Turmeric Rituals: I was writing about Turmeric - Yellow / White / Black, Turmeric being a very important spice used in food and medicines. Turmeric is only spice which is used as part of our many rituals in India. This is not a culinary but very auspicious and spiritual use of Turmeric. I thought its important to share. During the Vedic period in India, turmeric was known as the ‘golden spice’ or the ‘spice of life’ as it was associated with the sun. Particular significance was attributed to the bright yellow and saffron spice as the sun and sun Gods were a focal point of worship and ritual at the time. The main indigenous uses of turmeric were rites and rituals intended to produce fertility and spiritual purification. Religious significance Turmeric is used in countless aspects of our culture. These sacred implications are likely related to the health benefits of turmeric. Ancient inhabitants may have been attracted to the vibrant saffron color of the root; subsequently, the health benefits that followed the use of the root led to the belief that the plant was sent from the heavens. In our weddings the women wear a mangalasutra, or nuptial necklace. This necklace is usually made of black and gold beads these days. However, in several regions of India, including Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, a raw piece of turmeric can be threaded and worn around the neck to symbolize the mangal-sutra. Both the wealthy and poor use the turmeric, differing only in the material of the chain, i.e. gold or thread. When worn as an amulet or charm, turmeric is believed to ward off evil spirits. Because turmeric is associated with fertility and prosperity, it is used during the haldi ceremony at Hindu weddings. The powder is mixed with water to form a paste and family members apply it to the bride and groom’s face and body. It signifies the ritual purification of the new couple and serves as a blessing of fortune and prosperity. It is also intended to relax the bride and groom and dispel any nervousness. Before the wedding day, the turmeric is washed from the body. Traditionally turmeric was also used to dye the marriage cloth. Newlyweds perform many rituals to deter the evil eye of jealous onlookers. Here, the elder most fatherly figure of the community places a nut cutter and areca nut into the hands of the bride and groom and ties the nut seven times with a thread that has been dyed with turmeric. The parents then proceed to pour turmeric from either a conch shell or leaf over their hands, signifying the end of the ceremony. In the Tamil tribe of Tareya, the front door of every household invited to the wedding is painted with fresh turmeric paste. At almost every Hindu ritual a yellow and deep-red powder are present at the altar. These two powders are used for holy rites. The yellow powder is turmeric in its basic ground form, and the red is the alkalized for of turmeric, which turns a vibrant red after reacting with acid (Aggarwal et al., 2007). Turmeric For Worship, Hindus all across India use turmeric on a daily basis. Women often apply it to their faces in the evening as an act of emulation for the Goddess Durga whose skin emits a yellow glow. Turmeric is also used to give yellow coloration to clothes as it is associated with the Lord Krishna who is depicted wearing yellow. In addition, certain special Ganesh idols are made entirely of turmeric and turmeric water is used as an offering to the Goddess Kali. In Buddhism, yellow represents the Bodhisattva Ratnasambhava, an archetypal Buddha connected to generosity. In Buddhism, turmeric continues to be symbolic of purity and prosperity and it is used in ceremonies to anoint sacred images. Perhaps its most important use in Buddhism, however, goes back to its qualities as a dye. Turmeric is the dye most often used to create the traditional saffron-colored robes worn by Buddhist monks.
Posted on: Fri, 02 Jan 2015 17:31:00 +0000
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