Banana Plant

Banana has been part of the Indian Culture since earliest times. There is a tradition of planting a banana tree in front of the house. Banana leaf is a long and wider leaf with a long and tough rib in the middle.



Banana Plant is used for multiple purposes. Banana leaf is non Sticky Leaf that’s why it was used in Kitchen for different purposes like food wrapper, plastic plate and also like aluminum foil from drying and helps it also helps in retaining the heat of the food wrapped in.

 It’s used as a liner for steamer trays like idly (steamed savory cake) trays, it’s used as to go containers by folding it into different shapes.

Food is served in Banana leaf for guests and it’s considered to be respectful. And When Guest feels that food served is a good and tasty meal they fold the banana leaf towards them and if the food served is not satisfactory they will fold the leaf towards the opposite side of them.

Banana leaves are easily available as it was grown in every house and there is no hassle of washing. It’s a large leaf and it can contain all the food and also there is no particular smell and food keeps his value and taste intact. And its bio degradable too, in olden days this could be the main reason why our ancestors chose this leaf for wedding or any big celebrations as a plate. Eating from banana leaf is considered healthy. Eating in Banana leaf is considered auspicious.

Legend:

Banana in Sanskrit is called”Kadali Phalam”. Kadali is Wife of Doorvasa Maharshi.

Once Doorvaasa maharshi was sleeping in his Ashramam ( place where Rushi Muni stay with their family ).and Sandhyavandan time was nearing and he was still asleep as per hindu dharma one should not miss Sandhayavandan it is a very important ritual to be performed every Evening.

Hindu dharma says we should not wake up the person who is in deep sleep and even if we do it we should do it very gently.

Kadali was in a dilemma whether to wake him up or not if she doesn't wake him up he will miss sandhyavandan, after giving a lot of thought to it she wakes him up, Doorvasa wakes up from his deep sleep and gets angry without even thinking he gives her a curse to be a plant and stay on this earth forever.

Kadali asks Maharshi Doorvasa politely to bless her to always be near to god by letting all her fruits, leaves and stem for all good purposes ,Maharshi Grants her wish. 
Since then Indians use Banana in all Religious festivals, Banana is offered to God as Naiveydyam (food offered to God), trunk of banana plant is used as welcoming gates for weddings and festivals, Leaves are used to serve Naiyvedyam. Green Banana’s are offered to Goddesses Lakshmi.

In few regions People plant Banana and wait till it bears a fruit and will worship the plant with fruits, flowers and leaves.

Its a worth give a try and I am sure you will like Eating food in Banana Leaf.

Madurai Meenakshi Temple

Madurai Meenakshi Temple, located in Madurai, TamilNadu,India.
Madurai was the ancient Capital of the Pandya kingdom ( Pandya Dynasty is one of the three Tamil Dynasties, the other two being Chola and Chera) and said to be 2500 years old City. It is popularly known as the temple city. Meenakshi means Fish eyed 

Madurai Meenakshi Temple Rajagopuram

It is one of the few temples in Tamil Nadu to have four entrances facing towards four directions.

The temple is surrounded by Gopurams (gateway towers), There are 14 gopurams, the tallest of which, the famous southern tower, rises to over
170 ft (52 m) and was built in 1559. The oldest gopuram is the eastern one; built by Marvarman Sundara Pandyan during 1216-1238. Each gopuram is covered with thousands of stone figures of animals, gods and demons painted in bright Colors. 

Legend about the Temple:

According to Hindu legend, in order to answer the prayers of the second Pandya king Malayadwaja Pandya and his wife Kanchanamalai, Parvati Devi appeared out of the holy fire of the Putra Kameshti Yagna(yagna performed by couple to have children) performed by the king. According to another legend, the goddess Parvati herself gave a boon to Kanchanamalai in one of her previous births that she would have the privilege of mothering the goddess Parvati. 
The girl who came out of the holy fire had three breasts. A voice from the heavens told the king not to worry about the abnormality and added that the third breast would vanish as soon as the girl meets her future husband. The happy king named the girl "Tadaatagai" and being the heir to the throne,Tadaatagai was trained carefully in all the fields of Science.As the time came for Tadaatagai Coronation, she started to Wage war and Conquered on the three worlds ( Satya Lok , (Brahama's Abode), Vaikunt (Lord Vishnu's Abode)and Amaravathi ( Devendra's abode and she wanted to Conquer  Lord Shiva's Abode Kailash , very easily she defeated the Pramada ganas (Shiva's army) and Nandi, (the celestial bull of Shiva), and headed to attack and conquer Shiva.

 The moment she saw lord Shiva, she realized that Lord Shiva is her destined husband and she bowed her head down in front of him with great respect as soon as she did that her third breast vanished immediately. She also realized that she was the incarnation of Parvati. 

Both Shiva and Tadaatagai returned to Madurai and the king arranged the coronation ceremony of his daughter, followed by her marriage with Shiva. After the marriage, the pair ruled over Madurai for a long time in divine forms as Sundareswarar and Meenakshi who are presiding deities of the temple.

Madurai Meenakshi Temple Attracts over 25 thousand Visitors in a day and around 30,000 visitors on Fridays.

It was in the list of top 30 nominees of the New Seven Wonders of the World.

Every Year 10 day Meenakshi Tirukalyanam festival celebrated during April–May which attracts over 1 million visitors.

Tulasi Plant

Tulasi Plant

Tulasi Plant is a most sacred plant on the earth. In Hindu culture it has a greater importance than any other flower or plant. Every part of the plant has beautiful fragrance in stem, seeds and leaves.

There are two types of Tulasi:

·      Krishna Tulasi / Shyama Tulasi– Usually leaves are darker in color

·      Rama Tulasi – Has light green leaves and larger in size.

Tulasi Plant

In Purana’s (Sanskrit Scared Writings) it’s mentioned that every household where there is a Tulasi Plant Evil spirits cannot enter, there will be no suffering and no separation from the loved ones. 

Hindus Worship Tulasi Goddess for health and prosperity.

Hindus don’t touch Tulasi plant without taking a bath. Garlands of Tulasi leaves are used in worship of Lord Krishna and Lord Vishnu as they believe that it will please them the most and Lord Hanuman is worshiped with Krishna / Shyama Tulasi. Hindus celebrate the Tulasi Vivaha (Tulasi Marriage) every year in November which actually inaugurates the marriage season in India.

Tulasi has been used in Ayurveda for its great Medicinal qualities. It also acts as a Mosquitos and insect repellent. Tulasi is considered to be balancing the various systems inside the body and helpful for lowering the stress. Tulasi water (Tulasi leaves mixed in water) is considered as pure as river Ganga (Ganga Jal). Hindus pour 2-3 drops of Tulasi water in the mouth of person who is dying in a hope that he will be freed from the cycle of rebirth (Moksha / Mukti).

In India use of Tulasi leaves in culinary preparations is prohibitated by Vaishnav communities( who worship Lord Vishnu)  , however Tulasi leaves or Tulasi water offered to Lord Vishnu or Lord Krishan ( Prasad) can be eaten raw.

Beads made out of Tulasi Stem / roots are called Tulasi Beads; it’s believed to improve your devotion towards the God. It’s worn around the neck and wrist and also used as a Jap Mala.