Banyan Tree

The Banyan can be found throughout this area. There are several in the old part of Ramana Ashram and the side of the Samudram Bund, south of the Hill, are a number of young Banyan Trees.

The Banyan Tree (Ficus Benghalensis linn. Tamil = Al) which is the National tree of India, is an evergreen that grows to a height of about 100-ft. It has been reported that some Banyan reach more than 1000 feet in circumference and could cover 10,000 with its span. This tree is easily identified by its aerial roots, which hang from its branches. These roots often get embedded in the ground and become minor trunks. The leaves are broad, oval and glossy. If broken, a white, milky fluid oozes out of the leaves. 

The name Benghalensis comes from India where early travellers observed that the shade of the tree was frequented by “banias” (Indian traders). English writers began to tell of the banyan tree, a tree under which Hindu merchants would conduct their business. The tree provided a shaded place for a village meeting or for merchants to sell their goods. Eventually "banyan" became the name of the tree itself. 

Ficus means fig and Benghalensis is of or pertaining to Bengal. The Sanskrit word Vata means to surround or encompass. The tree symbolizes all three gods of the Hindu Triad. Vishnu is the bark, Brahma, the roots, and Shiva, the branches. Another name for Kubera, the treasure-keeper of the gods, is Vatashraya, one who lives in the Banyan tree. According to tradition it is visited by the goddess Lakshmi on Sundays.

The Banyan is said to have nourished mankind with its 'milk' before the advent of grain and other food. The legend for this follows thus: 

Nirantali, the first keeper of the world, was sent by the gods to live in Saphaganna. She brought with her Banyan seeds, wrapped in leaves. When the Earth and the clouds were ready, men were born. They took the Banyan seeds and planted them. These grew into slender trees with very tiny leaves that provided no shade at all. Nirantali tugged and pulled at the leaves till they were large then she stretched the branches till they came down to Earth. But men still did not have proper food to eat. So Nirantali told the Banyan tree, “Feed men with your milk”. The Banyan replied, “I have only blood in my body. Where should I get the milk from?” Nirantali swung her axe, hit the trunk of the tree and said, “Let milk flow”, and so it did and men lived on it until grain came to the world. According to the Agni Purana, the Banyan symbolises fertility and is worshipped by those who want children. For the same reason, it is never cut. Even its leaves, which are used as cattle fodder, are broken only when there is a famine. It is believed that if the tree is cut, a goat should be sacrificed in atonement.

Young Banyan tree, Samudram Bund, Arunachala

It is stated in the Vishnu Purana, during the deluge at the end of an epoch or yuga, Vishnu sleeps on a Banyan leaf. It also compares Vishnu to the seed of the Banyan: just as a huge tree originates from and is contained in one little seed, the entire universe is reduced to its germ after these periodic deluges. This germ is contained in Vishnu, who then recreates the Universe. 

The Banyan tree is one of the most venerated trees in India. Because of its ability to survive and grow for centuries, it is often compared to the shelter given by God to his devotees. It also symbolises the personality of a benevolent ruler or head of family who nourishes and looks after all those under his care. Its large leaf is a motif commonly used in worship, rituals and festive sacrifices. The Banyan tree is mentioned in many scriptures as a tree of immortality. It was under a Banyan tree that the Hindu sages sat in a trance seeking enlightenment and it was here that they held discourses and conducted holy rituals. In Hindu mythology, the tree is called Kalpavriksha, the tree that provides fulfillment of wishes and other material gains. 

The Vishnu Purana states: "As the wide-spreading Nargodha (Sanskrit for Banyan) tree is compressed in a small seed, So at the time of dissolution, the whole universe is comprehended in Thee as its germ; as the Nargodha germinates from the seed, and becomes just a shoot and then rises into loftiness, so the created world proceeds from Thee and expands into magnitude." 

In Hinduism the leaf of the Banyan tree is said to be the resting place for Lord Krishna. In the Bhagavad Gita Krishna says: "There is a Banyan tree which has its roots upward and its branches down, and the Vedic hymns are its leaves. One who knows this tree is the knower of the Vedas." (Bg 15.1) 

Elsewhere in the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna says: Of all trees I am the Banyan tree . . . " (10.26) 

According to another legend the Banyan Tree is believed to have originally been situated in Vasuki's garden. Amba or Mother Earth, wanted it for her children. After a fight with Vasuki and by invoking Shiva's help, Amba managed to obtain the Banyan. 

