Jump to content

Ashvattha: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
added link
m Rv mistargetting
 
(55 intermediate revisions by 41 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|Sanskrit term for Ficus religiosa}}
According to the [[Hindu mythology]], '''ashvastha''' (or '''Assattha''') , that is, the ''Ficus religiosa'', is a sacred tree for the [[Hindu]]s and has been extensively mentioned in texts pertaining to [[Hinduism]]. Buddhist texts term the tree as [[Bodhi tree]], a tree under which [[Gautam Buddha]] meditated and gained enlightenment.


{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
⚫
The Hindu mythology states that the ashvastha tree has its roots in heavens, and it is a tree of eternal life. The fire sticks used in Hindu sacrificial fire like [[agnihotra]] also contain dried wood of ashvastha tree.
[[File:Anandabodhi.jpg|thumb|320px|The Aśvattha or Bodhi tree.]]
According to [[Hindu scriptures]], '''Aśvattha''', ({{lang-sa|अश्वत्थ}}) or ''Sacred fig'' (''[[Ficus religiosa]]''), is a sacred tree for the [[Hindu]]s and has been extensively mentioned in texts pertaining to [[Hinduism]],<ref>{{cite book |last1=Haberman |first1=David L. |title=People Trees: Worship of Trees in Northern India |date=25 April 2013 |publisher=OUP USA |isbn=978-0-19-992917-7 |page=73 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=X-556JuJa4QC&q=ashvattha&pg=PA73 |access-date=24 November 2021 |language=en}}</ref> for example as ''peepul'' in [[Rig Veda]] mantra I.164.20.{{cn|date=July 2021}} In Buddhism, the [[Bodhi Tree]] under which [[Gautama Buddha]] gained enlightenment is also of the same species.


[[Adi Shankara]] derives it from shva (tomorrow) and stha (that which remains).<ref> {{cite book|title=Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide|author=Roshan Dalal|date=25 April 2013|page=44|isbn=978-0-19-992917-7|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=X-556JuJa4QC&dq=ashvattha+tree&pg=PA73}}</ref> Ashva (horse) and stha (situated), meaning where horses are tied, is another derivation.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Cox |first1=Robert |title=The Pillar of Celestial Fire: And the Lost Science of the Ancient Seers |date=1 November 1997 |publisher=1st World Publishing |isbn=978-1-887472-30-2 |page=57 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ykEN2zHvCpQC&dq=ashvattha+stha&pg=PA57 |access-date=24 November 2021 |language=en}}</ref>

[[Yama]], while instructing [[Naciketa]] describes the eternal Asvattha tree with its root upwards, and branches downwards, which is the pure immortal [[Brahman]], in which all these worlds are situated, and beyond which there is nothing else ([[Katha Upanishad]] Verse II.iii.1). Meanwhile, [[Krishna]] tells us that the Asvattha tree having neither end nor beginning nor stationariness whatsoever has its roots upwards and branches downwards whose branches are nourished by the [[Gunas]] and whose infinite roots spread in the form of action in the human world which though strong are to be cut off by the forceful weapon of detachment to seek the celestial abode from which there is no return ([[Bhagavad Gita]] XV.1-4).<ref>{{cite Q|Q108659922|url=https://www.holy-bhagavad-gita.org/chapter/15/verse/1|chapter=Chapter 15, Verses 1-4}}</ref> The former teaches that the Asvattha tree is real being identical with Brahman and therefore impossible to cut-off; the latter insists that the Asvattha tree must be regarded as unreal being identical with existence which needs to be cut-off. <ref>{{cite book|title=A Constructive Survey of Upanishadic Philosophy|year=1926|author=R.D.Ranade|publisher=Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan|pages=[https://archive.org/details/A.Constructive.Survey.of.Upanishadic.Philosophy.by.R.D.Ranade.1926.djvu/page/n180 145]-146|url=https://archive.org/details/A.Constructive.Survey.of.Upanishadic.Philosophy.by.R.D.Ranade.1926.djvu }}{{pd-notice}}</ref>

⚫
The fire sticks used in Hindu sacrificial fire like [[agnihotra]] also contain dried wood of ashvatha tree.

==See also==

* [[World tree]]
==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}


*''Dictionary of Hindu Lore and Legend'' (ISBN 0-500-51088-1) by Anna Dallapiccola
*''Dictionary of Hindu Lore and Legend'' ({{ISBN|0-500-51088-1}}) by Anna Dallapiccola


{{HinduMythology}}
{{HinduMythology}}


[[Category:Individual trees]]
⚫
{{Hindu-myth-stub}}

[[Category:Trees in mythology]]
[[Category:Trees in mythology]]

[[Category:Trees in Buddhism]]
[[Category:Sacred trees in Hinduism]]

⚫
{{Hindu-myth-stub}}

Latest revision as of 14:21, 15 January 2024

The Aśvattha or Bodhi tree.

According to Hindu scriptures, Aśvattha, (Sanskrit: अश्वत्थ) or Sacred fig (Ficus religiosa), is a sacred tree for the Hindus and has been extensively mentioned in texts pertaining to Hinduism,[1] for example as peepul in Rig Veda mantra I.164.20.[citation needed] In Buddhism, the Bodhi Tree under which Gautama Buddha gained enlightenment is also of the same species.

Adi Shankara derives it from shva (tomorrow) and stha (that which remains).[2] Ashva (horse) and stha (situated), meaning where horses are tied, is another derivation.[3]

Yama, while instructing Naciketa describes the eternal Asvattha tree with its root upwards, and branches downwards, which is the pure immortal Brahman, in which all these worlds are situated, and beyond which there is nothing else (Katha Upanishad Verse II.iii.1). Meanwhile, Krishna tells us that the Asvattha tree having neither end nor beginning nor stationariness whatsoever has its roots upwards and branches downwards whose branches are nourished by the Gunas and whose infinite roots spread in the form of action in the human world which though strong are to be cut off by the forceful weapon of detachment to seek the celestial abode from which there is no return (Bhagavad Gita XV.1-4).[4] The former teaches that the Asvattha tree is real being identical with Brahman and therefore impossible to cut-off; the latter insists that the Asvattha tree must be regarded as unreal being identical with existence which needs to be cut-off. [5]

The fire sticks used in Hindu sacrificial fire like agnihotra also contain dried wood of ashvatha tree.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Haberman, David L. (25 April 2013). People Trees: Worship of Trees in Northern India. OUP USA. p. 73. ISBN 978-0-19-992917-7. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  2. ^ Roshan Dalal (25 April 2013). Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide. p. 44. ISBN 978-0-19-992917-7.
  3. ^ Cox, Robert (1 November 1997). The Pillar of Celestial Fire: And the Lost Science of the Ancient Seers. 1st World Publishing. p. 57. ISBN 978-1-887472-30-2. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  4. ^ "Chapter 15, Verses 1-4". Bhagavad Gita: The Song of God. Translated by Mukundananda. Jagadguru Kripaluji Yog. ISBN 978-0-9833967-2-7. OL 28015595M. Wikidata Q108659922.
  5. ^ R.D.Ranade (1926). A Constructive Survey of Upanishadic Philosophy. Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. pp. 145-146.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
Stub icon

This Hindu mythology–related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ashvattha&oldid=1195833569"