IMMORTAL LIGHT - HOMELIFE

[Guest guest]

OM AMRITESWARAI NAMAH

 

IMMORTAL LIGHT - Homelife

 

The value of sacred plants

 

Children, in former times in India, every house had a sacred Tulasi

(basil) plant and a spot to grow it. Also, it was a common practice

to grow plants that produced fragrant flowers for daily worship.

Today, their place is taken by decorative plants and cactus. These

reflect the change in the inner disposition of people. A basis plant

or crataeva tree are considered holy and believed to bring

prosperity to the house where they are nurtured and revered. They

should be watered daily and whenever we go out or come into the

house we must offer our salutations to these plants.

 

The ancients used to touch Mother Earth in reverence before planting

their feet on the ground when they got up from the bed in the

morning.

 

They used to blow to the rising sun as the embodiment of divinity

and give of life. They lived in harmony with Nature. They saw God's

essence in everything. They had joy, peace and health born of this

attitude.

 

Plants such as tulasi and many fragrant flowers used for worship

have medicinal qualities as well. Growing them near the house is

good for purifying the atmosphere. Those who have enough land aroud

the house may grow a little flower garden. We should always chant

our mantra while gardenig. At the same time, the awareness that the

flowers are for worship will help to retain the remembrance of God

within us. Each household should use a portion of its land for

growing trees and plants. This will purify the environment. It wil

maintain Nature's harmoney. In the old days, each house had a grove

and a pond attached to it. Not only the householders, but the whole

society enjoyed their benefits.

 

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>From the book of Immortal Light - Advice to Householders

(english translation of the original Malayalam "Amrita Jyoti")

Amma Sharanam