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→वृक्षारोपणम् ॥ Vrksharopana: adding content
== वापीकूपतडागोत्सर्गविधिवर्णनम् ॥ Dedication of Water Reservoirs ==
== वापीकूपतडागोत्सर्गविधिवर्णनम् ॥ Dedication of Water Reservoirs ==
Sevaral works give a very comprehensive procedure of the consecration of wells, ponds and tanks, based on the grhyaparisishtas, the puranas, the tantras, Pancharatras and other works. A few works that cite these procedures include
Sevaral works give a very comprehensive procedure of the consecration of wells, ponds and tanks, based on the grhyaparisishtas, the puranas, the tantras, Pancharatras and other works. A few works that cite these procedures include
* Matsya Purana (तड़ागारामकूपादीनां प्रतिष्ठाविधिवर्णनम् । Adhaya 58)<ref>Matsya Purana ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%AB%E0%A5%AE Adhyaya 58])</ref>
* Matsya Purana (तड़ागारामकूपादीनां प्रतिष्ठाविधिवर्णनम् । Adhaya 58)<ref name=":2">Matsya Purana ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%AB%E0%A5%AE Adhyaya 58])</ref>
* Bhavishya Purana (Parva 4 Uttaraparva, Adhyaya 127)<ref>Bhavishya Purana ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D_/%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5_%E0%A5%AA_(%E0%A4%89%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5)/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%A8%E0%A5%AD Parva 4 Adhyaya 127])</ref>
* Bhavishya Purana (Parva 4 Uttaraparva, Adhyaya 127)<ref>Bhavishya Purana ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D_/%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5_%E0%A5%AA_(%E0%A4%89%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5)/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%A8%E0%A5%AD Parva 4 Adhyaya 127])</ref>
* Apararka (p. 409-414)
* Apararka (p. 409-414)
=== 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 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>
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 name=":3">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)
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" />
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" />
Vishnu Smriti extols the greatness of planting of trees thus<ref name=":12" /> <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 ॥ (Vish. Smrt. 91.4 to 9)</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.
Vishnu Smriti eulogizes the greatness of planting of trees thus<ref name=":12" /> <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 ॥ (Vish. Smrt. 91.4 to 9)</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.
Bhavishya Purana quoted in the Utsargamayukha (p.16) states " he who plants either one asvattha or one pichumarda or nyagrodha or ten tamarind trees, or the three trees namely kapittha, bilva, and amlaka or plants five mango trees would not see naraka ( i.e. would not be condemned to naraka for his sins). Vasishta Dharmasutras (19.11 and 12) prescribes that no one should injure trees that yield fruits and flowers except for purpose of cultivation of land and for yajnas as laid down in Vishnu Smrti (51.63). It also prescribes that fines should be levied against those who wrongfully cut fruit bearing trees, creepers, shrubs and even grass.<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.
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 ===
Planting of trees and orchards, gardens etc. for public use has been praised in almost all the Puranas and Smrtis. After the battle of Mahabharata (Anushasana Parva, Adhyaya 58), Bhishma talks to Yudhishthira about the importance of planting trees. Accordingly, the immovable beings (स्थावराणां । plants and their class of beings) are classified into six types: <blockquote>स्थावराणां च भूतानां जातयः षट् प्रकीर्तिताः । वृक्षगुल्मलतावल्ल्यस्त्वक्सारास्तृणजातयः॥ (Maha. Anush. 58.23)<ref>Pt. Ramnarayandatt Shastri. ''[https://archive.org/stream/Mahabharata04SanskritHindiPanditRamnarayanGitaPress/Mahabharata06_Sanskrit-hindi_panditRamnarayan_gitaPress#page/n271/mode/2up Mahabharata with Hindi Translation, Volume 6.]'' (Anushasana Parva Adhyaya 58). Gorakhpur : Gita Press</ref></blockquote>
