Ficus religiosa-Peepul and Ficus benghalensis-Banyan

[Subrata Mahapatra]

Both these trees are sacred. They belong to 'Pancha Pallaba' or Five leaves used in
ritual rites. Hence well-known to our countrymen. Urban people may not be aware of
this. Thus a note on Peepal evoked good response from members. Garg ji as his wont
provided complete references - wikipedia is the best because it gives illustration of the
leaves , trunk/tree.Besides scientific data it gives interesting info. For example, seeing
traders (banias) doing transactions under its shade the English called it 'banyan' tree
and started writing about it since 1634. The largest banyan tree is in Indian Botanical
Garden,Howrah and is 250 years old. It is surrounded by a 330 metre  road.
However when it comes to sanskrit names it gives wrong data,e.g. "Plaksha is a
possible sanskrit name for the Sacred Fig." It is 'Ashwattha' referred to in Upanishads,
the Geeta, Charak,Shushurata. It is said that Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment
under this tree. So it is called Bodhi Briksha. In sanskrit Bodhi=enlightenment and
Briksha=tree. Buddhists call it simply Bo tree. An interesting note from wiki - Thais
call it Po but writes it Bodhi. This is why it is Sacred Fig or Ficus religiosa In Hindi it is
called Pippal. Bengalees call it by sanskrit name Ashwattha.
Sanskrit name for Banyan is'Nyagrodh' found in Atharbaveda. Wiki is again wrong here-
"In Hinduism the banyan tree isconsidered sacred and is called 'Aswath Briksha'.
Bengalees call it 'Bot'. In Hindi it is 'Bod'. This tree is characterised by aerial prop roots
which develop the size of a trunk and thus grows horizontally covering many acres under it.
From a distance it appears circular. A circle is 'Britta' in sanskrit. From its corrupted Pali
version 'Bot' arose. I have seen in the west a banyan tree is also called Pipul by some
which is to be corrected.