Narasimhaye’s Blog

Brahma Kamal Plant


BRAHMA KAMAL is not a creeper. you can plant it in a 
flowerpot also (as i have done). you just have to put 
the leaf in soil & it starts growing in 2 weeks time 
(depends upon the climate). the leaves can grow up to 1 
feet long.

the flower starts emmiting the divine scent when the 
blooming process starts (around 8 p.m. in night) & it 
blooms fully at 11.45 p.m. to 12.00 a.m. At that moment 
you can smell the divine scent in 20-25 feet radius.

my grand mother has told me that one should always 
offer the flower on the shivlinga after it blooms at
midnight. but if it's not possible for you to go to mandir 
in night then you can offer it to any god on the altar. 
but the shivlinga looks very beautiful when i put brahma 
kamal on it.

Posted by Vaibhav at RBSC on 21 April 2008
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/rudrakshabeadsocietiesclub

 

 

Damanaka plant

Posted by JK at RBSC on Nov 7, 2008

at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/rudrakshabeadsocietiesclub

 

 

I got some more information in web. Please visit

http://iu.ff.cuni.cz/pandanus/database/details.php?id=195&enc=&sort=&display=&lat=&skt=&pkt=&hin=&ben=&tam=&mal=&eng=&start=  English name is Mugwort. You can see photograph of the plant at 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mugwort

 

Regards

 

JK

 

 

—–Original Message—–
From: rudrakshabeadsocietiesclub@yahoogroups.com [mailto:rudrakshabeadsocietiesclub@yahoogroups.com]On Behalf Of narasimhaye
Sent: Saturday, November 08, 2008 9:51 AM
To: rudrakshabeadsocietiesclub@yahoogroups.com
Subject: RBSC : Damanaka plant

Namaste JK,

I did a search and it says :

“Damanaka is a particular type of flowering tree, Artemisia indica.
In modern Oriya it is called da-aNA. It is one of the two favorite
flowers of Lord Jagannath, the other being campaka. It is said that
Lord Jagannath comes to the Jagannath Vallabh garden in Puri to steal
these flowers. Aropana means to plant. On this dvAdazI there is a
ritual planting of the da-aNA tree.” (Bhaktarupa dasa – X-Com-Textno:
PAMHO6773934)” http://www.hknet.org.nz/parishad139.html

Maybe you can try a search using the key words “Artemisia indica or
Indian sagebrush. Perhaps start from here:

http://search.yahoo.com/search?ei=utf-8&fr=slv8-yie7&p=Artemisia%
20indica

Om Bholenath

— In rudrakshabeadsocietiesclub@yahoogroups.com, “jk.dasgupta”
<jk.dasgupta@…> wrote:
>
> Does anybody know about Damanaka creeper plant? What is the local
name &
> where it is available? I understand this plant has exceptional
medicinal
> properties.
>
> Something I know about this plant is as follows,
> =====================
> “Damanaka” is a creeper that originated from the tears of the two
wives Rati
> and Preeti of Kama Deva. The Lord Manmatha was reduced to ashes for
> disturbing the penance of Lord Siva, both the wives wept. And from
the tears
> of these two wives, has originated the Damanaka creeper
> =====================
>
> Regards,
>
> JK

Sacred Sandalwood

-The Divine Tree
by Christopher McMahon

How many are the trees on earth that bear
the scented flower and juicy fruits!
Yet, O’ Sandal you are unique in possessing
Unparalled fragrance of wood.
Sanskrit shloka

A Passion for Sandalwood

The word, “sandalwood” in English, or “chandan” in Hindi, evokes a
world of ancient mystery, sanctity, and devotion. Ever since going to
live in India in 1971, this precious wood and its oil have been of
great interest to me. The quest to understand this wonderful gift of
nature on every level has taken many interesting twists and turns. My
first encounter with the tree came on the small farm where I was
living in Karnatika State. A local person one day pointed out the
saplings growing in a forest area. It was hard to conceive of this
plain looking tree being the source of a fragrant wood that has been
treasured for thousands of years. In the nearby city of Bangalore,
one could purchase the pure oil distilled in the Mysore Government
Sandalwood factories, and I use to bring bottles of this exquisite
scent home for my mother and friends. The first whiff of sandalwood
oil is enough to produce a life long affection for the scent. It
truly conjures up deep, wonderful, unexplainable feelings about India
and her sacred heritage. Curiosity about the world surrounding this
divine scent led to the exploration of sandalwood groves deep in the
heart of Kerala State, intimate contact with traditional perfume
makers in Uttar Pradesh using sandalwood as a base in their attars,
and finally a visit to an incredible sandalwood oil distillery in
Tamil Nadu. As many people have asked for information about this oil,
an attempt is made here to share what little I know.

Visit to a Sandalwood Grove

Sandalwood is a small evergreen tree attaining a height of 40-50 feet
and a girth of 3-8 feet. Mature specimens are covered with a dark
brown to reddish bark. The smooth trunk of young trees turns rough
with age and exhibits deep vertical cracks. The leathery leaves are
display a range of greenish colors. The purplish brown flowers are
small and unscented. There is little externally that calls one to
notice the sandalwood tree as a specimen containing the prized
aromatic heartwood whose virtues have been sung for several thousand
years. The tree can grow under a variety of environmental conditions
but produces the finest heartwood amidst the try rocky/hilly terrain
of Tamil Nadu, Karnatika States, and Kerala States where the
famed “sandalwood belt” is located. It is in this region that most of
the remaining natural stands of sandalwood are to be found.

