Lemon Offered To Lord Shiva On Mahashivratri Fetches Rs 35,000 In TN Temple Auction
When life gives you lemons, one might wonder what to do. Now, imagine being handed not just any lemon, but an exceptionally expensive one! Such is the curious situation faced by an individual who willingly shelled out Rs 35,000 to acquire a lemon at a temple auction. But this lemon is special, for it has relevance rooted in Hinduism.
Lemon offered to Lord Shiva?
The auction took place at Pazhapoosaian Temple near Sivagiri village in the Erode district of Tamil Nadu.?
Alongside various offerings, including fruits dedicated to Lord Shiva during the Mahasivarathiri festivities on Friday night, a lemon was also part of the items auctioned.?
In adherence to tradition, the temple priest presented the auctioned lemon before the deity, conducted a brief pooja, and returned it to the highest bidder in the presence of numerous devotees.?
The belief is that the individual securing the lemon through the highest bid will be bestowed with prosperity and lasting good health.?
Why lemon holds a special place in Hinduism?
In ancient Vedic times, a destructive demon named NimbAsura, blessed by Lord Shiva and Lord Brahma, caused widespread chaos and famine.?
Disturbed by his cruelty, Rishi Agasthya sought divine intervention through penance and rituals, praying to Goddess Shakti.?
Pleased with the sage's devotion, the Goddess vanquished NimbAsura, restoring prosperity to the earth and earning worship as Shakhambari Devi.?
Before his demise, NimbAsura, realising his errors, sought forgiveness from Goddess Shakhambari Devi.?
Touched by his repentance, the Goddess granted him a boon to be revered in the form of a fruit, the 'Nimbu Phala.'?
Since then, the lemon has held a sacred place in Hindu rituals, symbolising redemption and divine mercy.?
Expensive lemons galore?
The tales of lemons are not new.?
In fact, last month itself, a lemon had been sold for Rs 1.5 lakh in UK.?
The reason? It was a whole 285 years old with even an engraving on it, found at the back of a 19th-century cabinet.??
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