Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented President Joe Biden with a unique and culturally significant gift during their meeting at the White House. The gift consisted of several items that hold deep symbolism in Vedic Hinduism and reflect ancient Indian wisdom.
The gift included a small quantity of white sesame seeds, long-grained rice, salt, a piece of jaggery (a type of unrefined sugar), a few milliliters of ghee (clarified butter), an oil lamp, and an idol of Lord Ganesha, all arranged inside a beautifully crafted sandalwood box. Additionally, the gift contained a tamra-patra (copper plate), a silver coconut, a fragrant piece of sandalwood, a gold coin, a silver coin, and a tussar silk cloth.
These items are associated with Vedic rituals performed to honor and celebrate the milestone of witnessing 1000 full moons, which represents a person completing 80 years and 8 months of life. President Biden is set to achieve this milestone next month.
The intricately carved sandalwood box contained smaller silver boxes, each representing one of the ten traditional donations known as Das Danam. These donations are made during the significant celebration of ‘Sahasra Poorna Chandrodayam’, which marks 1000 full moons in a person’s life. The ten donations include a cow (Gaudaan), land (Bhudaan), sesame seeds (Tildaan), gold (Hiranyadaan), ghee (Ajyadaan), food grains (Dhaanyadaan), clothes (Vastradaan), jaggery (Guddaan), silver (Raupyadaan), and salt (Lavandaan).
The idol of Lord Ganesha represents the revered deity known as the remover of obstacles and is traditionally worshipped at the beginning of auspicious occasions. The silver idol was handcrafted by skilled artisans from Kolkata, West Bengal.
Accompanying the idol was a silver diya, an oil lamp of sacred significance in Hindu households. The gift also included a tamra-patra, a copper plate with an inscribed shloka, representing a medium for writing and record-keeping in ancient times.
Each item in the gift set symbolized a specific aspect of Vedic rituals and cultural significance. The silver coconut represented Gaudaan, the fragrant sandalwood represented Bhudaan, the white sesame seeds represented Tildaan, and the gold coin represented Hiranyadaan, signifying wealth and abundance. Ghee symbolized Ajyadaan and represented nourishment and vitality, while the handwoven tussar silk cloth represented Vastradaan.
Furthermore, Prime Minister Modi gifted a copy of the first edition print of President Biden’s favorite poet William Butler Yeats’ ‘The Ten Principal Upanishads’. Yeats was known for his admiration of India’s ancient knowledge and spirituality and his friendship with Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore.
The attention to detail, craftsmanship, and the selection of symbolic items in this gift set demonstrated Prime Minister Modi’s intention to honor and share India’s rich traditions and cultural heritage with the world.
