Sacred Nature: In Praise of Trees - Nature's Gift  

By Aruna Jethwani  

Sacred Nature: In Praise of Trees - Nature's Gift  

A tree is a beautiful expression of mother earth's creativity. It has shakti . It restores balance in the environment by its positive force. A tree doesn't have a mind of its own, only the cosmic heart of the universe. It responds to human sentiments.

The pipal tree is sacred to Hindus and Buddhists - the Buddha attained nirvana under this tree. In the Bhagavad Gita Krishna said: "I am as strong as the pipal is among trees." Pipal and tulsi play significant roles in Hindu rituals. The neem tree is the favourite of Durga, and it is grown to ward off evil spirits. The Avdhumra tree is believed to be the abode of Lord Dattatreya, so it is never cut down.

An Indonesian friend informs me that such belief prevails in her country too - it is said to have super- natural powers. If this tree has to be cut a special ceremony is performed to propitiate the gods. The sandalwood tree is sacred to all religions because of its special properties.

Tree worship evolved as a ritual to preserve the sensitive eco- system. Once a gentleman narrated a touching story: "I had a large farm with more than a hundred trees. Every morning, I used to go around the farm, starting from a particular tree and return to it by noon. For some reason I had to sell off the farm. I loved the trees. I had tended them.

On my last day, I went round the farm as usual, but I was feeling low. After I completed my round, I stood under the tree from where I started. It was a windless day. Not a leaf moved. I bid farewell to the farm and to that particular tree. Its leaves trembled. The tree shook visibly. It had moved an inch in an effort to reach out to me. The leaves were moist. The tree had cried just as much as I had cried."

Trees have soothing qualities and medicinal properties. Like some animals, they have a sense of empathy, too.

Today, electronic devices can measure the energy or vibrations released by a tree. The Upanishads narrate the story of how Yajnvalka compared a tree and a human being while discussing Creation with Gargi: "As a tree of the forest,/ Just so surely is man./ His hair are leaves,/ His skin, the outer bark./ From his skin blood,/ Sap from the bark flows forth/ A stream, as from the tree when struck./ His pieces of flesh are under layers of wood./ His fibre is muscle like strong./ The bones are the wood within/ The marrow is made resembling pith./ A tree, when it is felled, grows up/ From the root, anew again,/ A mortal when cut down by death - / From what root does he grow up?"

Trees are described as being superior to animals and human beings. Sadhu T L Vaswani said: "A tree is a lesson in life. A tree has patience. It stands facing the sun, rain and storm, uncomplaining. A tree is symbolic of growth. It inspires me to spread out."

The puranas exalt the tree, in economic terms as wealth, as a great asset to mankind. A tree is perhaps nature's best gift to mankind. It balances our existence on earth; it provides shade in summer and fuel in winter; it is economic wealth.

It also has the spiritual qualities of samdhrishti and humility. You hit a tree with a stone, it will give you fruit. Or as Buddha puts it, it offers protection and shade even to the woodcutter who destroys it. So every tree is God-like, worthy of reverence and worship. Tree worship links us with the Nature Spirit. Nature in all its moods and manifestations represents harmony and joy. We should partake of it.

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More from same author see: Aruna Jethwani  

See also: Sacred Nature, Faith and Belief, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)