Planting of trees and orchards, gardens etc. for public use has been praised in almost all the Puranas and Smrtis. After the battle of Mahabharata (Anushasana Parva, Adhyaya 58), Bhishma talks to Yudhishthira about the importance of planting trees. Accordingly, the immovable beings (स्थावराणां । plants and their class of beings) are classified into six types:<ref name=":03" /> <blockquote>स्थावराणां च भूतानां जातयः षट् प्रकीर्तिताः । वृक्षगुल्मलतावल्ल्यस्त्वक्सारास्तृणजातयः॥ (Maha. Anush. 58.23)<ref>Pt. Ramnarayandatt Shastri. ''[https://archive.org/stream/Mahabharata04SanskritHindiPanditRamnarayanGitaPress/Mahabharata06_Sanskrit-hindi_panditRamnarayan_gitaPress#page/n271/mode/2up Mahabharata with Hindi Translation, Volume 6.]'' (Anushasana Parva Adhyaya 58). Gorakhpur : Gita Press</ref></blockquote>
# वृक्षः ॥ Trees (Ex. Peepul)
# वृक्षः ॥ Trees (Ex. Peepul)
# गुल्मः ॥ Shrubs (Ex. Kusha)
# गुल्मः ॥ Bushes or Shrubs (Ex. Kusha)
# लता ॥ Climbers (which climb over the trees)
# लता ॥ Climbers (that cling to the trees)
# वल्ली ॥ Creepers (which spread over the ground)
# वल्ली ॥ Creepers (which spread on the ground)
# त्वक्सारः ॥ Twaksara (Ex. Bamboo)
# त्वक्सारः ॥ Twaksara (whose bark is strong while the inside is hollow Ex. Bamboo)
# तृणम् ॥ Trna (Ex. Grasses)
# तृणम् ॥ Trna (Ex. Grasses)
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).
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).
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.
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.<ref name=":022" /><ref name=":03" />
=== Sanctity of Certain Trees ===
Vrddha Gautama identifies the Asvattha tree with Srikrishna (Sri Mahavishnu). <blockquote>आम्राश्च सिक्ताः पितरश्च प्रीणिताः ॥ </blockquote>The above verse from Mahabhashya (Vol. 1 p.14) conveys that if a person waters and tends to mango trees, his ancestors or pitrs, feel extremely pleased.
Manusmrti (4.39) and Yajnavalkya smrti (1.133) require the snataka (one who finished his studies and is about to enter the grhastha ashrama) to cirumambulate well-known trees (like asvattha) if he happens to meet them on his way.
Taittriya Samhita (3.4.8.4)<ref>Taittriya Samhita ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%88%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%B9%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BE(%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%83)/%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A1%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D_%E0%A5%A9/%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A0%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%AA Kanda 3 Prapathaka 4])</ref> states that Idhma (samidha) should be of the nyagrodha, audumbara, asvattha and plaksha trees as they are the abodes of gandharvas and apsaras.<blockquote>नैयग्रोध औदुम्बर आश्वत्थः प्लाक्ष इतीध्मो भवत्येते वै गन्धर्वाप्सरसां गृहाः ॥ </blockquote>Hemadri cites a passage from the Brahmapurana that the twigs and leaves of the Asvattha, Audumbara, Plaksha, Chuta (mango) and Nyagrodha are styled Panchabhanga and are auspicious in all rites. The Palasa tree was held to be so sacred that one was not to make seats, sandals or tooth brushes from it or its branches and twigs (Baud. Dhar. Sutr. 2.3.25). Mahabharata Shanti Parva (69.42) forbids even the felling of leaves of trees like the Asvattha that have a platform built for them.<ref name=":03" />
=== Dedication of Gardens ===
Hemadri in Chaturvarga Chintamani (Dana Kanda p.1029 - 1055) deals at length with the planting of trees, the dedication of a garden and the merit acquired by making gifts of various trees. The procedure of dedicating a garden is prescribed in Shankhyayana grhyasutras (5.3)<ref name=":3" />, Asvalayana grhyasutra parisishta (4.10), Matsya purana (58 and 59), Agnipurana (70) and in many other works. It is modelled in the dedication of wells and tanks. The Matsyapurana expressly states that the procedure of the consecration of a tank is extended to the consecration of everything, such as a prasada (large house or hall for public use), a garden, the only difference being that the mantras are different. <blockquote>एवमेषु पुराणेषु तडाग विधिरुच्यते।। ५८.५० ।।<br>
कूपवापीषु सर्वासु तथा पुष्करिणीषु च। एष एव विधिर्दृष्टः प्रतिष्ठासु तथैव च।। ५८.५१ ।।<br>
मन्त्रतस्तु विशेषः स्यात् प्रसादोद्यानभूमिषु। (Mats. Pura. 58.50 to 52)<ref name=":2" /></blockquote>
== References ==
== References ==
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