Ficus religiosa

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Sacred Fig
Ficus religiosa
Leaves and trunk of a Sacred Fig.
Note the distinctive leaf shape.
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Rosids
Order: Rosales
Family: Moraceae
Genus: Ficus
Species: F. religiosa
Binomial name
Ficus religiosa
L.

Ficus religiosa or sacred fig (Nepali: पीपल, pīpal; Punjabi: ਪਿੱਪਲ,Malayalam: അരയാൽ) is a species of fig native to Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, south-west China and Indochina. It belongs to the Moraceae, the fig or mulberry family. Sinhala (Sri Lanka)name to this tree is Esathu .It is also known as the Bo-Tree (from the Sanskrit Bodhi: "wisdom", "enlightened", and as a Sinhalization of this the Sinhala Bo) or [1] Peepal or Pippal (in India and Nepal).[2]

Description

Ficus religiosa is a large dry season-deciduous or semi-evergreen tree up to 30 metres (98 ft) tall and with a trunk diameter of up to 3 metres (9.8 ft). The leaves are cordate in shape with a distinctive extended drip tip; they are 10–17 cm long and 8–12 cm broad, with a 6–10 cm petiole. The fruits are small figs 1–1.5 cm in diameter, green ripening to purple.

Religious sacredness

The Bodhi Tree at the Mahabodhi Temple. Propagated from the Sri Maha Bodhi, which in turn is propagated from the original Bodhi Tree at this location.

The Bodhi Tree at Anuradhapura SriLanka which is believed to be the oldest tree planted by humans with a recorded year of 289 BCE.

The Ficus religiosa tree is considered sacred by the followers of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.

Buddhism

Buddhist legend tells of Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment (bodhi) while meditating underneath the esathu tree, a Ficus religiosa. The site is in present day Bodh Gaya in Bihar [India]. The Original esathu tree which is in Bodh Gaya got destroyed due to various influences of Mughal invaders and believe to be the current tree is either its 3rd or 4th generation which rises from the root of the original tree. The only remaining branch of the original esathu Tree is still stood in Anuradhapura Srilanka known as Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi. The known planting date of the latter, 288 BCE, gives it the oldest verified age for any flowering plant (angiosperm) In the world.[3]

In Theravada Buddhist Southeast Asia, the tree's massive trunk is often the site of Buddhist or animist shrines.

Not all Ficus religiosa can be called a 'Bodhi tree'. A 'Bodhi tree' must be able to trace its parent to another Bodhi tree and the line goes on until the first Bodhi tree under which the Lord Gautama Buddha gained enlightenment.

Hinduism

A huge Peepal tree in a North Indian city

Sadhus (Hindu ascetics) still meditate beneath sacred fig trees, and Hindus do pradakshina (circumambulation, or meditative pacing) around the sacred fig tree as a mark of worship. Usually seven pradakshinas are done around the tree in the morning time chanting "Vriksha Rajaya Namah", meaning "salutation to the king of trees."

It claimed that the 27 Stars (constellations) constituting 12 Houses (Rasis) and 9 Planets are specifically represented precisely by 27 trees—one for each star. The bodhi tree is said to represent Pushya (Western star name γ, δ and θ Cancri in the cancer constellation).

Vernacular names

Typical shape of the leaf of the Ficus religiosa

The Ficus religiosa tree is known by a wide range of vernacular names in different locales and languages, including:

  • in Indic languages:
  • Sanskrit — अश्वत्थः aśvatthaḥ vṛksha, pippala vṛksha (vṛksha means tree)
    • Tamil — அரச மரம் arasa maram (literally King or King's Tree. Arasu or Arasan is Tamil for King)
    • Telugu — రావి Raavi
    • Kannada — araLi mara ಅರಳಿ ಮರ
    • Konkani — Pimpalla Rook/jhadd
    • Malayalam — അരയാല്‍ Arayal
    • Gujarati — પિપળો (Pipdo)
    • Punjabi — Pippal
    • Madhyadeshi — Peepar
    • Marathi — पिंपळ pimpaL (where L stands for the German ld sound, used in for example Nagold)
    • Mahal — އަޝްވަތި ގަސް (Aśvati gas)
    • Oriya — ଅଶ୍ୱତ୍ଥ (Ashwatth)
    • Pali — assattha; rukkha
    • Nepali (नेपाली) — पीपल
    • Sinhala — ඇසතු esathu
    • ဗောဓိညောင်ပင် — bawdi nyaung pin
    • Thai — โพธิ์ (Pho)
    • Vietnamese — bồ-đề
    • Urdu — peepal پیپل
    • Bangla pipul; পিপুল / অশ্বত্থ (Ashwattha)
    • Cuban Spanish - Alamo
    • Tagalog - Balete

Sanskrit

Plaksa is a possible Sanskrit term for Ficus religiosa. However, according to Macdonell and Keith (1912), it denotes the Wavy-leaved Fig tree (Ficus infectoria) instead.

