 COCONUT:
Fruit Of Lustre
An equally important symbol of the fullness of human life is the coconut. In fact, in
peninsular India, where coconut palms grow in abundance along the long coastline, this
tree is called Kalpavriksha, or the mythical tree, which grants whatever boon asked
for.
The coconut tree offers itself to innumerable uses both utilitarian as well as decorative.
The wide fronds are woven together and used for thatching on village huts, the husk of the
coconut for fuel, the coir for making mats and ropes. The kernal of the fruit is edible
while its water is cool, thirst quenching and uncontaminated. Coconut oil, derived from
this palm, is traditionally used for cooking as well as anointing the body.
The coconut features extensively in marriage, birth and death rituals and prominently at
housewarmings. Often used in combination with the full pot and mango leaves, it once again
reminds us of the need to make human life a rich experience.
In traditional Indian homes, no gift is complete unless accompanied by a coconut. A
teacher is venerated by the gift of a shawl and shrifal, the 'fruit of lustre', as the
coconut is termed. A pregnant woman is given a coconut as an auspicious gift. In the
absence of idols when conducting various pujas and sacraments, coconuts are often used
instead to represent the gods and goddesses of the Hindu pantheon. The coconut is there
after immersed in the sea or in flowing water.
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