Myths and Religious Importance of Timla, Gular,Elephant ear Fig

Plant Myths, Religious Importance, and Traditions in Uttarakhand (Himalaya) – 14

By: Bhishma Kukreti, M.Sc. (Botany) (Mythology Research Scholar)

Botanical name – Ficus auriculata

Local name – Timal, Timla, Timul

Hindi Name – Gular

Sanskrit Name – Udambara

Economic benefits –There are tens of medical uses of Elephant Ear fig in Garhwal. People use leaves for plate making and fodder. The tree is used for fuel too.  People use raw fruits for vegetable and ripe fruits for eating.

                   Myths, Religious Importance and Traditions

There a couple of uses of Timla, Timul, Timal or Elephant fig in Uttarakhand.

                 Timla in Hindu Astrology  ज्योतिष शास्त्र में गूलर

           In Hindu Astrology Gular, or Timla or Elephant fig is connected with rohani nakshtra. Shukra (one of Nine Graha)  is boss of Gular and Anjir. 

                      Kalash Sthapana कलश  स्थपना में में गूलर

  In karmkand, kalash thapan is important ritual performance. The Elephant fig is one of Panhvat or five plants – Mango, Peepal, Banyan , Pakar and Udambar ( Timla)

                Dry Twig of Timal, Timla, Timul in Havan हवन /यग्य में गूलर

   Dry twigs of Timal, timlu, Timla are used a sacrificing twigs along with twigs of Peepal, Mango for Havan or yagya.

 In old age, kings used to perform yagya with ‘gular samidha’ with honey, wine and Gud  for getting rain in drought.  

 Gular Samhita is also used in getting the kingdom of the enemy

                                  Mool Pujan  मूल दोष पूजन में गूलर

  If a child is born in Mool Nakshatra , Vedic Karmkandi Brahmin suggests for ritual performance of Mool Nakshatra after five years. Elephant ear fig is one of the puja (ritual) ingredients for performing Mool Puja.

                                 Elephant Ear Fig in Ucchatan Tantra-Mantra-Yantra तंत्र व मन्त्र में में गूलर

  Tantrik or Mantrik use Elephant ear Fig wood for Uchatan mantra performance. Uchatan Mantra with Tantra is used for distracting the focus of enemies and opponents.

   There are two mantras for purifying the twelve inch Timala wood .

‘Om namo bhagvate rudray karalay amuk putr bandhavaissah sheeghr mucchataya tha:, Tha: Dha:.

or

  “Oum Shreem Shreem Shreen swaha”

After purifying the wood, the wood is dug in house of opponent or where uchatan is required.

                  Elephant ear fig uses in Atharvarn tantra  अथर्वेद मन्त्र में गूलर प्रयोग

   Vedic Tantric use Elephant ear fig root for performing Atharvarn Tantra, by performing Athavarn tantra , the subject get  hidden gold or wealth., prosperity and children. On Ravi –Pushp yog, the root of Fig is purified by  Arthothapan mantra of Atharveda. Then the root is put in gold Tabij.

 One of mantra is –Om malakshmaye cha vidamah  vishnu patnaye ch dheemihi tanno Lakshmi prachodayat . This Mantra ritual  is performed on graham on eclipse day.

     Elephant Ear Fig , gular or timla in  Dattatraya  Mantra –Tantra  दत्तात्रय तन्त्र –मन्त्र में गूलर

  In Dattatray mantra and Tantra Performance, the person sits under Gular, Timla tree and recites mantra  mostly on Gurupushya yog day.

  If not in Uttarakhand, in other partस of India  followers of Dattatray keep Gular , Timla twig at the time of building foundation.

-

Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti, Mumbai 2017

-

Plant Myths  , Religious Importance, Traditions , Garhwal, Uttarakhand ; Plant Myths , Religious Importance, Traditions , Kumaon, Uttarakhand ;Plant Myths , Religious Importance, Traditions , Uttarakhand; Plant Myths , Religious Importance, Traditions , Uttarakhand, Himalaya; Plant Myths , Religious Importance, Traditions , Uttarakhand, North India; Plant Myths , Religious Importance, Traditions , Uttarakhand, South Asia