Kadalī
Kadalī · kadalī, “the banana tree”
Grammar: feminine noun: “the banana tree, the plantain”.
Meaning: the banana or plantain tree, used in the pratishṭhā rites and worshipped in the Rambhā Vrata.
In the scriptures: the Bhavishya Purāṇa uses the kadalī in these places.
- In the small garden: a yūpa is set up in the centre, and kadalī trees are planted in the directions, the intermediate directions and the centre (Madhyama Parva, Bhāga 3, Chapters 2–3).
- In the rite of the tree: the kadalī tree and the yūpa are dedicated (Madhyama Parva, Bhāga 3, Chapters 4–8).
- In the tulasī rite: kadalī pillars stand on the four sides with banners, a yūpa is set and caru bali is given (Madhyama Parva, Bhāga 3, Chapters 14–17).
- In the maṇḍapa: kadalī pillars are set at the doors of the maṇḍapa (Madhyama Parva, Bhāga 2, Chapters 19–21). A maṇḍapa is decked with pillars of kadalī leaves or set with kadalī stems (Pratisarga Parva, Khaṇḍa 2, Chapters 24, 26).
- In the Rambhā Vrata: all the devatās, gandharvas and apsarās kept this vrata and offered arghya to the kadalī tree. The vratī does pūjā of the tree with many kinds of fruit, sprouted grains, the seven grains, dīpa, sandalwood, curds, dūrvā, akshata, cloth, cooked food, nutmeg, cardamom and clove, and offers arghya with the mantra (Uttara Parva, Chapters 91–92).
Related terms: Rambhā Vrata · Yūpa · Maṇḍapa · Pratishṭhā
Sources
- Bhavishya Purāṇa, Madhyama Parva, Bhāga 2, Chapters 19–21; Bhāga 3, Chapters 2–3, 4–8, 14–17; Pratisarga Parva, Khaṇḍa 2, Chapters 24, 26; Uttara Parva, Chapters 91–92