Shami Puja on Vijaya Dashami.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Shami Pujan and Ashmantak tree should also be worshipped on
Vijayadashmi. There is a story related to this Pujan, according to which
Devi Parvati asks Lord Shiva
about the
significance of Shami Tree on which lord Shiva says that Arjun hid his
weapons in the hole of a Shami Tree during his time of exile and started
living as a Vrihanna in the kingdom of King Virat.
Later on with
the help of king's Son, Arjun collected his weapons from the tree and
got victory over his enemies. This way Shami tree protected Arjun's
weapons. Other than this, when Lord Rama was marching towards the Lanka,
Shami tree told him that he will get victory. This is the reason that
Shami tree is worshipped on the day of Vijayadashmi. If one is unable to
find Shami tree, then Ashmantak tree can also be worshipped.
People
exchange the leaves of the Shami tree among friends and relatives as
gold. Aparijita and Vishnu Kranta plant is also worshipped on this day.
This plant brings victory and is dear to lord Vishnu. Along with paying
for victory people also pray for joy and prosperity.
Shastra Puja
By worshipping the weapons on this day people call for the power of
god. They clean their weapons that are used in daily lives, arrange them
in a row and worship them. This is an important festival of Kshatriya
and they worship Devi Aparajita on this day. People achieve happiness in
all spheres of life by worshipping on this day.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Info courtesy - N. Sumadhawaseva
..............
“Shamee” or” banni”was the kula devate for Paandavaas and even Srinivasa also told that it is his kuladeva.
ಶಮಿ ಶಮಯತೇ ಪಾಪಂ ಶಮೀ ಶತ್ರುವಿನಾಶಿನಿ |
ಅರ್ಜುನಸ್ಯ ಧನುರ್ಧಾರಿ ರಾಮಸ್ಯ ಪ್ರಿಯವಾದಿನಿ |
shami shamayatE paapaM shamI shatruvinaashini |
arjunasya dhanurdhaari raamasya priyavaadini |
शमि शमयते पापं शमी शत्रुविनाशिनि ।
अर्जुनस्य धनुर्धारि रामस्य प्रियवादिनि ।
Shamee Tree destroys our paapaa, it destroys our enemies. It was
holding the Dhanas of Arjuna for one full year and it is Sri
Ramachandra’s favourite tree.
Pandavaas after being cheated by
kauravaas, and having finished their 12 years “vanavaasa” (stay at
forest), had to observe Ajnathavasa, (i.e., to stay in a well known
place, but their identity not to be traced by any). So, in order to
stay in Viratanagar, they kept all their weapons in a Shamee tree. When
they returned from Ajnathavasa, the weapons were safe there, so, to
express their gratitute, they started worshipping Shamee tree. The same
custom is being practiced even today.
Shamee is helpful for
pregnant woman to prevent miscarriage. Shamee is useful for treatment
of astama, bronchitis, desentery, locoderma and piles.
There is
a custom on Vijayadashami Day to do the pooja for Shamee Tree. People
also exchange shamee leaves among other friends and elders with the
shloka ”Shamee shamayate paapam………………..”. In Mysore on the Dasara
procession day, i.e., on Vijayadashami day, the Procession starts from
palace grounds and ends at Bannimantap, Mysore, wherein we can find
Banni trees, and which Mysore kings used to worship.
Why Shamee leaves are exchanged among brahmins -
People distribute leaves of Shamee tree on Dussehra and Vijayadasami
day. In this ritual, Shamee tree leaves symbolically represents gold
or sona. People present shamee tree leaves to friends, relatives and
neighbours and wish happy Dasara. There is an interesting story on why
shamee tree leaves are presented on Dussera.
There is a story about Guru Dakshine & shamee Tree-
An young brahmin named Kautsa in Ayodhya, during Tretayuga, once
after completing education from Guru asked his Guru to accept a Guru
Daskhina – a present offered by students to Guru named Varatantu, after
completing their studies.
Guru Sri Varatantu at first said he
did not want any Dakshina. But young Kautsa insisted that he should take
a Dakshina. Guru Varatantu to get rid of Kautsa asked him for 14
crore (140 million) gold coins. One hundred million for each subject
taught.
The student then went to Sri Ramachandra devaru, who
was ruling Ayodhya and asked for the gold coins needed to pay his Guru
Dakshina. Sri Ramachandra promised to help Kautsa and asked him to wait
near the Shamee (Shamee Tree is favourite for Ramachandra). In three
days time, Sri Ramachandra with the help of Lord Kuber, the God wealth,
showered gold coins from the leaves of Shamee Tree. The leaves of the
trees became gold coins.
Kautsa collected the coins and gave
140 million gold coins to Guru Sri Varatantu. The rest of coins were
distributed to the needy by Kautsa. This happened on a Dussehra day. To
commemorate this event even today people collect leaves of Shamee tree
and present it as gold.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
HSVJ
