Famous Trees Of India

By London Swaminathan

‘FAMOUS TREES OF INDIA’ is my first book in English. It is a collection of articles written by me in the past 11 years.

I have covered the trees as described in the Vedas, Upanishads, classical Sanskrit and Tamil literature, folk tales and temple Sthala Puranas. I have got more articles in my blog which would be published as second part.

I have lifted some parts from some books for adding my comments, particularly to compare them with the available materials in Tamil and Sanskrit. I thank those original contributors. Hindus considered plants as Gods or the divine representatives on earth. The emphasis is on optimum use of them without destroying them completely. It is also insisted that it is our duty to raise and preserve them for posterity.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Pustaka Digital Media
• Release date: Jul 16, 2022
• ISBN: 6580553508672

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Famous Trees Of India

Author :

London Swaminathan

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Table of Contents

Foreword

Other books

1. Adi Shankara and Alangium hexapetalum

2. Andal and Alangium hexapetalum

3. Jesus Christ and Nardostachys jatamansi

4. Tansen and Tamarind Tree! Ghosts in Tamarind Trees!

5. Magic of Trees!

6. Scientific facts: 121 Drugs from Plants!

7. Indian Wonder: The Banyan Tree

8. Famous Trees of Tamil Nadu

9. Hindus’ Respect for Trees and Forests

10. More about Tree Worship in Ancient India

11. Lord Shiva and Tamils adopted Trees!

12. Sacred Trees in Jainism

13. Plants in Mahavamsa

14. Strange Stories about Trees, Kusha and Dhurva Grass in Vedas - Part 1

15. Strange Stories about Trees in Vedas - Part 2

16. Tree Marriage

17. Hindu Tree Wonders

18. Hindus’ Respect for Trees and Forests

19. Palmyra Tree Worship in India and Sri Lanka!

20. ‘Save the Trees’ and ‘Save the Forests’ in Manu Smrti!

21. How to find Water in the Desert?

22. Tree Metaphors in Tamil and Sanskrit Literature

23. 255 Indian Trees, Herbs and Shrubs mentioned in Brihat Samhita- Part-1

24. 255 Indian Trees, Herbs and Shrubs mentioned in Brihat Samhita- Part-2

25. Three Apples that Changed the World

26. Two Mangoes That Changed the Tamil World

27. Hindu’s Amazing Knowledge in Botany!!!

28. People are like Three Types of Trees

29. Significance of Neem Tree in Hinduism

30. Neem Tree Wonders

31. Effect of Neem Leaves!

Foreword

‘FAMOUS TREES OF INDIA’ is my first book in English. It is a collection of articles written by me in the past 11 years. They were published in my two blogs and a few other websites. The dates of publication and the numbers given to them in my blogs are at the end of each article. Since they are written over a period, I am sure there are some repetitions. Though they are redundant, it would help anyone to read any article separately. I have covered the trees as described in the Vedas, Upanishads, classical Sanskrit and Tamil literature, folk tales and temple Sthala Puranas. I have got more articles in my blog which would be published as second part.

I have lifted some parts from some books for adding my comments, particularly to compare them with the available materials in Tamil and Sanskrit. I thank those original contributors. Hindus considered plants as Gods or the divine representatives on earth. The emphasis is on optimum use of them without destroying them completely. It is also insisted that it is our duty to raise and preserve them for posterity.

I am afraid that there may be some mistakes in my translation and spellings. There may not be uniform spelling for the same word since they are taken from different sources. Forgive me for such mistakes and point them out to me so that I can avoid them in future editions. Hope this work would encourage many of you to do more research in this field and inspire all the readers to preserve our natural wealth.

I welcome your comments and I have given my contact details for the same.

