AZ India

F E E L A T H O M E www.azindiatimes.com PAGE - 19 May 2019 1-844-AZINDIA 4 30 yr fixed: 4.25 (APR of 4.39) 20 yr fixed: 4.125 (APR of 4.27) 15 yr fixed: 3.75 (APR of 3.89) ..from page 1 Peepal The Benefactor of People By Gayathri Krithivas gayathri.krithivas@gmail.com of villages. The same Peepal tree is now part of the Maha Ganapati Temple of Arizona. Now, why is the Peepal tree ac- corded this significance? From a purely science based approach, it is only one of three plants/trees that puts out the most oxygen, Tulsi and neem being the other two. The leaves of the peepal tree have an- tibacterial properties as well as healing effects on the lungs, skin and reproductive system. In Ayur- veda , the leaves, bark and root of the peepal tree are used to treat over 45 different conditions. From a spiritual standpoint, the Vedas say that the roots of the Peepal tree is Lord Brahma , the trunk is Lord Vishnu and the leaves are Lord Siva . In the Gita , Lord Krishna says, “ Among the trees, I am Ashwatha ” and Brahma Purana states that Lord Vishnu was born under the Peepal tree. Goddess Mahalakshmi appears in the root of the Peepal Tree on Saturdays. These are only a few of the significant attributes accorded to the Peepal tree. Maha Ganapati Temple is conse- crating a Vruksha Aalaya (Shrine under a tree) under the peepal tree this May 3 rd through the 5 th . A granite vigraha of Karya Siddhi Ganapati (Ganapati who enables the fruitful completion of one’s tasks) and that of Lord Naga raja (Lord of the snakes who bestows good health and removes one’s sins) will be en- shrined under the peepal tree at the temple. During this three-day event, another historic happening is to take place. Over the course of the past two week- ends, hundreds of volunteers have been preparing modakas (the sweet offering made to Lord Ganapati), which will be offered in a grand yagna. By the time the event comes around, over 100,000 modakas will have been made. A yagna of this magnitude has not been done in Arizona till date. According to Sadhguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami, Jagadacharya (spiritual head) of the Kauai Hindu Monastery, “ Modaka is a symbol for siddhi at- tainment- attainment or fulfillment in the four goals of life- virtue, love, wealth and liberation. Esoterically, it corresponds to the attainment of the gladdening contentment of pure joy, the sweetest of all things sweet ”. In addition to the yagna, devotees will have opportunities to perform abhishek- am (offering of water to the deity), per- form deepa puja , chant the Ganesha mantra, a whole day of seva to the Lord in the form of music and dance, and much more. For more information about this first in Arizona event, please visit the temple’s website at www.ganapati.org or follow on Facebook at facebook.com/mahaganapati