(Eka Dhvim Shathi) 21 Leaves for Ganesh Pooja

Ganesh Pooja

The biggest or most interesting festival of all other several festivals, which come in the rainy / monsoon season(s) is Ganesha Puja, which comes in July -August. This worship / Puja is associated with offering 21 different kinds of leaves and 21 flowers to Ganesha. Also, as kids (and even now) we make Ganesh Idols out of raw clay and decorate the idol with flowers etc.. Collecting those 21 leaves from the locations near by my home was real fun. Most of those leaves have medicinal values and would be well grown in that season, due tot he rains. This collection of leaves effort also helps us to locate those medicinal leaves / herbs for the disease prevention in the upcoming winter. Each of those leaves / herbs are referred to by their Sanskrit names , as this tradition has been existent for the past 4000+ years, which is long before the introduction of botanical names etc..

One may wonder about the reason for this effort in the month of Avani or Bhadraprada. The rainy season starts some where in July/Aug. (Aadi month  and this is the second month in the colder phase and after the rain(s), all these plants would have grown well and  Ganesh Puja is the best time to locate / collect those leaves or flowers (which will be useful as medicines during the winter months). Vedic religion and culture teaches us a very scientific and healthy way of life. Now, let's take a look@ the 21 leaves used in Ganesh Pooja.

Note: After doing 21 leaves (patra) and pushpa (flower) pooja, the clay idol is drowned in the near by lakes, wells, rivers etc.. This act would kind of cleanse the water bodies,a s these herbs contain medicinal properties. So do the flowers used in this Pooja.

Maasi Pathram (Artmesia Vulgaris)

Note: This grows very easily all cross the globe. This plant has runners under the ground and is very efficient in weed-prevention. They grow well in marshlands etc.. and possess medicinal properties. 

Bruhadi (Kandam Kathiri) - Solanum Xanthocarpum

Note: This plant is not usually grown as a vegetable by anyone and can be found only in the wild or open lands. This plant grows as small very close to ground level (like a creeper). They have thorny leaves and bitter fruits with thorny pods. These fruits would be collected for medicinal purposes to treat teeth infections and consumed like a vegetable for medicinal purposes. This plant could be easily propagated through seeds, but usually found in abundance in open lands.

Bilva

Note: The flesh inside these fruits can be ground, and used like a shampoo. The flowers of this tree are extremely fragrant and attract bees etc.. in March-April, when they are in bloom. The stems of this tree are used in worship of Sri Lakshmi (Sree Suktha Homam) etc.. and the leaves in Shiva worship  Fruits, leaves, stem ate. possess medicinal properties. These trees can be easily propagated through seeds / seedlings. This tree, has the glory of having mentioned or praised in Sree Suktham, ad part of Yajur Veda praising Sri Lakshmi. This verse states (Thava Vrukshotha Bilva: - Your tree is Bilva). It futher mentions as (Thasya Phalani Thapasa Nuthanthu Maya: Anthraraaya: Cha Alakshmi:) This further prays Sri lakshmi to remove illusion of the mind (Maya), and present the true wisdom and also remove the inauspiciousness or poverty of mind called Alaksmi: through it's fruits). So, this tree and fruits have been sanctified by Vedas. Not any of the trees (not even Thulasi) have that glory.

Dhurvam (Aruham pul) - Cynodon dactylon

Note: This is one of the very commonly available grass species in Southern India. They are available readily in all open lands / marshes. This grass is collected in lump and made as garlands and offered to Sri Ganesha and also the bull or Nandikeshwara in Shiva temples. Apart from it's religious uses, this grass is fed by cows / goats or any other grazing animals. In modern days, juice is extracted out of this grass is consumed for it's high content of iron and other vitamins. Cats, or dogs would consume this grass, when they need their stomach(s) cleaned. May be those animals have recognized the medicinal properties in this grass, long before humans did.

Durthaara(Umathai) - Datura discolor

Note: These plants are usually seen as weeds  in open lands  They grow as small shrubs less than a feet above ground. The ones with white flowers are usually used in worships. They are easily propagated through seeds. The leaves or seeds are used in smoke(s) like cigarettes, for their analgesic properties. If consumed directly all parts of this plant are poisonous. For their analgesic properties, they are called as Unmatha or Umathai  - meaning dull, numb etc. in Sanskrit.

Badhari (Ilandai) - ZIZYPHUS JUJUBA

Note: This is a thorny tree, which grows in very dry conditions . Fruits of this tree are very tasty and nutritious. If the seeds of this tree is thrown, they grow themselves with very little or no care. This is a thorny tree, and snakes etc..c ant enter this tree. So, sparrows and other small birds build their nests in this tree to be safe from snakes or other reptiles, which would eat their eggs. This fruit is also mentioned in Ramayanam, as Shabari offered them to Sri Rama after tasting them.

Apaamaarga (Nayuruvi) - Achyranthes aspera

Note: This plant grows almost like a weed. This possesses medicinal properties and are used in making tooth powder etc.. Also, dried stems of this plant are used as Samith or sticks for Sudarshana Homa (fire worship) etc.

