The
Bodhi Tree - Ficus religiosa
Ficus
religiosa is a variety of Fig tree that was already known as the Bodhi tree, even before Gautama
Buddha sat under its branches meditating and achieved enlightenment.
It is a sacred tree to both Hindus as well as Buddhists. It is the oldest
depicted tree in Indian art and literature and it can be said that this is the
mythical 'World Tree' or the 'Tree Of Life' of the Indian
subcontinent (as we find other locally common trees fulfilling this
role in different parts of the world, for example the Yggdrasil
the Ash tree in Scandinavia).
On this page we present a overview of various bits of human
knowledge about this Sacred Tree.
Moraceae
(Mulberry family).
The tree is classified in the division Magnoliophyta, class
Magnoliopsida, order Urticales, family Moraceae.
 Bodhi
tree, Bo tree, Peepal, Beepul tree, Pipal, Pipalla, Sacred tree,
Ashwattha, Ashvattha, Sacred
Fig, Buddha tree.
Since there are many different languages on the Asian sub-continent,
this tree has a huge number of common names, too numerous to mention
here.
Some examples follow:
Gujrati: Jari, Pipers, Pipal
Hindi: Pipal, Pipali
Kanarese: Arani, Ashwatha mara, Pippala, Ragi
Marathi: Pimpal
Sanskrit: Ashvatha, Bodhidruma, Pippala, Shuchidruma, Vrikshraj, yajnika
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'Ficus' is the latin word for 'Fig', the fruit of the
tree.
'Religiosa' refers to 'religion', because the tree is
sacred in both Hinduism and Buddhism and is very frequently planted in
temples and shrines of both faiths.
'Bodhi' or its short form 'Bo' means 'supreme
knowledge' or 'awakening' in the old Indian languages.
'Pipal' relates (I believe) to the same ancient roots which
give rise to English words like 'Pip' and 'Apple', and
therefore mean something like 'fruit-bearing tree'.
'Ashwattha' and 'Ashvattha' come from an ancient Indian
root word "Shwa"
means 'morning' or 'tomorrow'. This refers to the fact that
Ashwattha is the mythical Hindu world tree, both indestructible and
yet ever-changing: the same tree will not be there tomorrow.
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General:
A medium sized tree with a relatively short trunk (often about the
height of human being) and a large crown with wonderful wide spreading
branches.
The tree is semi- or fully deciduous in monsoon climates. It becomes
leafless for a brief period in dry habitats.
The trunk has smooth grey bark and with age this trunk becomes
irregularly shaped, fluted and often has low buttresses. The bark can
have brownish specks and peel off in irregular rounded flakes.
The young tree can be epiphytic.
(Epiphytic plants can have
aerial roots and do not require soil to grow. This strategy gives
young plants many advantages such as plenty of light. Water is obtained mostly
via air humidity. Nutrients, such as nitrogen, are also derived from
the air and occasionally from decomposing matter such as leaves and
dead insects. The roots seek out cracks and crevices where soil, water and rotting
organic matter accumulate. In natural
circumstances most epiphytic plants may be attached to tree bark, as
something to hold on to, but not in any way feeding off the tree. This is probably
because the seeds have been excreted by birds who visited this
tree. Rocks or buildings are other places the young
plants may be found. Once the roots reach the ground they switch over to growing
as normal trees.)
A spectacular example is shown on the right. |
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Leaves:
 When
the leaves first appear their colour is red-pinkish, but then they
turn deep green and grow to about 12 to 18 cm long (5-7 inches). They are
attached to long flexible stalks, which makes them rustle, flutter and
dance in the slightest whiff of wind. The foliage can often be dense. The alternate leaves are
heart-shaped, shiny with an elegant tail-like tip, which is often
called a "drip-tip", guiding water efficiently down to the
soil. This prevents the sometimes heavy monsoon rain from collecting
on the leaves for prolonged periods, which could make them rot in very
warm weather. The leaves have 6-8 pairs of side-veins and a further
network of very fine veins. This delicate venation and the ability of
the leaf to disintegrate easily in water are both clearly illustrated
in the greeting cards which are sometimes made with Peepal leaves. The
leaves are soaked for 8 hours (in warm countries) in a bowl of water
and then washed carefully under running water until only the veins
remain. This skeleton leaf is dried and stuck on a darker background (see
illustration on the right).
