Importance of Plantain leaf in Hindu traditions

Importance of Plantain leaf in Hindu traditions

Hindus use plantain leaves to serve food on festival and other special days. Besides traditional value, plantain leaves are good for health. According to Hinduism, the plantain is Holy plant. Now read the other factors of plantain leaves and why they are considered sacred. Hinduism has spared nothing to explain about its customs and traditions. Particularly, the Hindu youths must understand our esteemed value and try to follow at least a few according to their family background.


A) Plantain:

Plantains are mostly sterile triploid hybrids between the species Musa acuminata (A genome), and Musa balbisiana (B genome). Musa species are likely native to India and Southern Asia.

Plantain or Banana Tree symbolically represents Goddess Brahmani. In rituals plantain is referred as Rambha.

Sanskrit names of plantain:

Kadali, Vana Lakshmi, Rambha, Mmochaka, Svaduphala, Dirghapatra, Kashthirasa, Amrit, Balak Priya, Urustambha, Tantu, Vigraha.

Most regional languages of the North derive their names for banana from `kadali' while those of the South from `valai'. So its names are kala in Hindi, Marathi, Gujrati; Keli or kala in Bengali; Vazhai in Tamil; vala in Malayalam; bala in Kannada and ariti kadalamu in Telugu.

1. A pair of plantain trees tied at the main entrance of the venue of the function:

வள்ளற் பெருமான் வள்ளலார் வாக்கு:

"வாழையடி வாழை என வந்த திருக்கூட்ட மரபினின் தான் ஒருவன்"

Vallalar Ramalinga Adigal said that he had born in a tribal group whose generation is like that of plantain after plantain in a sequence.

The primary aim of a Hindu marriage is dharma praja (progeny, particularly sons) and rati (pleasure). Plantain represents progeny.

2. For performing "Kalasa Pooja", rice is spread on a plantain leave and the kalasa is installed on it:

Turmeric, Betal leaves and Plantain are associated to Goddess Lakshmi.

3. Plantain curry is a must on Amavaasya days:

During annual srarta day, annam (cooked rice), plantain curry and vada are offered to agni with mantra for taking those to pitru loka. Plantain, tender jackfruit, bitter gourd curries are essential in annual srarta. Amavasya is also Dharpana day and plantain curry is a must.

Since plantain belongs to India our ancestor's could have eaten that positively. For their remembrance plantain curry is the most suitable item in the cooking recipes.

4. Normally the meals/food is served on plantain leaves:

The leaves of jackfruit, mango, coconut, plantain and vilva are suitable for placing meals for eating (from Smirities). Plantain leaves are spacious and available on all 365 days.
Other leaves are to be stitched together for eating.

The following are the advantages in taking food on plantain leaves;

It is believed that by taking food in plantain leaves from early childhood, the head hair will remain black for a long time.

Face becomes bright and beautiful.

Good for Pitha and Slethuma diseases.

B) Plantain Medicinal Properties and Herbal Use:

Plantain is edible and medicinal, the young leaves are edible raw in salad or cooked as a pot herb, they are very rich in vitamin B1 and riboflavin. The herb has a long history of use as an alternative medicine dating back to ancient times.

Being used as a panacea (medicinal for everything) in some cultures, one American Indian name for the plant translates to "life medicine." And recent research indicates that this name may not be far from true!

The chemical analysis of Plantgo Major reveals the remarkable glycoside Aucubin. Acubin has been reported in the Journal Of Toxicology as a powerful anti-toxin.

There are many more highly effective constituents in this plant including Ascorbic-acid, Apigenin, Baicalein, Benzoic-acid, Chlorogenic-acid, Citric-acid, Ferulic-acid, Oleanolic-acid, Salicylic-acid, and Ursolic-acid.

The leaves and the seed are medicinal used as an antibacterial, antidote, astringent, antiinflammatory, antiseptic, antitussive, cardiac, demulcent, diuretic, expectorant, haemostatic, laxative, ophthalmic, poultice, refrigerant, and vermifuge.

Medical evidence exists to confirm uses as an alternative medicine for asthma, emphysema, bladder problems, bronchitis, fever, hypertension, rheumatism and blood sugar control.

A decoction of the roots is used in the treatment of a wide range of complaints including diarrhoea, dysentery, gastritis, peptic ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome, haemorrhage, haemorrhoids, cystitis, bronchitis, catarrh, sinusitis, coughs, asthma and hay fever.

It also causes a natural aversion to tobacco and is currently being used in stop smoking preparations. Extracts of the plant have antibacterial activity, it is a safe and effective treatment for bleeding, it quickly stops blood flow and encourages the repair of damaged tissue.

The heated leaves are used as a wet dressing for wounds, skin inflammations, malignant ulcers, cuts, stings and swellings and said to promote healing without scars. Poultice of hot leaves is bound onto cuts and wounds to draw out thorns, splinters and inflammation.

The root is said to be used as an anti-venom for rattlesnakes bites. Plantain seeds contain up to 30% mucilage which swells in the gut, acting as a bulk laxative and soothing irritated membranes. The seeds are used in the treatment of parasitic worms. A distilled water made from the plant makes an excellent eye lotion.