Monday, March 19, 2012

General - Some prasadas (edible offerings) becoming medicines

There are some temples, especially in Kerala where some special prasadas offered to the respective deities which are distributed t devotees. These prasadas act as medicines for some diseases. Let us have a look at some of them.

Normally the Vaishnav temples give Tulsi theerth (holy water with Tulsi) as prasad.This prasad taken daily will give relief against common cold, headache, Stomach disorders, some types of poisoning. It may give relief in some types of blood glucose, cholesterol levels, radiation problems and in some types of cancers in the beginning stages.

Near to Dindigul There is a village bu the name Thaadi Kombu with a perumal (Vaishnav) temple with the deity known as Soundararajan. The Danuvanthri deity here is having Avaleha (Lehyam) and Thaila as neivedyam. If this prasad is offered t the deity on Amaavasi (Amaya - new moon) days and taken as internally as prasad many diseases will be cured as per the belief of the devotees.

The Danvantri temple at Maruthorvattam near Cherthala in South Kerala there is an offering of 'Thaalu kari' (Colocasia stem) to the deity and the same is distributed as prasad. This prasad is believed to cure stomach pain and indigestion.

Near Cherthala there is another temple where the deity is Lord Siva. Here the offering is milk mixed with a substance having poisonous matter. The priest reads the names of the devotees who have registered their names with the temple for the prasad in front of the deity and give the prasad to the concerned devotees. The prasad taken as prescribed is believed to cure  for some mental illness, skin problems like leprosy, swelling from excessive accumulation of serous fluid in tissue etc and energize  body & soul.                  

Near Thrissur, in Nelluvai Village there is a Danwantri temple. Here one f the offering is a 'mukudi' a preparation of turmeric, pepper, curd and salt . This mukudi is believed to give relief for Asthma (respiratory) problem. 

The Thaila prasad of the Dharma Sastha temple at Thakazhi is believed to cure skin diseases and progressive paralysis. 

The Kashaya theertha (a kind of extract) of Mookambika temple is a like an all purpose remedy for many diseases. 

One of the  oldest Vishnu temples of Kerala in Irinjalakuda of Thrissur District of Kerala is the only temple in the whole country dedicated to Lord Vishnu in the form of Bharath the inimitable brother of Sri Ram, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Devotees come here with with various requests to the Lord and offer different worships. The main prasad is 'Mukkudi Nivedyam' and 'Brinjal Nivedyam' offered on the day of 'Avittom' star in the Malayalam month of 'Thulam' (during October - November) is a rare one. The mukkudi, if taken will cure all diseases related to blood. This Mukkudi is prepared at this temple by one of the Ashta Vaidyas of Kerala the Musad of Kuttancheri (a place in Kerala). This medical preparation of one of the 'Ashta Vaidyas' Kuttencheri Moose is mixed by pure curd in new mud pot in the temple and offered to the deity as neivedya first and is distributed to the thousands of the devotees who throng the temple on this day of 'Avittam - Sravishta' star day of Thula (Libra) of Malayalam month. There is a legend about the introduction of this special 'neivedya of mukudi'. It is connected with 'Vilva Mangalm Swamiyar' (also known as Leela Sukan). He is a known figure to all Keralites Hindu devotees. He is connected with several temples in Kerala. He was supposed to have the ability to see god whenever he wish to see. He was a staunch devotee of Lord Krishna and it is believed that Lord Krishna used to come in disguise as a Brahmin boy and help the Swamiyar in his pooja activities. The Swamiyar during his wanderings between temples, came to the Irinjalakuda Bharatha temple and he could not feel the presence of the Lord in the temple. When he went around the temple he saw the Lord lying with pretended stomach problem for his attention. The Swamiyar called the Kutanchery Moose made his to prepare the 'Mukudi" and transferred the same in new mud pot and offered the same to the Lord and distributed to the devotees present there. This practice is followed thereafter every year on the day. This 'mukudi' gives relief to any devotee who believes.

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