Everyone knows how much the Hindus reverenature. And sacred in this country are considered not only animals, but also plants. About which ones, and we will talk in this article. Also we will understand with what, in general, there are revered plants in different countries of the world.
Это малоизвестное у нас, но священное растение в India. Here it is a symbol of the World Tree. Residents of this country believe that the branches of this plant can drive away evil spirits from man, and his leaves fulfill desires. In ancient times, aswattha wood was used to make ritual bowls. Scientists-researchers know two archaic motifs associated with this plant. The first is a person on the asvatthi, trying to get the fruit. This was considered a symbol of religious knowledge. Also in ancient times, Indians often depicted next to the said plant a horse. It is believed that it is under this ashvatthi that the revelation to the Buddha descended.
In a number of traditions of India, anotheran interesting plant - tulasi (basil). He is worshiped as the wife of Vishnu. According to legend, she was once the wife of one of the demons. Vishnu turned it into basil. Later, he also married her. It is a tulasi plant with ovoid green leaves. Among other things, it is used as a medicinal herb.
Of this sacred plant,rosary, as it, according to legend, drives away from man all misfortunes and evil forces. Tulasi is a plant, which is described in one of the Indian epics. Once a well-respected sage accidentally tore his beads made from basil and asked the servant to fix them. Tom had no time, and he promised to do it the next day. However, the wise man ordered him to repair them immediately. "If you knew how dangerous it is to be in this world without them, you would tremble with fear," he said.
Udumbara is a sacred plant in India, reveredas a symbol of abundance. Once upon a time it was used to make thrones for kings, all kinds of amulets and bowls. Fructifies Udumbara three times a year, hence its sacred significance.
Ньягроха – одна из разновидностей смоковницы.Its interesting feature is that it releases aerial roots, which, having reached the ground, germinate with the formation of new trunks. The result is that one crown grows immediately on a whole grove of trunks. According to legend, Vishnu himself once chose this sacred plant. In India, it is believed that this god swims in the middle of the pristine ocean on a piece of the said tree.
This is the most revered in Buddhist countriesa plant, a symbol of religion. Hindus believe that the human soul, developing, blossoms like this flower. Darkness of the silt where this plant is born, is considered a symbol of the material world. Breaking through the thickness of the water, the lotus shows the world a true spiritual transformation. If we talk about "Sacred Plants of Egypt", then here we also meet this flower. The inhabitants of this country give it the same sacred meaning as the Indians. As a sacred lotus, a man, having discarded all that is superfluous, having made his way through the jungle of life's vicissitudes, must take the path of prosperity and self-perfection. This flower is also the national symbol of India itself.
This is another sacred plant in India.There is a tradition according to which a person who brought a rose to the king had the right to fulfill any desire. Princesses of India often walked around the fragrant gardens, cut by grooves, in which rose water flowed.
Разумеется, не только индусы имеют традицию reverence of all kinds of plants. Worship representatives of the flora and other peoples of the world. Sacred plant of the Incas, for example, coca. Once the representatives of this American people used it in their religious rituals and attributed to it a variety of magical properties. The ancient peoples inhabiting the Andes used it not only for ritual purposes, but also as a monetary equivalent, for the treatment of diseases and even for chewing. This plant is a bush plant with straight, thin branches and is currently used as raw material for the preparation of cocaine. In the middle of the last century, the WHO committee decided to recognize chewing coca as a substance abuse. After this, the plant began to eradicate everywhere. The widely known Coca-Cola drink contains some non-psychoactive alkaloids from the leaves of the mentioned culture.
Our ancestors also had a traditionhonoring trees. Thus, the oak tree was considered the Perun tree of strength and was never cut down even under a cornfield. It was he who symbolized the Tree of Life among the Slavic peoples. In addition, the oak tree was considered a display of the Upper World and the longevity tree. In sacred groves, he was often dominant. Under the oaks they organized parties and meals. From this tree was cut a staff for the leader of the tribe, inherited.
The branches of hazel Slavs drove away evil spirits, andwillow was considered a protection tree. The sacred plants of the Slavs are also hops and chamomile. The first, of course, was the patron saint of the festivities, and the second - a symbol of love and loyalty (loves - does not love). Also very dear to our ancestors was plakun-grass. It was used as a talisman and to search for treasure. It was believed that it "strengthens" luck. Slavs considered birch a symbol of the Beginning of Life.
This plant, nowadays often used inas a medicinal, popularly called the Abraham tree. The Jewish plant Vitex sacred is revered as giving youth. According to legend, once it was under him rested the forefather of all Jews, Abraham. To achieve the effect of rejuvenation, you just need to sit under it, breathing in the scent of its flowers. At different times, the priests made the branches and trunks of this shrub.
Все его части являются целебными и используются в traditional medicine and cosmetology. Fresh juice of this plant is used to cure such ailments as impotence and depression. Broths drink to get rid of all sorts of skin problems and as a contraceptive. In addition, they treat diseases of the spleen, liver, mastopathy, myoma and infertility. You can use this plant and to relieve fatigue of the legs. To do this, its leaves are put in shoes. It is not recommended to give infusions and decoctions from any parts of this plant to children under 12 years old.
Vitex sacred is in demand not only in medicine, but also in cooking. For example, in the Arab countries this bush is called “furious pepper” and is used as a seasoning for meat and fish dishes.
Revered plants are found in almost everynations of the world. Perhaps, in our time they are not given that sacred meaning, as in antiquity, but they are still not forgotten and loved. In India and other eastern countries, songs and poems about the lotus are still composed today, and one of the symbols of our country is white birch.
