In many religious traditions, plants are seen as spiritual symbols, healing, empowering, and sometimes divine.
Musician Janhvi Harrison has composed an album called ‘Sacred Botany’, which mentions seven plants considered to be revered.
But what are the properties of these sacred plants? Are these plants as important in people’s lives today as they were in the past? Who respects them? And above all, why? This list of the world’s most sacred plants, their past and present may help answer these questions.
A lotus flower
Those familiar with Eastern spirituality know that the lotus plant has many layers of meaning and expression. For Hindus, the beautiful lotus flower is a symbol of life and production, and for Buddhists, it is a symbol of purity.
The lotus plant grows in mud. Although its roots are in the mud, the lotus flower seems to float on water.
The story of the lotus in Hinduism is that the lotus emerged from Lord Vishnu’s navel, and Brahma was seated in the middle of the flower. Some believe that the Lord’s hands and feet are like lotuses and His eyes are like lotus leaves and His touch is as soft as lotus buds.
Amarbel
Today, amberbell is commonly associated with Christmas magic, but its history as a symbol dates back to the time of the ancient Celtic ancestors.
They believed that amberbel was the essence of the sun god Tarnus, and the tree with the branches of which amberbel grew became sacred.
In winter, the spiritual leader cuts the amber from the oak tree with a golden sickle.
This particular plant and its fruits were used for rituals or medicine.
Snake coil
Viper is a small seedless cactus plant that grows naturally in the desert region of southwestern Texas and Mexico and is used by indigenous people for spiritual purposes.
The Indians of Mexico and the indigenous tribes of North America believe that this sacred plant helps them communicate with God.
It is used in prayer ceremonies.
It is not only indigenous tribes that use it for spiritual powers.
It has also been used by artists, musicians and writers since the 1950s.
Ken Casey claimed that he was under the influence of cobra while writing the opening pages of ‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest’.
Basil (Ocimum tenuiflorum)
According to Hinduism, Goddess Vrinda protected the holy land of Vandravana while serving Lord Krishna and his followers.
Although this goddess was in human form, according to ancient texts, Krishna himself told her to become a tulsi plant, due to which tulsi is now called holy.
Millions of Hindus around the world worship Tulsi in their homes and temples.
Cypress tree
A type of cypress, the yew is an evergreen tree that is considered a symbol of reproduction and eternal life. This is because the branches of this tree bend down and re-enter the ground and new trunks are born from them.
Also, yew can grow from the hollow trunk of an old tree. It is therefore not surprising that it is considered a symbol of reproduction and fertility.
Cannabis
Cannabis is of great importance to the followers of the Rastafari sect. They believe that what is called the ‘tree of life’ in the Bible is the hemp plant and its use is sacred. He quotes several passages from the Bible about this.
For Rastafarians, the use of cannabis is essential for ‘negotiations’ in which they discuss life with their members from a Rastafarian perspective.
Although this plant is given many names (hemp, ganja), Rastafarians call it the ‘sacred herb’ or ‘herb of wisdom’ and believe that its consumption brings wisdom.
It is smoked through a cigarette or a hookah pipe and is preceded by a special prayer.
Basil (Ocimum basilicum)
Osmium basilicum is most commonly used in pizza and pasta sauces, but it is a sacred herb in Orthodox Christianity and the Greek Church.
Orthodox Christians believe that this plant grew where the blood of Jesus Christ was spilled near his tomb, at which time it is associated with the cross in liturgy.
Priests use its branches to purify holy water and sprinkle water on the congregation.