Flowers:
The small red flowers appear in February. The tree is dependant on
its associated pollinator
wasp, Blastophaga quadraticeps to set seed.
Fruit:
The tree fruits in May/June and bears a small flat-topped figs
(12-13mm or ½ inch in diameter), which appears in pairs in the angles
of the leaves on the twigs (or above the scars in the bark left
by fallen leaves). They have 3 basal bracts, are green at first and
ripen to a blackish purple (may have reddish dots). The fruiting tree
becomes a treat for many different birds and animals.
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Ficus religiosa is known
to be a native Indian tree, and thought to be originating mainly in
Northern and Eastern India, where it widely found in uplands and plane
areas and grows up to about 1650 metres or 5000 ft in the mountainous
areas.
It is also found growing elsewhere in India and throughout the subcontinent and southern
Asia, especially in Buddhist countries, wild or cultivated. After at least 3000 years of
veneration and cultivation, it is of
course difficult to tell exactly which trees are indigenous and which
are not.
It is a familiar sight in Hindu temples, Buddhist monasteries and
shrines, villages and at roadsides. People also like to grow this
sacred tree in their gardens. In urban situations where there is
little room one often finds the tree growing in Bonsai form. Many places derive
their name from the tree and one can find villages such as Piprahi and
Piperbandha.
Ficus religiosa has also been widely planted in many hot countries all
over the world from South Africa to Hawaii and Florida, but it is not
able to naturalise away from its Indian home, because of its dependence on its
pollinator
wasp, Blastophaga quadraticeps.
An exception to this rule is Israel where
the wasp has been successfully introduced.
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Each Fig species has an
associated species of agaonid wasp to pollinate its flowers. This
means that it will only freely propagate itself in its native areas
where this wasp is present, unless the wasp gets successfully
introduced (see above). In turn the wasps will only lay their eggs in
the Figs they are associated with. The pollinator wasp for Ficus
religiosa is Blastophaga quadraticeps.
Wherever pollinator wasps are not present, the seeds are therefore
not viable and the trees must be propagated from cuttings.
Once established Ficus religiosa can be a very long-lived tree.
On page 3 we described the venerable tree in Sri Lanka which is known
to have been planted in the 3th century before Christ's birth. There
is also a veteran tree in Bombay which is even older at about 3000
years.
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Known Medicinal
Uses of the Tree:
 Please
note:
It has to be kept in
mind that many of the uses reported below, may have been part of a
particular system of medicine, mostly Indian Aryuvedic Medicine and
the usage of parts of Ficus religiosa, as given here, may not be
as effective outside the general Aryuvedic regime or without the
knowledge of an Aryuvedic practioner who would know the finer details
of doses and application details.
One of the sources of the indications below, Pushp K. Jain warns the
reader with a millennium old quote:
"Proper use makes a good remedy even out of poison while a good
medicinal plant acts as a poison if used improperly." Caraka-samhita
(1000 B.C)
All parts of the tree
are cooling and
useful in diseases of blood, vagina, uterus, leucorrhoea, burning
sensation, biliousness, ulcers. The notable exception here is the
milky juice or latex found in the stem, which must be handled with
care and which should not be taken internally, as it may be toxic.
Bark
-
The bark is cooling
and astringent.
-
An aqueous extract
of the bark shows anti-bacterial activity against Staphylococcus
aureus and Escherichia coli.
-
The bark is useful
in inflammations and glandular swellings of neck.
-
An infusion or
decoction of the bark is used with some honey for the treatment of
gonorrhoea, ulcers, skin diseases and scabies.
-
Freshly burnt ashes
of the bark are steeped in water and given to cure obstinate cases
of hiccups, resistant to other home remedies. This preparation
also stops nausea. The healers simply burn the bark, collect the
ash and store it for future use.
-
A decoction of milk boiled with
dried bark is said to be a good aphrodisiac.
-
Unani practitioners
blow the powder of the dried bark into the rectum through a pipe
in cases of anal fistula and inflammatory swellings as an
absorbent. The astringent property of the bark will be helpful
here.
