SIGNIFICANCE OF MEHANDI

Why do we Apply/keep Mehendi:-

Mehendi Leaves is very popular in Hindusim which will be applied during special months like Karkadaka masam ( Ashada Masam) and during Dhanurmasa Thirvadhira vratham,( For Telugu people Attla Thadhiya), which is observed by both Unmarried and married women, and on various auspicious occasions like marriages, festivals etc.,
Even gods and goddesses are seen to adorn Mehendi designs. A large dot in the centre of the hand, with four smaller dots at the sides is an oft seen Mehendi pattern on the palms of Ganesha and Lakshmi. Lord Krishna paints Mehandi designs on Radha’s hand. It is said that Pavarti, the consort of Shiva, a powerful Hindu deity of destruction and transformation, used Mehndi to attract and please her husband.

The significance of Mehandi is that the traditional Hindus consider it as very auspicious for young women. Besides lending color to the hands, mehndi is a very powerful medicinal herb, which cure so many diseases. Girls and women wear mylaanji (mehndi) in their hands and feet on this month of Karkadaka masam ( Ashada Masam). It was not only a beautification, mylaanji protects the feet from worm infections that were common during the monsoon. However, its most important use comes in a Hindu Wedding. Weddings are stressful, and often, the stress causes headaches and fevers. Application of mehndi can prevent too much stress because it cools the body and keeps the nerves from becoming tense. This is the reason why mehndi is applied on the hands and feet.

My grandma, used to say if you apply Mehandi in forehead it wont give you the imprint. when i was kid, i used to keep it as bindhi but there was no imprint in my forehead as bindi. women/girls put mehandi on the palms which is considered as highly auspicious and the fact behind this ritual has a deeper significance. One such notion goes that the darker the color of the Mehndi indicates more love from her husband and in laws. I love applying mehndi on my both hands and legs and my favourite hobby to apply every month.

It’s named as lawsonia inermis in Latin. Benefits:-
It’s beneficial for the health of the skin.
It has cooling effect for the skin in burning sensations of skin.
The Flowers are stimulating to mind and strength giving to the heart and the brain.
The seed is styptic (arrests the blood flow)
The flowers are kept in water for some time and given in headache and lack of sleep associated with fever.
In case of swelling of joints the leaves are made into paste and applied on to them.
In case of headache due to heat stroke the leaves are heated mildly in oil and that oil is applied on head.
In mouth ulcers the leaves are heated in water and the water is used for rinsing mouth.
The swelling of throat is also relieved with it when the same water is used for gargling.
In case of small burns, cloth dipped in the decoction of bark of henna is put on the burned area.

The paste of leaves when applied on hairs, prevents graying and adds to the shine of the hairs.
Applying henna once in 15 days also helps in regulation of growth of hairs.
During burning sensation of hands and feet, it can be applied on these parts to get relief.
In jaundice the juice of leaves in a dose of 5 to 10 ml is given to drink every morning.
henna is also considered as an abortificient. Meaning it can cause abortion in a pregnant lady. Although it is considered cooling and soothing in its properties, it enhances the uterine contractions.
In ancient time when today’s sophisticated methods of contraception were unknown, females used to put mehendi to whole length of their hands and legs as it was believed that it prolongs pregnancy.
Today It is used as a form of contraception in some communities who are against the chemical, physical or surgical methods of contraception.
It is also used in regulating the monthly periods. Even some ladies who are expecting the date of their menses are believed to get their period by putting mehendi on hands and legs. But this depends upon person to person.
Henna is a reported ingredient in many cosmetic products, such as: shampoos, conditioners, sunless tanning, hair color and bleaching, styling gels and lotions, hair sprays, moisturizers, among others.