8. The Holy basil
Why are the leaves of the Holy basil and bel (Aegle marmelos tree) always pure? : The Holy basil originally has 50% Vishnu Principle and the bel plant has 70% Shiva Principle. When they are used in the ritualistic worship the Divine Principle in them increases by 20%. The raja-tama in the environment affects every object. The enhanced 20% Divine Principle is used in combating the raja- tama in the atmosphere. The grossly apparent effect of this is that the Holy basil or bel leaves appear dried up or singed. Nonetheless they continue emitting the Divine Principle originally present in them. Hence, the Holy basil and bel leaves are always pure. As the Holy basil emits the Deity Principle constantly, it makes the surrounding environment sacred. That is why a house with a tulasivrundavan (A small rectangular structure in which the Holy basil plant is grown) is considered sacred.
9. Akshata
Akshata has the ability to attract the frequencies of the five Deities in the Universe (Ganapati, Shri Durgadevi, Shiva, Shri Ram and Shri Krushna), to activate them, make them functional and to transmit them with the help of the Absolute Earth and Absolute Water elements. Hence, akshata is sprinkled on every component of the ritualistic worship, so also on the Idol of Deity after the panchopachar or Shodashopachar puja and after activating the divinity in all of them, they are invoked to become functional. In the absence of any substance in a panchopchar puja, akshata is used as a substitute. Akshata is a medium that encompasses all the Deity Principles and hence is an important all-encompassing medium in ritualistic worship. Because of the energy in the Deity, when akshata is offered to them, benevolent energy and vibrations develops in the akshata. If a string of a sitar, among a pair of similar frequency sitars, is sounded then the same sound is emitted from the other sitars too. Similarly, once frequencies develop in the akshata due to energy of the Deity, same frequencies develop in the stock of rice in the house. This energised rice can then be consumed throughout the year as prasad.
10. Betel leaf
The similarity of characteristics with the subtle frequencies from the region of Brahma (God in His aspect as the Creator of the universe) : The subtle air frequencies created due to the friction between the color particles in the betel leaf match the subtle air frequencies from the region of Brahma. The sattva frequencies emitted by the Idol of the Deity are absorbed through the stalk of the betel leaf. Consequently, the color particles in the leaf are set into motion. As an effect of this motion, subtle air is created which is transferred to the tip of the leaf by the particles related to the Absolute Water element in the leaf and then transmitted to the atmosphere. These air frequencies have the ability to activate the frequencies of Will of the required Deity functional in the Universe. Because of these frequencies, the mental sheath of the embodied soul gets purified and it derives the desired benefit. The medium connecting the earth and the region of Brahma : The creeper of betel leaves is called nagvel (serpentine creeper). The nagvel has the ability to attract frequencies of the earth and the Brahma region and is considered as a link connecting the two regions. Since it is sattva predominant, if a menstruating woman plucks betel leaves, then the creeper dries up. This is because when a menstruating woman comes in the environment of a nagvel, due to the effect of the friction between the raja-tama frequencies emitted by her body, the sattva predominant particles in the environment disintegrate. Hence, the creeper shrivels or black spots appear on its leaves.
11. Betel nut
There is a perfect blend of particles of the Absolute Earth and Absolute Water elements in the betel nut. The Earth element particles from the betel nut bind the frequencies of Chaitanya emanating from the Deity. Then the particles of Chaitanya in these frequencies of Chaitanya are activated by the particles of the Absolute Water element in it. Thus the betel nut serves as the chief medium for the exchange of frequencies between a Deity and the embodied soul.
12. Coconut
Why is the coconut called ‘Sriphal’, the most auspicious fruit? : The coconut has the capacity to attract the frequencies of the five Deities namely, Shiva, Shri Durgadevi, Ganapati, Shriram and Shrikrushna and transmit them as required. Hence, coconut is considered as the most auspicious fruit – ‘Sriphal’, the most sattva component bestowing fruit’.
Relief from distress of negative energies due to coconut : Coconut has the ability to attract benevolent (Divine) as well as malevolent (distressing) frequencies. Hence, if a person is affected by negative energies, a coconut is used to perform the ritual of removing ‘drishta’ (evil-eye) to relieve his distress. The sound when breaking a coconut is akin to the destroyer mantra ‘Aum phat’. Because of the sound, the negative energies run away.
13. Panchkhadya
five fruits and a piece of solid turmeric There is great importance to the ‘with attributes’ as well as the attributeless levels in every ritualistic worship. The five Cosmic elements are required for the manifestation of this form. They are present in the core of the Universe in a dormant form. In the Panchopachar puja, devotion unto God at the level of the Absolute Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Ether elements is essential. Only then does one get complete benefit of the ritualistic worship and there is generation of energy that bestows Chaitanya in him. For the generation of this energy, flowers and leaves (the Absolute Earth element), turmeric (the Absolute Earth element), five fruits (the Absolute Water element), perfume (the Absolute Fire element), Panchkhadya incense sticks (the Absolute Air element) and coconut (that which generates sound, the Absolute Ether element) are all required. Due to the emission of frequencies of fragrance through the medium of the flowers, the form of the Deity in the Universe is attracted to the embodied soul. Through the medium of the colour frequencies transmitted through the patri (Leaves) it attains a body form for the benefit of the embodied soul. By offering the five fruits, meaning, due to the emission of the frequencies of sweet juice (the Absolute Water element), as the secretion of the internal fluids in the embodied soul is facilitated, its bhav is awakened. Due to the awakened bhav the seven centres in the embodied soul enter an activated state and imbibe the Chaitanya of the ‘with attributes’ manifest form in the Universe. The frequencies associated with the Absolute Fire element emitted through the medium of the perfume activate the Energy of Soul and the energy generated by the sound of the coconut purifies the atmosphere. The other components in the Panchkhadya – almonds, walnut and dried dates all have seeds. Hence, the dormant air in their covering is a good carrier of the subtle Chaitanya emitted by the Deity. Thus the Chaitanya of the Deity activated by offering of these components percolates deep into the body of the embodied soul through the medium of the Absolute Air element. Because turmeric is a tuber and associated with the frequencies of earth, it bestows grossness to the frequencies of Chaitanya that are activated at the level of five Principles and thus makes them eligible to be imbibed by the embodied soul. With the help of these components, even in the absence of the requisite spiritual level of the embodied soul, the Principle of the Deity functions for it in a short time.
14. The wick in the lamp
The science underlying rolling two wicks into one and placing them in the lamp. Two wicks: A symbol of duality The common tip formed by rolling the two wicks: The single wick formed by rolling the two wicks and the common tip is symbolic of the embodied soul’s journey towards non-duality. The flame at the common tip of the two wicks: The radiance manifested and stationary at the common tip formed by the union of the two wicks is a symbol of the embodied soul’s non-duality.