In November, 1995 I made a memorable journey to a remote area of
Kerala State where sandalwood groves were being maintained under
government protection. In the company of my kind hosts, Synthite
Industrial Chemicals Ltd, one of the premier spice oil distillers in
India, we traveled from Cochin in the hot, humid coastal zone, up
into the cool mountainous regions where the great tea plantations
were to be found and then down again to a dry valley where we were
able to locate the sandalwood groves. The local people showed us many
trees of various ages that were growing in a mixed forest providing
the unique environment required for the trees natural regeneration. I
was able to hold in my hands the tiny delicate unscented purplish
flowers of the trees as well as observe the small fruits containing a
single seed. As is well known the sandalwood is a root parasite and
extracts nutrients from the host plant by means of special formations
called haustoria. It is not a single species of trees that nourishes
the sandalwood but several and it is not yet fully understood what
the exact conditions are that create that allow the tree to thrive.
In the grove where we were wandered we were able to observe special
cages surrounding root suckers protruding above the ground. The cages
protected the suckers from grazing cattle. The well rooted suckers
were found to be one of the best means of propagating the trees.
Seeds that had passed through the digestive system of birds who had
eaten the trees small fruits were also found to provide seedlings
that seemed to thrive in the groves providing they were protected
from natural foraging. Many other means of artifical propogation have
been tried but the success rate has been minimal. A recent interview
with a District Forest Officer, Mr. Sankara of Tamil Nadu State
confirmed that even after planting hundreds of thousands of
sandalwood saplings produced by tissue culture, seed, etc. very
little success had been obtained. Many concerted efforts have been
made to understand the exact enviromental componets required to grow
the tree but so far man has not been able to unravel nature’s mystery.

After visiting the grove, we were taken to the depot where all the
harvested sandalwood was kept for sale at two yearly auctions.
Several large open air buildings covered with thatched roofs
contained tons of sandalwood roots, trunks and branches and chips. It
was very hot in the sun, but in the shaded confines of the buildings
a noticeable coolness permeated the air surrounding the heartwood.
Every small chip and scap was accounted for and carefully stored in
their respective areas. It was a remarkable scene. The officers in
charge showed us another area where vehicles were stored that had
been confiscated when found containing smuggled sandalwood. One large
gasoline tanker had been stopped and when it was examined was found
to have sandalwood stashed inside. It was standing in the sun waiting
for some unknown fate. The officers informed us that at the auction
perfumers, craftsman, and incense makers would assemble from
throughout India to bid on the wood. Several other depots, located in
Karnatika and Tamil Nadu also held similar auctions where the wood
could be legally procured. Because of the government ban on
exportation of the wood and oil no foreign parties were allowed to
bid on the wood. This visit to the grove and depot provided me with
my first behind the scenes view of this interesting world. I felt
extremely grateful that my kind hosts had gone out of their way to
take me deep into the heart of Kerala State where I could see the
trees for myself and feel their spirit. It also helped me understand
the practical dimensions of the woods harvest and preparation for use
in making oil, carved handicrafts, and incense.

Sandalwood-It’s Precious Heartwood

The most valuable part of the sandalwood tree is the scented
heartwood. If the tree establishes itself in a favorable location it
will begin forming the heartwood after 10 years of growth. At that
point the girth of the tree will be about 9 inches and its height 10
feet. After 20 years the heartwood begins to form rapidly and reaches
its prime in the 50-60 year range at which point the tree will be
about 2-3 feet in girth, and upto 60 feet high. The trees having
reached this stage and considered ripe for harvest are uprooted not
cut, as the roots are highest in oil content. The appropriate time
for doing this is just after the rainy season so as to reduce labor.

After the tree is uprooted it is reassembled on the ground to imitate
the original structure of the tree. The branches not containing
heartwood are lopped off on site while the branches containing
heartwood are sawn as close to the trunk of the tree as possible.
Numbers are assigned to each and every useable part so that a careful
record can be kept of this valuable commodity. The wood is stripped
of all the unscented white sapwood save for 3/4″ which covers the
heartwood. Final separation of sapwood from heartwood takes place at
a centrally located storage depots. Thicker and heavier portions of
tree are cut into billets 3’6″ in length and even the sawdust
generated from this process is saved. Much attention is given to the
cutting of the billets as knot and dent free wood fetches a higher
price. The billets, sawdust, and root system wood are all carefully
weighed before transport to the depot. This also helps prevent the
loss of wood from theft.

In the sandalwood depot the remaining sapwood is carefully removed by
people skilled in this type of work. Extreme care must be taken so
that all the precious heartwood remains intact. After all the
processes are completed the wood is separated into heartwood,
branchwood, chips, and powder for auction. Even the sapwood
containing a tiny bit of fragrance due to its proximity to the
heartwood will be auctioned off. The wood is auctioned off from these
sites twice yearly.

