The tradition of eating Paan originated in India before it became popular in other Asian countries. Travel anywhere in India and you might come across a paan shop selling this age old traditional item.
Paan is made from betel leaves (paan patta) filled mainly with chopped areca nuts (supari), slaked lime (chuna), catechu (red katha paste), fennel (saunf), sweetened and mashed rose petals (gulkand) and elaichi (cardomom) among other items.
Though its primary purpose is to be used as a mouth freshner, many people also use it for the numerous health benefits it provides. According to Ayurveda, the betel leaf is full of medicinal properties. The regular consumption of betel leaf helps balance Vata and Kaph doshas of the human body.
Chewing betel leaf stimulates the release of saliva that further helps in digestion of food. It has anti- microbial properties that can protect the consumer from minor bacterial and fungal infections. It is really good for people suffering from diabetes as it can regulate their glucose levels. It lowers your cholesterol and protects your heart. Depression is a serious condition that affects many people. One of the most important herbal remedy for this condition is to chew betel leaves.
Betel leaves play an important role in Indian tradition, customs and rituals. It is believed that Lord Shiva and Parvati themselves had sown the seeds of paan patta in the Himalayas. According to Skanda Purana, the betel leaf was obtained by the gods during the churning of the ocean for the nectar of immortality- Amrit.
That is why it is believed that the different deities and planets such as lord Indra, goddess Saraswati, Shiva, Shukra, Vishnu, goddess Parvati and lord Suryanarayan reside in the leaf. In the Ramayana, it is mentioned that the time when Hanuman reached Lanka to convey the message of Rama, Sita welcomed him with a garland of betel leaves to express her happiness and gratitude. That is why people offer betel leaves too while worshipping lord Hanuman.
According to the Indian tradition, a combination of betel leaf and areca nuts is inseparable as they symbolise loyalty in love and a strong bond.
Thus, it is a tradition to chew a paan when the tilak ceremony of groom is done in traditional Indian weddings. It means that the newly wedded couple is now compatible to each other just like the betel leaf and areca nut. However, chewing paan can also be slightly addictive. But the addiction here is to the tobacco in it and not the leaf itself.
There is a risk of developing oral cancer if you eat paan with tobacco too often. Even though betel leaves have health benefits, they should be used in a limited quantity.
(The author is an astrologer, Prashna Kundali analyst, numerologist and Vastu expert)
