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A sacred heritage rooted in plant life

Sarabjit Pandher

Ber Baba Budha Sahib stands on props as devotees pay obeisance to it in the parikarma of the Golden Temple

CHANDIGARH: A unique aspect of its tradition, which is embedded in plant life, makes Sikhism distinct among the world's religions as some of its most sacred shrines are hallowed by their association with the names of native species of trees.

As many as 48 historic shrines related to different periods of the evolution of the Sikh faith have been named after 17 species of trees, among which Beri (Zizyphus jujuba), Tahli (Shisham) and Jand (Prosopis spicigera) are the most popular. Even the holiest shrine, the Golden Temple, birth place of Guru Nanak Dev, Nankana Sahib in Pakistan, and Gurdwara Takhat Keshgarh Sahib in Anandpur Sahib, where the Khalsa order was created, are known for their sacred association with the trees.

These exceptional features of the Sikh religious way of life have been brought out for the first time in "Tryst with trees - Punjab's sacred heritage", a project undertaken by Punjab's senior IAS officer D.S. Jaspal, who is Secretary for the departments of Information and Public Relations as well as Forests. The project has also evinced interest in Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi which proposes to hold an exhibition of photographs by Mr. Jaspal.

Explaining the rare nomenclature, Mr. Jaspal, who quoted various authorities including "Mahan Kosh" of Bhai Kahn Singh, says that trees played a vital role in the vigorous outdoor life of the first five Gurus, who travelled to spread the new faith. The Gurus, while preaching, halted outside hamlets and towns for interaction with their disciples. Trees usually marked the sites of these sermons.

However, for the later Gurus, who faced the exigencies of guerrilla warfare, jungle became virtual home, where "Ber" provided fruit, "Jand" leaves fed tired horses, "Tahli" wood was good timber while the twigs of "Neem" helped cleanse the mouth.

Supported by metallic props, the nearly 450-year-old Ber tree in circumambulatory terrace along the northern bank of the sarovar of the Golden Temple in Amritsar reminds the daily stream of devotees of the site from where Baba Budha supervised the digging and the brick lining of the holy tank. He was directly associated with the lives of the first six Gurus.

Gurdwara Kalap Vrikish in Attari village of Ropar district is named after the majestic tree bearing a botanical nomenclature, Mitragina parvifolia. Associated with the life of Guru Gobind Singh, it attracts those who seek redemption from various maladies. Similarly it is believed that the yield of the milch cattle increases if one digs a wooden peg into the yard associated with Gurdwara Palahi Sahib at Lakhisar in Bathinda district. This shrine is named after Palah (Butia fondosa), where Guru Nanak Dev is said to have undertaken one lakh recitations of the scriptures of Japji Sahib, and later Guru Gobind Singh conducted a "kavi darbar" in 1705.

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A sacred heritage rooted in plant life

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