Importance In The Indian Culture

The custom of worshiping sacred trees is common among the followers of Hinduism for centuries. Rig Veda and Atharva Veda stipulate that trees must be worshipped because of their importance in the human experience. Banyan is considered to be one of the sacred trees. In Hindu mythology, the god Lord Shiva is often depicted lying in a silent position, beneath the banyan tree with the saints on His shoulders. With its seemingly endless expansion, the tree of banyan symbolizes eternal life. In Hindu tradition, the tree is commonly known as ‘kalpavriksha’. It is which is a Sanskrit word that means the tree of God that fulfills desires. Weddings Hindu women are believed to worship the banyan tree to enjoy a long, happy marriage.

Features

The Banyan tree is distinguished by an entanglement of branches, roots, and trunks. The tree is deep-rooted that can spread over many acres. It’s huge, providing shade from the scorching sun. The trees produce fruits that resemble fruit figs. The fruits are red when they mature but aren’t edible. The leaves are dark green and the plant is huge and soft. This is why the leaves are utilized as animal fodder. The blossoms produced by the tree usually attract wasps to pollinate. The old banyan tree could be more than 656 feet in size and could be as tall as up to 98 feet. The rubber, derived from the sticky milk of the banyan tree, is utilized in the garden.

Trivia

The word ‘banyan’ is an ancestor of Banias who sat under the shade of trees to discuss strategies in business.
The biggest evergreen tree The Great Banyan – is located in Kolkata. The tree is around 25 years old.
The historical records indicate that Alexander the Great camped under the banyan tree, which was sufficient to provide shelter for the army of his 7000 soldiers.
In many areas around the globe, the bark and wood from trees are used for paper production.
Some even use the tree’s roots to create ropes to secure wood bundles.
The banyan tree’s sap tree is typically used to make shellac, which is a tough adhesive. It is also used to create a surface finisher.
Women from Nepal grind the root of the banyan tree using the help of a paste. This is used to create a natural product that is used to treat their skin and hair conditioner.
Then, in India and Pakistan, the twigs of banyan trees are offered as toothpicks, to improve dental health.
The Banyan tree is renowned for its medicinal properties. The sap of the tree is used for treating skin inflammations and dysentery, bruising ulcers, and toothaches. The seeds and the bark of the tree are used to make an herbal tonic that cools the body. Diabetic patients can also be treated with a tonic derived from a banyan tree.