Kalpa Vriksha/Kalpataru

jai_ maa · January 27, 2009

Kalpataru, the divine tree of life being guarded by mythical creatures

Kinnara and Kinnari, flying Apsara and Devata. 8th century Pawon

temple, Java, Indonesia.

Kalpavriksha is a mythological, wish-fulfilling divine tree that is a

common trope in Sanskrit literature from the earliest sources onwards

– see Rig Veda (1.75; 17.26). Along with the kamadhenu, or

'wish-giving cow', the kalpavriksha originated during the Samudra

manthan or " churning of the milk ocean " , and the King of the gods,

Indra returned with it to his paradise. While there is no attested

Sanskrit source conclusively identifying this mythological tree with

any real, known tree kalpavriksha can figuratively refer to a source

of bounty.

Different trees are referred to as the Kalpa Vriksha.

* According to the Padma_Purana, this tree is the 'Parijat' -

Night-flowering_Jasmine.

* At Joshimath in Uttaranchal, which commemorates the residence of

Adiguru Shankaracharya, there is a large, ancient bodhi tree known

locally as the kalpavriksha. This tree is the Pipal / Peepal tree -

Sacred_Fig.

* Some persons refer to the Banyan tree as the Kalpavriksha.

* Some parts of India, especially coastal areas call the Coconut tree

as Kalpavriksha or kalpataru because of its ability to amply provide

for human needs.

Kalpavriksha : It is a very rare species. Probably only five

kalpavrikshas can be found in India out of which four are in Ranchi in

the Doranda area. Its botanical name is Adansonia Digitata. It is of

the baobab family and so it is also commonly called the Baobab tree.

There are few Kalpa vikshas are at Ranchi...

http://www.ranchi.com/ look for kalpataru in links

also

Anyone to contribute more on the subject???

If it is Baobab then in Pune can also boast to have one kalpataru....

the said Baobab tree is in main Abhinav chowk.On the crossing of

Bajirao chowk and Tilak road opposit to Cilai showroom.

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