UNDER THE SHADE OF THE BANYAN TREE
The Banyan tree is the national tree of India .It has a very huge structure, many long and deep roots and branches symbolizing the country's UNITY .It's tangles of branches, ariel roots and trunks may spread across several acres The tree grows by placing its branches down.The tree's seeds germinate in cracks and crevices of the host tree, sending branches everywhere around it, called aerial prop roots.
It is the perfect symbol for ancient Indian families which also grew like the banyan trees,where the children stayed with the parents, married and brought their spouses home to have children who grew up and married and added to the family "compound ". This system however is very rarely seen now with children now living as nuclear family units .
It is huge in size and thus protects from the hot sun ,hence it is often planted near homes, temples, villages and roadsides. An old banyan tree can reach more than 656 feet in diameter and can be as tall as 98 feet .The widest tree in the world - the Great Banyan - is located in Kolkata. The tree is about 250 years old.
The Banyan tree is considered SACRED . Lord Shiva is sometimes depicted sitting in silence, under the banyan tree, with the saints sitting at His feet. The narration of Krishna sucking his toe, lying on a banyan leaf is recounted in the Markandeya Purana
The banyan tree symbolizes ETERNAL LIFE In Hindu culture, the tree is often called 'KALPAVIRISHKA ' which means 'a divine tree that fulfills wishes'. Married Hindu women worship the banyan tree to lead a long and happy married life.
In Bhagwad Gita (15 ) It is said that there is an imperishable banyan tree that has its roots upward and its branches down and whose leaves are the Vedic hymns. One who knows this tree is the knower of the Vedas The branches of this tree extend downward and upward, nourished by the three modes of material nature namely goodness, passion and ignorance. The twigs are the objects of the senses. The roots going down, are bound to the fruitive actions of human society. The real form of this tree cannot be perceived .No one can understand where it ends, where it begins, or where its foundation is. But with determination one must cut down this strongly rooted tree with the weapon of detachment. Thereafter, one must seek that place from
which, having gone, one never returns, and surrender to that Supreme .
The banyan tree is considered to have a high medicinal value . Its fruits and sap are used as
medicine for treating external skin inflammations and bruising, dysentery, toothaches and ulcers. Its bark and seeds are used to produce a herbal tonic that can cool the body and is good for Diabetic patients.
The dark green large and leathery leaves are used as animal fodder.The wood and bark are used for making paper, the roots to make ropes, to secure wood bundles.The sap is often used to produce shellac, a strong adhesive as well as a surface-finisher. Women crush the roots to
make a herbal paste to use as a hair and skin conditioner.The twigs are sold as toothpicks
The shade of the banyan tree can be a focal point of a number of activities specially in the villages The poem below is an attempt to share some such moments .Have you spent any memorable moments of your life under the shade of this sacred tree ?Kindly do share .
UNDER THE SHADE OF THE BANYAN TREE
Under the shade of the banyan tree ,
The children play merrily
Chasing each other happily
Running around it round and round ,
At times falling on the soft ground .
Under the shade of the banyan tree
Teenage boys indulge in unpleasant yippee ,
Smoking ,drinking and gambling spree ,
Whiling away their precious time for free .
It's really shameful you will agree
Under the shade of the banyan tree
many a lovers meet clandestinely
Exciting romance blossoms here
They tease each other and laugh to endear
Whisper softly so that no one overhears
Under the shade of the banyan tree
elders meet to agree and disagree
on issues relating to their family
on problems affecting the community
of humans learning to live in unity .
Under the shade of the banyan tree ,
The village belles have a melee ,
Dressed in their ravishing finery
Gossip about everything under the sun ,
Even reveal secrets of their loved ones .
Under the shade of the banyan tree
hanging thick aerial roots , we see
tangled with each other joyfully
indistinguishable from the trunk of the tree
children swinging on them with great glee .
Under the shade of the banyan tree
the lake water reflection ,we foresee ,
roots upward and branches look down ,
resembling the material world around ,
an illusion of natures reality !!!
Under the shade of the banyan tree
Lord Buddha attained enlightenment to be worldly free .
Bhagwad Gita teaches to detach from this strongly rooted tree
Lord Krishna found his resting place on its leaf,
The banyan tree is sacred this is a religious belief .
Pushpa Chaturvedi
