mantra: (Sanskrit) literally a `sacred utterance' in Vedism; one of a collection of orally transmitted poetic hymns
sacred text: writing that is venerated for the worship of a deity
nipa palm: any creeping semiaquatic feather palm of the genus Nipa found in mangrove swamps and tidal estuaries; its sap is used for a liquor; leaves are used for thatch; fruit has edible seeds