Why Is Tamboola Offered to God?
We are discussing the principles of Shodasha Upachara Puja.
We have already seen Avahana, Asana Samarpanam, Arghya, Padya, Achaman, Abhyanga, Snana, Vastra Samarpana, Gandha, Pushpa, Dhoopa, Deepa, and Naivedya.
Tamboola Samarpana – offering of betel leaves, leaves of Nagavalli along with areca nut, Jaateepahala, cloves, cardamom.
By offering this to the Lord, Swarga Loka is attained.
Do you know the significance of betel leaves — the leaves used in Tamboola?
After Lord Dhanwanthari gave the pot of Amruta to Devas and they drank it, the empty pot was brought to Swarga and kept on top of a pillar.
There were still traces of Amruta at the bottom of the pot.
To the same pillar, Airavata was also tied.
Airavata was undergoing its period of must.
Due to the pungent smell of its dung and urine, the pot cracked.
A creeper came out of the crack.
This came from the traces of Amruta in the pot.
Betel leaf has Amruta in it, and it is a favourite of Gods.
Neerajna – also called Neeranjanam, Aaratihi, Aarartikyam or Aaratrikam.
Generally, a lamp is lighted in the night.
But this Deeparadhana — worship with lamps — can be done during day time also.
Hence it is called Aaratrikam:
इदं दिनेऽपि दर्श्यते इति तस्य तथात्वं
'Since this is also done during the day, it is called so.'
One major difference between Deepa used before Naivedya and Neerajana is that in Neerajana, there will be many wicks.
In the earlier Deepa, there is only one wick.
And in Neerajana, Karpoora is also used.
There are several benefits of doing Neerajana.
First of all:
तमोविकारं जयति जिते तस्मिंश्च को भवः
Neerajana is one of the best ways to conquer the Tamoguna — one’s own Tamoguna.
Kama, Krodha, Lobha, Moha, Mada, Matsarya — they all have as their source Tamoguna of the body.
By doing Neerajana, the Tamovikaras — these enemies of oneself — are conquered.
By doing Neerajana, you attain Shiva Loka and stay there for several Kalpas.
Let’s say you are doing Neerajana for one whole year — 365 days —
you stay in Shiva Loka for 365 Kalpas —
365 multiplied by 4.32 billion years.
Darshana of the Linga with its form brightened up with the number of flames —
the number is always an odd number, like 5 or 7.
When you get such a Darshana, the punya earned is endless, limitless.
Such Darshana destroys all the sins that you may have committed in the past.
Any omission, any defect, any fault that may have happened in the earlier steps — they are all compensated when you do Aarati.
Every time you do Neerajana, as the light from the lamp expands all around, your knowledge also will expand.
It will remove the darkness that is ignorance from inside you.
When you do Vandana of the Aarati Deepa, it is mandatory that you do it with both hands —
that is, placing of your palms above the lamp. That is how you do Vandana.
Don’t do it with a single hand.
In fact, there are five kinds of Neerajan:
First one – done with a lamp
Second – with Shankha filled with water
Third – with a washed clean cloth
Fourth – with leaves of mango, Ashwattha
Fifth – by offering Sashtanga Pranama.
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