Due to its high value sandalwood is exploited by thieves and
smugglers. They have developed many ingenious means for transporting
the wood to people willing to illegally traffic in this commodity.
Penalties for detection of illicit trading in it are severe and the
government is making restrictions on the purchasing of sandalwood
ever more stringent. Once a company has purchased it through legal
channels, careful records must be kept as to how it is being used so
that when officials check the records, the amount purchased and the
amount sold match.

Distillation of Sandalwood/Ancient and Modern

In February 1996, the next stage of my initiation into the world of
sandalwood presented itself. In the company of my fragrance mentor,
Mr. Ramakant Harlalk of Nishant Aromas in Bombay, I traveled to the
ancient perfume center of Kannauj in Uttar Pradesh to study how
attars were made. Attars are perfumes which are created by hydro-
distilling various flowers, roots, herb and spices into pure
sandalwood oil. Since sandalwood is central to this type of unique
perfume, several distilleries are located in Kannauj that specialize
in sandalwood production. The information presented here is based on
the visits to these factories.

Once sandalwood is purchased by a perfume house it must be further
prepared for distillation. The billets of branch and root are first
coarsely chipped and then ground to a fine powder. Before the advent
of steam distillation this 40-60 lbs of the powder was placed in the
traditional copper still and allowed to soak for 48 hours. It was
then distilled over an open fire with the vapors condensing in the
copper receiving vessel resting in a water bath after passing through
a copper or bamboo tube. The floating oil was then mechanically
ladled off and refined further by filtration and other locally
developed techniques. The odor of this hydro-distilled oil was
thought to be superior to that obtained by steam distillation and it
is said that some perfume houses still use this technique. A 4-5%
yield of oil could be obtained if due care was observed in processing.

For steam distillation a fine powder is also used but care must be
taken that it is not so fine that it turns into a creamy paste in the
still. It must instead be of light porous consistency so the steam
can pass through it without forming knots or channels. The copper or
stainless steel stills used in for this are generally much larger
than traditional ones and can hold from 1000-2000 lbs of powder. The
basic rule for their design is that their height should be 25% more
than the width. The false bottom is perforated allowing for passage
of steam from below. In Kannauj at several places I visited, the
steam was being generated by huge boilers that were previously used
on coal burning railroad engines. The heat of the pressurized steam
forces the wood to release its essential oil from tiny intercellular
pockets. The droplets of essential oil evaporate and co-mingle with
the steam which rises to the top of the still. The fragrance charged
steam rises out from the still from a goose-neck shaped funnel and
enters the condensation chamber. A cooled water jacket surrounds the
coiled tube into which this vapor passes causing it to condense into
liquid form once again. Upon entering the receiver the lighter
essential oil rises to the surface and the water sinks to the bottom
making it easy to separate the two. The quality of the oil is
determined by the pressure at which it is distilled. High pressure
will give a higher yield in less time but the odor quality will be
unfavorably altered. Low pressure distillation is prefered by those
companies who cater to the refined perfume and aromatherapy market.

The crude sandalwood oil floating on the distillate surface is
skimmed off, separated from the remaining liquid and scum impurities,
and then filtered. This oil as such is often used by the attar
manufacturers. Further refinement is carried out for oils being sent
to the international market. It will be distilled again with a
superheated steam then further refined in a steam jacketed vacuum to
remove the last traces of water. Each additional step in refinement
may involve the removal of some of the oils medicinal virtues.

Yield of oil from the steam distillation process ranges from 4.50 to
6.25%. It is an oil produced from roots, trunk/branch billets, and
chips.The yield from the roots alone can exceed 10% with the other
parts of the tree yielding considerably less. This in brief describes
the two different processes used for distilling sandalwood.”

Ethically Harvested and Distilled Sandalwood

In March 1999, I had the opportunity to visit with the person in
charge of the only factory in India that has permission to export
sandalwood overseas. This visit provided me with a most important
part of the sandalwood story which I feel will be of greatest
interest to the aromatherapy community. Since I began my explorations
of India’s aromatic traditions ancient and modern in 1995, many
people have asked me if I could source sandalwood for them. I had
discussed this issue with Ramakant on a number of occasions and he
had very patiently told me that until we found the legal means of
exporting the oil we should not even think about offering it in the
Western world. There is part of the sandalwood story which is very
sad and tragic. The illegal cutting, distilling and smuggling of the
oil out of the country is well known. Most of the oils reaching
overseas distributors is coming through such sources. Many times the
trees have been cut way before they have come into maturity. This
type of illicit trade and sandalwood continues to this day. He said
that if we also supported this type of illegal trade it would be a
blight on our name and we would only be doing what so many others
have done. He insisted that we wait until we would discover that
person and place where we could procure the oil in an ethical manner
from sanctioned sources.

