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=== Vishnu Smrti ===

=== Vishnu Smrti ===

The following are the details from Vishnu Smrti (Adhyaya 91)<ref name=":12" /> outlining the rewards of digging wells and planting trees.<blockquote>अथ कूपकर्तुस्तत्प्रवृत्ते पानीये दुष्कृतस्यार्धं विनश्यति ॥ ९१.१ ॥ तडागकृन्नित्यतृप्तो वारुणं लोकं अश्नुते ॥ ९१.२ ॥ जलप्रदः सदा तृप्तो भवति ॥ ९१.३ ॥</blockquote>The digger of a well has the half of his evil acts destroyed as soon as water springs forth in it.  One who digs water reservoirs is for ever freed from thirst and attains Varuna loka. One who gives water will be satisfied for ever (never suffer from thirst).<blockquote>वृक्षारोपयितुर्वृक्षाः परलोके पुत्रा भवन्ति ॥ ९१.४ ॥वृक्षप्रदो वृक्षप्रसूनैर्देवान्प्रीणयति ॥ ९१.५ ॥फलैश्चातिथीन् ॥ ९१.६ ॥छायया चाभ्यागतान् ॥ ९१.७ ॥ देवे वर्षत्युदकेन पितॄन् ॥ ९१.८ ॥ सेतुकृत्स्वर्गं आप्नोति ॥ ९१.९ ॥</blockquote>One who plants trees will have them as sons in future existence. One who plants trees please the devatas by their flowers, atithis by their fruits, travellers by the shade of those trees. He pleases the forefathers with the water (trickling down from their leaves) when it rains. One who builds dikes (dams, water reservoirs) attains heaven. <blockquote>देवायतनकारी यस्य देवस्यायतनं करोति तस्यैव लोकं आप्नोति ॥ ९१.१० ॥ सुधासिक्तं कृत्वा यशसा विराजते ॥ ९१.११ ॥विचित्रं कृत्वा गन्धर्वलोकं आप्नोति ॥ ९१.१२ ॥</blockquote>One who constructs temples enters the loka of the deity for whom he erected that temple. He who paints the temple, white, acquires brilliant fame while one who colours it with different paints attains gandharva loka. <blockquote>पुष्पप्रदानेन श्रीमान्भवति ॥ ९१.१३ ॥ अनुलेपनप्रदानेन कीर्तिमान् ॥ ९१.१४ ॥दीपप्रदानेन चक्षुष्मान्सर्वत्रोज्ज्वलश्च ॥ ९१.१५ ॥अन्नप्रदानेन बलवान् ॥ ९१.१६ ॥</blockquote>By giving flowers he becomes fortunate. Charity of aromatic applications (and scents) endows one with fame. By giving lamps one obtains an excellent eyesight and becomes radiant with lustre. By giving food the donor obtains strength.<blockquote>देवनिर्माल्यापनयनात्गोदानफलं आप्नोति ॥ ९१.१७ ॥देवगृहमार्जनात्तदुपलेपनात्ब्राह्मणोच्छिष्टमार्जनात्पादशौचादकल्यपरिचरणाच्च ॥ ९१.१८ ॥ कूपारामतडागेषु देवतायतनेषु च । पुनः संस्कारकर्ता च लभते मौलिकं फलम् ॥ ९१.१९ ॥</blockquote>By removing the devanirmalya (remains of an offering to a deity) he obtains the same reward as for giving a cow. Same reward is also obtained by scouring a temple, smearing it with cow-dung, removing the left-overs of the food of a brahmana, by washing his feet and nursing him when sick. One who consecrates anew a well, garden, a pool or water reservoir, a temple (which have been soiled in time) obtains the same reward as he who first made them.

