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| Sacred Fig Tree |
North Bengal, particularly has plentiful examples of the sacred tree, known to Hindus as ‘The King of Trees’
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| Leaves of a Banyan or Bo Tree |
With its distinctive heart shaped leaves, it can grow to great age and size, and is often the centre of village life, referred to as a Banyan Tree. In Bengali, it is called Peepal Tree, and is, in fact, sacred to followers of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.
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| Bodhi Tree in a village center |
The name Bodhi Tree comes from the tree at Bodhi, in North India, close to the India/Bangladesh border, under which Prince Gautama, the Buddha, meaning ‘the enlightened one’, first achieved enlightenment.
Revered in Sri Lanka as Bo Tree, and across South East Asia, they are known as a symbol of happiness, prosperity, longevity and good luck. As well it might be; quite apart from its religious associations, it is used in traditional medicine for treating many disorders, including asthma, diabetes, diarrhea, epilepsy, stomach problems, inflammations and sexual disorders!
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| Bo trees are a symbol of Happiness and Prosperity |
Time spent beneath the shading branches of the great tree might well be well spent!
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