Hindu legendary tree 1800 years
Kalpataru, the divine tree of life being guarded by mythical creatures at the 8th century
Pawon temple
, a
Buddhist temple
in
Java
, Indonesia.
Kalpavriksha
[note 1]
(
Sanskrit
:
?????????
,
lit.
'age tree', Kalpav?k?a) is a
wish-fulfilling
divine tree
in religions like
Hinduism
,
Jainism
, and
Buddhism
. In Buddhism, another term,
ratnav?k?a
(jeweled tree)
,
is also common
.
Its earliest descriptions are mentioned in
Sanskrit
literature. It is also a popular theme in
Jain cosmology
and
Buddhism
.
Idol of 10th Jain
Tirthankara
Shitalanatha
with his symbol of Kalpavriksha below
The Kalpavriksha originated during the
Samudra Manthana
or the "churning of the
ocean
" along with
Kamadhenu
, the divine cow, providing for all needs. The king of the gods,
Indra
, returned with this tree to his paradise. Kalpavriksha is also identified with many trees such as parijata (
Nyctanthes arbor-tristis
),
Ficus benghalensis
,
Acacia
,
Madhuca longifolia
,
Prosopis cineraria
,
Diploknema butyracea
, and
mulberry tree
(
Morus nigra
tree). The tree is also extolled in iconography and literature.
History
[
edit
]
Kalpavriksha is common to the Hindu
Bhagavatas
, the Jains, and the
Buddhists
.
Hinduism
[
edit
]
Kalpavriksha with Flowers in Ranchi, Jharkhand
Kalpavriksha, the tree of life, also meaning "World Tree", finds mention in the
Vedic scriptures
. In the earliest account of the
Samudra Manthana
, or the "churning of the ocean of milk". Kalpavriksha emerged from the primal waters during the ocean churning process along with Kamadhenu, the divine cow that bestows all needs. The tree is also said to be the
Milky Way
or the birthplace of the stars
Sirius
. The king of the
devas
, Indra, returned with this Kalpavriksha to his abode in paradise and planted it there. The tree also finds mention in the Sanskrit text M?n?sara, part of
Shilpa Shastras
.
Another story says that Kalpavriksha was located on earth and was transported to Indra's abode after people started misusing it by wishing evil things.
In Indra's "Devaloka" it is said that there are five Kalpavrikshas, which are called Mandana,
Parijata
, Santana, Kalpavriksha, and Harichandana, all of which fulfill various wishes.
Kalpavriksha, in particular, is said to be planted at
Mt. Meru
peak in the middle of Indra's five paradise gardens. It is on account of these wish-granting trees that the
asuras
waged a perpetual war with the devas as the heavenly gods who exclusively benefited freely from the "divine flowers and fruits" from the Kalpavriksha, whereas the asuras lived comparatively in penury at the lower part of its "trunk and roots". The Parijata is often identified with its terrestrial counterpart, the
Indian coral tree
(
Eyrthrina indica
), but is most often depicted like a
magnolia
or
frangipani
(
Sanskrit
:
champaka
) tree. It is described as having roots made of gold, a silver
midriff
,
lapis lazuli
boughs,
coral
leaves,
pearl
flower,
gemstone
buds, and
diamond
fruit.
It is also said that Ashokasundari was created from a Kalpavriksha tree to provide relief to Parvati from her loneliness.
[5]
In some versions of
Hindu mythology
, Shiva and Parvati, after many painful discussions while parting with their daughter
Aranyani
, gave her away to the divine Kalpavriksha for safekeeping when the demon
Andhakasura
waged war. Parvati requested Kalpavriksha to bring up her daughter with "safety, wisdom, health and happiness," and to make her Vana Devi, the protector of forests.
Kalpavriksha Tree at Bilar, Rajasthan
Jainism
[
edit
]
The wall painting of Kalpavruksha in
Saavira Kambada Basadi
, Moodbidri, Karnataka
In Jain Cosmology Kalpavrikshas are wish-granting trees which fulfill the desires of people in the initial stages of a world cycle. In initial times children are born in pairs (boy and girl) and don't do any
karma
.
[7]
There are 10 Kalpavrikshas which grant 10 distinct wishes such as an abode to reside, garments, utensils, nourishment including fruits and sweets, pleasant music, ornaments, fragrant flowers, shining lamps and a radiant light at night.
