Religious and Medicinal plants -3 ASWATHA VRUKSHAM(PEEPAL/ RAAVI TREE)

OUR RELIGIOUS AND MEDICINAL PLANTS -3

ASWATHA VRUKSHAM(PEEPAL/ RAAVI TREE)

Swayambu Sivalinga in Sacred Aswatha Vruksham,D​raksharama Village, East Godavari District, Andhrapradesh.

Peepal or pipal (Ficus religious) Tree also known as "Ashvattha" in Sanskrit is a very large tree and the first-known depicted tree in India. A seal discovered at Mohenjodaro, one of the cities of the Indus Valley Civilization depicts the peepal being worshiped.

The word 'Ashvattha' is derived from the Sanskrit roots...

A = not + Shwa = tomorrow + tha = stands/remains (The Hindu philosopher Shankaracharya interprets the name to indicate "One which does not remain the same tomorrow", such as the universe itself.)

Once, all the Gods decided to visit Lord Shiva. However,  sage Narad informed them that it was an inappropriate time for a visit as Lord Shiva and Mata Parvati were in solitude. But Indra did not heed the advice and assured the Gods that there was nothing to fear when he was there to protect them. Narad reported Indra's arrogance to goddess Parvati. She cursed the Gods that they, along with their wives, would turn into trees. When the Gods asked for forgiveness, she promised that as trees, they would attain fame. Thus Indra turned into a mango tree, Brahma became a palash tree and Lord Vishnu turned into a peepal tree.

Once, Agni (the fire god) left the land of the Gods, took the form of Ashwattha and resided on the peepal tree for a year. Since then, peepal is also known as Ashwattha.

Bhagavad Gita : Chapter 15.1

श्रीभगवानुवाच :
ऊर्ध्वमूलमधःशाखमश्वत्थं प्राहुरव्ययम् ।
छन्दांसि यस्य पर्णानि यस्तं वेद स वेदवित् ॥१५- १॥

sri-bhagavan uvaca:

 urdhva-mulam adhah-sakham ashvattham prahur avyayam I

chandamsi yasya parnani yas tam veda sa veda-vit I I

"The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: It is said that there is an imperishable Peepal 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."

Bhagavad Gita : Chapter 15.2,

अधश्चोर्ध्वं प्रसृतास्तस्य शाखा  गुणप्रवृद्धा विषयप्रवालाः ।
अधश्च मूलान्यनुसंततानि कर्मानुबन्धीनि मनुष्यलोके ॥१५- २॥

adhas cordhvam prasrtas tasya  guna-pravrddha visaya-pravalah

adhas ca mulany anusantatani karmanubandhini manushya-loke

"The branches of this tree extend downward and upward, nourished by the three modes of material nature. The twigs are the objects of the senses. This tree also has roots going down, and these are bound to the fruitive actions of human society."

Bhagavad Gita : Chapter 15.3 & .4,

न रूपमस्येह तथोपलभ्यते नान्तो न चादिर्न च संप्रतिष्ठा ।
अश्वत्थमेनं सुविरूढमूल- मसङ्गशस्त्रेण दृढेन छित्त्वा ॥१५- ३॥

ततः पदं तत्परिमार्गितव्यं  यस्मिन्गता न निवर्तन्ति भूयः ।
तमेव चाद्यं पुरुषं प्रपद्ये यतः प्रवृत्तिः प्रसृता पुराणी ॥१५- ४॥

na rupam asyeha tathopalabhyate nanto na cadir na ca sampratishtha I

ashvattham enam su-virudha-mulam asanga-sastrena drdhena chittva I I  15.3

tatah padam tat parimargitavyam yasmin gata na nivartanti bhuyah I

eva cadyam purusham prapadye yatah pravrttih prasrta purani  I I 15.4

"The real form of this tree cannot be perceived in this world. 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 there surrender to that Supreme Personality of Godhead from whom everything began and from whom everything has extended since time immemorial." Some believe that the tree houses the Trimurti, the roots being Brahma, the trunk Vishnu and the leaves Shiva. The gods are said to hold their councils under this tree and so it is associated with spiritual understanding.