This tree is also sacred to the Buddhists. After attaining enlightenment, the Buddha is believed to have sat under a Banyan tree for seven days, absorbed in his newfound realisation. A pilgrimage to one of the main Banyan trees is considered the equivalent of twelve years of sacrifice. The worship of the tree is also represented in a Buddhist sculpture with its long hanging roots dropping gold pieces in vessels placed below. 

Ripe figs on tree, April 2014 

Parts of the Banyan Tree

Indra was portrayed as sitting with his queen shaded by a Banyan from whose branches people gathered jewels, clothes, food and drink. Also called the Agastyavata, it symbolizes immortality. When the whole world was flooded during the Great Deluge, a leaf of the Banyan tree cradled Balmukunda safely through the waters.

The Puranas tell the story of Savitri, who lost her husband a year after their marriage. He died under a Banyan tree and by worshipping it, Savitri was able to follow Yama himself and win back her husband's life as well as secure prosperity and progeny. This powerful legend has made Savitri an ideal of Indian womanhood and established the Vat-Savitri Vrata. On Vata Poornima, the full-moon night in Jyeshtha, married women fast and circumambulate the Banyan to pray for the long and healthy life of their husbands.

On this day, Hindu married women worship the Banyan Tree by tying threads around its bark. The ritual is performed to obtain divine grace to secure the life of their husbands and get the same groom for several births to come. Banyan trees were regarded as symbols of fertility, venerated by those who wanted children. The Mahabharata tells of a mother and daughter who embraced two Banyan trees and became the mothers of Sage Vishvamitra and Sage Jamadagni.

Giant Banyan Tree, Botanical Gardens, Howrah

In certain areas of the Philippines, people believe in sorcery, witchcraft, enchanted beings or objects, and other supernatural forces. The most feared of all is Baliti, the great Banyan tree which villagers believe possesses super-natural powers. To disrespect Baliti is to call the tree's wrath upon oneself.

According to legend, Banyan or Baliti, was a man who was a great healer. He was respected and well loved by the people. The god, Engkantada, known as the enchanted lady of the forest, acknowledged his good character by giving him healing powers far beyond the earthly ones he already possessed. Engkantada told him that these powers could only be used to aid others, and that he must never ask for, or take, any payment in return for his healing services. Baliti agreed.

For many years Baliti worked refusing all offerings of payment. Eventually he met a beautiful woman called Brunhilde and after a short courtship they married. Soon Brunhilde started to demand that Baliti take payment for his healings. Batili's love for Brunhilde had become greater than his promise to Engkantada, so he asking for, and accepting payment for his services. His wife started to use her sorceress powers to make the people of the village ill. After making the villagers ill she would tell them that only her husband could heal them as Brunhilde knew that spells she had cast could only be removed with magic, as they had been created.

Those who were not able to pay were refused Baliti's services while all the time Baliti and his wife lived lavishly. The villagers began to hate Baliti and his wife and prayed to God Engkantada, to help them. Engkantada after confronting the couple with their wrongdoings, transformed Brunhilde into a huge snake, so that everyone would see and avoid her. Engkantada knew that Baliti had been fooled by his wife so in retribution for his errors, she turned him into a great Banyan tree, but did not take his powers away. This way he could still be of help to the villagers who came to him requesting aid.

Many claim that Baliti's powers still exist. There are stories of unusual things happening when someone offends Baliti. It is believed that tragedy always follows those who have offended him, therefore, respect is given to him by all. Whenever passing the tree people say such things as "excuse me", or "may I sit under your branches great one?"

The Banyan tree occupies the pride of place amongst the sacred trees of India. It has aerial roots that grow down into the soil forming additional trunks. It is, therefore, called Bahupada, the one with several feet. It symbolizes a long life and also represents the divine creator, Brahma. It is invariably planted in front of Temples. The numerous stems of the Banyan tree are even regarded as the home of gods and spirits. It was under a Banyan that Lord Shiva as Dakshinamurthi is nearly always depicted sitting in silence with Rishis at his feet. It is thought of as perfectly symbolizing eternal life due to its seemingly unending expansion.

In a South Indian tale Luxman accompanies Rama, who is carrying home his bride. Luxman overhears two owls talking about the perils that await his master and mistress. First he saves them from being crushed by the falling limb of a Banyan-tree, and then he drags them away from an arch which immediately after gives way. By and by, as they rest under a tree, the king falls asleep. A cobra creeps up to the queen, and Luxman kills it with his sword; but, as the owls had foretold, a drop of the cobra's blood falls on the queen's forehead. As Luxman licks off the blood, the king starts up, and, thinking that his vizier is kissing his wife, upbraids him with his ingratitude, whereupon Luxman, through grief at this unkind interpretation of his conduct, is turned into stone.