-
The dried bark powder is also
sprinkled over unhealthy ulcers and wounds to promote granulation.
-
A standard compound
preparation, Pancha Valkaladi Tailum, containing several herbs
including the decoction of the bark of Peepal is used as an
external application in cases of eczema, leprosy and
rheumatism.
-
Leaves and bark are
astringent and laxative and are employed together to relieve
diarrhea and dysentery and also to help reduce bleeding.
Root bark
-
Root bark is good
for stomatitis, to clean ulcers, and it is astringent in leucorrhoea and
promotes granulations.
-
According to Unani
system of medicine, root bark is aphrodisiac and also good for
lumbago
Root
Fruits
-
The fruit is
laxative, promotes digestion, is aphrodisiac, and checks vomiting.
-
Ripe fruits are
alexipharmic (an antidote or defensive remedy against poison,
venom or infection), are good for foul taste, thirst, and heart disease,
-
The powdered fruit
is taken for asthma. It is said that the powder taken with water
for two weeks cures asthma.
Seeds
-
The seeds are
cooling, laxative, refrigerant.
-
Seeds are useful in
urinary troubles.
Leaves (Some
of the indication below may seem contradictory, but the therapeutic
action is very likely due to combining ingredients and quantities
given, etc.)
-
The leaves are used
with "ghee" (a clarified butter) as a poultice and
applied to boils and to swollen glands in mumps.
-
As female tonic and
also as preventive, the traditional healers of Chhattisgarh plains
suggest the female patients to use the leaves of Pipal with cow
milk regularly, both during attack and disease free time. They
instruct them to boil the leaf in milk and drink it, once in a
day.
-
The leaves and bark
together are employed to relieve diarrhea and dysentery and to
reduce bleeding.
-
The leaves alone are
used to treat constipation.
-
The leaves and young
shoots together are purgative (strong laxative).
-
In some areas
licking honey
placed on peepal leaves is believed to cure speech irregularities.
Latex (milky juice
in the stems)
-
The latex is used in
the same way as other Fiscus species, including application to
hemorrhoids, warts, and aching joints. This should never be used
internally and must be handled carefully.
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The fruits, tender leaves and twigs
of the tree are commonly lopped to provide
cattle and elephant fodder.
Some Customs
and beliefs associated with the Tree:
The traditions and
beliefs surrounding this venerable tree go back into the mists of
time. There is an Upanisadic story of the Pippala tree as the
Tree of Supreme Knowledge, which is the great-grandmother to the Bible
story of Adam and Eve eating from The Tree of Life.
Ficus religiosa is said to have its mythical origin in the personality of
Indra, the ruler
of the skies, but many of the Hindu Gods have equally close
associations with the tree. It has been called the Tree of eternal
life whose roots originate in heaven and whose branches spread on
Earth to bring blessings to humankind.
We will explore the religious and philosophical significance of the
tree a bit more on page 7 (so as not to overload this page too much)
and concentrate here on listing some of the practical side of the
beliefs, which has lead to a great variety of customs.
Vedic
Boat
"In Vedic times, boats were made of peepal wood. "(6)
I wonder if this usage is related to the tree being connected with the
passage of souls to the world of the Dead, because further down we see
that the tree is associated with Death, Ancestors and Ghosts. Many
cultures all over the world have looked on special trees as vehicles
to connect our world with the so called "Otherworld" and the
residence of dead souls and ancestors in trees (as well as the trees'
own spirits) is universal.
Inspiration
"The peepal has inspired
artists and sculptors for centuries to create graphic designs and
sculptural friezes which stylise its branches as a symbol of a rich
life. "(8)
The leaves of some of the temple trees are highly prized as relics
which pilgrims take home with them.
The leaves, which are about the size of a hand, have also been widely
used as a canvas for small paintings, sometimes describing mythical or
religious themes or also just rural scenes.
