HOW A SPECIAL PUJA IS PERFORMED TO AMLA TREE IN THIS MONTH ?

 

"Plant trees, grow trees, and save trees are the words we insists much these days. But this concept is already well planned and instilled in our traditions.  In olden days at least a Tulsi plant used to exist in each and every house hold and Tulsi puja is performed. To start with one plant in every home and it is watered daily and a lamp is lit & taught to offer prayers to it and take care of it during winds &storm.

Our ancestors thought that the plant education needs to be taught from the childhood practically so small garden used to exist in house hold with flower bearing plants so as to pluck flowers for the puja of the Lord at home. Few people plant tiny plants like tomatoes, chillies, mint, coriander etc. which can be used for the regular cooking at home.

In those days almost at every temple, there will be trees around with specific importance like for pure air, good fragrances, to get fruits and flowers for the temple. Apart from the regular trees of fruits and flowers, few medicinal plants and herbs are also planted in the temples and they were taken good care of it. These plants are watered from the temple well and from the nearby lake or rivers.

On festive occasion depending on the region and their local customs trees are decorated and worshipped. Many are treated as wish yielding trees. Making rounds around the trees gave good medicinal effects and fresh air to breathe. They all were healthy. Air pollution was less and regular rains because of good trees. 

Trees are never cut and destroyed, if done they are treated as ill and punished severely. Everyone is taught to preserve and care trees. They apply turmeric, kum kum, colourful threads and clothes and lit lamps and pray for the wellbeing of the all. Trees are treated equal to gods.

IN U.P. place called NAIMASARANYAM, where god is in the form of forest and pilgrim throng to offer prayers. All our ancient religious texts teach to grow and preserve plants.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naimisaranya

Especially during this Tamil month of KARTHIGAI (NOV 15 to DEC15), every Monday is considered auspicious to offer puja at the amla tree. People in the neighbourhood or village assemble at a amla tree and all clean the surroundings, water the plant, lit lamps using the amla and pray for their well- being and the tree to grow well and feed all with nutritious amla.

Amla is considered as poor men's apple. Those who can't afford to buy apples, amla is substituted for it.After prayers and puja, all ladies offer their food to the tree and then all together consume it like a prasadha. Every week one amla tree is cared and decorated and watered.

In this way trees get the care in the form of customs and all customs and traditions are for the good of us as well as for the Environment.

(This blog post is a part of Blog Chatter's Cause A Chatter)