NEW DELHI: A few grams of white sesame seeds, long-grained rice, salt, a small piece of jaggery, a few milliliters of ghee, an oil lamp, and an idol of Lord Ganesha – these may not appear to be typical diplomatic gifts, but they are part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s presents to President Joe Biden.
The list of gift items also includes a tamra-patra, a silver coconut, a fragrant piece of sandalwood, a gold coin, a silver coin, and tussar silk cloth, all placed inside a beautifully handcrafted sandalwood box that PM Modi handed over to President Biden during their meeting at the White House in Washington, DC on Thursday.
These gifts hold significant cultural and religious symbolism, representing various rituals and traditions practiced in Vedic Hinduism. They not only reflect ancient Indian wisdom and knowledge but also manifest PM Modi’s acumen in selecting gifts for his dear ones.
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These items are used to perform Vedic rituals to honor and celebrate the profound human experience of a person who has witnessed 1000 full moons, indicating that they have completed 80 years and 8 months of life. It is worth noting that President Biden is set to achieve this milestone next month.
The items placed inside the intricately carved sandalwood box, each further placed inside small silver boxes, represent the ten traditional donations known as Das Danam, which are made during the significant milestone of ‘Sahasra Poorna Chandrodayam’ celebrations, commemorating 1000 full moons in a person’s life.
The time span covered by a thousand full moons is approximately 29530 days or 80 years and 8 months, considering that the gap between two full moons is about 29.53 days.
When a person achieves this milestone, an elaborate set of Vedic rituals are performed, including Vinayak Pooja (prayers to Lord Ganesha), culminating in Poornaahuti (oblation to the sacred fire), Satabhishekam, and finally Sahasra Chandra Darshanam, which involves gazing at the 1000th full moon.
As part of these rituals, Das Danam or donations of ten different kinds are offered, including Gaudaan (cow), Bhudaan (land), Tildaan (sesame seeds), Hiranyadaan (gold), Ajyadaan (ghee or clarified butter), Dhaanyadaan (food grains), Vastradaan (clothes), Guddaan (jaggery), Raupyadaan (silver), and Lavandaan (salt).
The idol of Lord Ganesha, included in the gift, is a revered deity in Hinduism known as the remover of obstacles. Lord Ganesha is traditionally worshipped at the beginning of auspicious occasions and is considered foremost among all gods. The silver idol has been handcrafted by a family of fifth-generation silversmiths from Kolkata, West Bengal, showcasing their expertise in the art form.
Accompanying the idol is a silver diya, an oil lamp that holds sacred significance in Hindu households. Daily prayers are offered by lighting a cotton wick dipped in oil in front of the diya. This beautifully crafted silver diya also originates from the skilled artisans of Kolkata.
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Another item in the gift set is a tamra-patra, a copper plate sourced from Uttar Pradesh. In ancient times, tamra-patra served as a medium for writing and record-keeping. This plate bears an inscribed shloka, adding a touch of historical relevance to the gift.
The silver coconut represents Gaudaan, the fragrant sandalwood sourced from Mysore represents Bhudaan, white sesame seeds represent Tildaan, and the 24K pure and hallmarked gold coin represents Hiranyadaan, symbolizing wealth and abundance.
Ghee or clarified butter represents Ajyadaan and signifies nourishment and vitality, while the handwoven textured tussar silk cloth represents Vastradaan. The long-grained rice represents Dhaanyadaan, the donation of food grains, reflecting the importance of food security and sustenance.
Additionally, PM Modi also gifted a copy of the first edition print of President Biden’s favourite poet William Butler Yeats’ ‘The Ten Principal Upanishads’. Yeats is known as an admiror of India’s ancient knowledge and spirituality and was a friend of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore. He helped popularize Gurudev’s Gitanjali in the western world.
The attention to detail, craftsmanship, and choice of symbolic items in this gift set showcase Prime Minister Modi’s desire to honor and share his country’s traditions with the world.
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