CONRAD DIAS
Ranchi, July 13: 20 years after the former governor of Jharkhand Mandagadde Rama Jois planted Rudraksha trees in the garden of Raj Bhawan, its fruits are being used as gifts for dignitaries.
The Rudraksha Mani which Governor Ramesh Bais gifted to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday at Deoghar is from the soil of Raj Bhawan. There are a total of 19 Rudraksha trees on the premises of Raj Bhawan.
In 2002, Governor Jois planted a total of 10 Rudraksha Plants in the garden of Raj Bhawan, as informed by the gardener Abdus Kalam.
“Presently there are a total of 19 Rudraksha trees in the garden. Out of these, 10 are fully grown and are in two different varieties – Round and Tall. Apart from these, five baby plants were planted by Governor Bais last year,” He said.
He added that the former governor of Jharkhand Droupadi Murmu had also planted two Rudraksha Trees during her tenure.
Rudraksha trees are common in the northern and southern parts of the country — where it grows in places like Haridwar and Karnataka. The seeds of the large evergreen broad-leaved tree are traditionally used for prayer beads.
As described in the Shiva Purana, Rudraksha trees were formed by the tear drops of Lord Shiva and have great healing and scientific properties. It helps in curing various diseases and has a therapeutic effect on the mind and body.
Notably, in 2004, Governor Jois also inaugurated the Nakshatra Van which is located right in front of the Raj Bhawan. A Nakshatra or lunar mansion is one of the 27 or 28 divisions of the sky that the Moon passes through during its monthly cycle, as used in Hindu astronomy and Hindu astrology. Each Nakshatra is identified by a prominent star and is associated with a Zodiac.
Hindu astrologers believe that each constellation of the zodiac is associated with a tree. Those trees are of medicinal, social, aesthetic or economic value.
