Sunday, April 26, 2009

#17. Significance of Trees in Vedas and Puranas

One forester (Rishikesh Sharma) gave this write-up to me in Hindi . I have tried to translate it so that everybody can understand and enjoy it.
Happy reading.
akbhatt
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Significance of Trees as Mentioned in Vedas and Puranas



1. Ten wells equal a step well

Ten step wells equal a tank

Ten tanks equal a son

Ten sons equal a tree.

(Matsya Purana 512)



2. Those who plant trees in deserted and difficult to reach places

Give salvation to their previous and future generations.

(Shiva Purana Uma Samhita 11/7)



3. Those who have planted tulsi vana (Indian basil, ocimum sanctum forest) in the course of worshipping Vishnu have done yagya with all the rituals, and they have got the fruits of 100 yagyas.

(Padma Purana Srishti Khand chapter 26, Shloka 43)



4. Those who want better future should plant good trees around tanks, and raise them like sons, as the trees are considered like sons in our religion.

( Mahahbharat, Anu Parva 58/31)



5. Noble is the birth of trees who give life to all beings. They are like gentlemen who never turn anybody away disappointed.

(Bhagvat 10-22-33)



6. Trees are like gentlemen who help others. They stand in the sun but give shade to others. Their fruit is also for the use of others.

(Vikram Charitam 65)



7. The five biggest favours bestowed by trees are like five mahayagyas. They give fuel to the the families, shade and resting place to the travellers, nests to the birds, and medicines from their leaves, roots and bark.

(Varaha Purana 162-41-42)



8. Eunuchs, snakes, rakshas, gods, dancing communities, human beings and sages all seek shelter under the tree.

(Mahabharat Anu Parva-58/29)



9. Trees fulfill the desires of human beings by their leaves, flowers, shade, , root, bark, wood, fragrance, gum, ash, charcoal, buds and new leaves.

(Srimadbhagvat, Skandh, a-22 Shloka 34)



10. By planting one peepul (ficus religiosa), One neem (Azadiracht indica), one bargad (ficus bengalensis), ten Imli (Tamarindus indica), Three Kaith ( (Limonia acidissima), Three vilva (aegle marmalos), Three aonla (Indian gooseberry- Phyllanthus embilica), and five mango (mangifera indica), one can never go to hell.

(Bhahvishya Purana, Rajdharma Kaustubh Khand)



11. See my dear Friend, how lucky these trees are. Their whole life is dedicated to doing good to others. They bear storm, rain, wind, and hails, but they save us from them.

( Srimadbhagvat, Skandh dasham,A22 Shloka 37)



12. Just one tree with flowers and fruits makes the forest and environment fragrant and heavenly, like a good son to a family.

(Chanakyaniti Darpan, 3-14)



13. Those who plant one peepul (ficus religiosa), one neem (azadericht indica), one bargad ( Ficus bengalensis), ten flowering trees, two pomegranates, two oranges, and and five mango trees can never go to hell.

(Varaha Purana 12-2-39)



14. Those who plant trees in this world beget sons in the netherworld.

(Vishnudharma sutra 91-4)



15.. Trees with flowers and fruits satisfy this world. Those who donate a tree are given salvation by the same trees in the other world.

( Mahabharat Anu Parva 58/30)



16. O Tree! You bear the burden of flowers, leaves and fruits, give relief to the people from sun, and give them succour during winter. Thus you dedicate your entire life in helping others. That is why you are greater than a gentlemen. Therefore O Tree! Please accept my regards.

(Bhamini Vilasa-86)



17. Where there is tulsi vana (forest of Indian basil), god Vishnu is nearby. Brahma, Lakshmi, and all other gods are also with god Vishnu there.

(Padma purana, Srishti Khand, Ch. 26, Shloka 38)



18. God Vishnu says that aonla (Indian gooseberry) is holiest of all fruits in all the worlds. Therefore it is important to plant aonla trees . By planting it, men and women get rid of the cycle of life, death and rebirth in this world.

(Padma purana,. Srishti Khand, ch. 26, Shloka 2)



19. By worshipping peepul and Khejadi (Prosopis cineraria, shami) trees , even a barren woman begets a child.

(Atharva veda Pt. 612-11 first stanza)



20. God said: 'O King! It is I who dwell in peepul tree and look after the three worlds. Where there is no peepul tree, I don’t reside.

(Mahabaharat Vaishnavdharma parva Chapter -19)



21. What is the use of having so many sons, If they are irreligious and poor? Compared to them the roadside tree is better in whose shade travellers take rest.

(Upavan Vinod)



22. The leaves, flowers, seeds, root, branches, bark, stem and even the soil of the place where tulsi shrub grows are all holy.

(Padma purana Uttarkhand 24/2)



23. Wherever there are aonla trees, poverty disappears. All gods become satisfied by aonla trees, reside in it, and do not forsake it for a moment.

