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Green Pearls of India (Tracing the Roots of Sacred Trees)

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Specifications
Publisher: Rupa Publication Pvt. Ltd.
Author V. Sundararaju
Language: English
Pages: 241 (Color Illustrations)
Cover: PAPERBACK
8x5 inch
Weight 250 gm
Edition: 2023
ISBN: 9789357025409
HBP183
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Returns and Exchanges accepted within 7 days
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Book Description
Back of the Book
'The bael tree is considered a form of Lord Shiva, and is cultivated in the premises of Shiva temples. The tree is also known as shivadrumah in Sanskrit, meaning the tree of Shiva. Many Hindus also believe that Lord Shiva lives under the tree. As the leaves are ternate (in whorls of three), they are believed to represent the three eyes or the trident of Lord Shiva, the trimurti swaroop (the triumvirate of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva) and the three syllables of sacred sound "Om".

About the Book
It is undeniable that primitive man worshipped trees with singular impartiality in reverence of their life-giving nature. Throughout the world, every culture has formed enduring bonds with trees, and in appreciation of their inherent spiritual value, some have even been singled out for special veneration. India is no different. Here too, people, irrespective of religion and race, revere and worship trees.

In Green Pearls of India: Tracing the Roots of Sacred Trees, V. Sundararaju captures the essence and beauty of 27 such sacred trees. He vividly describes the religious, social, economic, ecological, cultural and medicinal values of each and explores the stories and legends associated with them. From the origins of the 'germ-killer' tree and 'sorrow-removing' tree to the trees associated with Lord Shiva and Gautam Buddha, this meticulously researched and richly illustrated book offers us a glimpse of the devotion that our ancient culture has shown towards sacred trees.

A must-read for environmentalists, scholars of religion and ecology, and people interested in the continued connection between spiritual practice and the natural environment, this book not only appreciates the special place that these trees have in our lives but also underscores the fact that communion with nature is indispensable for healing our planet.

About the Author
V. Sundararaju is a former forest officer of the Tamil Nadu Forest Department who has published seven books in Tamil and three books in English. His most recent book, Jungle Chronicles, contains notable events that had taken place during his service of more than 36 years in the Tamil Nadu Forest Department. Many of his scientific articles are also published in various English and Tamil newspapers and magazines. Additionally, he blogs regularly at Down to Earth (www.downtoearth.org.in), a media platform for environmental issues.

Presently, he serves the Society for Social Forestry Research and Development Tamil Nadu as a consultant. He is also the president of the forum called Society for Conservation of Nature, which organizes awareness programmes about nature and the environment at educational institutions. He also delivers lectures in various schools, colleges and other public forums regarding environmental conservation. Many of his talks are also broadcast on All India Radio (AIR) on important occasions.

Foreword
Among Nature's creations on Earth, trees occupy a special and immense space in the heart of human beings. In the Bhagavad Gita (Chapter 15, Verse 1), Lord Krishna describes our world like a banyan tree that has different branches. The banyan tree is one of the most venerated trees in India. In Hindu mythology, the tree is often called Kalpavriksha, the tree that provides fulfilment of wishes and other material gains. It symbolizes Trimurti-Lord Vishnu is believed to be the bark, Lord Brahma the roots and Lord Shiva the branches. In the Ramayana, it is said that Sita sat under an Ashoka tree in Lanka. The Buddha attained nirvana sitting under a peepal tree. In our temples, there invariably exists a sthalavriksham, a tree unique to a specific temple, which is worshiped and venerated. Trees have had an unseen but heartfelt relationship with humans since time immemorial. We recognize, respect and even worship them in our culture and civilization because of this relationship we have developed.

Introduction
While I was in active service in the Tamil Nadu Forest Department, I could not find spare time for activities like identifying origins of sacred trees and writing articles about them. Even then, with great interest and enthusiasm, I had helped identify a 500-year-old African baobab (Adansonia digitata) as well as another equally old arjuna tree (Terminalia arjuna), and relevant articles had been published in The Hindu and the Indian Forester in 2006 and 2010, respectively. Ever since my retirement in 2011, I have had the opportunity to serve as a consultant for the Society for Social Forestry Research and Development Tamil Nadu, and I have been fortunate enough to travel throughout Tamil Nadu and nearby states, including Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, for monitoring and evaluating various activities carried out by the respective state forest departments. During my evaluation work, I utilized my spare time identifying the heritage and sanctity of certain trees as a hobby. Only rare, centuries-old, strange and sacred trees are taken into account. Of course, nearly 100 trees have been identified in different parts of the state, not only within reserve forests but also outside. My articles on heritage trees have been published in various newspapers like The Hindu, Indian Express, Times of India, Deccan Chronicle, etc. I eventually turned into a blogger when I started writing for Down To Earth, and my scientific articles started being published periodically.

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