Hema Handoo
Few days have passed to Dusshera, which symbolises the last day of Ramleela . This festival of Dusshera is linked to so many aspects of Ramayana and its various characters. Centuries have passed and we have listened to so many short stories linked to Ravana’s character, the famous antagonist of Ramayana.
But there is one interesting aspect of Ravana which I came across while reading some excerpt from Ramayana, where he protested, ‘I have not cut down any fig tree (Peepal /Ficus religosa) in the month of Vaisakh, why then does the calamity befall me?’ That simply means even the villain of Ramayana, knew about importance of trees and revered them.
This tale proves that as early as the Ramayana, the planting of trees was considered to be meritorious. Peepal (Ficus Religosa) was held in great esteem in the Vedic period. Even the seals recovered from Mohen-jo-daro, depicts a stylized Peepal tree with two heads of unicorns emerging from its stem. Soma is another such miraculous plant celebrated in Rigveda. Almost all the great civilizations of the ancient world have understood the importance of trees for the survival of human race and imbibed that in its culture. Be it the forbidden Apple tree of the Garden of Eden, or Bodhi tree of Bodhgaya, each has its own significance in shaping human civlization.
In India, the plant/tree worship became quite common in the third or fourth millennial BC. A few trees which are considered sacred in Indian culture are listed below.
Bel/Bilv (Aegle marmelos)- This is a small or medium deciduous and aromatic tree. Leaves are trifoliate and fruit is orange coloured with sweet pulp. The plant is considered one of the most sacred trees of India. Its leaves and fruits are dedicated for the worshipping of Lord Shiva . Besides being considered sacred, Bilv has its medicinal value also. The ripe fruits are cooling, laxative and nutritive. The fresh leaves are useful in dropsy and effective in bronchial asthma.
Neem (Azadirachta indica)- It is said when the nectare was being taken to heaven from the world below for the use of Gods, a few drops fell on the Neem. Hence, on new year’s day of Shak samvat, Hindus eat its leaves in the hope that they will acquire freedom from diseases. Shitala mata, the goddess of small pox is said to inhabit it. When a person suffers from chickenpox/smallpox, the leaves of the tree are used in several ways to lessen and relieve his ailment. He is fanned by leafy twigs of this tree. Besides the fruit is antihelmintic and also used to cure rheumatic pains. Neem oil possesses antifungal, antimicrobial and antiseptic properties.
Amala (Emblica officinalis)- It is found in wild or cultivated throughout India. It is one of the most sacred and medicinal tree. The great Panchvati where Lord Rama and Sita spent some of their time during exile, was considered to be planted with five different kind of trees. Amla being one of those five trees along with Asvattha, Bilva, Banyan, and Ashoka. In Kartik Mahatma, it is recommended that worshiping this great tree removes all sins. The fruits of this tree are considered antidiarrhoeal, astringent, carmative, cooling and tonic. It is also useful in hairloss, anaemia and jaundice.
Bargad ( Ficus bengalensis) – It is an evergreen tree upto 30m in height. It occurs throughout the plains and forest tracts of India. This is supposed that Lord Brahma was transformed into this tree. Its dried twigs are used as Samhidas for producing sacred fire. Its seeds, latex, bark, and tender ends of aerial roots are all used. The seeds are used as cooling and tonic. Its leaves are applied as poultice to abscesses and tender leaves pasted with honey are beneficial in ‘raktapitta’. A paste of its roots is applied to scalp to grow long hair.
Peepal (Ficus religosa)- Peepal tree is believed to be inhabited by the sacred triad, Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh. It is considered a great sin to cut this tree. Of its wood spoons are made which are used to pour clarified butter on the sacred fire. The oil medicated with its leaves is used as eardrops in earaches. Tender and fresh leaves are beneficial when used alongwith clarified butter to cover the inflammatory ulcers. The fruit is mild laxative and digestive.
Mango/Aam (Mangifera indica)- It is an evergreen tree with spreading branches. It is commonly cultivated throughout India. The mango is said to be transformation of Lord Brahma. The tree provides one of the ‘Panch Pallava’. Its leaves are employed in adorning mandaps of various ceremonies. Besides, its twigs are offered to sacred fire as Samhidhas. The leaves, bark,gum,flowers, fruit and seeds are useful of this tree. The gum of the plant is used for cracked feet. The powder of its flowers or their decoction is useful in chronic dysentery, diarrhoea and gleet. Its ripe fruits are laxative, diuretic and astringent. The kernel of its fruits is antihelmintic and its juice is snuffed to stop nasal bleeding.
Anar (Punica granatum)- It is a shrub or small tree with dark grey bark. It is cultivated throughout India and grows wild in Himalayas. Its leaves are used in Ganesh pooja, Mangalgauri and Navratri. A paste of its green leaves is applied on eyes in conjunctivitis and their juice is given in dysentery. The bark of its roots and stem is antihelmintic and is specially used against tapeworms. The fruit juice is refreshing and cooling. Its juice is tonic and recommended for anaemia patients.
Banana( Musa paradisiaca)- Women worship banana plant on 4 th of kartik shudh for long life of their husbands. Its stem, leaves, fruits are used in festival and ceremonies and placed by Hindus at the entrance of their houses on special occasions, especially at marriages and Satyanaryana pooja. The fruits are eaten to cure uremia, nephritis, and gout. Its young leaves are used as a cool dressing for blisters and burns.
From the ancient ages useful trees have been associated with deities for their protection and reverence. It is said that the Peepal tree makes one rich, the Ashoka destroys all sorrow, and the Neem gives much happiness. The Jamun promises heavenly bliss, and the Pomegranate a good wife.
(The author is a Scholar at Department of Environmental sciences, University of Jammu)
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