Importance of Plants in Tulunadu (Karnataka) Rituals
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Lake 2016: Conference on Conservation and Sustainable Management of Ecologically Sensitive Regions in Western Ghats [THE 10TH BIENNIAL LAKE CONFERENCE] th Date: 28-30 December 2016, http://ces.iisc.ernet.in/energy Venue: V.S. Acharya Auditorium, Alva's Education Foundation, Sundari Ananda Alva Campus, Vidyagiri, Moodbidri, D.K. Dist., Karnataka, India – 574227 IMPORTANCE OF PLANTS IN TULUNADU (KARNATAKA) RITUALS AND CEREMONIALS Bhagyashri, Swasthi and Rajesh B* II M Sc Applied Botany Student *Associate Prof, PG Dept of Applied Botany Alva’s College Moodbidri 574 227 D. K Dist, Karnataka, Email: [email protected] Abstract__ In Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, part of plants are used for various purposes. Similarly, for the Kodagu (Karnataka) and Kasaragodu districts special beliefs, people conserve the florist elements in (Kerala), where majority of people speaks ‘Tulu’ as Tulunadu. their mother tongue. Some time this geographical area Keywords__ Bhotharadhane, Serpent naga, seemantha, is also represented as ‘Tulunadu’ which has a unique Brahmodhesh cultural and traditional taboos. In ‘Tulunadu’ people celebrate various festivals, Ceremonials and rituals INTRODUCTION: throughout the year in various occasions. At present, There are several Tulu speaking communities Tulu communities expanded to various parts of the distributed in major district Dakshina Kannada, World. However, the belief, rituals and ceremonies are Udupi and parts of Kodagu in Karnataka and unique among Tulu communities, though many of the Kasargod in Kerala state. There is a myth that this rituals like Bhoota–Aaradhane (Devil worship) and land is created by Lord Parashurama. Tulunadu Naaga-Aaradhane (Serpent worship) are now having separated from Arabian sea till Western Ghats and on Vedic influence. The rituals, ceremonies and festivals north till Uttarakannada and in south till Payaswani which represent cultural heritage of this region. An river. The ‘Tulu’ language is the mother tongue attempt has been made to document the plants which language which spoken by more than 3 million are used in various occasions like festivals and rituals in people. Tulu is a Dravidian language of India. Most Tulunadu which can be one of important document for of its speaker is native on the districts of Dakshina the future generations for their reference as well as to Kannada, Udupi, parts of Kodagu and Kasargodu. conserve the important plants and it can be used for The major crops grown in this region are rice, ragi various purposes mainly medicines. The information (in very olden days) bengal gram, horse gram, most about the use of different plants in rituals, ceremonies of the vegetables and fruits. The plantation crop like and festivals were gathered from village folks from coconut, arecanut, cocoa, cashew nut, cocoa, rubber different parts of Puttur, Moodbidri, Belthangadi and pepper also grown. The belief, rituals and Taluk and parts of Kasaragodu and categorized into ceremonies are unique among Tulu communities, plants used in rituals, festivals and ceremonies. More though many of the rituals like Bhoota–Aaradhane than 40 plants are used in different occasions in (Devil worship) and Naaga-Aaradhane (Serpent Tulunadu and most of them are medicinally useful. The worship) have Vedic influence. The rituals, Tulu communities celebrate special occasions like ceremonies and festivals represent cultural heritage Aati amavasye, Bhoota aaraddhane of Bhoothada Kola, of the region. The objective of the study is to Naaga aaradhene or Nagathambila, Keddasa, Vishu, document plants used in festivals, rituals and Pathanaje, Baliyendra Purba, Koralu habba or thene ceremonies of Tulunadu. habba, Seemantha, Brahmopadhesha, Shasti oota, Sona Shanivara and Hosa akki oota (Pudhvar) during which Proceedings – Lake 2016: Ramachandra T V, Subash Chandran M D, Mohan Alva, et al., 2018. Conservation and Sustainable Management of Ecologically Sensitive Regions in 353 Western Ghats, , Sahyadri Conservation Series 65, , ENVIS Technical Report 120 Environmental Information System, CES, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012 Lake 2016: Conference on Conservation and Sustainable Management of Ecologically Sensitive Regions in Western Ghats [THE 10TH BIENNIAL LAKE CONFERENCE] th Date: 28-30 December 2016, http://ces.iisc.ernet.in/energy Venue: V.S. Acharya Auditorium, Alva's Education Foundation, Sundari Ananda Alva Campus, Vidyagiri, Moodbidri, D.K. Dist., Karnataka, India – 574227 MATERIALS AND METHODS Lam.), Colocasia (Colocasia esculenta L.), The information about the use of different plants in Harive soppu (Amaranthus tricolor) and rituals ceremonies and festivals were gathered from majority of sprouted grains. Similarly, rice village folks from