In the Philippines children at a young age are taught never to point at a fully mature Banyan tree for fear of offending the spirits that dwell within them, most especially when they are new to the place. They would always utter a respectful word or two to the spirits in the Banyan tree when they are near one, walking near or around it to avoid any harm. They believe that provoking the spirits in a Banyan tree can cause one great harm, illness, misfortune, untold suffering and death.

Silk Cotton Tree

Bombax Malabarica or Silk Cotton Tree (Ilavam, Pulai) is a genus of tropical trees of the Mallow family. It is a reddish, silky tree which belongs to the family of Malvaceae. The genus is best known for the species B. Ceiba which is widely cultivated throughout South Asia. As the tree does not fare well in arid climates, to grow in this area it needs careful attention. It can be seen at several areas at Tiruvannamalai. 

The Silk Cotton is a tall handsome tree which can grow up to a 100 feet in height. The tree forms a straight bole with horizontal or upward branches that grow in regular whorls, tier above tier, like a gigantic upside down candelabrum. The trunk and branches are usually covered with conical thorns especially when young. Thorns on older trees are often absent. 

The leaves of this tree fall off just before it flowers. The flowers are 6 to 7 inches long and are up to 7 inches wide. They are borne solitary or in clusters at or near the ends of the branches. The flower consist of five satiny, red, scarlet, or sometimes white petals. Intense blooming of this tree lasts around 29 days. The fruit contains small brown black seeds embedded in white cottonwool; when the trees’ pods burst open, the cotton is carried in the air and the seeds fall and propagate both by air layering and also by bird dispersal. 

This tree is immensely popular with many species of birds such as: Bulbuls, Mynahs, Sunbirds, Flower-peckers and Crows who are all attracted to the nectar of this trees’ flowers. 

Flowers in full bloom

The Red Silk Cotton has many valuable ethno medicinal and ayurvedic uses. 

Some of which include: 

Root: Diarrhoea, dysentery, diabetes, scorpion sting and snakebite, brain tonic 

Stem and Bark: Bacterial, viral, heart tonic, kidney stone, easy delivery 

Gum: Asthma, dental caries, scabies, dysentery 

Leaves: Glandular swellings, rheumatism Flower: Anemia, Colitis, internal bleeding 

Fruit: Anti-fertility agent Fruit and Heartwood: Anti-diabetic, snakebite Seed: Chicken pox and small pox Spines: Skin troubles, headaches 

This tree is also widely used commercially for timber, packing boxes, floating logs for fishermen and gum utilised in both the cosmetic and food industry. 

Photograph showing branch arrangement

There are many myths, legends and traditions associated with this large deciduous tree. In one such myth, the tree is said to be the tree of infernal region and the thorny appearance has led it to be called as Yamadruma, the tree of Yama (the Lord of Hell). Its cuplike flowers are considered sacred to Shiva. When the tree is in full bloom it is compared to Lakshmi, the goddess of good fortune, standing with her arms outstretched and a lit oil lamp on each palm. 

Red Vented Bulbul drinking Nectar

One myth of this tree can be found in the Mahabharata and goes like this: Tale of the Tree During their exile in the forest the Pandava brothers worked in the forest, hunting, clearing and gathering fuel. At night the wife of the Pandava brothers would massage one of her husbands after their heavy workday. One evening Bhima deciding to trick Draupadi, brought in a log of Semal (tree name in Hindi) wood to his room, put it in his bed and covered it. Bhima hid outside to watch the fun while someone called Draupadi to the room. 

Draupadi began massaging Bhima, remarking how tired he must be as his body and knotted muscles felt very hard. Continuing to massage her husband, Draupadi asked several times whether he was satisfied with her work. Receiving no answer and loosing patience, she finally snatched away the sheet off the form in the bed, and found that it had been covering not her husband Bhima, but a log of wood. She cursed the wood from that day onward that the wood would grow thorns always. 

After Draupadi left the room, her husband climbed back, picked up the log of wood and took it outside to open land and planted it. Whereupon it grew into a tall tree with thorns on its trunk. 

Tamarind Tree

The name Tamarind is derived from the Arabic word, Tamar-Hind meaning Indian Date. The Indian Tamarind Tree (Tamarindus Indica) known as “Puli” in Tamil is a member of the Leguminosae family. It grows throughout India and can live to be 200 years or even more. It can be seen in great numbers around Tiruvannamalai, lining the thoroughfares and roadways leading into the town. 