In Hindu texts, the Plaksa tree is associated with the source of the Sarasvati River. The Skanda Purana states that the Sarasvati originates from the water pot of Brahma flows from Plaksa on the Himalayas. According to Vamana Purana 32.1-4, the Sarasvati was rising from the Plaksa tree (Pipal tree).[4]

Plaksa Pra-sravana denotes the place where the Sarasvati appears.[5] In the Rigveda Sutras, Plaksa Pra-sravana refers to the source of the Sarasvati.[6]

Uses

Traditional medicinal uses

Ficus religiosa is used in traditional medicine for about 50 types of disorders including asthma, diabetes, diarrhea, epilepsy, gastric problems, inflammatory disorders, infectious and sexual disorders.[7][8] Peepal tree is of great medicinal value. Its leaves serve as a wonderful laxative as well as tonic for the body. It is especially useful for patients suffering from Jaundice. It helps to control the excessive amount of urine released during jaundice. The leaves of Peepal are highly effective in treating heart disorders. It helps to control the palpitation of heart and thereby combat the cardiac weakness. Ayurveda makes an extensive use of the leaves of peepal due to the numerous benefits it provides. To know more about the medicinal benefits of Peepal, read on.

For constipation problem, there can be no better remedy than the consumption of leaves of Peepal. Dry the Peepal leaves in sun and powder them. Add a solution of jaggery and anise to it. Mix it with water and consume it. This concoction will ensure proper bowel movement. The Indian basil peepal works wonders in treating dysentery. Prepare a mixture of grinded coriander leaves, peepal leaves and sugar and chew it slowly. The leaf of a peepal plant is also considered valuable in the treatment of various kinds of skin disorders.

Pipal leaves are of great use in getting rid of mumps. All one needs to do to avail the benefits of peepal plant is smear the leaves of Peepal with ghee and then warm it on low flame. After that, bandage it over the swollen inflamed part of the body. It is surely going to provide the patient with a great relief. Even for boils, this remedy will prove to be quite effective. In case of formation of pus, bandaging the leaves of Peepal will ensure that the growth subsides. But, it will give beneficial results only if the problem is in its preliminary stage. This tree of life has also got the medicinal value. The juice of its leaves extracted by holding them near the fire can be used as the ear drop. Its power bark has been used to heal the wounds for years. The bark of the tree is useful in inflammations and glandular swelling of the neck. Its root bark is useful for stomatitis, clean ulcers, and promotes granulations. Its roots are also good for gout. The roots are even chewed to prevent gum diseases. Its fruit is laxative which promotes digestion and checks vomiting. Its ripe fruits are good for the foul taste, thirst and heart diseases. The powered fruit is taken for Asthma. Its seeds have proved useful in urinary troubles. The leaves are used to treat constipation

Cultivation

Ficus religiosa is grown by specialty tree plant nurseries for use as an ornamental tree, in gardens and parks in tropical and subtropical climates. Peepal trees are native to India and thrive in hot, humid weather. They prefer full sunlight and can grow in most soil types, though loam is the best. When planting, use soil with a pH of 7 or below. While it is possible for the plant to grow indoors in a pot, it grows best outside.Young peepal needs proper nourishment. It requires full sunlight and proper watering.

Gallery

  • Pattern of Ficus religiosa leaf on the surface of PDMS film (photo by Nitish Singh )[1]

  • 70-year-old Ficus religiosa tree at Campus Green, Singapore Management University

  • Ficus religiosa young trunk in Hong Kong

  • Ficus religiosa young leaves

  • Coppersmith Barbet Megalaima haemacephala feeding on its figs in Hyderabad, India

  • A 200 year old, 50 feet circumference Peepal tree in Nepal

  • Black-hooded Oriole Oriolus xanthornus feeding on its figs in Kolkata, WB.

  • Trunk of Sacred Fig at Flamingo Gardens, Davie, Florida

  • Fruits of Sacred Fig at Flamingo Gardens,Davie, Florida

  • Leaves of Sacred Fig at Flamingo Gardens,Davie, Florida

  • The Bodhi Tree in Bodhgaya

  • bodhi tree

  • arayal (relegiosa ) tree at vaniyambalam malappuram dist. kerala india

  • leaves of pippal

  • anadabodi tree at sravasti UP

  • ആൽമരം.JPG
  • തലയാക്കുളം ക്ഷേത്രം- കിഴക്കേവശത്തെ ആൽമരം.jpg
  • ആൽമരം 01.JPG
  • ആൽമരം-തിരുവല്ല.jpg

  • fruits of ficus religiosa


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See also

Pipal tree at Nandan Kanan Park Bhopal.
  • Bodhi tree
  • Shitala Devi
  • Sri Maha Bodhi

Notes

  1. ↑ Oxford English Dictionary, Oxford University Press, 1971, p. 1014
  2. ↑ "Ficus religiosa — Peepal". Flowers of India. Retrieved November 3, 2011. 
  3. ↑ "Rocky Mountain Tree-Ring Research, OLDLIST". Retrieved July 3, 2011. 
  4. ↑ D.S. Chauhan in Radhakrishna, B.P. and Merh, S.S. (editors): Vedic Sarasvati, 1999, p. 35–44
  5. ↑ Pancavimsa Brahmana, Jaiminiya Upanisad Brahmana, Katyayana Srauta Sutra, Latyayana Srauta; Macdonell and Keith 1912
  6. ↑ Asvalayana Srauta Sutra, Sankhayana Srauta Sutra; Macdonell and Keith 1912, II:55
  7. ↑ Singh D, Singh B, Goel RK "Traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology of Ficus religiosa: a review." J Ethnopharmacol. February 2, 2011
  8. ↑ "Journal of Ethnopharmacology : Traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology of Ficus religiosa: A review". ScienceDirect. Retrieved 2012-01-05. 

References

External links

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