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Ethnobotanical Leaflets 13: 1476-84, 2009. Major Religious Plants
of� Rudraprayag District (Garhwal),
Uttarakhand ( Balwant Kumar Department of Botany, Issued �01 December, 2009 Abstract The Himalayas are one of the richest sources with respect to the occurrence of religious plants. These plants contribute to religious activities and are also important as food, fodder and medicine. Presented here are the descriptions of 21 religious plants which are traditionally used by local people in the Rudraprayag district (Garhwal) for various religious activities. Key Words: Religious plants, used parts, religious uses,
Devbhumi (Uttarakhand). Introduction ����������� The people are keeping the high religious reverence on plants from
ancient time to present time because Uttarakhand state is popularly known as
� ����������� According
to various legends different plants and their parts (i.e. root, stem, leaves,
seeds and fruits) are used in different places for various worships. In this
study the description of religious plants is based on a survey and also
discussion with local users (villagers) of Rudraprayag district and
considered important in the life of a human being. Study AreaDistrict
Rudraprayag (Garhwal) of Uttarakhand state is the remote area in terms of
lifestyle and is also famous for its world fame pilgrimage like Kedranath,
Tunganath, Madhmaheshwar, Ukhimath, Guptkashi, Tirjuginarayan, Kalimath etc.
The villagers perform all the religious activities like Katha, Vrat,
festivals etc. in the district. The present study was carried out in Makku, Giria, Khod, Banoli and
Bhanaj villages of the Rudraprayag district (Garhwal). Material and MethodsThe
present study is based on a reconnaissance survey. This survey was conducted for knowing about the religious
plants and their uses by local people of district Rudraprayag. During the
survey the author have interviewed with some villagers to assess the information
on major religious plants of the area. The survey was conducted during
2006-07. All the information was recorded throughout a long discussion along
with the villagers. Results and
Discussion
A total of 21
religious plants species belonging 19 genera and 14 families from the
Rudraprayag district Garhwal has been listed below. Anacardiaceae 1. Mangifera indica L. 1753 Local name: Aam Used part: Leaves, fruit and wood. Religious use: Leaves of mango are used
for the control of evil spirits. Generally green leaves with other religious
plants leaves like Peepal, Bar etc. are used for decoration of new homes and
even Havankund (a sacred place). Kumar, et al. (2007) mentioned the wood of
mango is used to perform the Havan because its wood is easily burnt with
maximum smoke. The ashes are used to prevent itching on the body. Asteraceae 2. Artemisia edgeworthii Balakr. Local name: Kunraj and Pati (Johar) Used part: Leaves Religious use: Leaves of inflorescences
mixed with butter used for local incense (Rawat & Pangtey, 1987). Brassicaceae 3. Brassica campestris L. 1753 Local name: Gharia and Sarsoon Used part: Seeds and flowers Religious use: Seeds of B. campestris
are used for yielding oil and this oil is considered as pure for lighting
lamp (deepak) and cooking. The yellow flowers of B. campestris are
offered to god on a festival of flowering season called �Ghoga� (in Garhwal)
and Kumar et al. (2007) described �Fuldhei� (in Kumaun). 4.�
B. juncea (L.) Czern. Local name: Rai and Rara or Raru Used part: Seeds Religious use: Seeds of B. juncea are
used for the treatment against evil spirits during some religious activities.
Fabaceae 5. Vigna mungo L. 1834 Local name: Kali dal, Urad dal and Maans Used part: Seeds Religious use: A mixture of Kali dal (Vigna
mungo) and rice (Oryza sativa) locally called �Khichra� is used
for offering to Van Devta (forest god) against evil spirit. On the day of
Saturday fast it is offered to �Shani Dev�. According to the concept of Kumar
et al. (2007), from the ancient period �Khichri / Khichra� is the symbol of
goddess Kali and god Kalbisht. Juglandaceae 6. Juglans regia L. 1753 Local name: Akhrot Used part: Fruit Religious use: A mixture of five dried
fruits (viz. Akhrot, Kaju, Kismis, Badam & Chuwara) locally called
�Panchmewa� and is generally used in some religious ceremonies. The fruit of Juglans
regia is dried and does not decay and generally considered pure. Moraceae 7. Ficus auriculata Lour (syn. F.
roxburghii Wallich ex Miq.) Local name: Timulu Used part: Leaves Religious use: Leaves of F.
auriculata and other green leaves are used in any religious activity
because utensils are considered impure for the gods. Therefore only the
leaves are used. �8. Ficus religiosa L. 1753 Local name: Peepal Used part: Leaves and whole tree Religious use: Peepal leaves are
considered auspicious for �Panchapallav� (a string of five leaves of either
peepal or mango). Leaves of peepal etc. are tied around the waist of person
performing �Jneu� or �marriage� ceremony. It is believed that panchapallav gives
protection against �Bhoot�, devils and other evil spirits. Peepal tree is
worshipped with leaves and stem. The wood or dried twigs of peepal are used
for performaing Havan. Musaceae 9. Musa balbisiana Colla 1820 Local name: Kela Used part: Fruit, leaves and whole tree Religious use: It is pure and holy fruit
used in religious activity like Katha. It is eaten generally during fasts.
