Hello, I am Banyan Tree

In India, planting me has been considered auspicious since olden times.  I am one of the 10 trees whose twigs are used in a havan pyre ignited during ceremonies and prayers.  (Side note:  can you guess the other nine?  Compare with the answer given at the end of this passage.)

 

The name ‘banyan’ was given by the British, when they came ‘visiting’ around these parts, as they would often see the Indian merchant community (‘baniyas’) gather under the cool and shade of my generous canopy to conduct business.

 

I have been part of Indian culture, traditions and life for eons.  My wood, especially the aerial roots were used to make cart yokes and tent-poles.  The rough bark fibre of younger roots are used to make ropes.  My leaves are used as fodder and also stitched together to make eco-friendly leaf-plates.  My fruit is small, red and soft – it is eaten by birds, monkeys and bats.  My bark secretes a milky white fluid (latex) – it is used as a fixative to add permanence to the colours in Mithila paintings in Bihar.

 

I have a long life and can live for centuries.  There are constant efforts to find out the age of Banyan trees in India.  Estimates suggest that the banyan tree at Pillalamarri, Telangana is ~ 800 years old, whereas the one in Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh is ~ 500 years old.  About a thousand people can take shelter under these age-old banyan trees.  Other iconic specimens of my family are ‘The Great Banyan Tree’ at Howrah, Kolkata, ‘Kabirvad’ at Bharuch, Gujarat and ‘Adyar Banyan Tree’ at Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

 

I have strong spiritual association in the Indian culture.  I find mention in all the ancient scriptures – including the vedas, puranas, Ramayana, and Mahabharata.  I am associated with various festivals, ceremonies and divinity.

 

One of the lore from Mahabharata is that of Savitri, who debated with Yama – the God of Death – to win back the life of her deceased husband Satyavan under the branches of a banyan tree.  Since then, the festival of the banyan tree is celebrated in memory of this couple in the month of Jyeshtha (May – June).  The banyan tree is worshipped by women on the new moon day of this month in honour of Savitri.   On the full moon day of the month of Jyeshtha, ‘Vat-Poornima’ is observed – married women fast and pray by worshipping the banyan tree for the long lives of their husbands.  This festival is observed in many parts of India, including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra and Gujarat.

 

I am often home to temples and places of worship underneath my sprawling branches.

 

In popular lore, it is believed that many spirits – both friendly and unfriendly - live in my branches, which is why people are discouraged from sleeping under my branches at night.

 

According to Vamana Purana, one of the ancient Sanskrit texts, anyone who stands by me in the night and meditates on the Lord, gets whatever he is thinking of by the grace of the tree.  Being a ‘kalpa vriksha’ you will find people tying strings around me for favours requested.

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I, as the vata vriksh, am considered representative and symbolic of Lord Krishna himself in the Puranas.

 

In his avatar as Dakshinamurthy, Lord Shiva is shown seated under a banyan tree, in his form as the ‘adi-guru’ or the ultimate teacher.  The aerial roots are symbolic of the matter hair of Shiva and also called ‘jata’.

 

Many communities across India use me as their deity, shrine or sacred tree of a pilgrimage center (sthala vriksha), and it is sacrilege to cut banyan trees.

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My importance can be seen even in name of towns.  Vadodara in Gujarat derives its name from ‘vad’+‘udara’, literally meaning ‘in the heart of the banyan tree’.  ‘Aalan-durai’ and ‘Aalan-gudi’ in Tamil Nadu are named after the banyan tree.  Similarly, Thiruvaalangadu (i.e. thiru-aalan-kaadu meaning ‘forest of the sacred banyan trees’) is village located in the Vellore district in Tamil Nadu.

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In traditional medicine, my different parts have been used to treat several ailments.  The bark and leaf buds can arrest bleeding.  The leaf buds and latex are beneficial in treating dysentery.  My extracts possess antioxidant properties that help manage blood glucose levels and lower harmful cholesterol levels. I am also utilized in the treatment of conditions such as diarrhoea, arthritis, and vaginal infections. Additionally, my fruit aids in reducing stress and preventing anxiety and depression.  Cleaning the teeth with the aerial roots prevents tooth aches and gum disorders.  I have an antimicrobial effect and act as a climate purifier.

 

Banyan trees, particularly in urban environments, can act as effective carbon sinks, helping to mitigate the impacts of climate change and improve air quality.

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As promised, here's a list of twigs of these trees are usually used in yajna or havan ceremonies:

Banyan, Peepal, Neem, Chandan, Mango, Bael, Arjun, Khejri, Goolar and Palash (often considered the most important, pure and auspicious for rituals, in fact the tree is often referred to as yajna-vriksh - tree of sacrifice).​​​​​​