The following are the details from Vishnu Smrti (Adhyaya 91)<ref name=":12" /> outlining the rewards of digging wells and planting trees.<blockquote>अथ कूपकर्तुस्तत्प्रवृत्ते पानीये दुष्कृतस्यार्धं विनश्यति ॥ ९१.१ ॥ तडागकृन्नित्यतृप्तो वारुणं लोकं अश्नुते ॥ ९१.२ ॥ जलप्रदः सदा तृप्तो भवति ॥ ९१.३ ॥</blockquote>The digger of a well has the half of his evil acts destroyed as soon as water springs forth in it.  One who digs water reservoirs is for ever freed from thirst and attains Varuna loka. One who gives water will be satisfied for ever (never suffer from thirst).<blockquote>देवायतनकारी यस्य देवस्यायतनं करोति तस्यैव लोकं आप्नोति ॥ ९१.१० ॥ सुधासिक्तं कृत्वा यशसा विराजते ॥ ९१.११ ॥विचित्रं कृत्वा गन्धर्वलोकं आप्नोति ॥ ९१.१२ ॥</blockquote>One who constructs temples enters the loka of the deity for whom he erected that temple. He who paints the temple, white, acquires brilliant fame while one who colours it with different paints attains gandharva loka. <blockquote>पुष्पप्रदानेन श्रीमान्भवति ॥ ९१.१३ ॥ अनुलेपनप्रदानेन कीर्तिमान् ॥ ९१.१४ ॥दीपप्रदानेन चक्षुष्मान्सर्वत्रोज्ज्वलश्च ॥ ९१.१५ ॥अन्नप्रदानेन बलवान् ॥ ९१.१६ ॥</blockquote>By giving flowers he becomes fortunate. Charity of aromatic applications (and scents) endows one with fame. By giving lamps one obtains an excellent eyesight and becomes radiant with lustre. By giving food the donor obtains strength.<blockquote>देवनिर्माल्यापनयनात्गोदानफलं आप्नोति ॥ ९१.१७ ॥देवगृहमार्जनात्तदुपलेपनात्ब्राह्मणोच्छिष्टमार्जनात्पादशौचादकल्यपरिचरणाच्च ॥ ९१.१८ ॥ कूपारामतडागेषु देवतायतनेषु च । पुनः संस्कारकर्ता च लभते मौलिकं फलम् ॥ ९१.१९ ॥</blockquote>By removing the devanirmalya (remains of an offering to a deity) he obtains the same reward as for giving a cow. Same reward is also obtained by scouring a temple, smearing it with cow-dung, removing the left-overs of the food of a brahmana, by washing his feet and nursing him when sick. One who consecrates anew a well, garden, a pool or water reservoir, a temple (which have been soiled in time) obtains the same reward as he who first made them.

== द्वारी बन्ध ॥ Dvari Bandh ==

== द्वारी बन्ध ॥ Dvari Bandh ==

Apart from water bodies, construction of dams was also referred to in later texts. Dvari Bandh refers to a dam, created by collecting flow of water from a waterfall or mountain stream. A detailed description of the dvari bandh has been given by Devipurana as quoted by Hemadri (Chaturvarga Chintamani Danakanda Adhyaya 13 p. 1007)<ref name=":1">Chaturvarga Chintamani ([https://archive.org/stream/in.ernet.dli.2015.424417/2015.424417.chaturvarga-chintamani#page/n915/mode/1up Adhyaya 13 p.1007])</ref>, along with the dedication ceremony and benefits.

Apart from water bodies, construction of dams was also referred to in later texts. Dvari Bandh refers to a dam, created by collecting flow of water from a waterfall or mountain stream. A detailed description of the dvari bandh has been given by Devipurana as quoted by Hemadri (Chaturvarga Chintamani Danakanda Adhyaya 13 p. 1007)<ref name=":1">Chaturvarga Chintamani ([https://archive.org/stream/in.ernet.dli.2015.424417/2015.424417.chaturvarga-chintamani#page/n915/mode/1up Adhyaya 13 p.1007])</ref>, along with the dedication ceremony and benefits.