At the time when we first began discussing this issue, no such source
was known to us. Sandalwood could be legally purchased in India for
making attars and attars could in turn be legally exported, but there
was at that time, a government ban on all export of the pure oil.
Ramakant had an independent third party facility for doing analysis
of essential oils for purity and quality Many of the largest users of
sandalwood oil sent their oils to him to ascertain if their product
was genuine. In this way he acquired a very good knowledge of the
grades of the oil, what types of adulteration were going on(which is
very very extensive) etc. This database gave him an insight into what
a truly remarkable sandalwood oil would look like. Less than 10% of
all oils analyzed fit into the category of the extraordinary. During
this time he continued to enquire if there was any source through
which we could legally procure oil and export it. Such information is
not as easy to come by as one might think.

Finally in the latter part of 1998 he was given the name of the
District Forest Officer in charge of sandalwood oil production in
Tamil Nadu. Many phone calls and correspondences followed as Ramakant
explained to Mr. Sankara what our hopes and wishes were for providing
the aromatherapy community with an oil that was produced from
ethically harvested trees. An invitation was extended by him to visit
the facility in Tamil Nadu so we could see for ourselves what type of
work he was engaged in and if we liked what we saw we could procure
the oil from him and legally export it to the Western world.
Traveling from Madras into the interior of Tamil Nadu, I wondered
what it was that we were going to see. I did not want to get my hopes
up but Ramakant had given me a very encouraging report on his
interactions with Mr. Sankara. Also he had procured a modest quanitiy
from the distillery and had thoroughly analyzed the oil and reported
that it was of that unique 10% quality that he so rarely saw. In fact
all his family members who are equally involved in the family
business had said it was the finest oil that they had ever seen.

Arriving at the factory in a remote rural location in the early
afternoon, we were immediately taken to meet Mr. Sanakara. What a
fine meeting it was. Before us sat a man whose eyes were clear,
simple and pure. He has spent his life in the forest service and had
a true love of nature, the trees of the forest, and the environment
in general. He had worked in various dimensions of the forest
department and had in 1997 been given the responsibility of making
the sandalwood distillery functional which had been sitting idle
since 1991. With great zeal and detemination he went about restoring
the equipment, figuring out how to do the distillation properly and
generally determining how he could market the finished product in a
practical honorable way. Since all the wood used would be procured
from government controlled land, all issues regarding illegally
harvested would be put to rest and people wishing to use oil from
trees which had either died naturally or when in their mortality
spiral could be assured. As he shared with us his straightforward
assessment of the situation my heart sang with joy.

At the same time he soberly told us that with all their best efforts
it was impossible to stop the smuggling. The forest officers were
doing there best but as the wood was so precious smugglers employed
people to walk deep into the forest to illegally cut the wood and
haul it out by foot. He said that many many experiments had been made
to regenerate the trees but that, for the most part they had failed.
Whereas they could assure their clients that they would get oil
harvested at the proper time in the trees life, they could be no
means assure that their would be supplies in the years to come. By
his estimation the current supply of ethically harvested wood could
only last 20 more years. So it was bit of a bitter sweet conversation,

After a enlightening discussion about the wood and its future, he
took us into the distillery proper. The entire vicinity was permeated
by this exquisite smell. It was truly wonderful and intoxicating. He
showed us the rooms were the graded wood was kept. Sixteen grades
were carefully adhered too so that when the distillation process took
place they could determine proportions of root, trunk, and branch
wood to be used. He even told us that if a customer required oil
procured from a specific part of the tree it could be done if they
were willing to purchase 100 kilos of it at a time. He then took us
into the large room holding 6 enormous distilling units. Each still
was charged with 1 ton of heartwood. The distillation process once
initiated was continued for 13-15 days twice the length of the
distilleries I had visited in North India. It was also a low pressure
distillation allowing for the gradual extraction of all the rare and
precious constitutents major and minor contained in the oil. While we
were examining his facility, he said we should dip our hands in the
hydrosol. It was the most lovely, soft and smooth aromatic water and
when applied to the skin had a soothing, cool effect. He told us that
if there was an interest the hydrosol it could also be exported into
the West. I felt that this aromatic water was a precious essence in
itself and that it could fine use in skin care products. It had a
fine subtle sandalwood essence.

Mr. Sankara very frankly told us that his only concern was to produce
the best oil that he could. He did not worry if the oil had a high
santalol content, one of the key markers of sandalwood oil, or not.
Generally a superior quality sandalwood oil has a santalol content of
over 90% and he told us that some of the oil produced in the factory
had been tested with 94%. Still he never put the emphasis on such
things. He only paid attention to having the oil distilled according
to very exacting standards and that those who wanted the oil were
free to purchase it or not according to their own desire. His very
simple straightforward approach appealed to my heart very much. It is
rare to meet people with such a direct, candid manner based upon an
honest perception of their own life and work. The effect of his
personality was also clearly observable in the quiet and efficient
manner the few people working there went about their duties. It was a
peaceful organized operation that conveyed a respect for each other
and the work they were involved in.

