Ecological and Ethnomedicinal Values of Sacred Plants in Some Major Temples of Bhopal, India

Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2018) 7(1): 1630-1637 International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 7 Number 01 (2018) Journal homepage: http://www.ijcmas.com Original Research Article https://doi.org/10.20546/ijcmas.2018.701.198 Ecological and Ethnomedicinal Values of Sacred Plants in Some Major Temples of Bhopal, India Aadil Mir1, Vipin Vyas2, Pradeep Shrivastava1, 1 1* Abhilasha Bhawsar and Manzoor Ahmad Bhat 1Department of Environmental Sciences and Limnology, Barkatullah University, Bhopal, India 2Department of Biosciences, Barkatullah University, Bhopal, India *Corresponding author ABSTRACT K e yw or ds The present research paper describes the sacred plants found in the vicinity Sacred plants, of five major temples of Bhopal, India. In addition, the ethnomedicinal and Ethnomedicinal , ecological values of these plants were also reported. The information was Ecologic al, obtained from priests and knowledgeable local people about the sacred Conservation value of plants associated with religious rituals. A total of 13 sacred plants Article Info species belonging to 10 families were identified during the survey. The Accepted: study concludes that propagation of sacred plants contributes to the 12 December 2017 conservation of floral diversity. Thus, religious activities associated with Available Online: 10 January 2018 sacred plants boosts up the protection and maintenance of the biodiversity. Introduction play a very important role in the myths and customs of India. Without the use of sacred Plants are nature‟s major processors of solar plants and their products, the religious and energy which is essential for our existence. cultural rituals are not completed (Pandey and The ancient beliefs showed that there is Pandey, 2016). significant relationship between human beings and plants. Plants have been traditionally The trend of sacred plant worshipping was considered sacred due to its close association also present during the Vedic period (Bhatla et with a deity. For example Bel tree (Aegle al., 1984). marmelos L.) is associated with Lord Shiva. Furthermore, all people celebrate religious Sacred plants are considered to be incarnations festivals with a scientific background and use or symbols of God or deities and therefore one or several plant parts in their ceremonies their worship became more common. They (Bajpai et al., 2016). The various parts of 1630 Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2018) 7(1): 1630-1637 plants have been used as a source of medicine Hanuman Chamatkari temple by man from ancient to the modern era (Truyen et al., 2015). The ecological face of Hanuman Chamatkari temple is also located sacred plants or sacred groves lies in the fact within the premises of Barkatullah University. that they serve as biological heritage and a A good fencing is made around the temple and system that has helped to preserve the inside temple a deity of Hanuman is present. representative genetic resources existing in the The temple is open early in the morning and in surrounding regions to conserve rich the evening for its devotees. A number of biological diversity. local people residing near the temple come to worship. During the survey, a number of Materials and Methods different sacred plants were found in the premises of Hanuman chamatkari temple. Bhopal is the capital city of the Indian state, Madhya Pradesh. It is known as the city of Birla temple lakes while it is also famous for old temples. The five major temples of Bhopal were Birla temple is situated on the Arera Hills and surveyed for six months during July-Dec, is one of the famous temples of Bhopal. The 2016. The study includes Panchdev Durga temple is known as “Lakshmi Narayan temple, Hanuman Chamatkari temple, Birla Temple” or “Birla Mandir” as it is constructed temple, Gayatri temple and Guffa temple. by the well-known industrialist family, the Birla group. The temple is dedicated to Frequent field trips were made to collect Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth and houses information about sacred plants in the beautiful idols of Goddess Lakshmi and Lord premises of these temples and the collected Vishnu, along with the Lord Shiva and plants were brought to the laboratory Parvati. The temple is open to all its devotees, identified with the help of irrespective of caste and creed. The entire professionals/subject experts and available temple is surrounded by beautiful lawns, literature (Sivalingam et al., 2016). fountains and numerous sacred, ornamental and flowering plants which give visitors a At each temple the local people including, feeling of peace and tranquillity. priests of the temples, knowledgeable local people and traditional healers were interacted Gayatri temple to gather information about the sacred value and ethnomedicinal value of sacred plants Gayatri temple is located in Maharana Pratap ((Pandey and Pandey, 2016). The details of Nagar. The temple consists of a