Nabakalevar Nabakalebara At Puri Odisha Jagannatha Nawakalevar

Important Points To Identify Specific Neem Trees For Chaturdha Muratis, Daru, Daru Brhahma, Neem Tree For Navakalevara

 

Generally idols or pratimas are made from iron, jewels, stone, copper, bell metal, brass & also from daru.

 

Hindu literatures states:–

 

“Ratnajam sailajam bimbam darujam lauhajam tatha/

Mtuttrai bastu kayobimbam chitrajam chetti saptadha//”

 

(Pancharatragama – Bhargaba Tantra and Hayashirsha Samhita, 4-7)

 

However, Pratimas, idols, made of Daru are the best. Even though the literary meaning of Daru is a piece of wood its deshaj, colloquial meaning is Neem Daru. Neem is a dev brikhya and worshipable like Peepul, tulsi, bel etc. Neem tree after ten germinations becomes equivalent to Peepul tree and become long lasting.

 

At the same time, with reference to ‘Niltantra’, Nyagrodh – Bata Brikshya, Chaitra Briksha –Peepul tree are not to be used for construction of Idols. But a Neem tree near a cremation ground, near hermitage, near white ant shed is the best for construction of Daru Brahma.  Nimba Pradhanmetesham pratimam ch binirmitaue’ (Pratima lakhyana saudhagam). Baikhanasa Agama (Patal-10), Skanda Puran- Utkal Khanda, Bamdev Samhita and Bhabishya puran also support the above view.