There was another equally important dimension of this experience
which should be mentioned. I realize that this part of it may not
mean much to others but I will mention it just the same. The plants
have a type of consciousness which responds to the people around
them. They are benign beings who wish that they should be used for
some noble purpose. Even if they are not appreciated and cared for in
a conscious way they still give some of their beauty to the world,
but if they are treated with honor and respect, they yield more of
their mysterious qualities. Aromatic plants possess great healing
virtues but often because they are treated as mere commercial
commodities. The full benefit of their qualities cannot be properly
realized. The rishis and sages of old always loved and appreciated
the world in which they lived and they always taught the people to
love and appreciate all the things around them. They found in the
aromatic plants an incredible source of healing power. They always
thanked the plants for making the sacrafice of their essence to the
products they made. I felt some of this energy in the distillery. It
seemed to me that the sandalwood oil made in this area had some
unique power about it which I had never sensed in any sandalwood oil
before. Perhaps one could attribute this to the fact that nothing
illegal was happening here. It was being done in the best possible
way. It was at this time also I began to fully appreciate Ramakant’s
unswerving determination not to be involved with any illegal sale of
sandalwood to the aromatherapy community. It is a true contradiction
to offer a healing product if that product has been procured by some
illicit means. It is something one has to be very clear about in
their own mind. In short, I felt greatly honored to be in the company
of two such men whose lives were a reflection of their beliefs. I
think the sandalwood trees too, were grateful for their good attitude.

Sandalwood in Sacred Tradition

The olfactory characteristics of sandalwood are legendary. The warm,
sweet, slightly spicy precious wood notes present a mellodic blend
which is at once distinct yet not over powering. The non-dominating
fixative characteristics of the oil make it the ideal choice for
creating attars and a wide range of other perfumes. It has the
capacity to absorb the most ethereal notes of other plant materials,
enrich and enliven them and give them back in a yet more beautiful
form. Many substitutes have been tried for sandalwood but in the end
one can only say that “sandalwood is sandalwood” and there is no real
substitute for it.

In India the heartwood of sandalwood has divine status. One species,
Hari-chandan was said to grow only in the heaven worlds filling the
celestial empire with its divine fragrance. The terrestial sandalwood
is said to be its representative on earth. It is regularly used in
the anointing of sacred idols. The fragrance of the sandalwood is
said to be one of the most pleasing to the gods, hence its use use in
unguents, incense and fragrant oils. A paste is made from the wood
for applying to the forehead in a variety of symbolic markings
indicating to which religious sect a person belongs. Its cooling and
soothing properties when applied in this manner are said to direct a
persons attention towards contemplation of the mystery of life. In
the last rites of devote hindus, the wood is considered a most
important ingredient of the funeral pyre. It is thought that the soul
is carried back to its eternal abode with the scent of sandalwood.
The fragrance of sandalwood and the religious life of India’s people,
can hardly be separated. References to it appear in countless
religious scriptures.

“When smelted again and again gold acquires purer hue, when cut into
pieces repeatedly the sugarcane continues to be sweeter, when rubbed
repeatedly sandal continues to diffuse its fragrance. The virtous
ones acquire no imperfection in their nature even in the face of
adversities.”-Sanskrit shloka

The connection between fragrant plants and spirituality as practiced
in India is profound. Sandalwood holds the pre-emient place amongst
them. It was the material of transformation and elevation. The
alchemical property of the oil was to capture the pure essence of the
flower, allowing its ethereal essence to spread in the environment in
which is was kept for many hours. It is no mistake that it is the
heart and soul of all attars. Perfumery was once practiced as a
divine art and craft and each and every material used had some
special meaning and significance connected with the spiritual lives
of the people. Unfortunately, with the passage of time this subtle
language has been forgotten and only the commercial aspect of perfume
production remains. Still, it is possible, with patient effort to
learn to decipher this language once again. If the inner meaning of
the old arts and crafts can be revived it will not only enrich the
lives of the people engaged in them, but will also benefit the people
using the creations produced with this heightened awareness.

In the ancient way, all parts of life were interconnected. The
physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual dimensions of a persons
being were viewed as one complete unit. People possessing inner
knowledge of the perfume sciences used attars to treat dis-ease in
their patients according to the level it was manifesting on. The
physical application of the oil could initiate a process of
rebalancing that would postively affect the more subtle dimensions of
a persons life. It could, in essence, work from the outer to the
inner. Similarly the fragrance itself could stimulate beneficial
changes in the mind so that the process of inner healing would be
stimulated simultaneously. In this case the process of transformation
would originate from within and move towards the physical existence
of the person. Attars were highly esteemed because they were one of
the only therapeutic agents which could act simultaneously on every
level of a persons existence. The exact virtues contained within each
oil will carefully studied and a wide range of dis-eases could be
treated. Unfortunately the practice of this profound form of healing
has been almost entirely lost. It is possible that it formed an
important part of ayurveda and other indigenous systems of medicine.
Hopefully the key to its practice can once more be recovered. Before
that can happen though, we need to learn to look once again on the
world of plants with eyes of respect and reverence, inwardly thanking
the denizens of that kingdom for the sacrafice they are making in
improving our lives.

