CHIRMI

CHIRMI

LT COL NOEL ELLIS

02/V/2023

The word “Chirmi” caught my attention. Especially when a restaurant with the same name opened very close to where we stay. It was time to find out.

One typed Chirmi in the google search box. To my surprise it showed a very familiar bead and its live plant was available online. It brought down many childhood memories and also a thought to add this plant to our collection.

Chirmi is a ‘woody vine’ native to India and other tropical areas of the world. It is a flowering plant of the ‘bean family’ and finds many uses as an herb in Ayurveda. This I was not aware of.

Then I researched about this plant further. Google displayed some pictures which are attached. The beads looked so familiar. We used to collect these small red and black roundels for ‘good luck’ as kids. The vines used to be twisted, coiled, twirled, and spiralled, making nice swings of the natural kind.

During summer holidays, we would collect Chirmi pods, once they burst open. We would hoard these beads and even barter them for marbles with our friends. Stuffing as many as we could reach by hand, drop with a stone throw, shake with a stick, and stuff them in our shorts pockets before running home.

This booty was a valuable treasure. Beads were sifted, graded, and counted giving a Richie-rich feeling. Besides it was a competition amongst peers as to who was the richest. We used to call it ‘Rati’ which actually is a traditional measurement of mass still used by Indian jewellers.

The word Chirmi is very common in Rajasthani folk songs. Even in ‘Ghoomar’, the traditional dance & song sequence of Rajasthan there is a mention of it. It is all about a little girl waiting for her father and brother to return, while she perches on this dangling vine.

What are the benefits of Chirmi? As folklore goes, it brings good luck and wards off evil. Beads are also used in ‘Black Magic.’ They defend the ‘wearer’ from harm & accidents. They are believed to be resting by the Goddess of wealth (Maha Laxmi) and are best kept in lockers or cash boxes (galla) for its protection and wealth creation. How far is it? I am not sure.

Chirmi has some health benefits too. It is used in the treatment of bronchitis, tuberculosis, asthma, and chest related ailments besides its seeds are used in the treatment of conjunctivitis they say. Its roots are used to treat stomach related issues. My-my, what a versatile seed Chirmi is!

Another belief associated with Chirmi beads is that they never stay with an unlucky person. So, if you lose them, you have run out of luck. Apart from bestowing wealth, it helps in rebuilding broken relationships and wards off negativity, which is the need of the day.

It has taken a year plus for our vine to grow its tentacles. The leaves are like ‘touch me not’. Once it fruits, I am sure it will shower us with all its benefits mentioned above. Could there be more benefits of this little bead? I wonder!!!!!!!

JAI HIND

Comments

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