London Swaminathan (Santanam Swaminathan)

July 2022, London

Contact Details

[e-mail]

[e-mail]

Mobile Number in London

07951 370 697

Other books

Over 6000 articles in English and Tamil and Twenty Books

1. Ithaziyal (Journalism In Tamil), 1980

2. Vinavungal Vidai Tharuvom (BBC Tamil Questions And Answersby Swaminathan)

3. Thamiz Ilakkiyathil Athisaya Seythikal (Strange And Wonderful Information In Sangam Tamil Literature)

4. Valmiki Muthal Valluvar Varai (Tirukkural Research Articles), London Swaminathan, Lonon, 2019

5. Tolkappiar Muthal Bharati Varai (60 Second Imaginary Interviews with Top Writers, Thinkers, Philosophers and Poets), 2019

6. Penkal Vazka (Long Live Women in Tamil)

7. Research Articles on Egyptian Civilization in Tamil

8. Research Articles on Kamba Ramayana in Tamil

9. Interesting Information about Metals and other Elements in Tamil

10. Thirty Articles on the Wonders of Hinduism in Tamil

11. Tamil Words in Rig Veda and other Wonders in Tamil

12. Alvarkal Sollum Athisayach Seythikal (Tamil Vaishnavite Saints)

13. Thamizarkal Marangalai Vazipaduvathu En? (28 research articles on Trees in Tamil (Why do Tamils worship Trees?)

14. Ulakam Muzuthum Paambu Vazipaadu (Wonders in History - 27 Research Articles in Tamil)

15. One More Book on Elements in Tamil (Calcium for bones; Selenium for Child Birth; Fluoride for Shiny Teeth)

16. Kamban Poems - Sweeter than Honey-One more book on Kamba Ramayanam in Tamil

17. Thamiz Mozi Athisaya Moziye! Itho Sandrukal (27 Research Articles)

18. Sumeriar - Inthiyar Thodarbu in Tamil (Sumerian- Indian Contacts - 24 Research Articles)

19. Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia - vil Thamiz Muzakkam (Tamil Influence in Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia; 24 Research Articles)

20. Famous Trees Of India in English (current book with 27 research articles)

1. Adi Shankara and Alangium hexapetalum

Adi Shankara, the greatest philosopher of India, used a lot of similes from nature to illustrate the Advaita philosophy (Monism). In one sloka he used four birds (see my earlier post for details). One of his interesting observations is about a tree called Ankola in Sanskrit, Alinjil in Tamil and Alangium hexapetalum in botanical term. Its other variety is Alangium salvifolium.

True Bhakti or devotion is explained with the help of Ankola tree and magnet in Sivananda Lahari and Viveka Chudamani of Adi Shankara.

Ankolam nijabeejas anthathi ayaskanthopalam suchika…

(Sivananda Lahari, verse 61)

Sri Shankara has explained what real Bhakti is. The relation between the devotee and Iswara (God) is explained with reference to five examples. They are the tree known as Ankolam and its seeds; the magnet and the needle; a chaste woman and her husband; a creeper and a tree; and a river and the ocean.

The ankola tree (Azinjil in Tamil) is found in the forest. It is said that when its fruits fall to the ground, the seeds, liberated from the fruit by some compelling force within, move close to the trunk of the tree, gradually climb up, and get inseparably attached to the tree. During my travels, I was shown this tree in a forest. I saw the seeds sticking to the trunk of the tree, though I was not able to observe the actual movement of the seeds from the ground to the tree. This example of the seeds which fall away from the tree struggling back and attaching them to the tree is denoted by the words aankolam nija beeja santatih.

Kanchi Paramacharya’s Talk on February 8, 1958 in Madras (Page 90/91 ‘Acharya’s Call Part 2)

Later Tamil literature Seevaka Chintamani refers to this tree. This tree and its parts have got medicinal properties. It has got anti-microbial activity. It is traditionally used for tonic and treatment of haemorrhoids (Piles complaint).

2. Andal and Alangium hexapetalum

Great men think alike! So, no one would believe that one copied it from the other. But there is a strange coincidence between Andal and Adi Shankara. Andal has