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Kalpataru, Kinnara-Kinnari, Apsara-Devata, Pawon Temple

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 (Devanagari: कल्पवृक्ष), also known as kalpataru, kalpadruma and kalpapādapa, is a mythological, wish-fulfilling divine tree said to fulfill all desires. It was mentioned in Sanskrit literature from the earliest sources onwards. Sage Durvasa meditated under the Kalpavriksha.

The kalpavriksha originated during the Samudra manthan or "churning of the ocean of milk" along with the kamadhenu, the divine cow providing for all needs. The King of the gods, Indra returned with this tree to his paradise.

A kalpavriksha is mentioned in the Sanskrit work Mānāsara as a royal emblem. In Hemādri's work Caturvargacīntama, the kalpavriksha is said to be a tree of gold and precious stones.[1]

One Kalpavriksh is believed to be have been planted by Jagadguru Shankaracharya himself at Jyotirmath, Badrinath, Uttaranchal in the cradle of the Himalayas. It has been preserved and protected by Armed forces by installing a wire mesh around the tree. The unique property of the tree is that it never loses a single leaf by itself, it is evergreen and is said to be emanating the deep seated devotion of Shankaracharya for the Supreme Godhead Vishnu.

Kalpvriksha Mission[]

Kalpvriksha has many spiritual, religious and environmental values. It's a divine tree on the earth planet. Himalaya Vahini is conducting mass movement to planting the sapling of Kalpvriksha at the all pilgrims like a mission, mission started from Haridwar. Due to planting world's first Kalpvriksha forest at Daksh island Kankhal, now Haridwar has been complete pilgrim. Conveyor of this mission Vijaypal Baghel is planting more and more saplings of this wish fulfiller, spiritual and endangered specie around the world as a holy tree.

Identification with other trees[]

Different trees are referred to as the Kalpa Vriksha.

  • At Mangaliyawas near Ajmer, Rajasthan, there two-revered trees (Male and Female) that are more than 800 years old. Known as Kalpavrikshas, these trees are worshipped on an amavasya day in the Hindu month of Shravan.
    Kalpvriksha

    Kalpavriksha in Mangaliyawas (near Ajmer, Rajasthan in India)

  • According to the Padma Purana, this tree is the Parijaat tree, Kintoor, a unique baobab near Barabanki.
  • At Jyotirmath, Badrinath in Uttaranchal, renowned as the residence of Adiguru Shankaracharya, there is a large, ancient mulberry tree known locally as the kalpavriksha. This tree is a Morus tree, or mulberry.
  • Some persons refer to the Banyan tree as the Kalpavriksha.
  • In certain parts of India, especially coastal areas, the Coconut tree is referred to as Kalpavriksha or kalpataru because of its ability to amply provide for human needs.

See also[]

  • Akshayavat, a sacred fig banyan in Hindu mythology
  • Parijat tree

References[]

  1. Archaeology and Language IV; Language Change and Cultural Transformation, Edited by Roger Blench, Matthew Spriggs, Routledge 1999

Template:Worship in Hinduism



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