palasa kuchchi

[Guest guest]

Dear sri vaishNava perunthagaiyeer,

 

 

 

The following information is quite interesting. I read this in the book

‘kOdhaiyin paadhai’ by vaikunthavaasi sriman mukkoor lakshmee

narasimhaachaariaar [ref page 156 volume 1]. I thought I can share with you all.

 

 

 

Few dhEvathaas were discussing under a tree, on the gaayathree manthram saying

this manthra is

 

* thripadha gayathree,

* ashtaaksharaa gaayathree,

* chathurvigumsath aksharaani gaayathree etc.

 

This means gaayathree manthram has three parts. One part has eight aksharaas or

letters; in all there are 24 letters in the manthram etc. The tree under which

these dhEvathaas were talking was having circular leaves. When they were talking

like this, the leaves suddenly changed themselves into three in one place on a

sprout and three part leaves - [3 ilai oru kambil or oru koththil, oru ilaikku 3

kooRu]. the dhEvathaas discussing were taken by surprise on this sudden change.

Since dhEvathaas said thripadhaa gaayathree – these leaves also changed into

three, having three parts.

 

 

 

That tree is the palaasa tree. The leaves are called dharvee, which we use in

the homams and in our religious rites. The person who uses these dharvees will

not hear 'amangala' words – meaning- the words that are inauspicious. Because

it is connected to gaayathree. Since the tree had good hearing capacity the tree

changed like this when the dhEvathaas were discussing.

 

 

 

That is why a palaasa dhandam – a stick of palaasa tree is given to the

brahmachari during the upanayanam and during the thalai aavaNi avittam.

[upanayanam means leading]. The meaning for giving this palaasa stick to the

brahmachaari boy is to signify he must also receive or have the capacity to

receive the vEdha and the teachings from the guru like the palaasa tree which

changed.

 

 

 

This also adds to the theory that trees and vegetation also has life and hearing

power etc. by hearing music trees grow well is also a modern theory. that has

some basis is clear from this point given by sree swamy.

 

 

 

Many a times we do some thing without knowing the meaning. One such is holding

the palaasa stick during upanayanam. Perhaps after this we will do it more

consciously, and knowing the meaning of such rituals.

 

 

 

Dhaasan

 

 

 

Vasudevan m.g.