different parts of Puttur, Bantwal, (Oryza sativa L.) roti usually prepared on this Moodbidri, Sullia, Madikeri, Belthangadi and Places occasion. of Kasaragod Taluk. Based on the information 2) Makhe : This is celebrated during the month of gathered references were made to the available march.lt is the worshiping of rivers by offering literature and classified into i) Plants used in rituals beetle leaf (Piper betle L.) , arecanut (Areca ii).plants used in festivals and iii) plants used in catechu L.), coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) and ceremonies. Emphasis was given only to those plants most of the pulses (Dhal, Mungu bean, Cow pea, which are used in Tulu communities. Horse gram, green gram and menthe.). This is called 'Bagina'. Plants used in this rituals are Results and discussion: The vernacular Tulu betel leaf (Piper betle), Arecanut (Areca catechu and Kannada names and botanical names of plants L.), Coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) and banana used in rituals and ceremonies are given in table 1. (Musa paradasiaca L.) leaves (Fig. 2). Plants used in rituals are 1) Keddasa: This is worshiping of mother nature in the Tulu month Poge coinciding to the month of February. Keddasa is celebrating for 4 days. The female head of the family offers prayer in the early morning by prostrating to the mother goddess by keeping jackfruit leaf, mango leaf, saroli leaf, that are decorated by turmeric, kumcum, betel leaf, arecanut, on the earth Fig. 1. Cerelas, pulses and beetle leaves surface then coconut oil is spill on it (Fig. 1). By . this people thanks the mother earth for giving food, shelter for them. Plants used in this ritual are leaves of Jackfruit (Artocarpous heterophyllus), Mango (Mangifera indica L.), Saroli (Aporosa lindleyana Blume), Betle leaf (Piper betle L.), Kumkum(Mallotus phillippensis Lam.), Termeric powder (Curcuma longa L.) seed of Arecanut ( Areca catechu L.), Fig. 2 Bhagina (cereals & Pulses) to worship rivers Coconut oil (Cocus nucifera L.). The “Nanneri” 3) Bootharadane: In Tulunadu, people worship the is a traditional food prepared during this ritual special deities like Shiradi bhutha, Kallurty, by using red rice (Oryza sativa L.) Kajejaya a Panjurli, Guliga, Aati guliga, mahishanthaya, type of rice and menthe (Menthe sp.) where both koragajja, devil worship is called Bhoota ingredients were fried and powdered. At last the aaradhane which are unique rituals of Tulunadu. jaggary is added to this mixture. On this ‘Bhootha’ in Tulunadu represent Historic occasion, special dishes were prepared only by persons like a great leader or ruler or brave men using important vegetables like brinjal (Solanum and women, people who keep faith and worship melongena L.), drum stick (Moringa oleifera them are believed to be blessed with protection Proceedings – Lake 2016: Ramachandra T V, Subash Chandran M D, Mohan Alva, et al., 2018. Conservation and Sustainable Management of Ecologically Sensitive Regions in 354 Western Ghats, , Sahyadri Conservation Series 65, , ENVIS Technical Report 120 Environmental Information System, CES, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012 Lake 2016: Conference on Conservation and Sustainable Management of Ecologically Sensitive Regions in Western Ghats [THE 10TH BIENNIAL LAKE CONFERENCE] th Date: 28-30 December 2016, http://ces.iisc.ernet.in/energy Venue: V.S. Acharya Auditorium, Alva's Education Foundation, Sundari Ananda Alva Campus, Vidyagiri, Moodbidri, D.K. Dist., Karnataka, India – 574227 and prosperity. Bhootha worship is in the form burning torch in ‘Bhootha kola and of ‘Nemothsova’. The person who gets ‘Nemothsava’, the tender coconut leaves are possessed by the Bhootha is called ‘Bhootha knitted and designed for decorating the Bhootha patri’. The ‘Bhootha patri’ uses a golden demigods. Apart from Coconut, another coloured dye for application to the face obtained commercial crop of Tulunaadu is Arecanut, the from the bark of ‘Aardaala’ tree. The coconut tender inflorescence of Arecanut is used as which is widely cultivated as commercial crop is symbol of fertility and prosperity both in practically used especially in Bhootha-aaradhane Bhootha-aaradhane and Naaga- aaradhane. The (Fig. 3). The Coconut tree is considered as sheathing leaf base of Arecanut is locally symbol of prosperity and it is often offered in called ‘Paale’ is used in preparing the masks of the form of tender coconut to Bhootha deities, different Bhootha deities which is worn by the the dry leaves of coconut are tied to form Bhootha Pathri during Nemothsava. Fig. 3. Bhoothadharadhane and Sacred groves Table 1. List of Plants used in various occasions in Tulunadu, Karnataka number Tulu name Kannada name Botanical name Common English name 1. Aardhala Hardala Garcinia morella Ardhala 2. Aari Akki Oryza sativa Rice 3. Bacchire Vilyadele Piper betle