Therapeutic Applications of Sandalwood

Traditionally sandalwood has been used for treating digestive
complicatons arising from diarrohoea, nausea, colic and gastritis. It
is listed as a carminative and digestive muscle relaxant. Its
antiseptic properties have been successfully employed for treating
gonnorrhea and leucorrhea. It has long been valued for treating these
types of genito-urinary infections. Indigenous physicians observed
that the oil and heartwood possessed antispasmodic properties and so
utilized it for treating bronchitis, cattarh, coughs, sore throat and
related diseases. Its use in treatment of skin problems is legendary.
It is an excellent mosturizer and nourishes all skin types. Its
astringent, anti-flammatory, antiseptic, and pain relieving
properties have been put to good used in healing wounds, scars, and
acne. Applied to the forehead in the form of a paste it has a cooling
effect and is used to bring down fevers. In cosmetic preparations it
is excellent for reducing wrinkles. In the realm of mental and
emotional therapeutics sandalwood is used for treating stress,
depression, stress anxiety and nervous tension as it is both a
sedative and tonic. It is thought to naturally control anger and
agression and to act upon subtle emotional centers to promote
compassion and openess.

The fragrance of the oil and heartwood are considered invaluable in
meditation practice.

The Sandal Tree as if to prove,
How sweet to conquer Hate, love,
Perfumes the axe that lays it low.

-Rabindranath Tagore

Kesar / Saffron

Kesar have been derived from the Northern Indian region, 
Kashmir,
where old saffron was produced. Saffron is the most 
expensive
spice in the world. Saffron's aroma is unique and 
there is no
substitute for it. It is offered to deity idols. 

Take 4-5 pieces of saffron and put a few drops of 
water and
crush to make paste.

http://www.rudraksha-ratna.com/dispProduct.php?prodId=2880

The Sacred Bilva Tree

Bilva or Aegle marmelos is the embodiment of Lord Shiva himself 
and is one of the sacred tree symbols of Hinduism. One finds the 
reference of this tree throughout India. In Sanskrit this is known 
as Bilva and in Bengali and Hindi this is called Bel. In Gujurati 
Bilva is called Bili 
From the Hindu pantheism point of view this tree is the symbolic 
representation of Shiva, Parvati, Suryaand Lakshmi- the Goddess 
of Wealth. It is said that no worship of Shiva is complete without 
offering Belpatraor Bilva leaf. Thus Shiva is called Vilvadanda or 
staff of the bel-wood. Indologist Dr. Sankar Sengupta recorded that 
"These leaves on the lingam cool and refresh the heated deity. Its 
trifoliate leaf or tripatra symbolises the three functions-creation, 
preservation and destruction:-of the Lord as well as His three eyes." 

It is forbidden to break the branches of the tree as Brahmodaitya or 
Ghost Gods reside on it. In Bengal during the Durga Pooja on the 
ashtami (eighth day) the Goddess Durga is invoked on a twig of Bel 
tree. And in the prayer a devout says, "I shall get hold of thee and 
worship thee as the Goddess Durga. Thou art Sriphala. Thou art great 
virtue, and always dear to Sankara. I welcome thee, in order to 
invoke the Goddess Chandika." The fruit of Bel tree is also called 
Sriphala because it is said the fruit is made out of the milk of 
Goddess Sri. 

Mahant Rama Shankar of Banaras wrote quoting the Skanda Purana 
and explained the origin of Bilva tree, "One day while Parvati was 
resting some drops of sweat fell from her forehead on the mountain 
Mandara, from which grew the bel tree, Girija lives on the root of 
the tree, Maheswari on its shoulder, Dukshayani on its branches, 
Parvati among its leaves, Katyayani in its fruit, Gaori in its 
flowers while in thorns the numerous Saktis find a home. It is 
also believed that Lakshmi, the Goddess of Wealth, also lives 
in the bel tree." Those who perform the puja of Shiva and Parvati 
devoutly, using the leaves, will be endowed with spiritual powers. 
The leaves are-symbols of three gunasr.Sattva, Rajasand Tamos. The 
five portions of the tree, the root, bark, leaf, flowers and fruit, 
also have great medicinal value and are used' o cure snakebites. 

This Bilva tree is found throughout India and Pakistan and a 
special variety of this tree is also found in Burma. Mythological 
sources throw some light on the origin of Bilva. It states that 
"God thought of making storement for yonder sun who did not shine; 
they offered a white cow to Surya, thereby they restored his 
brilliance. The Bilva tree was born at the very reappearance of 
yonder Sun. n Thus be branches are used in kindling sticks during 
religious ceremonies symbolically representing light due to its 
divine origin from the yonder Sun. 

From the medicinal point of view Bel fruits are very useful. In 
the ancient Ayurvedic system of medicine one can find ample 
references of usefulness of Bel for the cure o habitual constipation, 
dysentery and dyspepsia. In the dasamula-the famous Ayurvedic tonic, 
Bel is one of the ten vital ingredients. According to the Smriti 
those who wear amulet of Bilva, their offspring is not harmed at the 
time of birth and misfortune never invades the house. 

Really speaking Bilva is medicinally and religiously very powerful. 
On the one hand it acts as a boost to health and cure for many 
ailments, on the other hand it has great spiritual significance 
which permeates the Hindu way of life. 

http://www.mantraonnet.com/ss/bilva.html

Bilva – Lord Shiva’s Tree

by Swami Vibhooti Saraswati

Lakshmyaascha stana utpannam Mahaadeva sadaa priyam,
Bilva vriksham prayachchhaami eka bilvam Shivaarpanam.
Darshanam bilva vrikshasya sparshanam paapanaashanam,
Aghorapaapasamhaaram eka bilvam shivarpanam.

