Significance
of Aswattha tree in Hinduism
The Aswattha tree, which is known as peepal
tree (Ficus Religiosa) or well known as banyan tree or ‘kalpa vriskha’ is
considered the ‘king’ of trees in Hindu culture. It symbolizes Trimurti – Lord Vishnu
is believed to be the bark(trunk), Lord
Brahma its roots and Lord Shiva, its branches. There is a moola mantra signifying this
concept an meaning in Hinduism which is as below.
Moolatho
Brahma Roopaya
Madhyato
Vishnu roopine
Agratha
Shiva roopaya
Vriskha
raajayave namaha.
In
Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna declares that among trees, HE is the aswattha tree. Bhagawan Buddha is supposed to have attained
enlightment under an aswattha tree, which is called Bodhi tree in Buddhist
culture. It is also the tree that
sheltered Sita in Lanka, hence this tree has a special place in the heart of
Lord Hanuman.
According to Gurudev Sw. Chinmayananda, the vriksha (tree) got its name Aswattha because
horses (Ashwa) used to stand under its shade.
Gurudev also says that “according to Shankara, this tree has been chosen
to represent the entire cosmos because of its derivative meaning – ‘Shwa’ means
tomorrow, ‘Stha’ means that which remains; therefore ‘Ashwattha’ means that
which will NOT remain the same till tomorrow.
In short, the word indicates the ephemeral, the ever-changing world”.
Hari Om.
No comments:
Post a Comment