Thulasi - Ocimum Sanctum

Note: All over India, all the traditional house holds have a place for Thulasi in the backyard called as Thulasi Madam. They Thulasi or Holy basil is grown along with turmeric plants. Thulasi leaves can cure cold. cough,fever etc.. and is a great medicine. And if one goes near the Thulasi plant, the air from that plant will remove pimples etc.. from one's faces. This is a very easily available but very powerful herb, which is a remedy for all the cold or winter diseases. Plus they grow very easily in open lands. This variety of Thulasi is called as Vana Thulasi and open lands with these plants are called as BrundaVanam.

Chootha (Maa) - Azadaracta indica 

Note: In places with tropical climate(s), this tree could be easily grown. These leaves are tied in the front of the main entrances etc.. for all the good functions in Southern India. These leaves seem to possess good antiseptic properties. These leaves possess a mild fragrance and are ground to a paste and used in anointing small children ( along with other herbs like mas, turmeric etc..)Also, these leaves are an important part of making of Poorna Kumbam(s). When soaked or immersed in water, these leaves wont get rotten even after 10 days.

Karaveera (Arali) - Nerium Oleander

Note: These plant are very adaptable to drought etc.. and grow in all climates. Different colors and single or multi- petaled cultivars are available. They can be easily propagated through vegetative propagation. Seeds of this plants are considered poisonous.

VishnuKrantha - (Evolvulus alsinoides)

Note: These grow like weeds in open lands, meadows etc.. with bright blue flowers. These plants are supposed to possess medicinal properties. In hotter climates these are grown as ground covers etc.. and are annuals. There are also plants with white flowers called Shiva Kranthi.

Aamalaka (Nelli)

Note: This is tree and possess sour,bitter and sweet fruits. These fruits (Amla or gooseberries) are rich in iron. They are a very important in medicines like Thriphala etc.. and is supposed to cure Diabetes etc.  and supply the iron needed for our body. These fruits are also cooked as pickle etc.. and consumed. Although they can be propagated through seeds, grafted cuttings are becoming very popular (in India) these days.

Maruvaka (Maruhu)

Note: These are annuals, which grow in sandy soils. They can be propagated through seeds or small cuttings. These are called as Sweet Marjoram and consumed as a herb in Europte etc.., while there are used in religious worship mainly in Southern India. This is also a medicinal herb and is used in various Ayurvedic preparations. These leaves can be used for making herbal tea, which would have a mild fragrance.

Sindoora (Nochi) - Vitex Nigundo

Note: This plant esp. leaves, have chemicals, which cure cold, fever etc.. These leaves could be put in boiling water and the steam can be inhaled to cure headache, cold etc.. This is also used in Ayur Vedic preparations.

Jathi (jathi malli) - Jasminum polyanthum 

Note: These are commonly called as winter jasmine and are partially hardy and grow all over US, INDia etc.. These flowers have a strong smell and both the leaves and flowers seem to possess medicinal properties.

Gandalee (Erukku) -  Calotropis procera

Note: These plants grow in very dry conditions and the leaves, flowers etc. are used in medicines  These flowers are also used for Shiva and Ganesha Pooja. In Southern India, these plants are found so easily. These are also violet or slightly blueish flowers. They are usually propagated through seeds. These flowers and leaves are used in the worship of Shiva and Ganesha only.

Shamee (Vanni) - Prosopis spicigera

Note: Shamee or Vahni leaves are offered to Shiva, Ganesha and also Shaneeshwara. This thorny tree is important for religious performances. These are used as substitutes for flowers when doing archana, in seasons, where the income of flowers is limited.

Brungaraaja (Karisilankanni) - Eclipta alba

Note: These plants are mostly found in marsh lands, river banks etc.., where there is abundance of water. They can be easily grown or propagated through seeds. They are highly rich in iron and are used in the preparation of hair oils (Neeli Brungadhi), eyetex (the balck paste applied in the eyes to kids and women). These leaves could also be consumed raw as a medicine or in cooked form as a curry etc. or be added to salads. 

Arjuna (Maruthai) - Terminalia arjuna

Note: This tree grows into a very big tree with white / shiny stem(s) / bark(s). The leaves / bark powder(s) of this tree has medicinal qualities.

Dhadimi(Mathulai) - Punica granatum

Note: In the Southern India these grow to be big trees, and are perennials  But now so many grafted bushy versions of this tree have been released. The flowers of this plants possess a beautiful fluorescent color and are mentioned in various religious / Sanskrit works. These trees are mainly grown for their fruits  The seeds inside this fruit are reddish in color and are compared to the teeth of Krishna. The seeds of this fruit is high in Iron content and other minerals/ vitamins. The shell or membrane in the fruit is very bitter and is dried and preserved to make a tea for stomach disorders (like loos motion). They can be propagated through seeds or the grafted versions as available now.

Devadaru (Devadaru) Cedras Deodara

Note: Cedar might sound to be a very familiar tree to us, (in the evergreen state of Washington in USA). Yes it is the same Cedar tree, which possessed medicinal qualities. The wood of this tree contains oil(s), which make these woods more tolerant to water / air etc.. In addition to that, they produce resins, which can be used in producing aromatic smokes (Dhoopam). The leaves, wood etc.. of these trees could all be burnt or smoked to bring out that pleasant aroma. These are easily propagated through seeds (although they take a long time to grow into a big tree).