Fertility
"The ashwattha symbolises the continuity of life because
the tree itself lives and grows for hundreds of years. Childless
couples devoutly believe in its powers and worship it, tying threads
of white, red and yellow silk around it to pray for progeny and
rewarding parenthood."(8)
"Women circumambulate the peepal tree to be blessed with children or
to gain a desired thing or person."(6)
Watering the bodhi tree enhances another
aspect of its magic: the power of fertility. ‘Villagers come to the bodhi
tree” observes Godakumbura “and having made due observances, pray for a male
child, thus continuing the original fertility image” (1)
"Godakumbura enumerates a number of factors which seem to assert
the fertility aspect of this tree. “When we consider the history of
the bodhi tree, we notice that from the very beginning of its
recorded history it was attended by females... Emperor Asoka had sent
it to Ceylon accompanied by the Theri Sanghamitta and Bhikkunis,
making a total of twelve. Along with the large retinue that was sent
to attend on the bodhi tree, Asoka also sent four royal maidens
to pour water on the tree during the festivals that took place at the
port. The bodhi
tree was sprinkled with water by virgins of the Ksatriya, Vesya and Brahmana
clans... At Anuradhapura, the duty of attending on the bodhi tree
fell to the nuns, the order which was founded by Theri Sanghamitta.
The four royal maidens who were appointed by the king to sprinkle
water on the bodhi tree were called peraehara bisavu (Bath
Maidens). The ‘Sinhala Bodhivamsaya’ (The Chronicle of the Bodhi
tree) describes in detail the institution of peraehara biso “Saying
that four royal virgins should pour water on the Bodhi-tree with
golden and silver pitchers, the king decked them with every kind of
ornament and appointed them to the office of Peraharabiso. All
four of these royal virgins entered the king’s palace with great
splendour. The position of the Peraharabiso maidens was
somewhat like that of the Vestal Virgins in ancient Rome.
Today, however, this ritual is conducted not by maidens but by monks
and laymen. Bodhi-pujas, offering of vows to the bodhi has
become today extremely popular. The bodhi tree which makes
rains fall, crops grow and blesses women with offspring is, thus,
tended with care and veneration by the Sri Lankan Buddhists. "(1)
Marriage
The Banian (Ficus benghalensis) tree is " supposed to be a male tree, while the Aswath-tha or Peepul
(Ficus religiosa) is
looked upon as a female, whence the lower orders of the people plant
them side by side and perform the ceremony of matrimony with a view to
connect them as man and wife".(7)
"In Bengal, peepal and banyan trees are married."(6)
"In Awadh, if a girl's horoscope predicts widowhood, she is
first married to a peepal tree on Chaitra krishna or Ashwin Krishna tritiya.
In olden days, when remarriage was forbidden for girls, young widows were
married to the peepal tree and then allowed to remarry."(6)
"People belonging to Dhantale caste who reside in Maharashtra, Karnataka and
Madhya Pradesh use a branch of the peepal tree in the marriage ceremony. The
branch, along with a pot of water, is placed between the bride and groom. The
village deity is installed under the peepal tree which also provides a shaded
place to hold the panchayat."(6)
More healing
properties
"Watering the bodhi tree even at other times is a common
rite observed in all temples. Folklore has it that giving life to the bodhi tree
by watering it is similar to giving life to a being who is in need of it. When
someone is taken fatally ill, it is the custom for one of his relatives to visit
the bodhi, water it seven times on seven days and make vows on behalf of
the sick for speedy recovery." (1)
"The air purification properties of Pipal
tree are also mentioned in ancient Indian literatures". (7)
"The
natives informed me about the benefits of taking bath under the Pipal tree." (7)
Death, ancestors and ghosts
"Peepal
tree is also believed to be the abode of Lord Yama (god of death) and
ancestors. Offerings made at its roots are believed to reach them. In
Rajasthan, if a man dies, his son pours 300 buckets of water at the root of a
peepal tree and circumambulates it five times so that his father's soul would
rest in peace. In Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh, water, milk and
sesame seeds are offered to ancestors in an earthen pot hung on the peepal
tree." (6)
"The natives of rural areas associate Pipal tree with Bhoot
(ghost) and according to them, this tree is home of ghosts. This is the reason
that during night time, they hesitate to go near these trees."(7)
"The Munja ghost is also believed to stay on
peepal tree."(6)
The Thai people also believe that ghosts live in the tree and it is
said that their whispers can be heard in the rustling leaves of the
tree.
