My grandmother Lalitha Sal used to revere trees. She would never let anyone chop the branches even. Our large home on Trichy Road was about 1.5 acres and it used to extend into Valangulam. The well used to be full of water and our cows lived happily in an atmosphere of plenty. I still remember the two’ seeni puliyanga trees ‘ at home. The drum stick tree, the trees which gave us guava, gooseberry, pomegranates, coconuts, tube roses and shade were many in number. Granny fell ill with asthma in 1983 and she struggled quite a bit. The doctors treating her suggested that she do away with the many maramalli (tube roses) trees in order to keep her free from pollen allergies. However, she refused to get them cut. She said that it was a sin to cut those days and that hell would be the reward. She was right. Those trees and my grandmother lived happily ever after. I still remember the pooja that was done while removing a tree in our compound. Granny got one more tree planted immediately. The tree was brought up under her watchful eye. The bio diversity in our household attracted a number of birds, insects and other forms of life. A huge tamarind tree outside our compound was a star attraction. Almost all the passersby would stand under its shade. This tree continues to be a landmark even today.
The experiences at home made me understand the importance of the tree. I was made to understand that trees supply oxygen and therefore they functioned as our external lungs. Similarly a Vanni tree was considered to be auspicious and it was meritorious to plant one. The Vilvam tree was considered to be an incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi. Our elders used to tell us that trees gave us oxygen and took away our carbon dioxide emissions. They stated that the trees gave us’ Pranavayu ‘ and took away the unwanted air given out by the human beings. No wonder Vayu is called
Jeevothama. We used to pick up the twigs in our compound and use them in our boiler. The water would be used for bathing. It was a different world altogether. A set back to such activities occurred at a time when houses were being built for each of the members of our family. I still miss the old house and the trees which brought squirrels, butterflies and sparrows.
We used to screen black and white movies at home. The Panchayat meetings in these movies would be under the large Peepal trees (Arasa Maram). Again, granny would tell us sitting under this king of trees would give us healthy air and shade. This atmosphere was supposed to add sanity and justice to the moment. She used to tell us that we should plant trees in order to ensure that we earn merit. Our history textbooks used to have passages which would tell us about tree planting done by our kings.
The comic Malavika was based on the Sanskrit classic Malavikagnim itram written by Kalidasa. It spoke about the Queen of Agnimitra the ruler of Vidisha requesting the beautiful Malavika to kick the Asoka tree with her foot. It was believed that such an act by a lady would make it blossom fast. Another story spoke about Lord Krishna bringing the Parijata tree from heaven in order to please his spouse Sathyabhama. This tree was the outcome of the churning of the ocean and was known to be a Kalpatharu (wish fulfilling tree). The story of Andal is connected with Vatapatrasayee. This form of Lord Vishnu is found sucking on his own big toe in the form of a lovely child on a banyan tree leaf amidst the waters left behind after the great deluge. This ‘ Alilai Krishnan ‘ known as Vatapatrasayee is said to be the auspicious beginning for yet another creation. Women were known to hang cradles on trees in order to get good progeny. In fact the temples began under the trees long ago.Trees were part of religious and spiritual practices since time immemorial in India. It is clear that our elders understood the importance of trees and we must try to emulate them.
The fabulous writer Kalki has given the’ Pavalamalli ‘ tree a pride of place in his magnum opus’ Sivakamiyin Sabatham ‘. Musical instruments like the veena etc., were made from the wood of trees. The forests of Odisha are scouted for the sacred tree which is used for the making of the icons of Lord Jagannath, Lord Baladev and their sister Devi Subadhra. The special tree would be identified and used with utmost reverence by the team. Trees have been part of our ancient tradition.
The founder members of the Coimbatore Cosmopolitan Club used to meet under a large tree after a walk around Race Course more than hundred years ago. They used to talk about current affairs and about city development projects under this tree. Rao Bahadur A.T.Thiruvenkataswamy Mudaliar, T.A.Ramalimgam Chettiar, Diwan Bahadur C.V.Venkataramana lyengar and Diwan Bahadur C.S.Rathinasabapathy Mudaliar were part of this group. The city literally grew under this tree which came to be known as’ The Wisdom Tree ‘ or ‘Gnana Vruksham’ in
Tamil. The club was also home to a huge banyan tree under which senior members used to sit in groups of fours and play bridge.
Ancient Sangam literature talks about Kurinji and Mullai land classifications. These were home for trees and streams that sprang forth from the hills. Lord Buddha had received enlightenment under the Bodhi tree or Bodhi fig tree (tree of awakening). The sacred fig or the Ficus Religiosa is known as the Arasa Maram in Tamil or the Aswatha Vruksham in Sanskrit. The Vyasaraja Mutt on R.G Street in Coimbatore has a big Peepal tree and the divine couple Lord Narayana and his beloved consort Lakshmi reside under it.
We are now ready to spend trillions for sustaining the world. Trees can be the simple antidote for all this. Let us plan for our own external lungs. It is tree time now and let us plant trees as often as possible. Let us spend a bit of time under the trees everyday. TREE TIME will ensure that the world will be a happy place forever.
– Rajesh Govindarajulu
