When President Obama visited Rajghat, to pay tribute to Gandhiji, he planted a Peepal tree there. Though most of us know that the Peepal tree is considered sacred in our country, very few know the reason behind it.
The Peepal tree is also known as "Ashvattha" in Sanskrit. In the Bhagwat Geeta, Lord Krishna says, amongst the trees, I am Ashvattha.The word 'Ashvattha' means "One which does not remain the same tomorrow" like the whole universe itself ! A seal discovered at Mohenjodaro, one of the cities of the Indus Valley Civilisation depicts the Peepal being worshiped. And we have been worshipping it ever since.
So what makes the tree so special ?
According to the Brahma Purana and the Padma Purana, when the demons defeated the gods, Lord Vishnu hid himself in the Peepal
Tree and that is why it is believed that the Peepal Tree is a symbol of Vishnu and is worshiped since a long period of time.There is another belief that the tree represents the Trimurti-the roots being Brahma, the trunk Vishnu and the leaves Shiva.Some says that Lord Krishna is believed to have died under this tree, after which the present Kali Yuga started.
The Peepal tree is used in traditional medicine for about 50 types of disorders including asthma, diabetes, diarrhea,epilepsy, gastric problems, inflammatory disorders, infectious and several other disorders. According to Ayurveda, Peepal leaves, fruits and bark are killers of diseases. The Peepal leaf has both sweet and bitter taste and has a cooling property. Licking honey placed on peepal leaves is believed to cure speech irregularities.Its leaves, when heated in ghee, are applied to cure wounds. Ingesting the bark, fruit and buds with different combination of things cures diseases related with phlegm, bile, inflammation swelling and indisposition etc.The powdered form of the fruit of this tree increases appetite and cures numerous diseases
Scientific research has proved that the Peepal is a unique tree. It is dangerous to sit or to sleep under any other tree in the night, except the Peepal.Trees exhale oxygen during the day – it is beneficial to be near them – and during the night they exhale carbon dioxide. It is only the Peepal tree which exhales oxygen for all of the twenty-four hours. You can be near it any time; it is beneficial to life. This is perhaps the reason Gautam Buddha choose to meditate under the Peepal. He attained enlightenment (bodhi) while meditating underneath the Bodhi tree or the Peepal tree. The site is in present day Bodh Gaya, northern India. The original tree was destroyed, and has been replaced several times. A branch of the original tree was rooted in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka in 288 BCE and is known as Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi; it is the oldest flowering plant (angiosperm) in the world.
There are several rituals around the sacred Peepal tree . Usually seven pradakshinas are done around the tree, early in the morning while chanting "Vriksha Rajaya Namah", meaning "salutation to the king of trees." It is believed to bring good luck !
The juice of the tree has an enzyme that can increase child bearing capacity. In olden days the tree used to be in the center of the village so the atmosphere will be clean. The tree emits oxygen at night time too. Peepal tree leaves absorb moisture from the atmosphere and regulates the hydrological cycle.The tree releases large quantity of Isoprene (volatile organic compound) which is needed for preventing of decreasing the ozone layer. The Tree is important for preserving the ozone layer.
Peepal tree is antidote for pollution like water, air and noise. It is recommended to plant the tree around water bodies. Calcium is high in the tree so it helps in the purification of water. Perhaps, the reason why Peepal trees are almost always found in temple premises.
The Peepal tree has very high tolerance to pollution and reduces it most effectively.The ancient Indians understood the importance of the tree and called it sacred, in order to discourage people from cutting it down. Lets learn something from the ancient wisdom and vow to plant, at least one Peepal tree, not just for us, but as a gift for generations to come !
No comments:
Post a Comment