The Tamarind tolerates a great diversity of soil types, from deep alluvial soil to rocky land and porous, limestone. It also withstands salt spray and can be planted close to the seashore. This tree can be grown just about anywhere and also because of its deep root system, can withstand the hot summer days of South India very effectively. 

Gathering Tamarind Fruit

It is a large, handsome, evergreen tree with symmetrically spreading branches. The trunk is thick and short and the bark rough, almost black, and covered with long cracks. The leaves are separated into green fringed stems and pale yellow three-petalled flowers cluster in small bunches around the leaves. Flowers appear in May and the seeds are encased in sweet-sour tasting pulp covered with a scaly rind. The fruit of the Tamarind which hang from the branches begin as a pale green and as the fruit matures turns into a dark, shiny brown. 

In South India, the tree is grown in the precincts of temples to the Mother Goddess who battles evil spirits at night. People avoid walking near Tamarind trees in the dark and locals believe that the neighbourhood in which the Tamarind tree grows becomes unwholesome, and that it is unsafe to sleep under it owing to the acid the tree emits during the moisture of the night. Another superstition about the Tamarind is that few plants will survive beneath it and that it is harmful to both people and animals to sleep under it, because of the belief of the corrosive effect that fallen leaves from the tree have in damp weather. 

Roadway entering Tiruvannamalai

Maybe because of the supposed health dangers attributed to the tree, there also exists the common village superstition that the Tamarind attracts ghosts. For this reason it is uncommon to see this tree planted on private land. It is more often seen on the sides of public roads, where it provides effective, cooling shade to travellers. In Hindu lore the tree symbolizes the wife of Brahma, the creator. One of the most famous Tamarind tree in India is in Gwalior, where it stands over the tomb of Emperor Akbar’s musician Tansen. The legend goes that all classical singers should eat some leaves of this tree to make their voices as sweet as his.

One popular legend connected to this Tree concerns Rama from the Ramayana epic and is believed to date from the 4th Century B.C., goes like this. While in exile Rama, Sita and Laxman were camping under the tree and Sita was cooking food. In those days the Tamarind tree had large leaves but still could not keep raindrops from disturbing Sita and putting out the fire. In anger Rama ordered Laxman to shoot an arrow of protest to Lord Indra, the rain god. The arrow pierced the leaves and they were divided into tiny parts that exist to this day.

There is another story as to why the leaves are divided. Orissa tribal legend states that Bhima had a plantain tree with large leaves and Rama planted a Tamarind tree also with large leaves. In a jealous fit of rage Bhima sent a parrot to break up the Tamarind leaves into tiny parts and so they are to this day. Yet another legend associates the Tamarind tree with Shiva, Parvati and Usha. Usha was so busy playing with Lord Ganesha that she ignored the presence of Lord Shiva who became enraged and cut of his son, Lord Ganesha’s head. The frightened Usha hid in a barrel of salt where she was discovered by Parvati and accused of neglecting Lord Shiva and was cursed to be born on Earth as the daughter of Banasura. Usha begged for forgiveness but the curse could not be revoked. Parvati granted a boon that in her honour, instead of taking salt during the month of Chaitra, people would drink the juice of the fruit of the Tamarind tree and so it came to be. 

Tamarind Tree, Arunachala background

In northern parts of India, the Tamarind tree is associated with Lord Krishna. ‘Imli-tala’ is a sacred Tamarind tree located in Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh. It is believed to date back to Lord Krishna’s time. Legend has it that the tree was cursed by Radhrani. One day when she was walking to meet Krishna, she stepped on the thick bark of a ripe Tamarind fruit and it cut her foot. This made her late for her meeting with Lord Krishna. She therefore cursed the tree that its fruits would never ripen. Even today, the fruits of this tree fall down before getting fully ripened.

Village Tamarind Tree

The acidic pulp of the fruit of the Tamarind is used extensively in cooking and food preparation in South India. Leaves, flowers, wood, fruity pulp and seeds are all useful and the tree is utilised in myriad ways throughout India. Tamarind has been used in India from the most remote times against scurvy and is known for its effectiveness against mouth and throat infections. The seeds have industrial as well as medicinal uses. The leaves also yield a yellow dye to colour fabrics. The wood is strong and is used to make wheels for carts and for furniture. 

