WHY WE USE 21 TYPES OF PATRA-PATRIES IN GANESH PUJA

Ganesh Patris, or Patri, is the numerous types of sacred leaves that are offered during Ganesha Puja. The Patris are usually offered during festivals like Ganesh Chaturthi Puja. Traditionally leaves of 108 different types of plants are offered. But today most people confine the offering to Dhurva grass and Bilva leaves. In some places, certain wild patris are worshipped instead of Ganesh idol. In most community pujas, 21 different types of leaves are offered. 1. Machi : used for curing skin diseases (leprosy, leucoderma), nervous diseases, and abdominal related 2. Brihati: Used for asthma, cough, constipation. Also used for women in post natal period 3. Bilva : Used for Dysentery. It also purifies water. Bilva leaf is very popular in the worship of Lord Shiva 4. Durva Grass: used for Skin diseases, arresting bleeding, anemia. Durva leaf is used in the worship of Lord Ganesha 5. Dattura: Used for joint pains, abdominal, skin diseases, hair fall. Also used in poisonous bites 6. Badari: Used for digestive disorders, wounds and injuries, blood impurities. Also used for maintaining the voice. 7. Apa Marga: Used for digestive disorders and also used for poisonous bites. 8. Tulsi: Used for respiratory diseases, skin diseases, purifies air, water and surroundings. The leaves are used in the worship of Lord Vishnu who is very much fond of Thulasi 9. Choota (Mango leaves):Used in Diabetics, for cracked heals, diseases of throat. 10. Karaveera: Used for leprosy, wounds and injuries, hair fall, lice 11. Vishnu Kranta: Used for Nervous related, memory power 12. Daadimi (Pomegranate): Used for Dysentery, Vata/Pitta/Kapha dosha 13. Devadaru: Used for skin diseases, wounds/injuries

14. Maruvaka: Used for Joint pains, skin diseases, heart diseases 15. Sidhuvara: Used for Vaata related problems and also used in anti poisonous drugs. 16. Jaaji: Used for skin diseases, Mouth related problems and also inindigestion 17. Shami: It is used for respiratory problems. This tree is also worshipped as a remedy and we find people taking pradakshina around this tree on the day of Vijaya Dasami. 18. Aswatham: Its bark is used in preparation of many medicines. It is also used for arresting bleeding. The significance and importance of this tree is so much that it is considered as Trimurthi (Trinity) swaroopa (Trinal Lords, Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva). We find people performing Naga Devatha Pratishta under this tree. 19. Arjuna:Used for Joint pains, Vata/Pitta/Kapha related, heart diseases, wounds and septic conditions. 20. Arka/Jilledu: It is used in poisonous bites, wounds and injuries, curing skin diseases, leprosy, tumors, joint pains, etc It is said that it has 64 varieties of medicinal usage. It is called as a healing herb. We find usage of this leaf on the day of Ratha Sapthami. It is associated with the worship of Sun God, Lord Hanuman and also Lord Ganesha. 21. Gandaki Patram: Used for Heart related, Piles, Skin diseases. The most commonly used leaves are that of Durva, Aghada, Tulsi, Bilva, Prajakta, Mogra and Madhumalati (popular names). It must be noted here that Tulsi is only used during Vinayaka Chaturthi. Most of the Patris that are used in Ganesh puja have medicinal properties and today many people are growing these plants at home.