The Brahma Purana and the Padma Purana, relate how once, when the demons defeated the gods, Vishnu hid in the peepal. Therefore spontaneous worship to Vishnu can be offered to a peepal without needing his image or temple. The Skanda Purana also considers the peepal a symbol of Vishnu. He is believed to have been born under this tree.

In the Upanishads, the fruit of the peepal is used as an example to explain the difference between the body and the soul: the body is like the fruit which, being outside, feels and enjoys things, while the soul is like the seed, which is inside and therefore witnesses things.

Ritual: 

Women circumambulate the peepal tree to be blessed with children or to gain a desired thing or person. Peepal tree is planted in the temples of shani and hanuman. The tree is worshipped on saturday, especially in the month of Shravana, because goddess Lakshmi sits under the tree on this day. Any person who waters the tree is believed to earn merit for his progeny, his sorrows are redeemed and diseases cured. The peepal tree is also worshipped to escape from contagious diseases and enemies.

There is also another story about two demons, Aswatha and Peepali who made the peepal tree their home and attacked and killed all who came near the tree. In the end Shani bhagavan destroyed the two asuras and hence it is believed that it is auspicious to touch the peepal tree on Saturdays.

Tribals in bengal call the peepal tree as vasudev. They water the plant in the month of vaishakh and at times of difficulty. In Bengal, peepal and banyan trees are married.

A peepal tree is planted to the east of the house or temple. Eight or 11 or 12 years after the tree has been planted, the upanayan ceremony is performed for the tree. A round platform is constructed around the tree. Different gods like Narayan, Vasudev, Rrukmini, Satyabhama are invoked and worshipped. All the rituals of the upanayan ceremony are performed and then the tree is married to the basil plant.

In Tamilnadu, peepal and neem trees are planted so close to each other that they mix up as they grow. A naga (snake) idol is placed under them and worshipped. This is believed to bless the worshipper with wealth. Women take an early morning bath and circumambulate these trees. In Awadh, if a girl's horoscope predicts widowhood, she is first married to a peepal tree on chaitra Krishna or ashwin Krishna tritiya. In olden days, when remarriage was forbidden for girls, young widows were married to the peepal tree and then allowed to remarry.

People belonging to dhantale caste who reside in Maharashtra, Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh use a branch of the peepal tree in the marriage ceremony. The branch, along with a pot of water, is placed between the bride and groom. The village deity is installed under the peepal tree which also provides a shaded place to hold the panchayat in many places.

On Amavasya, villagers perform a symbolic marriage between the neem and the peepal, which are usually grown near each other. Although this practice is not prescribed by any religious text, there are various beliefs on the significance of 'marrying' these trees. In one such belief, the fruit of the neem represents the Shivalinga and so, the male. The leaf of the peepal represents the yoni, the power of the female. The fruit of the neem is placed on a peepal leaf to depict the Shivalinga, which symbolises creation through sexual union, and so the two trees are 'married'. After the ceremony, villagers circle the trees to rid themselves of their sins.

Scientific Research:

Scientific research has revealed that among tress, Peepal is the only tree that produces oxygen in abundant quantity day and night, which is so essential for life. Peepal provides life sustaining oxygen, which proves it to be a life sustainer. Continuously research has also proved that the sound and interacting flow of wind, with peepal leaves, slowly but surely kills infection bacteria as well. According to the book of ayurveda, peepal leaves, fruits and bark are killers of diseases. Peepal tree has both sweet and bitter taste and has a cooling property. Licking honey placed on peepal leaves is believed to cure speech irregularities. Its bark yields the tannin used in treating leather. 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 soft bark and the bud of this tree cure 'Prameha' (a disease in which sperms emanate through urine). The powdered form of the fruit of this tree increases appetite and cures numerous diseases.