[7]
According to Jain cosmology, in the three
Aras
(unequal periods) of the descending arc (
Avasarpini
), Kalpavrikshas provided all that was needed, but towards the end of the third
ara
, the yield from them diminished. Eight types of these trees are described in some texts, each of which provided different objects. Thus from the "Madyanga tree" delicious and nutritious drinks could be obtained; from the "Bhojananga", delicious food; from "yotiranga", light more radiant than the sun and the moon; while from "Dopanga" came indoor light. Other trees provided homes, musical devices, table ware, fine garments, wreaths and scents.
The
Tiloya Panatti
give the following list:
Pananga
,
Turiyanga
,
Bhusananga
,
Vatthanga
,
Bhoyanga
,
Alayanga
,
Diviyanga
,
Bhayananga
,
Malanga
,
Tejanga
with excellent drinks, music, ornaments, garments, edibles and ready-made dishes, mansions to live in, lamps, utensils and garlands of flowers respectively while the last type, namely
Tejanga
, seems to be self-luminous, serving the purpose of heavenly luminaries.
Buddhism
[
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]
In Buddhism a small wish granting tree is depicted decorating the upper part of the "long-life vase" held by "longevity deities" like
Amitayus
and
Ushnishavijaya
. The goddess
Shramana
devi holds jeweled branch of Kalpavriksha in her left hand.
Worship of the
Nyagrodha tree
as a form of non-human worship is depicted in a Buddhist sculpture at
Besnagar
.
This sculpture in Besnagar, also known as Vidisa (Bhilsa), is dated to third century BC and is exhibited in the
Calcutta Museum
.
[10]
In
Myanmar
, where
Theravada Buddhism
is practiced, the significance of the Kalpavriksha is in the form of an annual ritual known as
Kathina
(presenting a robe) in which the
laity
present gifts to the monks in the form of money trees.
At the kingdom of
Ketumati
's front gates, it is thought four Kalpavrikshas will spring up from the Earth and provide enough valuables to satisfy all of
Jambudv?pa
for years.
[12]
Identification with trees
[
edit
]
Kalpavriksha in Mangaliyawas (near
Ajmer
, Rajasthan in India)
Parijata
tree at Kintoor,
Barabanki
.
In different states of India some trees are specifically referred to as the Kalpavriksha. These are stated below.
The banyan tree (
Ficus benghalensis
), also called
Nyagrodha
tree, which grows throughout the country is referred to as Kalpavriksha or Kalpataru because of its ability to amply provide for human needs.
The coconut tree (
Cocos nucifera
) found in most regions of the country is called "Kalpavriksha", as every part of it is useful in one way or the other. The coconut water inside the nut is a delicious drink. In dried form it is called
copra
and is used to manufacture oil. The coconut husk, called coir, is used to make rope. Leaves are used to make huts, fans, mats.
Palm sugar
is made from budding flower. The dried midrib is used to make boats.
[14]
Ashwatha
tree (sacred fig tree) is also known as Kalapvriksha where the deities and Brahma are stated to reside, and it is where sage Narada taught the
rishis
on the procedure for worshipping the tree and its usefulness.
Mahua tree (
Madhuca longifolia
) holds an important place in the day-to-day life of the tribal people. It is like the Kalpavriksha wish tree called madhu (
Madhuca indica
).
Shami tree (
Prosopis cineraria
), found in desert areas of the country, called in local dialect as
Ajmer
or
jaant
is called Kalpavriksha. In
Rajasthan
desert area its roots go deep to a depth of 17?25 metres (56?82 ft). This checks the erosion of the sandy soil of the desert. For this reason the tree stays green even during drought conditions. People of Rajasthan hence regard this tree as Kalpavriksha, because at the time of drought when no grass or fodder is found anywhere the animals are able to sustain by eating its green leaves.
Chyur tree
in the high altitudes of the
Himalayas
growing at an altitude between 500 and 1000 m, known as the Indian butter tree (
Diploknema butyracea
), is called a Kalpavriskha, or tree of paradise by the people of the mountainous region as it yields
honey
,
jaggery
and
ghee
. It is in the shape of an umbrella.
In
Joshimath
in
Uttarakhand
a
mulberry tree
, which is said to be 2400 years old, is renowned and revered as the Kalpavriksha as it was the location where, in the 8th century,
Adi Sankaracharya
did penance under the tree as he considered it an incarnation of Lord
Shiva
.
