Informative

Betel: The Celestial Leaf

Known as Tambula leaf in Sanskrit, betel leaf has vital importance in Indian traditions, rituals, and customs. For example, the puja ritual is considered incomplete without presenting a betel leaf to the Gods as offerings. In this blog, we are getting to know about the spiritual importance of the auspicious Betel plant.

The Legend of Betel leaf 

During Samudra Manthan by the Gods and the Demons (churning of the great celestial sea), a betel plant emerged from it. In Ramayana, when Lord Hanuman reached Lanka searching for Mother Sita, carrying the message of Lord Rama, Divine Mother Sita wanted to show her appreciation towards Lord Hanuman. 

As she could not find flowers near the trees under which she was held as a prisoner, she honored Lord Hanuman with a garland of betel leaves. And since that day, Lord Hanuman is presented with the garland of betel leaves every Saturday by the Indian wrestlers to receive the blessings from Lord Hanuman, the deity of strength and intelligence.

During the time of Mahabharata, the Sages Gathered during the Rajasuya Yagya (sacrificial fire rituals) to celebrate Pandava’s victory over the Demons. They asked Arjuna for a betel leaf for the rituals, as the auspicious ceremony was considered incomplete without the betel leaves. 

For that, Arjuna traveled to Naga Loka (the land of serpents) to get this plant. Naga king Lord Vasuki gifted the plant to Arjuna. Since that day, the betel plant was also known as the Naga Veli (Naga creeper).

Medicinal Benefits of Betel

Betel leaves contain iodine, iron, calcium, potassium, Vitamins A and C, carotene, riboflavin, niacin, and thiamine. Betel leaves have been used in ayurvedic medicines for more than two thousand years and are known to possess immune-boosting properties. 

Betel juice is used to treat acne and is used in tooth powders to stop bleeding gums. In Ayurveda, betel leaves are used to treat ulcers and itching in red eyes. In addition, Betel leaf juice helps to relieve cough and curing bronchitis. Due to such importance, ancestors have incorporated this medicinal leaf in ancient traditions. 

Sushruta Samhita, the ancient healthcare text dating 2800 years ago, says that each item in a meal should be savored in a specific order and end with Paan to attain complete nourishment through the meal. Indian classical singers chew paan as nourishment to their throat, which also works as a mouth freshener.  

The spiritual symbolism of betel leaves :

Puranas, the ancient religious texts that were written more than 1500 years ago in India, describes the importance of betel leaf in Hinduism. Puranas say, 

Divine Mother Parvati resides on the part where the stem is connected with the leaf base.

The middle part is the known abode of Divine Mother Saraswati, and at the lower tip, Divine Mother Mahalakshmi resides.

Cultivating the creep of betel leaf in home yields blessings of Lord Indra and Lord Shukra. 

Kamadeva is presented with a betel leaf to gain his blessings. 

While Divine Mother Mangalya is believed to reside on the left side of the leaf, Mother Earth or Divine Mother Bhumi Devi is known to live on the right side of the leaf. Several parts of India have different traditions involving betel leaves. 

-A student belonging to Indian arts such as classical music, or classical dance, when accepted by a Guru, starts his learning by offering this divine leaf as a sign of Divine Mother Saraswati.

Students offer betel leaf and nut to their Gurus as a sign of respect during the auspicious celebrations of Guru Purnima.

-Whenever the priests are invited in the home for Puja, Havan, or Yagya, their Dakshina (donation) is given along with betel leaf and nut as a sign of gratitude. 

-When a married woman visits home as a guest, she is offered betel leaf, considering her as a personification of Divine Mother.

-When the marriage is decided, betel leaves are exchanged between two families as a token of divine confirmation. 

-In Bengal tradition, the bride covers her face with betel leaves, and the blessed couple is allowed to see each other only after she encircles her husband seven times. This tradition is called Shubho Drishti, or the auspicious sight.

-In southern parts of India, the bride’s brother gifts a betel leaf to the couple to share after the wedding ceremony. The ceremony is termed as Thamboolam Charvanam, as sharing a leaf is considered the symbol of sharing life, freshness, and prosperity.

Naivedyam is a process of presenting food to Gods. This food is placed before the deity, and with folded hands, prayers are offered to the Gods. Tambulam, a mixture of betel leaf, betel nut, coconut powder, and lime paste, is offered to God with the food. With that, the following prayers are chanted. 

पूगीफलं महद्दिव्यं नागवल्लीदलैर्युतम् । एलादिचूर्णसंयुक्तं ताम्बूलं प्रतिगृह्यताम् ॥ 

Poogifalam Mahaddivyam Nagavalli Dalairvruttam | Eladichurnam Sanyuktam Tambulam Pratiguhyatam ||

O Lord, please accept these offerings, a divine Pugiphala (Areca Nut) paired with Nagavalli leaf (betel leaf) with added powder of pious Cardamom; I have prepared this Tambulam, O dear Lord, please accept it.  

Lord Shri Krishna says that if one offers me food, fruit, flower, a leaf, or even water with devotion, I delightfully accept it with pure consciousness. And hence, one must remember that Divine does not care about the materialistic value of the offerings but the emotions behind them. 

We hope this blog helped you to understand the significance of betel leaf in spirituality.

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