, two varieties of Tulsi are found- One green-leaved (Laxmi Tulsi, Sri Tulsi, Rama Tulsi) and the other purple-leaved (Shyam Tulsi, Krishna Tulsi). The bunch of very small flowers is called "Manjar"(मंजर) in Hindi, a term used for mango flowers.  These flowers are offered to God Shiva and 'Hanuman'. But Tulsi leaves are not offered to Devi or Bhagawati (Hindu Divine Mother). This plant is an aromatic herb and in addition to the above two many other varieties are found that are not considered as holy. Though holy basil grows well in the temperate zone and cannot withstand very cold weather but other variety grows in cold conditions too. One of the most important temples of Vishnu is the "Badrinath Dham" which is in the Himalayas and in winter it is covered with snow. A variety of basil grows on hills around the temple there as shrubs and it is used in offerings to God "Badrinath". So this variety is also holy basil (Tulsi).

                Beads made from Tulsi stem or root are used to make "Japa Mala"(A string of beads) which is used as a rosary or worn around the neck by 'Vaishnavas'. Visit the link जप कैसे करें ? to see my blog in Hindi to know "How to perform Japa". (Tulsi Mala is also available online at Amazon at this link) There are rules for plucking leaves from the Tulsi plant. Before plucking "Pranam" (with devotion) is said and requested to pardon for plucking the leaves. It is not plucked on Sundays. Hindu calendar days of 'Ekadashi' and 'Chaturdashi' in each fortnight is special for Vishnu, so on this day worship of the Tulsi plant is done. Tulsi Vivah is performed in the Hindu month of "Karthik" around "Prabodhini Ekadashi" in which the wedding of Tulsi with Vishnu is celebrated. After this day "Lagan"(लगन) starts after a long period of monsoon in which marriages are not performed in Hindu society. "Lagan"(लगन) are the days (तिथि) of Hindu calendar on which marriages are allowed.

New Tulsi Plant

                 Salvation or Moksha (मोक्ष) is the ultimate desire of most of the Hindu devotees for which they worship the Gods in many ways. Moksha (मोक्ष) means freedom from rebirth but it is not easy. a small amount of "Papkarma"  may put one in the cycle of rebirth. But it is said that if a dying person is given Tulsi with Gangajala (Holy Ganga-water) in his mouth kept in a copper vessel then he gets Moksha (मोक्ष).

              Tulsi plant is also full of medicinal properties. In 'Ayurveda' it is an important herb. In the home remedy of cold and cough tea of Tulsi leaves is given. To stop continuous coughing Tulsi leaves and a few black peppers are chewed slowly. The green tea of Tulsi leaves which is known as "Kaadha" is beneficial for health. Due to this tea companies have brought many products related to Tulsi. Different types of Tulsi tea are available online at this link - Amazon Tea.

               Each and every part of Tulsi is Sacred. Creator God Brahma resides in its branches. In the roots are all the pilgrimage, in the middle are all the Gods while at the top are all the Vedas. This fact is also stated in the "Sloka" below which is recited while saying "Namaskar" to Tulsi.

              So for your prosperity and salvation, plant a Tulsi-plant near your residence and serve it. Following is the Mantra which should be recited daily while offering Jala (जल -water) to Tulsi:--

श्रीप्रिये   श्रीवसे                   नित्यम्   श्रीधर वल्लभे 

भक्त्या दत्ताम मया अर्घ्यम् हि तुलसी प्रतिगृह्यताम।

( SriPriye    SriVase       Nityam    SriDhar     Vallabhe

Bhktya Dattam Maya Arghyam hi Tulsi Pratigruhyatam)

After Jala (जल -water) show "Dhoop-Deepa" (धूप -दीप) and say namaskar by reciting the following "Mantras":--  

यन्मूले सर्व तीर्थानि     यन्मध्ये सर्व देवता

  यदाग्रे सर्व वेदेभ्यो तुलसी त्वाम नमाम्यहं ।

तुलसी श्री शक्ति शुभे पाप हारिणी पुण्यदे

    नमस्ते   नरदनुते   नारायण   मनः   प्रिये।

 (Yanmoole sarva  tirthani    yanmadhe sarva devata

 yadagre sarva vedebhyo tulsi twam namamyaham

 
Tulsi Srishakti Shubhe papharini punyade

 Namaste Nardanute Narayan manah priye.)