(Padma purana Srishti Khand, Ch. 26, Shloka 15.)



24.. The man who worships Vishnu with tulsi leaves can never be involved in sins like a lotus leaf in water.

(Brahma vaivarta Purana)



25. Those who plant trees, for them they are like sons. There is no doubt that because of those trees, man attains heaven after his death.

(Mahabharata Anu parva 58/27)



26. If you water a mango tree, the ancestors feel happy.

(Mahabhashya, Part I)



27. If you destroy a tree, you also destroy leaves, flowers and fruits, and the country has lesser or excess rainfall resulting in famine.

(Agnipurana).

12 comments:

Unknown said...

Wow!!!! Such a great collection Sir, from so many varied puranas and vedas. Good effort from Rishikesh Sharma and you ofcourse.These inspiring quotes need to be brought into public. I'll put my best effort in doing so.

Unknown said...

wow you've made my day! great blog. thanks for this valuable information. on anant chaturdashi 2009, this is special. reached here through google search, looking for chameli images to show the society gardener. gonna return to read more stuff! this is my kind of savvy.

Unknown said...

Thought you may be interested in this: There is an honoured old tradition still in practice, where we pray to the tree before even pruning it, asking for its forgiveness! This is all the more important in case a tree-felling is unavoidable. No sharp instrument may be used to cut the tulsi plant, whatsoever be the reason. My guru Gagangiri Baba pointed out many old trees, saying that they were yogis in meditation! He controlled 78000 hectares of prime forest land in the Sahyadris (Western Ghats), sanctuaries for tigers and wild bison. He tried his utmost to prevent human depradations in this region in the guise of 'tourism development'. And visiting his ashram was truly "party time" for troops of monkeys from the forests, who would feast on the choicest of fruit and coconuts offered to him by hundreds of daily devotees visiting the ashrams. No onlooker was permitted to shoo away either the monkeys or dogs in any of his ashrams and maths spread all over the State.

From the Edict of Shivaji:
“The Armada of our kingdom requires durable hardwood for their hulls decks and masts.
Teak and other appropriate trees of our forests may be felled for this purpose after applying to His Majesty and obtaining the royal permission. If, any more be required, they may be purchased from neighbouring kingdoms.

The Mango and Jackfruit trees of our kingdom also provide suitable timber for naval purposes. But they should not be touched, for it is not as if these trees can be grown in a year or two. People plant them and bestow upon them long years of care, as they would on their own children.

If such trees were to be felled, would not the people be inconsolable? An edifice built upon anyone’s sorrow soon collapses, taking down with it the architect too. In fact the ruler has to bear the guilt of tyranny. Also absence of such trees causes irreparable damage. Hence under no circumstances are such degradations to be allowed.

Perchance, if a very old tree has ceased to bear fruits, then it may be taken with the consent of the owner after persuasion and payment of compensation. Coercion shall not, under any circumstances, be pardoned”.
- Courtesy WWF - INDIA, Newsletter- April 1997

Unknown said...

Bhatt sahab, may I use this in one of our Kitchen Garden meetings? They are truly worth sharing with all!. Thanks. Daisy Bapuna

Anand Kumar Bhatt said...

dr Amodini: thank you very much for letting me know what Shivaji said about cutting trees.

Anand Kumar Bhatt said...

Daisy! these can be used anywhere without my permission. Grateful if credit is given.

Anand Kumar Bhatt said...

Dr. Amodini! With all the impedimnts that Jairam Ramesh and Jayanti have put in the name of conservation and ecology, one should also thank the MEF for many good things that they have done. Like, to preserve Shaal trees, they have liberally allowed import of Malaysian teak which is very similar to sakhu or shaal (sorea robusta).

Unknown said...

It is happy to note that one of the ascendant(Mr.Syed Ghani Khan) of King Tippu Sultan, of 17th century from Srirangapattana(Near Mysuru of Karnataka) has saved and preserved 146 Mango varieties that was planted by Tippu near Kirugavalu village of Malavalli Taluk of Mandya Dt. One could still visit.

Anand Kumar said...

Do post it in Hindi too. These days a lot of people who use Hindi as their first language use net, besides the coming generations will also find it useful.

Thanks for posting the article along with reference, it is surely very useful !!

vivarana said...

Respected Sir, Thanks for such a wonderful collection. we from KotiVrksha Pratisthana pledged to plant one crore trees in Mysuru in 5 year duration. This year we are developing and planting one lakh saplings. We are preparing some book-lets and literature permit us to use the above knowledge. Thank you
Shreekanth Bhat
Kotivrkshapratisthana
Kotivrksha@gmail.com
9148520681

my blog said...

sir, great job in the days when environmental awareness should top our priority lists. congratulations and thanks a lot.

Mindvalley said...

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