Tree of life

It is impossible to imagine life without the healthy flourishing flora and fauna around us, of which trees are the kernel of our existence. Consequently, we witness a deep reverence attached to trees in the communities of India and other thriving indigenous populations across the world. Trees form a huge part of our tradition, and their importance in holy texts such as the Ayurveda, Vedic wisdom, folk culture, spirituality, ceremonies, and day-to-day rituals in India is not new. Since ancient times, a quality life has always been credited to living in consonance with one's ecology. From Sita finding solace among the Ashoka trees to the desire for the celestial Parijat tree by Krishna’s two wives, Satyabhama and Rukmini, and the association of Goddess Lakshmi to the Pipal, there is an endless array of plant life, bearing a multitude of motifs and manifestations of ideas witnessed in the Indian subcontinent. Among them is the “Tree of Life'' which also goes by the name of Akshaya Vat or the Immortal Tree. One of the highly valued trees in India, the Banyan tree, is also renowned for its eternal nature. Apart from being known for its sacred medicinal and economic value, banyan trees also hold a great cultural value. They are renowned for multiplying themselves through their sturdy aerial roots, which is why these magnificent trees are associated with the symbol of longevity, as they enjoy a very long lifespan. Let us analyze the cultural value of the “Tree of Life” in Indian aesthetics.