Nerale hannu or Jamun fruit

Neralehannu or Jamun fruit

Did you know that Nerlehannu or Jamun fruit is what Lord Rama ate in the forest for 14 years during his exile from Ayodhya, and as a result many Hindus regard this fruit as a 'Fruit of the Gods'?

The scientific name of Nerlehannu (ನೇರಳೆಹಣ್ಣು) or Jamun fruit is Syzygium cumini L or Eugenia Jambolana, and it belongs to the myrtaceae plant family, and much eaten by the natives of India. Common names are java plum, black plum, jambul. Its Sanskrit name is Jambu Phalinda. Culturally, beautiful eyes are compared to this fruit. The name ' Indian blackberry' is a misnomer as it is a separate fruit in an unrelated order, though looks like black berry with soft purple pulp. Syzygium cumini has been spread overseas from India by Indian emigrants and at present is common in tropical former British colonies. 

Jamun, also known as 'Magic of purple', the taste of an Indian summer, grown throughout India, has quite an interesting mythology. Jamun fruits are linked to Ganesha and Krishna and atleast one Jamun tree is found in every ancient temple dedicated to these two Gods. It is also sacred to Buddhists. India, that is Bharat, is also called Jambu dveepa, literally translating to “the land of the Jambu trees”, one of seven islands that form the world, as, in ancient days Jambu tree was grown extensively in the country. It is said that in Jambu dveepa the Jambu trees were as large as elephants. When they were ripe, they fell upon the mountain and their juice formed the Jambu river whose waters gave health and life to those that drank water of them. Lord Meghna – the God of the Clouds – is said to have descended onto Earth in the form of a jamun, which is why the colour of the fruit is as dark and stormy as the fierce monsoon clouds. Lord Rama during his 14 years o exile is said to have consumed this fruit and hence it is known as the "fruit of the gods". Temples constructed in Rama’s honour will always house at least one jamun tree. The Mughal emperor Babar had a dim view of Indian fruits in general as he said “Jamun fruit resembles the black grape, but has a more acid taste, and is not very good.” 

Further, it is said four symbols of the Jambu fruit were imprinted on Lord Krishna’s right foot as mentioned in the Srimad Bhagavatam commentary. A story from the great Indian epic, Mahabharata is named Jambulaakhyan, that is related to this fruit. In the epic Mahabharatha, Krishna's (Vishnu', ) body colour is compared to this fruit as well. In a local legend in Tamil Nadu, Auvaiyar (also Auvayar), of Sangam period (Tamil literature), and Naval are linked. It is said that Auvaiyar, believing to have achieved everything that is to be achieved, pondered over her retirement from Tamil literary work while resting under Naval Pazham tree (Tamil name for Jamun). The jamun's most enduring association is with Lord Shiva as He is known as Jambunath or Jambukeswara, and the Jambukeswara temple, built 1,800 years ago, still stands in Tiruchirapalli.

As an ornamental tree, tall and handsome, with dense foliage providing shade, it is a slow growing species, can reach heights of up to 30 m and can live more than 100 years. It requires dry weather for flowering and fruit setting. Ripens at the beginning of the rainy season and is available only from June to August. 

The wood is hard and water resistant, and as such it is used in railway sleepers and to install motors in wells. It is sometimes used to make cheap furniture and village dwellings though it is relatively hard to work on.

Rich in nutritive value with high iron content Its astringency is attributed to high tannin content and its purplish colour is attributed to anthocyanin pigments. 

Its bark is astringent and used for mouthwash. Consuming Jamun fruit turns the tongue purple and as result children love it. But should be consumed to a limited extent as it affects the throat, chest and lungs when consumed in excess. 

Products made out of jamun fruit are beverages, jelly, jam, squash, wine and pickles. Vinegar is prepared from unripe fruits. It is used as a carminative, diuretic and digestive and fruits are used for treatment of diabetes, dysentery, heart and liver complaints. It reduces blood pressure.

Many birds and animals like fruit bats and jackals make it an important part of their diet, and its flowers are used abundantly by bees for honey. Other trees may struggle through Indian summers, but jamun remains leafy. Ancient Sanskrit texts mention a wine or tonic called Jambu asava that was made from the ripe fruit.

Jamun trees are found through out India, though not as regular orchards, but are grown as avenue trees, in parks and as windbreakers. The British made this fruit tree very popular in Delhi as they planted this tree, in the 1920s, in the most popular Lutyen's avenue, the Rajpath avenue, and also in Tughlaq, Rajaji, Motilal Nehru roads, etc. Rajpath, the 2-km-long Central Vista Avenue from India Gate to Vijay Chowk is flanked by lawns about 70 metre wide, water canals and rows of trees. It had 10 symmetric rows of trees, five on either side planted in a combination of diagonal and square grid and only two species were used — rows of Jamuns and rows of Ficus trees. Just over 10 years ago, two rows of Jamun trees were added to the original 10 rows. Mainly, two types of jamun trees are seen heere - Syzigium cumini, which is what is locally understood as jamun (the round bhadainya jamun or jamoa), and Ria jamun or Syzigium nervosum, the longer ashadiya. In Delhi households, all the seeds of the jamuns– dry, rough and greenish-mauve in colour - are made into a powder, as 'desi nuskhe' (Grandma’s home remedy); if the seeds are baked then dried the powder lasts longer and used for curing diabetes.

Narasipur Char