Monday, 26 July 2010

BUDDHA'S HAND

In Cantonese, the Fingered Citron is known as Futt Sau or Buddha's Hand.  My mum likes to buy this particular citrus fruit as an offering for the Goddess Kuan Yin and the other house deities.  She bought one during the weekend to be placed on the altar as today is the 15th day of the sixth lunar month. 
The Buddha's hand citron, or fingered citron (Citrus medica var. sarcodactylis) is a fragrant variety of citron whose fruit is segmented into finger-like sections., hence the name. 
Besides the house altar, the Buddha Hand citron is also given as a religious offering in Buddhist temples. According to tradition, Buddha prefers the "fingers" of the fruit to be in a position where they resemble a closed rather than open hand, as closed hands symbolize to Buddha the act of prayer.
Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddha%27s_hand

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