SRI VIJAYAGANAPATHI: RELIGIOUS AND MEDICINAL PLANTS-2 MANGO

Religious and Medicinal Plants-2.

MANGO

MANGO TREE

In Hindu religion, mango tree has an important religious significance. Hindus consider this tree as the modification of the God Prajapati, who is the lord of all the creatures. Five leaves of this tree in a pot which are besmeared with sindoor or vermilion is a common site in any Hindu religious ceremony. Throughout India this tree is planted and worshipped by devotees. This tree has many names. In Sanskrit it is called Amra and in Hindi and Bengali this is called Aam. In Gujarat this tree is called Amlo and the Tamilians call it Mamaran. Telugu-speaking people describe it as Arnramu or mamidi. In Kerala this is called Mram or Mavu.

Mango leaves are used to decorate the rooms where religious ceremonies take place. Wood of this tree is useful in pooja and hawan. Since the days of the Puranas the Mango tree is personified with various Gods, Goddesses and spirits. It is also used at the time of funeral of the dead bodies. The Hindus dedicate tree flowers to the Moon on the second day of the Bengalis Magha month. With all these importance and uses the mango trees holds a revered place among the Hindus.

This tree retains the leaves throughout the year, therefore in all seasons the leaves are available for all religious functions. Usually this tree spreads to good extent with surplus height. Amazingly wind cannot break the tough mango leaves easily. Flowering of the mango fruit takes place in month of January to March.

Leaves of mango are used for the control of evil spirits. Mango leaves in bunches are said to absorb the negative energy from anyone entering the house. To eliminate the drushti - i.e. the negative effects, at a place where the celebrations are held - be it at home or any public place the mango leaves are kept in a toranam so that there will be no ill or negative effects in those functions. Mango leaves have antibacterial activity.

Purna Kumbha used in the religious functions contians mainly contains ‘water’ leaves of five trees Ashwatha(peepul), Vata(Banyan), Amra(Mango), panasa(jackfruit) and Bakula (Elengi). The mouth of the kalasam is covered with a husked coconut, which is decorated from the sides with Mango leaves. The kalasam contains the purified water – the veritable life principle. Thus it is a direct worship of Varuna – the God of rain. He is the harbinger of rain which ensures fertility on earth and which nourishes animals and human beings.

Except for water, what goes in the pot varies from region to region.

Mango leaves are placed to represent Kama or fertility God. The Purna Kumbha signify life in its bloom and plenty. It also indicates that human beings are part of nature and when nature thrives human beings too flourish. mango leaves are used for pouring ghee into the Homa Kundam.

Mango is called "The King of fruits" due to its sweetness and richness in photochemical and nutrients. It is praised as "heavenly fruit" in Vedas. It is also known as "Super fruit" due to its potential health values. Mango (Mangifera indica) is a member of Anacardiaceous family and cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Mango grows in any kind of soil and produces the fruit that may either be licked, eaten or slurped. Langra, Banganpalli, Raselli,, Gulab Khas are some of the Indian mango varieties liked by majority of mango fruit lovers.

Mango is used in various forms such as pickle, chutney, jelly, cooling summer drink, and as vegetable dishes. Unripe mango is also eaten as raw with salt, chilli or soy sauce. Dried and powdered unripe mango called 'amchur' is used as preservative in pickles. Sliced mango is served as a dessert with coconut flavored sweet glutinous rice. A popular drink 'Mango Shake' is prepared throughout South Asia mixing pulp of the ripe mangoes with sugar and milk.

Medicinal Uses:

Mango is considered a very useful remedy and energizer in Ayurveda. Its medicinal properties are as follows:

1. The insoluble fiber, present in mangoes, helps the elimination of waste from the colon and prevents constipation.

2. The tartaric acid, malic acid, and a trace of citric acid found in the fruit help to maintain the alkali reserve of the body.

3. A milk-mango shake used in the summers help people gain weight.

1. Extracts of leaves, bark, stem and unripe mangoes are believed to possess antibacterial properties against some micro-organisms

2. Dried mango flowers are used in the treatment of diarrhea, chronic dysentery and some problems of the bladder.

3. The stone (kernel) of the mango fruit is used widely in Ayurvedic medicines for treatment of different ailments

4. Antioxidants and enzymes present in the mango fruits are believed to play an important role in the prevention/protection of cancer (colon, breast, leukemia and prostate) and heart disease. Serum cholesterol is regulated by the high content of fiber, pectin and vitamin C present in the mango.

5. Some of the flavonoids present in the fruit are believed to strengthen the immune system of human body.

6. Presence of fiber and enzymes makes mangoes favorite for healthy digestion.

Traditional Uses As Home Remedies:

1. Using Aqueous extract of fresh tender mango leaves in the morning, prepared after soaking overnight and filtering in morning, is believed to be useful in the beginning of diabetes.

2. Alternately, people also use twice a day (morning & evening) half teaspoonful of powdered leaves after drying them in the shade. It may also provide relief in the dysentery when taken with water 2-3 times a day.

3. Mango and Jamun (S. cumini) juice taken in equal proportion is considered useful in controlling diabetes.

4. Ash of mango leaves is applied on burns for relief in pain and healing

5. Juice of the roasted ripe mango (on hot sand)provides relief in cough.

6. Tooth paste, prepared from powdered mango kernal, is believed to strengthen gums

7. Boiling 20 g mango bark powder in a liter water till volume reduces merely to 250 g (ml) and using the decoction after mixing 1 g black salt is believed to cure diarrhea

8. Juice extracted from fresh flowers and taken after mixing it with curd is reported to be useful in diarrhea

9. Paste of decorticated kernel is found useful in leucorrhoea, veginitis and also as a contraceptive

Nutritional properties of Mango fruit:

1. Mangoes are rich in antioxidants such as beta-carotene (445µg/100 g fruit), and Vitamin C (27.7 g/100 g fruit),

2. Mango contains Vitamin A (equivalent 38 µg/100 g fruit), Vitamin E

3. Mangoes also contain Vitamin B6 (0.134 mg/100 g fruit), other vitamins B, K,

4. Mangoes also supply nutrients such as potassium (156 mg/100g fruit), Calcium (10 mg/100 g), magnesium (10 g), iron(0.12 mg), and zinc (0.04 mg/100 g) and fibre and are low in calories.

5. Mango peel and pulp also contain carotenoids, polyphenols, and antioxidents

6. The edible peel of the mango is a good source of fibre

7. Mango is considered as an energizer in Ayurveda as 100 g mago fruit provides about 17.0 g carbohydrates