The Trees = Pujya Gurudev

The Trees Who Pray and Bathe

=Pt.ShriRam Sharma Acharya

It is now a scientifically established fact that plants and trees too have life. They feel and breathe like other animals and also feel pleasure and pain. Long back, the pioneering experiments of the Indian scientist Prof. J.C. Basu had conclusively proved as much. But although living entities, the life cycles of plants have certain inherent limitations. They cannot move from one place to another, and have to carry out all their vital activities standing at one place during their life-cycle. 

Occasionally, however, some trees do defy these limitations and indulge in activities, which are extremely unusual and are still beyond the ambit of scientific comprehension. Such phenomena go to reassert that nature hides within its bosom umpteen layers of mystery. Sir J.C. Basu has enumerated many instances of highly extraordinary and awe-inspiring behavior of trees in his book & Plant autographs and their revelation's. One such tree mentioned is a palm tree in Faridpur in West Bengal (India). 

The tree, like all others of its ilk, remained erect throughout the day time, its leaves swaying and rustling with every breeze - all very normal activities. But when the evening set in and the temples resounded with the uplifting sound of gongs and bells, this tree prostrated itself on the ground in the manner of offering prayer to God-knows-whom. A huge crowd would gather there every evening to witness this spectacular sport of nature. 

It was commonly believed that this tree fulfilled one's wishes and cured physical and mental ailments. But how? This still remains a mystery. Apart from offering prayers, trees have been known to take bath too! This sounds incredible, but Sir J.C. Basu has recorded many such phenomena of bathing trees. There was one such tree in Faridpur. It stood on the bank of a pond. It remained calm and straight for the whole day, but with the onset of evening, it used to exhibit signs of growing restlessness as if to take a dip in the pond. 

Ultimately, after many visible attempts, it would gather the leaves and branches around, bend, and submerge itself in the water of the pond. After remaining in that underwater position for a while, it would again gradually raise itself and revert to its normal posture, calm and cool. People had nicknamed it "the bathing palm tree". No one knew the reason behind this mysterious propensity of the tree to bathe. Such strange occurrences of tree-behavior, which pose a challenge to human knowledge and understanding, have been found outside India too. In many countries, there are reports of the existence of "praying" and "religious" trees, which draw people from far and wide to witness their unusual behavior patterns. About one particular tree in Liverpool, England, J.C. Basu writes that it offered prayer in a distinctive manner. It was a thick willow tree by the side of a small stream. (Countinue)

Thanks GOD, Thanks Sadguru,

Shiv Sharma