=== जलपवित्रीकरणम् ॥ Sanctifying waters ===

=== जलपवित्रीकरणम् ॥ Sanctifying waters ===

The central idea is that unless the reservoir was consecrated in the way prescribed its water is not holy and when consecrated it became holy. Bhavishya purana quoted by Nirnayasindhu (p.238) says the following <ref>Nirnaya Sindhu ([https://archive.org/stream/in.ernet.dli.2015.486086/2015.486086.Nirnaya-Sindhu#page/n253/mode/2up Paricheda 3 Purvabhaga])</ref><blockquote>सदा जलं पवित्रं स्यादपवित्रमसंस्कृतम् । कुशाग्रेणापि राजेन्द्र स्प्रष्टग्यमसंस्कृतम् ॥</blockquote><blockquote>वापीकूपतडागदौ यज्जलं स्यादसंस्कृतम् । अपेयं तद्भवेत्सर्वे पीत्वा चान्द्रायणं चरेत् ॥</blockquote>Water has to be consecrated to purify or make it holy, as waters in the wells, tanks and reservoirs are not sacred.

The central idea is that unless the reservoir was consecrated in the way prescribed its water is not holy and when consecrated it became holy. Bhavishya purana quoted by Nirnayasindhu (p.238) says the following <ref>Nirnaya Sindhu ([https://archive.org/stream/in.ernet.dli.2015.486086/2015.486086.Nirnaya-Sindhu#page/n253/mode/2up Paricheda 3 Purvabhaga])</ref><ref name=":03" /><blockquote>सदा जलं पवित्रं स्यादपवित्रमसंस्कृतम् । कुशाग्रेणापि राजेन्द्र स्प्रष्टग्यमसंस्कृतम् ॥</blockquote><blockquote>वापीकूपतडागदौ यज्जलं स्यादसंस्कृतम् । अपेयं तद्भवेत्सर्वे पीत्वा चान्द्रायणं चरेत् ॥</blockquote>Water has to be consecrated to purify or make it holy, as waters in the wells, tanks and reservoirs are not sacred.

=== उत्सर्गविधिः ॥ Procedure of Utsarga ===

=== उत्सर्गविधिः ॥ Procedure of Utsarga ===

From very ancient times the procedure of dedicating a well or tank to the public has been settled. Among the earliest is the Shankhyayana Grhyasutras (5.2) outlines the following steps briefly given below <ref name=":03" /><ref>Shankhyayana Grhyasutras ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%99%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%96%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D Adhyaya 5])</ref>

From very ancient times the procedure of dedicating a well or tank to the public has been settled. Among the earliest is the Shankhyayana Grhyasutras (5.2) outlines the following steps briefly as given below <ref name=":03" /><ref>Shankhyayana Grhyasutras ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%99%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%96%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D Adhyaya 5])</ref>

# अथ पुष्करिणीकूपतडागानां १ Now about the consecration of ponds, wells and tanks.

# अथ पुष्करिणीकूपतडागानां १ Now about the consecration of ponds, wells and tanks.

# शुद्धपक्षे पुण्ये वा तिथौ २ । In the bright fortnight or on an auspicious tithi (lunar day)  

# शुद्धपक्षे पुण्ये वा तिथौ २ । In the bright fortnight or on an auspicious tithi (lunar day)  

# पयसा यवमयं चरुं श्रपयित्वा ३ । having cooked चरुं (boiled food) with yava (barley) in milk

# पयसा यवमयं चरुं श्रपयित्वा ३ । having cooked चरुं (boiled food) with yava (barley) in milk

# त्वं नो अग्न इति द्वाभ्यामव ते हेळ इमं मे वरुणोदुत्तमं वरुणेमां धियं शिक्षमाणस्य ४। he (the donor) should sacrifice to the devatas with the mantras 'त्वं नो अग्न । tvam no agne' (Rig. Veda. 4.1.4 and 5), 'अव ते हेळ। ava te hela' (Rig. Veda. 1.24.14), 'इमं मे वरुण । imam me varuna' (Rig. Veda. 1.25.19), उदुत्तमं वरुण । uduttamam varuna' (Rig. Veda. 1.24.15), 'इमां धियं । imam dhiyam' (Rig. Veda. 8.42.3)  