[19]
It is also believed that sage
Durvasa
meditated under this tree,
[5]
in Urgam.
The mountain slopes of
Kailasa
are stated to have a profusion of Kalpavrikshas.
At Mangaliyawas near
Ajmer
, Rajasthan, there are two revered trees (Male and Female) which are more than 800 years old, known as Kalpavrikshas. They are worshipped on an
Amavasya
day in the Hindu month of
Shraavana
.
[5]
In
Ranchi
,
Jharkhand
, there are three Kalpavrikshas. They are at a locality called Hinoo.
In Tamil Nadu's culture,
tala
(
Borassus flabellifer
) a variety of Palmyra palm (
Borassus
), also known as toddy, is referred to as Kalpataru as all its parts have a use. This tree is also native to
Asia
and
South East Asia
, has normally a life span of 100 years, grows up to 20 metres (66 ft) height; its leaves in the shape of a fan are rough texture. The leaves were used for writing in the ancient times.
In the
Harivansh Puraan
, the Parijata, baobab tree, is called a Kalpavriksha, or wish bearing tree, which apart from the village of
Kintoor
, near
Barabanki
,
Uttar Pradesh
, is only found in heaven. The tree has mythological link with prince
Arjuna
of the
Pandava clan
who is said to have brought it from heaven. His mother
Kunti
after whom the village Kintoor is named used to offer flowers from this tree to worship Lord Shiva. It is also said that Lord
Krishna
brought this tree from heaven to please his wife
Satyabhama
.
Kalpalatha is another wish fulfilling tree, a creeper, which was extolled during the later part of the Aryan period. It is said that a person standing below this tree would be blessed with beautiful ornaments, dresses and even unmarried girls.
[23]
In
Thailand
, pink shower tree (
Cassia bakeriana
) is also called the Kalpavriksha or Kanlapaphruek in local dialect. It is believed to be the tree of success.
[24]
Iconography
[
edit
]
Cinatamani
Lokesvara
with a kaprabrikshya, 19th century, gilt bronze, semiprecious stones
In
iconography
, Kalpavriksha, the wish-fulfilling tree, is painted within a picture of a landscape, decorated with flowers, silks, and suspended with jewellery.
It is a pattern which has a prominent symbolic meaning.
Ornamental Kalpavriksha design was a feature that was adopted on the reverse of the coins and sculptures in the
Gupta period
.
Kalpavriksha is also dated to the
Dharmachakra
period of Buddhism. The paintings of this period depicting the tree with various branches and leaves have a female figure painted on its top part. The female figure is painted from mast upwards holding a bowl in her hand. Similar depiction of female figure with tree representing it as presiding deity was a notable feature during the
Sunga period
as seen in the image of "Salabhanvka" in the railing pillars.
[26]
In most paintings of Kalpavriksha Shiva and Parvati are a common feature. It forms a canopy over Shiva. In one painting Paravati is paying obeisance to Lord Shiva with her hands held up in adoration when she is blessed with a stream of water from the Kalpavriksha.
Literature
[
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]
A Kalpavriksha is mentioned in the Sanskrit work
M?n?sara
as a royal insignia. In
Hem?dri
's work
Caturvargac?ntama
, the Kalpavriksha is said to be a tree of gold and gem stones.
[28]
In poetry Kalpavriksha is compared to
Lakshmi
as its sister emerging from the sea. It is born to the Naga King Kumuda, the fifth descendant of
Takshaka
, along with his sister Kumudavati. It emerged from below the bed of the
Sarayu river
challenging Kusa considered an incarnation of
Vishnu
just in the disguise as a son.
Kalidasa
, in his poetry
Meghad?ta
epitomizing wish-fulfilling trees found in the capital of the Yaksha king extols the virtues of Kalpavriksha as "the dainties and fineries for the fair women of Alaka, coloured clothes for the body, intoxicating drinks for exciting glances of the eyes, and flowers for decorating the hair and ornaments of various designs".
See also
[
edit
]
- Hindu- Buddhism related
- Sacred related
- General
References
[
edit
]
Notes
[
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]
- ^
Also known as kalpataru, kalpadruma, kalpa vruksham, kalpap?dapa, and karpaga vriksham.
References
[
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]
Bibliography
[
edit
]
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