Page 5 - Jul-Sep 2008

VOL 5 No. 3

The Mighty Banyan Trees and Traditions

About the Ficus bengalensis Each culture across the world has a special relationship and affinity with trees. The respect for trees in
the Indic civilization goes back to proto-history as is evident in the seals from the Harappan civilization
The National tree of India, Banyan is known as bar in Hindi and ala in Tamil. The city of Vadodara
that show a horned deity seated under a Peepal tree. Even today countless shrines with decorated trees
(literally meaning 'City of Banyan Trees') derives from its Gujarati name vad. The tree may have got its
English name from Europeans who named it so because for centuries Baniyas or merchants have can be seen in all parts of India. Trees are associated with certain myths and often signify the divine.
sheltered and traded under it. This tree inspired Rabindranath Tagore to write a poem for which he was Trees have grown into our daily lives and practices in many ways. Be it the beliefs, mythologies, rituals,
awarded the coveted Nobel Prize in 1913. festivals or even the food of all communities in our country, they all have some relation with trees or tree
products. Read the fantastic entries sent by our Heritage Club members to find how!
This big tree with beautiful leaves is home to several birds like the mynah, parrots and bulbuls that feed
on its small reddish brown fruit. It is always cool and shady under a Banyan tree, and because of the
number of trunks it has, this tree is full of niches that houses several creatures. Squirrels, bats, rats,
snails, snakes, and all kinds of insects make their homes in Banyan trees. Egrets, owls, crows, and a Trees are worshipped by
variety of birds nest in the trees, which are also a favourite with monkeys who love to leap among its
s m e a r i n g t u r m e r i c ,
many twisting branches. Did you know? vermillion and sandal
The Banyan tree has been long venerated and honoured by humans. Perhaps this is because we paste. Sacred red thread is
associate many admirable qualities with it- longevity, serenity, wisdom and resilience. wrapped around the bark
Panchavati are the five sacred trees of a tree. Diyas are lit at its
of India -Peepal, Banyan, Amla, Bel foot in the evenings by
and the indigenous Ashoka tree.
devotees, who then go
The Biggest Banyans around the tree as they
say their prayers.
One of the biggest banyans in the world
is in the village of Gotte Balayu in
Anantpur district, Andhra Pradesh. It
occupies an area of more than 2 hectares, The Peepal
and appears to be a closed forest from a
distance. 20,000 people can stand the Prince Siddhartha meditated under a Peepal tree and
shade of this 700 years old tree! attained Nirvana. Thereafter he was known as Buddha or
the enlightened one, the tree was called the Bodhi or the
tree of wisdom and the place was named Bodh Gaya which
is a major pilgrim centre for Buddhists.
This tree whose leaves are used in the sacred thread
ceremony is called ashvatta in Sanskrit. It is believed that it
houses the Trimurti- the roots being Brahma, the trunk
symbolizing Vishnu and the leaves Shiva. Often, you will see
devotees tying a thread around the trunk of a Peepal tree to
fulfill their wishes; and untying it and offering back to it after
their wish comes true.
Illustration by Pathik V Vadhvana, Std 10, Shri L.G. Haria High School, Jamnagar
Text and illustration by N. Mahesh, Std. 9, Sri Sankara Vidyashramam
Mat Hr sec School, Chennai
The Banyan Tree is mentioned in many Jataka tales and mythological stories. Prince Satyavan is said to have died under a
Banyan tree. His wife Savitri then entered into a debate with Yama, the god of death, to win back her husband's life. Even The Ashoka
now women worship the Banyan tree in the month of May- June to pray for the welfare and long life of their husbands.
Prince Siddhartha is said to have been born in Ashok Vatika or grove of Ashoka trees in Lumbini,
By M.R. Shafika Sanofar, Std 6, R.P.C. Matric Higher Sec School, Chennai Nepal (the name Ashok means - without sorrow). The Ashoka tree is also special to the Jains,
as Mahavira is said to have renounced the world under it.

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