Sri Hanuman temple under the Ravi (Aswatha Vruksham)

Aswatha Vruksha Stotram:

NO	STANZA	MEANING
1	Moolatho Brahma roopaya, madhyatho Vishnu roopine, Agratha Shiva roopaya Vruksha rajaya they nama.,	My salutations to the king of trees. Whose root is the form of Brahma, Middle is the form of Lord Vishnu, And top is the form of Lord Shiva.
2	Aswatha sarva papani satha janma arjithanicha, Nudhaswa mama vrakshendra, sarva aiswarya pradho bhava.	The holy fig(banyan) tree pushes away, all sins earned, In several hundred births, and Oh king of trees, Please grant me all different types of wealth.
3	Ayurbalam yaso varcha, praja pasu vasooni cha, Brahma prajnam cha medham cha thwam nodehi Vanaspathe	Would you not give me, Oh product of the forest. Long life, fame, splendour, children, cattle and riches, As also knowledge of God and intellectual wisdom.
4	Sathatham varuno raksheth thwamarad vrushtirasrayedh, Parithasthwam nishevantham thrunani sukhamasthu they.	You are always protected by Varuna as you are rain dependent, And you do not allow any grass to grow in the shade round you.
5	Akshi spandham bhujaspandham duswapnam dhurvichinthanam, Sathroonam cha samuthanam hyaswastha samaya Prabho	Oh Lord Aswatha, please control pain in the eye, Pain of hands, bad dreams, bad and evil thoughts, And help me in destruction of my enemies.
6	Aswathaya varenyaya sarva aiswarya pradhayine, Namo duswapna nasaya, suswapna phala dhayine.	Oh Aswatha who blesses us and grants all type of wealth, My salutations to you, who destroys bad dreams and grants good dreams.
7	Yaam drushtwa muchythe rogai, Sprushtwa papapai pramuchyathe, Yad ashrayath chiran jeevi, Tham Aswatham namamyaham	I salute that Aswatha, Seeing which diseases flee, Touching which sins are destroyed, And surrendering to which, You get long healthy life.
8	Aswatha sumaha bhaga, subhaga, Priya Darsana, Ishta kamam cha may dehi shatrubhyascha parabhavam	Oh great Lord Aswatha, who is pretty and looks pretty, Please fulfill all my desires and give disappointment to my enemies.
9	Aayu prajam dhanam dhanyam soubhagyam sarva sampadam, Dehi deva maha Vruksha, thwam aham saranam gatha.,	I surrender fully to you and, So be pleased to give, oh great tree, Long life, sons, wealth, cereals, Great luck all types of wealth
10	Rig yaju sama manthrathma, sarva roopi, parathpara, Aswatho Veda moolo asou rishibhi prochyathe sada	Great sages go in search of Aswatha, As it is the soul of Rig, Yajur and sama Vedas And takes all forms, greater than the greatest, And is the root of all the three Vedas.
11	Brahmaha guruha chaiva daridhro vyadhi peeditha, Aavarthya laksha sankhyam tham sthothram yedath sukhee bhavth	If this prayer is repeated one hundred thousand times, Even those cursed by Brahma or the teacher, And those who are poor and diseased, Would get cured of all ills and lead a pleasant life.
12	Vyaktha avyaktha swaroopaya, srushti sthithyantha karine, Adhi madhyanth soonyaya vishtarasravase nama	Salutations to the very stable one, Who has clear and unclear forms, Who creates, looks after and destroys, And who does not have beginning, middle and end.
13 14 15	Ravim rava vadharaogye, Shivam some Shivaya cha, Shakthim bhoume jayarthi cha, Vanijyarthi budhe saran Gurou gurum cha Vidhyarthi, Dhanarthi bhargave sriyam, Sarva dukha vimoksharthee, Sarvesam mandha vasare Sarvada sarva devam scha, Viseshanmada somayo, Aswatha roopino devan, Vruksha rajo prapoojayeth	Go round on Sundays and worshipping Sun to get heath, Go round on Mondays and worshipping Shiva to get pleasant life, Go round on Tuesdays and worshipping Parvathy ,to get victory,, Go round on Wednesdays and worshipping devas, to get luck in business, Go round on Thursdays and Worshipping Guru to get good knowledge, Go round on Fridays and worshipping Goddess Lakshmi to get wealth, Go round on Saturdays and worshipping the greatest god, to get rid of all sorrow. Always all gods especially Saturn and the moon, Worship the God in the form of Aswatha, And offer prayers to this Lord of all trees.

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