Born from the breasts of Goddess Lakshmi, the Bilva tree is ever

 dear to Mahadeva. So I ask this tree to offer a Bilva leaf to Lord

Shiva. To have darshan of the Bilva tree, and to touch it, frees

one from sin. The most terrible karma is destroyed when a Bilva

leaf is offered to Lord Shiva.
Sri Bilva Shtakam (v. 6–7)

Indians believe that the knowledge of medicinal plants is older

than history itself, that it was gifted hundreds of thousands of

years ago to the original inhabitants by Brahma, the divine creator

himself. Thus when the sages of the Ayurveda sought to heal human

suffering, they were able to draw on knowledge that had already been

evolving for millennia in the forests of India. One tree about which

they had a very deep knowledge was the Bilva tree. The science of

Ayurveda values the Bilva highly for the medicinal properties

contained in its root, fruit and leaves. According to Swami

Sivananda, it is a healing tree which cures all diseases caused

by vata (wind) and gives strength to the body.

About the Bilva tree
The Bilva tree grows in almost all parts of India, irrespective

of the nature of the soil, and is bitter, astringent and dry by

nature. Tall and austere, with a stern aspect, gnarled trunk and

sharp thorns, the Bilva is undoubtedly Lord Shiva’s tree. Shiva

is always worshipped with its leaves, and it is said that this

tree is much loved by him. It is to be found in all Shiva temples

throughout India. The Bilva is also found in Devi temples, where

it is worshipped. At midnight, on the evening before Durga and

Kali pooja (worship), a tantric ritual called Bel Varan is

performed with the appropriate mantras. A particular energy is

taken from the tree and placed in a kalash (pot). This energy

is then transferred to the statue of Durga or Kali to charge or

empower it for the coming pooja. The process is called prana 

pratishtha, the establishing of the life force in the statue.

When the pooja is over, the energy is released, a process called

visarjan.

The English name for Bilva is Bael, also called ‘stone apple’

as its rather large fruit is like pale yellow suns when ripe.

The Hindi appellation is Bel or Bael Sripal. In Sanskrit it is

also called Bilva or Sriphal. The botanical name for this tree

is Aegle Marmelops, and it belongs to the Rutaceae family. In

the Atharva Veda it is described as being so sacred that its

wood may not be burned for fuel. It is still worshipped today

as a totemic deity by the Santhal tribes in India.

Medicinal properties

The fruit has a hard wood-like rind, which is pale green when

unripe, turning pale yellow to brown as it ripens. Its pale tawny

flesh is sweet and astringent, containing tannin, which acts as

an astringent to the bowels. It has a pleasant, agreeable and

aromatic flavour, and provides an excellent dietary supplement.

This fruit contains gums, vegetable acid and a very small quantity

of sugar. It also contains white seeds and a tenacious transparent

gel. The pulp of the dried Bilva fruit, powdered and mixed with

arrowroot, is called ‘dietetic Bel’. It is both a sustaining food

and a curative medicine, and is traditionally called by Indians

‘the fruit of plenty’. Puranic legend calls it ‘the breasts of the

goddess of plenty’.

The unripe fruit is roasted with a covering of mud, and the softened

pulp mixed with water and sugar or buttermilk. It is more medicinal

than the ripe fruit, particularly if dried in the sun. According

to Swami Sivananda, “This is highly beneficial in sub-acute and

chronic dysentery or diarrhoea, and is particularly useful in

irregularity of bowels in children, because it acts as a mild

stimulant to the intestinal mucus membrane and therefore stops

diarrhoea, acting as a laxative when there is constipation.

The unripe fruit cures excess vata and kapha, indigestion,

stomach ache and dyspepsia.” A confection is made out of the

pulp with amrita and honey, which stops vomiting.

The half-ripe fruit is astringent, digestive and anti-diarrhoeal;

it binds the bowels.

The ripe fruit acts as a laxative, and is aromatic and cooling.

The juice is an appetiser and blood purifier.

The leaves

The dark trifoliate leaves symbolize the three eyes of Lord Shiva,

and contain a small percentage of Shiva’s alchemical substance –

mercury. These leaves have a very pleasant aroma, are used in the

worship of both Shiva and Devi, and form an essential ingredient

in tantric rituals. It is said that offerings of water sprinkled

on these leaves at any shrine will always remain fresh. Sri Bilva

Shtakam (v. 5) states, ‘Dantikoti sahasraani avamedhashtaani cha,

Koti kanya mahaadaanam eka bilvam Shivaarpanam’, which means

“Donating a thousand elephants, and horses, and giving daan

(offering) to crores of kanyas (virgin girls) is equivalent to

offering one Bilva leaf to Lord Shiva.”

The consumption of Bilva leaves alleviates diseases caused by

excess vata and kapha (mucus). They are also useful in diabetes

mellitus. For this a few leaves should be chewed daily and their

fresh juice drunk. They are diaphoretic (producing more

perspiration), thus reducing temperature and lowering fevers,

and an aphrodisiac. A decoction of leaves is a favourite remedy

for ailments that often occur during seasonal changes, such as

fever, flu and fatigue. There are sadhus who sustain themselves

on Bilva leaves alone. According to Swami Sivananda, “The fresh

juice of the leaves is given with the addition of black pepper

in cases of jaundice, and when diluted with water or honey, this

is highly praised remedy in catarrh and feverishness.”

