UNDER THE TREE A Compilation of the Visual, Emotional and Experiential Narratives of the Nemophilists at Pondicherry

Description

ABOUT THE BOOK

Trees are living monuments of nature, and worshipping them is the oldest form of religion, documented in ancient societies all over the World, because of their sheer magnificence, antiquity and benefits to humankind on Earth. The worship of plants is an ancient phenomenon in India, too. The earliest form of worship was the veneration of a single tree, line of trees, cluster of trees, groves and woodland/forest. Especially among the Tamils, “Trees were the embodiment of divinity; in them, Gods dwelt and had to be worshipped” (Agam,270.12;7; Puram,191.1;198). Many villages set apart sanctified land to propitiate the vanadevatas. i.e. tree spirits. The two notable traditional institutions of tree worship by the Tamils were Kovilkadu, or “Sacred Grove”, and Sthalavriksha or “Sacred Tree” of a temple.

This compendium narrates five such keystone “Sthalavriksha” as temple tree species offering their Ecosystem services, defined as “the benefits that humankind derives from nature or ecosystems”. Through provisioning, regulating, and providing habitat and cultural services to the local communities in various Tamil Nadu State, India districts. Study and documentation of the five temple tree species reveal their importance to conserve them in situ not only within a temple precinct but also in streets and various public open spaces in villages, towns and cities, for them to continue providing life support essentials like clean air, water, soil fertility, biodiversity. These “Trees are the earth’s endless effort to speak to the listening heaven” for the well-being of humankind and the Earth.