Page 11 - Young Intach Jan-March 2022.indd

VOL. 19 No. 1

Bountiful BANANA Did You Know?
Alexander the Great was impressed
The Banana tree is extremely sacred as the entire tree is consumed in one with the taste of kadali phalam (in
form or the other. It is an integral part of Hindu rituals because it is said to Sanskrit). He carried the fruit from
promote the welfare of the family. India to the Middle East, where it was
named as banan (an Arabic
Botanical Name: Musa paradisiaca word for fi nger).
Common Names: Kela (Hindi), Kadalika (Sanskrit), Aratipandu (Telugu),
Vaazha (Malayalam)

TREE OF WORSHIP

In Hindu mythology, banana is equated the
symbol of Lord Vishnu. It is said that if someone BANANA BLESSINGS
cannot make any donation (dakshina) to a Guru, The entire banana tree is
banana leaves are used as a replacement due
placed at the entrance of the
to their high value. The banana leaves is used marriage hall to symbolise
to serve prasada on it. The fruit is off ered in
fertility and plenty. It is useful
religious ceremonies to gods and goddesses. In for its health benefi ts as it was
Bengal, during the Durga Pujo festival, a fi gurine
used to treat ulcers and aid
symbolizing goddess Durga is made with a digestion problems.
banana plant, known as Kola Bou.
Syed. Muskan, Class 8, JSM High School,
Avantika Chauhan, Class 7C, Scholars Home Sr. Sec. School, Warangal
Dehradun, J. R. Mitharanjani, Class 9B, Angappa Educational
Trust Senior Secondary School, Coimbatore
Illustration by D.S. Midhulashini,
Class 4D, Glazebrooke Public
School, Reddiyur, Salem

HUMBLE JACKFRUIT

Jackfruit is considered as the sacred tree of the Kaliyuga and is revered in Hinduism.
The large evergreen tree is indigenous to the rainforests of Western Ghats.
Botanical Name: Artocarpus heterophyllus
Common Names: Kathal (Hindi), Phalavrikshahka (Sanskrit), Pala (Tamil),
Theibong (Manipuri)

WORSHIP WISDOM

The jackfruit is associated with Lord Ganesha.
The leaves are used to decorate the sacred pot BENEFICIAL JACKFRUIT
or the kalasham. Watering the tree with a pitcher
Ayurveda mentions use of latex to
of water is considered equal to bathing all the
gods. cure blindness and swelling. Other
parts of the tree are used to treat
snakebite and toothache. Leaves
MEITEI MYTH are used as a fodder and the white
latex is used to make yellow dye.
As per the Meitei legend, King of Manipur Bhagya
Chandra, worshipped Lord Krishna to help him
fi ght the elephant. In return he carved Lord
Krishna's image out of a sacred jackfruit tree.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20