The root is the most important part of the tree medicinally,

after removing the outer skin. A preparation made from the root

with ginger and toasted rice cures vomiting. For the treatment

of piles, dysentery and diarrhoea, a preparation is made from the

root mixed with the tuberous root of Padha. The oil extracted from

the Bilva root, boiled with the juice of Bilva leaves and applied

to the head is excellent for nasal catarrh and diseases of the ear.

The confection Vilvadi Lehiam is also made from this root.

The flowers cure diarrhoea, vomiting and thirst, while the gum of

the inside pulp of the fruit is an aphrodisiac (kama-vardhani).

The Bilva tree in the Shiva Purana

According to the Shiva Purana (7 AD) the Bilva tree is the manifest

form of Lord Shiva himself, while all the great tirthas (pilgrimage

places) are said to reside at its base. One who worships the

shivalingam while sitting under the Bilva, claims this great epic,

attains the state of Shiva. Washing the head by this tree is said

to be the equivalent of bathing in all the sacred rivers. One who

performs Bilva pooja with flowers and incense achieves Shiva loka,

the abode of pure consciousness, and has happiness and prosperity

bestowed upon them. The lighting of the deepak (lamp) before this

tree bestows knowledge and enables the devotee to merge in Lord

Shiva. The Shiva Purana also claims that if the devotee removes

the new leaves from one of the branches of that tree and worships

the tree with them, they will be freed from vice, while one who

feeds a devotee under the Bilva will grow in virtue. 

The hunter and the Bilva tree

The Shiva Purana also relates the following story or myth. Once

there was a cruel-hearted hunter by the name of Gurudruh who

lived in the lonely forest. On the auspicious day of Maha

Shivaratri he had to go out hunting because his family had

nothing to eat. Maha Shivaratri (the great night of Shiva) is

the most sacred time for fasts, prayers and offerings, when even

the most involuntary acts, if pleasing to Lord Shiva, are made

holy. By sunset Gurudruh had not been successful in the hunt.

Coming to a lake, he climbed a tree and waited for some

unsuspecting animal to come and drink. He did not notice that

the tree he had climbed was the Bilva tree. Neither did he notice

the shivalingam beneath it, nor the water pot hanging in the

branch just above it.

After some time a gentle deer came to quench her thirst, and

Gurudruh prepared to shoot. As he drew his bow, he accidentally

knocked the water pot hanging in the tree and some water fell

down on the shivalingam beneath, along with a few Bilva leaves.

Thus, unknowingly and unwittingly, Gurudruh had worshipped Shiva

in the first quarter of the night. As a result his heart was a

little purified by this act performed on such an auspicious night.

Meanwhile the deer, startled by the movement in the tree, looked

up and saw the hunter about to release his arrow. “Please do not

kill me just yet,” pleaded the deer. “I must first take care of

my children, and then I will return to be food for your family.

” The hunter, whose heart had been softened a little by the

accidental worship, on noticing the beauty of the deer, let her

go on condition that she would return on the morrow to give her

body as food for his family.

Later that same night, the sister of the deer came looking for

her. Once more the hunter took aim and once more, without his being

aware, the water and the Bilva leaves fell down upon the shivalingam.

Again, unknowingly, the hunter had worshipped Shiva in the second

quarter of the night. The effect of this was that Gurudruh’s heart

was further purified. His pranas softened a little more, and he

allowed this animal to also go and tend to its young, provided it

returned the next day to provide him and his family with food.

In the third quarter of the night, the mate of the first deer

came in search of her, and again the strange worship took place

as the hunter took aim for the third time. But the hunter’s heart

was beginning to melt due to the worship, and he let the deer’s

mate go also for the same reason and under the same conditions.

Later when the three deer met together, they discussed who should

go and offer themselves for the hunter’s food. Even the children

offered to give their lives. Finally the whole family decided to

surrender to the hunter together, for none of them could bear to

live without the others. Thus they set off towards the lake with

heavy hearts.

When they arrived at the Bilva tree, Gurudruh was very pleased and

relieved to see them, and he immediately prepared for the kill.

He took aim for the fourth time, but in the same accidental manner

as before, worship in the fourth quarter of the night took place

unknown to him. This final action of Gurudruh brought about a

complete change of heart and, as he was about to release the first

arrow, his heart overflowed with pity for the innocent deer. Tears

filled his eyes at the thought of all the animals he had killed in

the past, and slowly he lowered his bow. Greatly moved by the

selfless action of these animals, he felt ashamed and allowed the

whole family of deer to leave unharmed. Such is the purity and

spiritual power of the Bilva tree that, even without his knowledge

or conscious effort, the cruel-hearted hunter had been transformed

into a man of compassion and understanding, and was delivered from

his past bad karma by the grace of Shiva and the Bilva tree.

http://www.yogamag.net/archives/2005/3mar05/bilva.shtml