# त्वं नो अग्न इति द्वाभ्यामव ते हेळ इमं मे वरुणोदुत्तमं वरुणेमां धियं शिक्षमाणस्य ४। he (the donor) should perform yajna to the devatas with the mantras 'त्वं नो अग्न । tvam no agne' (Rig. Veda. 4.1.4 and 5), 'अव ते हेळ। ava te hela' (Rig. Veda. 1.24.14), 'इमं मे वरुण । imam me varuna' (Rig. Veda. 1.25.19), उदुत्तमं वरुण । uduttamam varuna' (Rig. Veda. 1.24.15), 'इमां धियं । imam dhiyam' (Rig. Veda. 8.42.3)  

# गृह्योऽपगृह्यो मयोभूराखरो निखरो निःसरो निकामः सपत्नदूषण इति वारुण्या दिक्प्रभृति प्रदक्षिणं जुहुयान्  ५। (he should) using the words 'the domestic one, one who goes away from the house, the refreshing one, etc circumambulate to the different directions beginning with the west from left to right.  

# गृह्योऽपगृह्यो मयोभूराखरो निखरो निःसरो निकामः सपत्नदूषण इति वारुण्या दिक्प्रभृति प्रदक्षिणं जुहुयान्  ५। (he should) using the words 'the domestic one, one who goes away from the house, the refreshing one, etc circumambulate to the different directions beginning with the west from left to right.  

# मध्ये पयसा जुहोति विश्वतश्चक्षुरिदं विष्णुरिति ६ । in the centre he makes ahuti with milk uttering the mantras 'विश्वतश्चक्षुः । visvatas chakshu (Rig. Veda. 10.81.3) and 'इदं विष्णु । idam Vishnu (Rig. Veda. 1.22.17)  

# मध्ये पयसा जुहोति विश्वतश्चक्षुरिदं विष्णुरिति ६ । in the centre he makes ahuti with milk uttering the mantras 'विश्वतश्चक्षुः । visvatas chakshu (Rig. Veda. 10.81.3) and 'इदं विष्णु । idam Vishnu (Rig. Veda. 1.22.17)  

== वृक्षारोपणम् ॥ Vrksharopana ==

== वृक्षारोपणम् ॥ Vrksharopana ==

Trees have been highly prized in Bharatavarsha at all times. They have been used for

Trees have been highly prized in Bharatavarsha at all times. Apart from the general food, building and construction purposes, they are used for

* worship and circumbulation as part of tradition

* worship and circumbulation as part of tradition

* yajnas for making the yupa (the post to which the animal was tied)  

* yajnas for making the yupa (the post to which the animal was tied)  

* fruits and flowers used for general consumption and for worship of devatas and pitrs)

* fruits and flowers used for general consumption and for worship of devatas and pitrs)

* dvaja-stamba or temple pillars

* dvaja-stamba or temple pillars

Trees are like sons for the person who plants these and ensure prestige for him / her in this world as also after death. <blockquote>पुष्पैः सुरगणान् वृक्षाः फलैश्चापि तथा पितॄन् । छायया चातिथिं तात पूजयन्ति महीरुहः ॥ (Maha. Anush. 58.28)</blockquote>Plants offer worship with flowers for devatas, fruits for ancestors and shade for those unexpected guests. All kinds of beings take shelter under trees. <ref name=":022" /><ref name=":03" /> Bharatiya samskruti thus, proclaiming divinity in all beings, extols the sanctity and need for protection of all beings by instilling a moral outlook towards every creature.  

Trees are like sons for the person who plants these and ensure prestige for him / her in this world as also after death. <blockquote>पुष्पैः सुरगणान् वृक्षाः फलैश्चापि तथा पितॄन् । छायया चातिथिं तात पूजयन्ति महीरुहः ॥ (Maha. Anush. 58.28)</blockquote>Plants offer worship with flowers for devatas, fruits for ancestors and shade for those unexpected guests. All kinds of beings take shelter under trees. <ref name=":022" /><ref name=":03" />  

 

 

Bharatiya samskruti thus, proclaiming divinity in all beings, extols the sanctity and need for protection of all beings by instilling a moral outlook towards every creature.  

