Tāmbula
From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia
By Swami Harshananda
Tāmbula, an item of Ritualistic Worship[edit]
Tāmbula is one of the items offered to a deity in ritualistic worship. It is also consumed by many people in the country after food. The most common tāmbula consists of betel leaf smeared with lime paste and areca nut. To produce a good taste and fragrant breath some other ingredients are also added like:
- Cloves
- Cardamom
- Camphor
- Copra
Qualities of Tāmbula[edit]
Tāmbula is said to contain thirteen qualities such as:
- Elimination of wind
- Destruction of excess phlegm
- Annihilating disease germs
- Impart sweet smell to the breath
People Using Tāmbula[edit]
Since it is also considered an aphrodisiac, sanyāsins,[1] widows, brahmacārins[2] and those observing a fast on the ekādaśī and other sacred days are forbidden from taking it.
References[edit]
- The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore