Mango is regarded as the ‘King Of Fruits’. People wait eagerly to taste this juicy and tasty fruit throughout the year. Mango is the symbol of prosperity and happiness. This is the reason why mango is used in some or the other form in all the rituals of Hinduism and also other religions. The word ‘mango’ is derived from the Tamil word ‘mangkay’ or ‘mangay’. When the Portuguese travellers settled in India, they started calling the fruit as ‘manga’ and hence it came to be known as mango.
The fruit mango, its buds, leaves and other parts of the tree are of great spiritual importance, especially in Hinduism. The tree and the leaves are used in many social and religious ceremonies. Mango is of great spiritual importance. Take a look how mango is spiritually significant.
Symbol Of Fertility Mango finds mention in many Hindu scriptures such as the Puranas, Ramayana and Mahabharata. The fruit is seen as a symbol of love and fertility.
Mango Leaves Symbolise Life In the Hindu pujas, a pot filled with water with mango leaves at the brim and coconut on the top is kept near the God. This is known as the Purnakumbha. It is the symbol of Goddess Lakshmi. The coconut symbolises divine consciousness, the pot is the symbol of Mother Earth, water is the life giver and the mango leaves symbolises life.
Brings Prosperity & Good Luck On various occasions, mango leaves are hung in front of the door like a toran. It is believed that the mango leaves bring prosperity and good luck into the house. It also wards off evil eye.
Significance In Jainism The Jain Goddess is depicted as sitting under a mango tree. Hence mango is also significant for the Jains.
Significance In Buddhism Mango is also sacred to the Buddhists as Buddha performed a miracle in Shravasti. Buddha went to the king’s garden, ate a mango and planted the seed from which a tree sprouted and flowered immediately which is known as the Gandamba Tree.