Harmony between the betel leaf and Areca nut
Often wondered why the betel leaf and areca nut carry so much importance in South Indian traditions and amongst the Bunt rituals in particular? Tried reading a lot of meanings to it and could relate to a few…some of which are shared here and that which needs enrichment with your thoughts added on…
Down South India, no worship of deities and no puja is considered complete unless the coconut, betel leaf, and the areca nut take their positions. Coastal areas are where these three are cultivated in abundance. Farms are not considered complete until you have the coconut groves, areca nut groves, and the betel leaf creeper growing sheltered under the areca nut tree in particular. Hence the vegetation of the land is one reason for the prominent use and great value attributed to these three offerings in rituals. Old Bunt families held a lot of land under their control and major crops grown apart from paddy were coconut and areca nut, pepper, and betel leaves. Over a period of years, this crop gained a lot of religious value just like the other plants and trees in Indian mythology. Grown in the valleys as well, these trees and plants are of great commercial value to the economy as they are consumed in large quantities too.
Of the three, the duo: the betel leaf and the betel nut reveal a lot of meaning in Hindu rituals. The deity of Hanuman is decked with a garland made out of betel leaves on specific days in temples. Devotees also offer garlands of betel leaves as part of thanksgiving to this deity. Mythology reads that when Hanuman as a messenger of Lord Ram went to Sita; he was spotted by Sita in a betel leaf garden. Not having any flowers around her, Sita is beloved to have showered betel leaves on Hanuman as her blessings. Another story says that Sita out of sheer joy and appreciation of the news brought in by Hanuman garlanded him with betel leaves in happiness. Hence tradition has it that the garland made of these betel leaves is a token of agreement between Lord Hanuman and the devotee for a desire or blessings sought. The garland of the betel leaves is made with a piece of areca nut in each leaf.
Cultivation farms of this duo show how the betel vine is grown around the betel nut tree in harmony. Both these complement each other and bear fruit with the help of the watery ground and are treated with care and patience by the farmer's household. Royal patronage was also extended to this duo and royal homes saw guests and visitors being welcomed with the duo. Guests are also offered this combo while departing from homes, signaling that it was time for them to part. Hence this combination is a takeaway gift to women folk after they visit their friends and relatives. Another significance of this could be that therein a silent agreement that the relationship is strengthened by the exchange of the tamboola. Village gatherings had this combination being chewed in leisure by the men and women alike and also when engaged in serious conversation and meetings. I distinctly remember senior Bunt women carrying a betel leaf and nut pouch along with the key bunch on their waists. This pouch is unconsciously pulled out as and when the conversation grows deeper and the entire group engages in the deliberation.
History has chronicled references to different types of betel leaves and also how royal gifts were exchanged between kings to maintain consistent and cordial relationships. Chewing betel leaf and the nut was probably the most favourite past time of the kings. Age-old homes in coastal Karnataka have this duo hold a prominent place in the porch and in the ‘chavadi’ of the Guthu mane or the Manor where major disputes were settled. The betel nut container thus became a very important part of the decor of the king’s court and of elite homes. Accompanying the betel nut container which was artistically decorated was the spittoon. Understandably different kinds of betel nut containers were used based on status and so were different kinds of spittoons used based on the social status of the user.
While the betel leaf is considered to keep the body balance ‘cool’, the areca nut is classified as ‘hot’ food. Thus emerges the medicinal value of the duo. So on the one hand while they aid in digestion, clear phlegm, and sweeten the breath and strengthen teeth, chewing it in disproportionate quantities leads to several other diseases. Indian cinema has had several interpretations of this duo being chewed and made popular by actors like Amitabh Bachchan and the like. Courtesans in movies are seen offering this combo to their guests while singers chew this combo before they sing. Likewise, is the villain who chews the paan while singing or when he challenges the hero to a duel. Hence, chewing ‘paan’ is also a part of the Indian lifestyle.
In South India, the traditional value of the betel leaf and nut is seen as it is offered to the priest along with a coin as a ‘dakshina’. At the same time, the lady of the house while performing various rituals at homes ensures that the ‘kalash’ or the pot that is used to perform the puja is purified with an embellishment of betel leaves. Also, believed in parts of coastal Karnataka is the number of betel leaves that are spread on the tray during auspicious offerings and at times when gifted to people. One betel nut offered to the person is considered very auspicious and hence the bride is offered one betel nut while she carries 10 betel leaves in her palms during weddings. The areca nut is also symbolically linked to Brahma, the creator while the betel leaf is a symbol of Vishnu, the preserver. Women offer the ‘tamboola’ (a combination of the two) to fellow women during pujas as they invite Goddess Lakshmi to their homes. Even spirit worships and other religious ceremonies in coastal Karnataka is not considered complete without this duo.
The role of this duo cannot be ignored when it comes to weddings. Just as the duo grow together in harmony in the farms, this duo is considered to seal the bond between the groom and the bride and establish a long-lasting bond between the two. The betel leaves and the nut in the form in which they grow together represent a bond between the married couple. In the Bunt community, earlier on the ‘nischaya’ or the engagement was always held between the boy and the bride’s father. This was when the betel leaves and the betel nut was exchanged to firm the agreement. The agreement between Sita and Hanuman and the agreement with the Lord and the devotee is what this signifies. The exchange of the betel leaves and the nut was the initiating point of the coming together of two families and the acknowledgement of the betrothal negotiations amongst the two families. So the entire engagement and marriage proceedings become a matter of betel and areca together. As the bride in a Bunt wedding is given the duo to be held in her palms just as the groom clutches on to it in his palms, the belief is that the leaf signifies the female principle while the nut signifies the male principle. The combination of the two thus signifies fertility. With this begins a new commitment between the couple. The bride carrying this duo when she enters the threshold of her new home signifies that she ushers prosperity into her new home. And so goes on the story of the heart-shaped leaf, the immortal stories behind it, the timeless value of the duo, and the hallowed status of the betel leaf and the betel nut!
