Trees which are worshipped in india

String made of tulsi beads is worn by yogis, saints, and mystics in India so as to purify their mind, body and emotions. This plant is also prized in Ayurveda for its medicinal and sophisticated healing properties.

Banyan tree: For centuries, banyan tree has been linked to the shelter provided by god to his devotees. It is mentioned in many ancient Indian texts and scriptures that banyan tree represents the divine creator and symbolises longevity.

The worshipping of the tree is believed to provide the fulfilment of wishes and material gains. The tree is symbolic of fertility and can help childless couples in conceiving a baby. It is considered highly inauspicious to cut this tree.

Its large and beautiful leaves are commonly used in rituals of worship. Peepal: Peepal tree is seen in almost every Hanuman and Shani temple. This tree is especially worshipped on all Saturdays because it is believed that Goddess Lakshmi sits under it on this day. Watering the peepal tree surely blesses the person to earn goodwill for himself and his future generations.

It is also a way to restore the best health. The peepal tree is also worshipped to escape from contagious diseases and enemies. According to Hinduism, when a woman revolves around parikrama the peepal tree, she is blessed to gain her desired wish. These trees carry special significance for Hindus throughout history. The mango leaves are often strung in a garland and hung over the entrance of a dwelling to mark an auspicious occasion.

The Buddhists revere the mango for it is believed that Lord Buddha created a huge mango tree in Shravasti, an Indian district, from a seed.

The mellow, sweet flesh of mangos is very popular everywhere for its delicious flavor. Their huge lush green leaves make it clear that bananas thrive in a very rainforest-like environment. The leaves, fruits and flowers of this tree are all utilized in Indian religious ceremonies. For example, the fruit is offered to various gods and goddesses, especially Lord Vishnu and Sri Lakshmi, the Goddess of Fortune. Banana leaves are used as plates to distribute blessed and offered food, called prasadam.

Those of the Hindu faith also worship the banana trees, bearing fruits and flowers, for the welfare of the family. This tree is certainly more than just a household fruit in India. Neems are drought-resistant evergreens in the mahogany family, with small tapering leaves and white, fragrant flowers. Deities are sometimes garlanded with offerings of neem flowers and leaves. It is greatly respected for its medicinal uses, including anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-fungal, and even sedative properties.

In some parts of India, the neem tree itself is thought to be a goddess, Neemari Devi. It is associated with Goddess Sitala Devi in the north as well as Goddess Marimman in the south, who are both associated with giving and healing of skin ailments like small-pox. The beautiful and famous Jagannatha deities in eastern Odisha are formed from neem wood.

Neem flowers, leaves and even smoke from burning the leaves is often used to ward off evil spirits. These small trees, with glossy green leaves and tiny scarlet flowers, are related to mistletoe and live off the roots of other trees. The harvested wood is yellowish, fine-grained, very aromatic, and, unlike other woods, has the distinction of retaining its prized fragrance for decades. The fragrant and sweet-smelling pastes of sandalwood are also very often used to worship the gods and goddesses.

Sandalwood is also prized by Buddhists who use the scent in their own ceremonies and meditations. It is very often used to purify temples and holy places in both the Hindi and Buddhist faith. This is a small taste of the relationship between trees and spiritual life in India. The association between many different kinds of trees, plants and flowers with religious practice is a deep and significant one. University Press Scholarship Online. Sign in. Not registered?

Sign up. Publications Pages Publications Pages. Recently viewed 0 Save Search. Users without a subscription are not able to see the full content. Haberman Abstract This is a book about religious conceptions of trees within the cultural world of tree worship at the tree shrines of northern India.

More This is a book about religious conceptions of trees within the cultural world of tree worship at the tree shrines of northern India. Authors Affiliations are at time of print publication. Your current browser may not support copying via this button.