Tamarind Pods on Tree

Valued as an antidote to heat stroke, tamarind pods are often preserved in salt and sold by weight. The whole plant has medicinal virtues. Its leaves are cooling while bark and seeds are astringent, a tonic and reduces fever. Poultice made from the bark heals open sores. Paste of powdered seeds is applied on boils and in chronic diarrhea and dysentery. Decoction of the leaf is useful in jaundice. Leaf paste helps reduce swelling and pain on inflamed joints. The fruit pulp is digestive, cooling and laxative. In modern, mainstream medicine it is used in the manufacture of a variety of drugs with uses ranging from treating intestinal worms to antiseptics, antiviral and antibacterial agents. 

Various parts of the Tamarind

To learn more about this remarkable tree go to this post here:

Frangipani

The Pagoda Tree, known as ‘Ezha Chempakam’ (genus Plumeria), is found throughout Tiruvannamalai District. This plant more often known by its more common name of Champa or Frangipani, can grow to a height of five to six metres and has low, narrowing straight branches with broad lance-shaped leaves. The plant is sometime leafless but is rarely out of bloom. Profuse flowering, which form in clusters at the tip of branches, take place throughout the year. It is a quick-growing, medium-sized, deciduous tree. 

The name, Frangipani, comes from the Italian nobleman, Marquis Frangipani, who created a perfume used to scent gloves in the 16th century. When the Frangipani flower was discovered its natural perfume reminded people of the scented gloves, and so the flower was called Frangipani. Another version has it that the name, Frangipani, is from the French Frangipanier which is a type of coagulated milk that the Plumeria milk resembles. The name, Plumeria, is attributed to Charles Plumier, a 17th Century French botanist and traveller throughout the world 

Less Common hereabouts, the Rubra Frangipani

Plumeria flowers are most fragrant at night in order to lure moths to pollinate them. The flowers have no nectar, however, and simply dupe their pollinators. The moths inadvertently pollinate them by transferring pollen from flower to flower in their fruitless search for nectar. In India the Frangipani is a symbol of immortality because of its ability to produce leaves and flowers even after it has been lifted out of the soil and for this reason is often planted near temples and graveyards. Frangipani won't burn except in extreme temperatures (over 500 degrees). 

Alba variety most common at Arunachala

Hindus consider it one of the holiest trees and plant it near temples with the flowers being offered to the deity. The tree is considered sacred to Kamadeva, the God of Love, and it is inauspicious to cut it. In Hindu culture this flower represents loyalty and is often used in wedding rituals. It is also believed to have a calming influence on the mind, and is utilised in various Ayurvedic concoctions. 

Pure White Frangipani

Many stories are associated with this beautiful plant. In “1001 Arabian Nights” there is a story of this plant which involves the tale of two sisters jealous of their younger sibling, check this link for the story. 

Another story related to this beautiful plant appears in the Vishnu Purana; it is entitled “The Seven Princes,” and the story goes thus: 

There once lived a King with two wives. The older, senior wife was cruel and greedy, the junior wife who was mute, was tender and gracious. The first wife was struck with extreme jealously when she learnt that the younger wife was pregnant and made a plan to kill the child to protect her position of authority. In the King’s absence from his capital, the older Queen stole the son born in his absence and then killed and buried it. In place of the newborn child she substituted a monkey in the baby crib. 

The King was shocked to learn on his return that his young Queen had given birth to a monkey, but because of his love for her, he did not banish her, and the junior consort, continued to live at the palace. 

In the following years, the younger Queen gave birth to seven sons and a daughter. Each time, the older Queen found a pretext to send the King away and each time she substituted a monkey for the baby. The eight children were killed and buried outside the palace wall. Even his great love for the junior Queen couldn’t prevent the King’s horror and unhappiness and swayed by the continual poisonous words of the older Queen, the King finally banished the innocent young girl to a hut outside the palace wall. 

Over the years outside the hut appeared seven beautiful trees with fragrant flowers and a smaller more delicate tree. The large trees were named Champa and the little one Parul. The trees with fragrant flowers became famous throughout the Kingdom. However the only person able to pick flowers from the trees was the young Queen. The King on hearing of the wondrous flowers of fragrant scent commanded his gardener to pick blooms for the palace, but when the gardener approached the trees, the smaller one (Parul) called out that the King himself should come to pick the flowers from any of the eight trees. 

The King with his senior wife went to the garden to learn the truth of the gardener’s story. As soon as the trees saw the senior Queen, they called out, “Murderer!”, and shouted out that their mother was the young, junior Queen. In the face of such allegations, the older Queen confessed her dire sins and was immediately banished from the Kingdom. 

Thereupon the King brought his younger Queen back to the palace. The Champa and Parul trees were brought into the Queen’s garden and both the King and Queen treated them like their children for the rest of their lives.