The ‘Haridra’ Magic

‘Turmeric latte’ that is what I get to drink everyday at home these days. “golden milk’ is another name that is given to this drink that has turmeric the magic herb in it. Since the COVID 19 outbreak and the race to give boost to immunity, the time-tested herb of India, without this spice most of the Indian dishes are incomplete, has gained so much of attention and prominence. In my house we are even debating, whether to have ‘Sangli Haldi’ or ‘Meghalaya’s Haldi’!!

I have been making turmeric salad, turmeric pickle, turmeric chutney, turmeric tea, turmeric drink, turmeric milk and what not, these last few days!

The humble ‘haldi’ (as turmeric is popularly known in India) has suddenly become star of the kitchen! I remember the use of ‘haldi’ for various purposes in my household while I was growing up. One got hurt- Haldi paste was used, I remember my grandma making a bandage of chapati and ‘haldi-choona’ very often for our numerous minor bruises and cuts that we used to sustain while playing around.

‘Haldi’ is widely used while performing pooja and is considered auspicious all-around India. In south India women tie a piece of ‘haldi’ in thread around their necks as a ritual as it is considered auspicious. Rangoli is made out of it, Gods are worshipped, especially Krishna’s worship is incomplete without ‘haldi’ and what not!

All the attention given to this ordinary herb and the ceremony surrounding the turmeric has made me notice the common spice ‘haldi’ in a new light!

So I have realized that actually the use of turmeric dates back nearly 4000 years to the Vedic culture in India, where it was used as a culinary spice and had some religious significance after that it probably reached other parts of the world even till Jamaica, carried by travellers , Marco Polo described this spice, marveling at a vegetable that exhibited qualities so similar to that of saffron. According to Sanskrit medical treatises and Ayurveda turmeric has a long history of medicinal use in South Asia. Susruta’s Ayurvedic Compendium, dating back to 250 bc, mentions turmeric particularly.

I wanted to know from where actually the word ‘haldi’ came about?  Not surprisingly, I found out that it is derived from the Sanskrit word ‘haridra’ ( dear to Hari, or Lord Krishna) and in the south India it is called “manjal,” a word that is frequently used in ancient Tamil literature. The name turmeric derives from the Latin word terra merita (meritorious earth), referring to the color of ground turmeric, which resembles a mineral pigment.  In many cultures, its name is based on the Latin word curcuma.

Well, not satisfied by the simple answer and my view that the Indian culture and tradition will not let the ‘haldi’ , such an important gift of nature, be just a word out of Sanskrit word ‘haridra’ and leave it at that, I probed deeper and realized that ‘haldi’ has over fifty names in Sanskrit, depicting its uses and identity.

It is not offered as ‘havan samgri’ so it is called ‘aneshtha’, because it is lucky and auspicious so it is called Bhadra, it is also called ‘dhirgraja’ because of its long appearance, since it makes the complexion fair and makes one as beautiful as goddess Parvati, it is called at ‘Gauri’, it gives delight to heart so it is called ‘Hridayavilasini’, It is also called ‘Jayanti’ because it defeats diseases.

I was particularly interested in the name, ‘Mehagni’ because it means killer of fat!!

I wonder though why it is called ‘Vairagi’ which means free from desires?

My mother’s name was Uma, if she were alive, I would have told her, do you know Maa, the haldi is also called ‘Umavara’?

I am absolutely at loss why it is called ‘Yuvati’, a young Girl?

Now when I make turmeric milk for my son, I am going to tell him,” I have put ‘Yuvati’ in your drink dear son and see his reaction!

A simple herb like turmeric can generate so much of thinking and analyzing, this happens only in India, I guess. My country and its chronicles never fail to fascinate me! Forget about COVID 19, I hope ‘haldi’ intake will make me free from desires and make me thin!! 😊😉