Rites
of passage
"A peepal tree is planted to the east of the house or temple.
Eight, 11 or 12 years after the tree has been planted, the upanayan
ceremony is performed for the tree. A round platform is constructed
around the tree. Different gods like Ashwattha, Narayan, Vasudev,
Rukmini, Satyabhama are invoked and worshipped. All the rituals of the
upanayan ceremony are performed and then the tree is married to the
basil plant."(6)
Gods
and the Tree
"Once, Agni (the fire god) left the land of the gods, took the
form of Ashwattha and resided on the peepal tree for a year. Since
then, Peepal is also known as Ashwattha."(6)
"According to Padmapuran , Vishnu turned into a peepal
tree because of a curse by sage Ambarish."(6)
"Once, all the gods decided to visit Shiva. However, Narad informed
them that it was an inappropriate time for a visit as Shiva and Parvati were
in solitude. But Indra did not heed the advice and assured the gods that there
was nothing to fear when he was there to protect them. Narad reported Indra's
arrogance to goddess Parvati. She cursed the gods that they, along with their
wives, would turn into trees. When the gods asked for forgiveness, she
promised that as trees, they would attain fame. Thus Indra turned into a mango
tree, Brahma became a palash tree and Vishnu turned into a peepal tree."(6)
Peepal
and the Neem tree
"In Tamil Nadu, peepal and neem trees are planted so close to each other that
they mix up as they grow. A naga idol is placed under them and worshipped.
This is believed to bless the worshipper with wealth. Women take an early
morning bath and circumambulate these trees."(6)
Other
Rituals
"Chakkiliyan people in Tamil Nadu place the Gangamma ghatam under a peepal tree
near a river and worship it for ten days."(6)
"Tribals in Bengal call the peepal tree as Vasudev (a Hindu God). They water the plant in the
month of Vaishakh and at times of difficulty."(6)
"Peepal tree is planted in the temples of
Shani and Hanuman. The tree is worshipped on Saturday, especially in the month
of Shravana, because goddess Lakshmi sits under the tree on this day. Any
person who waters the tree is believed to earn merit for his progeny, his
sorrows are redeemed and diseases cured. The peepal tree is also worshipped to
escape from contagious diseases and enemies.("6)
"Another popular ritual connected with the Bodhi-tree is the
lighting of coconut-oil lamps as an offering (pahan-puja), especially to
avert the evil influence of inauspicious planetary conjunctions.........The other aspects of this
ritual consist of the offering of flowers, milk-rice, fruits, betel, medicinal
oils, camphor, and coins. These coins (designated panduru) are washed in
saffron water and separated for offering in this manner. The offering of coins
as an act of merit-acquisition has assumed ritualistic significance with the
Buddhists of the island. ...........Another part of the ritual is the hanging of flags
on the branches of the tree in the expectation of getting one's wishes
fulfilled......Bathing the tree with scented water is also a necessary part of
the ritual. So is the burning of incense, camphor, etc. Once all these offerings
have been completed, the performers would circumambulate the tree once or thrice
reciting an appropriate stanza. "(1)
Worship of the tree
"The Vibhanga
Commentary (p.349) says that the bhikkhu who enters the courtyard of the
Bodhi-tree should venerate the tree, behaving with all humility as if he were in
the presence of the Buddha. Thus one of the main items of the daily ritual at
the Anuradhapura Bodhi-tree (and at many other places) is the offering of alms
as if unto the Buddha himself. A special ritual held annually at the shrine of
the Anuradhapura tree is the hanging of gold ornaments on the tree. Pious
devotees offer valuables, money, and various other articles during the
performance of this ritual."(1)
"To the Buddhists, the Bodhi-tree became a sacred object belonging to the paribhogika
group of the threefold division of sacred monuments, while the ordinary veneration of trees, which also exists side-by-side with the
former in Sri Lanka, is based on the belief already mentioned, i.e. that there
are spirits inhabiting these trees and that they can help people in exchange for
offerings. "(1)
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Ficus religiosa leaves, which are about the size of a hand, have been
widely used as a canvas for small paintings, sometimes describing
mythical/ religious themes and also just rural scenes.
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Some informative web
pages, which have been consulted for this page:
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