The fruit, rhizome, stem and leaves are all worshipped. In the Katha
(worship) of� Lord �Satyanarayan� the
whole banana tree is worshipped being regarded as representation of Lord
Satyanarayan. Pedaliaceae 10. Sesamum orientale L. 1753 �Local name: Til Used part: Seed Religious use: Generally black Til is
used in religious work like Havan with barley (Hordeum vulgare), Ghee
and Dhoop. It is believed that of the dead body�s soul after the death of a
person, sesamum is used for relinquishment (Tilanjli) at the crematory on 13th
day after the death. ����������� In
entered into the social and religious life of the people since use of sesamum
in �Sraddha� and other ceremonies as mentioned in Apastomba, Dharma Sutra,
Aevalayana, Grhya Sutra, Baudhayana Grhya Sutra, Baudhayana Grhyaasesa Sutra,
and Gobhila Grhya Sutra (Mehra, 1967). Pinaceae 11. Pinus roxburghii Sargent 1897 Local name: Chir Used part: Wood Religious use: In the pine dominated
regions of the district Rudrapraya, small pieces of� P. roxiburghii are popularly used in
Havan or Yangya. Poaceae 12. Hordeum vulgare L. 1753 Local name: Jaw or Jav Used part: Seed and whole plant Religious use: Jaw assumed always pure.
In modern time people generally do not use it for eating but save it for
Havan, worship and other social customs. Kumar et al. (2007) mentioned barley
emerging aroma is believed to be appreciated by the gods. 13. Triticum aestivum L. 1753 Local name: Gehun Used part: Seed� Religious use: Wheat flour is used to
prepare chapati�s (puri) and also to prepare sweet dish (halwa) for offering
to god and worshipping. 14. Oryza sativa L. 1753 �Local name: Sathi or Dhan Used part: Seed� Religious use: Seeds of O. sativa
is donated to Brahamins. It is believed that all crops are boon of gods. The
rice is used in the cooked form (kheer, bare, puri etc.) and is offered to
god in the form of oblation. 15. Cynodon dactylon (L.) Persoon Local name: Daab, Dubar, Dood, Durwa Used part: Whole plant Religious use: C. dactylon is
considered as protector against evil and hard times. It is prayed that the
family show prosperity like the roots of �Doop�. Therefore, it is used in
every worship. The roots of C. dactylon can not be destroyed. They
live forever. 16. Saccharum spontaneum L. 1771 Local name: Used part: Whole plant Religious use: Rosaceae 17. Prunus cerasoides Don. 1825 Local name: Payan, Padam Used part: Leaves and branches Religious use: The leaves and branches
of P. cerasoides are worshipped during Katha, Jneu & marriage
ceremoney. Kumar et al. (2007) nicely described the Padam tree is originated
from the water or from the head of �Shesnag�. It is believed that the animal
transport of Lord Vishnu, bird Garur brought Padam along with �Shesnag� on
this earth. Therefore it is worshipped. Family Rutaceae 18. Skimmia anquetilia Taylor
& Airyshaw Local name: Naar or Nair Used part: Leaves and roots/ rhizomes Religious use: Aromatic leaves and roots
of S. anquetilia are used as dhoop. The leaves of Nair are offored to
god Kedarnath & Tunganath in the high altitude tempals of Lord Shiva of
Rudraprayag district Garhwal. 19. Zanthoxylum armatum DC. 1824 Local name: Timru Used part: Branches Religious use: Shrubby branches or
sticks of Zanthoxylum armatum are worshipped in Jneu sanskar and in a
folk dance (Jagar) and considered symbolic of folk god �Narsingh�. Valerianaceae 20. Valeriana jatamansi Jones Local name: Shamioh Used part: Roots/ rhizomes & leaves Religious use: Aromatic leaves and roots
or rhizomes of V. jatamansi are used as incense. Zingiberaceae 21. Curcuma domestica Valeton Local name: Haldi Used part: Roots/ rhizomes Religious use: In various religious
activities the roots or rhizome of C. domestica are applied for dyeing
of cloths etc. Conclusion ����������� Many traditional societies
all over the world value a large number of plant species from the wild for a
variety of reasons, for food, fiber, shelter or medicine. The practice of
nature conservation is a very ancient tradition. The practice of conservation
of plant species by the traditional societies of Garhwal Himalaya dates back
to millennia. The people of Garhwal Himalaya have a rich tradition of nature
conservation through socio-religious constraints on profligate use of common
property resources (Anthwal et al, 2006). The ancient ethics changed by rejection and replacement
of traditional practices under the influence of western cultures and by the
advent of modern industry. ����� Garhwal Himalaya is referred to as land
of gods as many important religious shrines are located besides the
confluence of five tributaries of sacred river Our cultural
or religious activities has served the purpose of conserving our traditional
heritage since the time of Vedas and Puranas.�
During the survey done by the author and by the discussion with local
villagers it has been concluded that due to modernization and escapism there
has been decrease in the conservation and traditional importance (utility) of
religious plants. The members
of family Poaceae and Rosaceae are used maximumly in the religious activities
as they are represented by five species (5 genera) and three species (3
genera) respectively. There
is strong need to initiate people�s participation, training for promoting the
indigenous traditional knowledge and conserve the religious plants through
traditional knowledge. It
is hoped that this study will focus attention for need to conserve faith of
our religious activities. They in turn serve to conserve biodiversity of our
useful plants. References Anthwal, A. Shrma, R. C. and Shrma, A. Sacred Kumar, B., Chandra, S. Bargali, K. and Pangtey, Y.P.S. Ethnobotany of
religious practicies of Kumaun (Havan). Bishan Singh Mahendra Pal Singh,
Dehradunm. 2007. 1-137. Mehra, K.L. History of Sesame in Pande, P.C., Joshi, G.C. and Kandpal, M.M. Ethnobotany of Kumaun. In: The
Rawat, G.S. and Pangtey. Y.P.S. A contribution to Ethnobotany of alpine
regions of Kumaun. J. Econ. Tax. Bot. 1987. 11: 139-148. |