deity of the temples are given below: Gayatri Mata and number of devotees visit temple every day. Many sacred plants are Panchdev Durga temple present in the premises of Gayatri temple. The Panchdev Durga temple is located within Gufa temple the premises of Barkatullah University, Bhopal. Besides employees of the university, Gufa temple is situated in the outskirt of people from outside university campus also Bhopal at Lalghati near Idgah hill. Swami come to visit this temple. A number of Narayan Dasji Maharaj established a Shiv different sacred plants are present in this temple in the cave, hence called as Gufa temple. Mandir. The temple is very old and has large 1631 Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2018) 7(1): 1630-1637 complex with many natural caves, houses Sheetala Mata resides in this tree. Neem tree is beautiful idols of Goddess Durga, Lord Shiva, regarded as „one tree pharmacy‟. The leaves of Ram Laxman, Sita and Hanuman. Every day neem are used in the treatment of smallpox. It large number of devotees from different parts is also used in combating bacterial infections of the world throng here to have darshan of such as acne, boils and ulcers (Deepa et al., the deities and experience spirituality. 2016). People in India use its twigs to brush their teeth. Results and Discussion The ecological importance of the tree benefits The present study was carried out on five environment. Neem seed pulp is useful for major temples of Bhopal. A total of 13 species methane gas production. It is also useful as of sacred plants belonging to 11 families were carbohydrate which is rich base for other recorded during the study (Table 1). The industrial fermentation. Neem is considered information on sacred value, ethnomedicinal useful in rehabilitating waste lands. value and ecological value of plants recorded during the survey are documented below: Neem cakes are also widely used in India as fertilizer for sugarcane, vegetable and other Aegle marmelos L. Correa (Bael) cash crops. Many countries have been consistently growing the Neem tree against the It is believed to be associated with Lord Shiva. global warming (Kumar et al., 2013). The leaves and fruits of bael tree are offered to please Lord Shiva. People offer its leaves Cocos nucifera L. (Coconut) „Bael patra‟ to “Shivling” as it is considered very auspicious. It is also called as „Sriphal‟. It is believed that the fruit of the coconut is offered to deities All parts of it are used for different healing and it fulfils desire of the devotee. The fruit is purposes. Bael fruit is popularly used in symbol of fertility and prosperity. To break a diarrhoea, dysentery and gastrointestinal coconut in the beginning of any religious disorders and has digestive and carminative event is considered to be very good. properties (Pandey and Pandey, 2016). The products of bael being highly nutritive and It has antifungal and antimicrobial properties therapeutic are getting popularized in Indian and used for the treatment of skin and mouth as well as international markets. This tree also problems such as ring worms, candidiasis, has ecological value. Various parts of the sores, skin burns, sunburns, toothache, sore scared tree have been also used for its throat and ulcers. pesticidal properties. Its leaves and seed oil are known to have pesticidal properties. In Coconut water is used as diuretic to improve India, waste land which remains unproductive removal of excess water (Deepa et al., 2016). is exploited with bael cultivation to make it It is also used to treat kidney stones and productive and hence helps in upliftment of stomach acidity. Coconut oil is used to treat farmer‟s economy (Sharma, 1997). scalp and hair problems. Azadirachta indica A. Juss (Neem) Coconut plantations or farm ecosystems can be used in many ways to reduce CO2 It is associated with the Sheetala Mata emissions and as a substitution of fossil fuel (Goddess of small pox). It is believed that using biodiesel or biomass from coconut oil. 1632 Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2018) 7(1): 1630-1637 Datura stramonium L. (Datura) worshipped by men and women especially on saturday by pouring water and milk on its It is sacred and is offered to Lord Shiva. The roots and women tie thread around the trunk plant along with its flowers, fruits and leaves of the Peepal tree 108 times for prosperity are offered on the festival of Mahashivaratri. (Pandey and Pandey, 2016). Datura leaves and seeds are used as hypnotic, antiasthmatic and narcotic. It is also used as It is especially useful for patients suffering herbal medicine for bone setting. from Jaundice. It helps to control the excessive amount of urine. The leaves of Datura plant produces a characteristic odor Peepal are highly effective in treating heart that acts as repellent for various insects and disorder and are also considered valuable in pests and can be used to manage the two- treatment of various kinds of skin disorders spotted spider mite (Gaire and Subedi, 2013).

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