વૈદિક વ્રતોત્સવમાં વનસ્પતિપૂજા

Summary

Plant worship is a notable feature of ancient Indian religion, and this Gujarati article examines its manifestations in Vedic votive rituals. Drawing on hymns from the Ṛgveda and Atharvaveda, the author shows how various plants—such as the aśvattha (sacred fig), bilva (Aegle marmelos), soma and kuśa grass—are personified and revered as embodiments of divine powers. The paper describes specific rites in which leaves, flowers and twigs are offered to gods, as well as festivals centred on trees. It explains the symbolic meanings assigned to plants: the aśvattha is considered the cosmic tree, the tulasī represents purity, and the bilva is associated with Śiva. The article also notes the medicinal uses of these plants in Āyurveda, suggesting an overlap between religious reverence and practical value. By highlighting ecological awareness embedded in ancient rituals, the author argues that venerating plants encouraged conservation. References to folk songs and regional practices illustrate continuity from Vedic times to the present.