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uman beings are passionate lover of nature. In Hindu culture, nature is revered as ‘mother nature’. It is worshipped in the form of mountains, rivers, springs, trees etc. Tree is the important element of our nature. In Hindu scriptures, the world has been compared to a banyan tree. Though there are many trees like Peepal, Sandal, Ashoka, Bel, Kadamb etc. which are considered sacred by Hindus but there are some indigenous trees like Chinar, Deodar, Elm, Walnut and Mulberry trees which are exclusively revered along with other sacred trees by Kashmiri Hindus.
Chinar (Platanus Orientalis) The gigantic Chinar tree is considered very sacred because it is associated with Goddess Bhawani. ‘Boouin’ is the Kashmiri word for Chinar which is a phonetic derivative of Sanskrit word ‘Bhawani’. Being a deciduous tree, having palmate leaves, Saint Lalleshwari (Lalla Ded) has given it the name of ‘Shihij Moej’ meaning ‘cool/pleasant mother’. This is a synonym for Kashmir (‘Maej Kasheer’ in Kashmiri) also. We can see Chinar tree almost everywhere in Kashmir. There are Chinar groves at many places called ‘Boouin Bagh’ like Tulmul, Mattan, Akoora, Anantnag, Tikker, Kulgam, Shadipur, Bijbehara. The people of Kashmir used to plant Chinar saplings at sacred places, shrines and temples. The foliage of Chinar gives soothing and coolest shade as compared to the other trees. Many saints, seers and hermits have meditated in the cavernous trunks of this tree. During Ganesh festival (Pann Festival), Kashmiri Pandits used to use the Chinar leaves as covering while baking ‘Roth Tsot’ so that it is well baked and without any burn-stain. Its grey-white bark which peels off in patches is used as sacred firewood for making ‘Roth Tsot’. Several Kashmiri words, phrases and proverbs express the characteristics of Chinar. These are ‘Boouin Shuhul (shade of Chinar); ‘Boouin Naar’ (fire of Chinar); ‘Boouin Gogur’ (hollow trunk of Chinar); ‘Boouin Bagh’ (grove or garden of Chinar); ‘Char Chinar’ (a place named because of the four Chinar trees located in Dal lake); ‘Boouin Muhul Tarun’ (impossible thing) and ‘Prayagech Boouin Na Thadan Na Badan’ (the Chinar of Prayag neither becomes tall nor big; it means a child who doesn’t develop). The mystic Chinar at Shadipur (the ‘Prayag’ of Kashmir) till date stands testimony to sacredness of Chinar.
Deodar trees at these places are unique and mysterious. It is believed that nobody prunes a branch or twig of these Deodar trees. If they attempt to do it, they would face the wrath and curse of the deity. It is said that that during the early years of turmoil, some fanatics burnt the Deodar tree at Tripursundari Temple (Khanbaran). After committing this sacrilegious act, they all died.
It is a common belief among Kashmiri people that a devout devotee, named Thakur Raina (an illiterate person), had the vision of Lord Ganesha under the Elm tree of Hawnad (Chawalgam). He was offered milk by Lord Ganesha himself but he could not drink more than three sips. This way he was granted boon of knowledge which percolated down to his three generations. The last one was the great Kashmiri poet and satirist Lakshman Joo (popularly known as Lal Lakhiman). This tree is also considered as abode of ‘Bhairava’. In every village of Kashmir valley, Elm tree is found almost at every ‘Razbal’ (cremation ground).
Walnuts are also offered to rivers and streams. On the occasion of Navreh, Sonth and Tilashtami, each member of Kashmiri Hindu families offer walnuts to rivers and streams early in the morning. Such is the significance of walnut in Kashmiri ethos that the small container for keeping Tilak is known as ‘Katchal Doon’. Four types of tilak (‘Tyok’ in Kashmiri) namely saffron (Kong Tyok), sandal (Chandan Tyok), vermillion (Seinder Tyok) and ash (Bhasm Tyok) are kept in ‘Katchal Doon’ like the four units of a walnut shell. Apart from furniture making, its wood is used for making a small table (Bhadra Peeth) on which routine holy bath of ‘Thakur Saeb’ (Idols of Gods and family deity) is conducted on every morning. The wood of mulberry tree has much importance in Kashmiri rituals solemnized religiously. The logs of mulberry are always in demand while religious ceremonies like Yagneopavit (‘Mekhal’ in Kashmiri) or ‘Hawan’ is performed. On the occasion of putting on sacred thread ceremony (Mekhal), body size branch of this tree is used as holy mace in the right hand of ‘Brahmachari’ (‘Mekhli Maharaz’ in Kashmiri). Its twigs cut into size of a palm (of the length from thumb to little finger) are offered as ‘Samidha’ to sacred fire. While paying homage to deceased ones, Kashmiri Hindus decorate the coffin with mulberry branches. These are also used on the ‘Tenth Day’ commemoration of the deceased person. |
Dr. Jai Kishan Sharma is a writer/researcher. He is Ph.D. in Kashmir Shaivism from University of Jammu.
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