=== Types of Plants ===

=== Types of Plants ===

On the north Plaksha (प्लक्षः। Peepal or White Fig, Ficus virens) Vata (वटः । Banyan, Ficus bengalensis) Audumbara (औदुम्बरः। Cluster Fig, Ficus racemosa) and Asvatha (अश्वत्थः। Holy fig, Ficus religiosa).

On the north Plaksha (प्लक्षः। Peepal or White Fig, Ficus virens) Vata (वटः । Banyan, Ficus bengalensis) Audumbara (औदुम्बरः। Cluster Fig, Ficus racemosa) and Asvatha (अश्वत्थः। Holy fig, Ficus religiosa).

The auspicious trees to be planted in gardens are also described extensively in this Purana as follows<blockquote>अथोद्याने प्रवक्ष्यामि प्रशस्तान्पादपान्द्विज । अरिष्टाशोकपुन्नागशिरीषाम्रप्रियङ्गवः ।। १० ।। (Vish. Dhar. Pura. 2.30.10) </blockquote><blockquote>पनसाशोकदचलीजम्बूलकुचदाडिमाः । माङ्गल्याः पूर्वमारामे रोपणीया गृहेषु वा ।। ११ ।। (Vish. Dhar. Pura. 2.30.11)</blockquote><blockquote>शाल्मलिं कोविदारं च वर्जयित्वा विभीतकम् ।। १२ ।। (Vish. Dhar. Pura. 2.30.12)</blockquote><blockquote>असनं देवदारुं च पलाशं पुष्करं तथा । न विवर्ज्यस्तथा कश्चिद्देवोद्यानेषु जानता ।। १३ ।। (Vish. Dhar. Pura. 2.30.13)</blockquote>Neem (अरिष्टः), Ashoka (अशोकः), Naagkesar / Champa (पुन्नाग), Shireesh (शिरीषा), Mango (आम्रः), Mehendi (प्रियङ्गवः) Jackfruit (पनसा) Banana (दचली) Jamun (जम्बू) (लकुच) and Anaar (दाडिमाः). These auspicious trees are to be planted in houses or in Aramas (guest houses).

The auspicious trees to be planted in gardens are also described extensively in this Purana as follows<blockquote>अथोद्याने प्रवक्ष्यामि प्रशस्तान्पादपान्द्विज । अरिष्टाशोकपुन्नागशिरीषाम्रप्रियङ्गवः ।। १० ।। (Vish. Dhar. Pura. 2.30.10) </blockquote><blockquote>पनसाशोकदचलीजम्बूलकुचदाडिमाः । माङ्गल्याः पूर्वमारामे रोपणीया गृहेषु वा ।। ११ ।। (Vish. Dhar. Pura. 2.30.11)</blockquote><blockquote>शाल्मलिं कोविदारं च वर्जयित्वा विभीतकम् ।। १२ ।। (Vish. Dhar. Pura. 2.30.12)</blockquote><blockquote>असनं देवदारुं च पलाशं पुष्करं तथा । न विवर्ज्यस्तथा कश्चिद्देवोद्यानेषु जानता ।। १३ ।। (Vish. Dhar. Pura. 2.30.13)</blockquote>Neem (अरिष्टः), Ashoka (अशोकः), Naagkesar / Champa (पुन्नाग), Shireesh (शिरीषः), Mango (आम्रः), Mehendi (प्रियङ्गुः) Jackfruit (पनसः) Banana (दचली) Jamun (जम्बू) Anjeer (लकुच) and Anaar (दाडिमाः). These auspicious trees are to be planted in houses or in Aramas (guest houses).

 

 

and how the trees should be planted, nurtured254 and cured of diseases.

Trees recommended for sacred groves for devatas include Shalmali (शाल्मलिः) Kanchanara (कोविदारः) Vibheetaki (विभीतकः) Vijaysara (असनः) Cedar tree (देवदारुः) Flame of the forest tree (पलाशः) Indian Lotus (पुष्करः). The chapter also describes in detail when and how the trees should be planted, nurtured and cured of diseases.  

== References ==

== References ==

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