GOVINDA PRALAYAANTAKA RAJA (प्रलयांतक गोविन्दराज देव )

       UGRA PRALAYAANTAKA SHRIMAD GOVINDARAJA DEVA

     

        The Ashwatha ( Pippal ), Nimbak ( Neem ) both trees take birth from the seeds ( same trees seeds) come out from stool of crows. In HINDU SANAATANA DHRAMA Tradition, the crow plays important role in “ KAAKA PINDA “ (after funeral days) OF HUMAN to reach “MOKSHA”. The sage maharshi  AGASTYA worshipped Shri Govindaraaja Deva by the order of “ Kaashi Vishwanaatha” as Mokshapradaayaka.

             

         To safeguard the environment ,instead of worshipping as an idol , Maharshi thought and started worshipping Lord Govindaraj as a tree (form of Dravida Jana rupaka). From there Deva is called as “ PRALAYAANTAKA” also.

अभयं गदीनम च शंख चक्रं | चापम तुणीरम द्रष्टमयम तदैव  |ते नैव रूपेण चतूरभुजेन | प्रलयान्तकों भव विश्व मूर्ते    ||

शापादपी शरादपी महर्षि अगस्त्य करार्चित श्रीमद गोविन्दराज देवरू

       As per science, the basic work of root is  to provide water, minerals and fertilizers etc… to the tree to grow up fast. But main and important characteristic of “Ashwatha Vruksha “ is that this tree takes water from the  humidity in atmosphere which is basic work of root. It does not need water to be sucked by the roots from soil. So we can see this tree growing on stone walls and even on cement walls also. This tree exhales Oxygen in Day time as well as Night time also. This is the reason why we should worship Ashwatha Vruksha.  

       So Our Sanatana Rushi says on starting of Rigveda that root of Brahmaanda is upward (i,e ऊर्ध्व मूल:) and the branches of Brahmaanda spreds down ward.(i,e अध: शाख:)   

           अश्वत्थ,: aśhvattha) (or Assattha) at is, the Sacred Fig, is a sacred tree for the Hindus and has been extensively mentioned in texts pertaining to Hinduism, mentioned as 'peepul' (Ficus religiosa) in Rig Veda mantra I.164],
               Ashvattha is a name of Shiva and Vishnu; according to Sankara this name is derived from the terms, shva (tomorrow) and stha (that which remains). The Atharvan were the recipients of gifts (given to Payu) in the Danastuti from Prince Ashvattha's generosity (Rig Veda mantra IV.47.24); the prince identified with Divodasa by Griffith.
               Yama while instructing Nachiketa describes the eternal Asvattha tree with its root upwards and branches downwards, which is the pure immortal Brahman, in which all these worlds are situated, and beyond which there is nothing else (Katha Upanishad Verse II.vi.1). 
               But Krishna tells us that the Asvattha tree having neither end nor beginning nor stationariness whatsoever has its roots upwards and branches downwards whose branches are nourished by the Gunas and whose infinite roots spread in the form of action in the human world which though strong are to be cut off by the forceful weapon of detachment to seek the celestial abode from which there is no return (Bhagavata Gita Chapter XV Verses 1-4). 
        The former teaches that the Asvattha tree is real being identical with Brahman and therefore impossible to cut-off; the latter insists that the Asvattha tree must be regarded as unreal being identical with existence which needs to be cut-off. 
         The Puranas such as the Padma Purana and the Skanda Purana enumerate the very many advantages to be secured from reverentially approaching and worshipping the Ashvattha (Peepul) tree.
         The fire sticks used in Hindu sacrificial fire like Yadnya, agnihotra also contain dried wood of ashvatha tree as Samidha
                                                                           
                                                                  ........... Reference by relevent Granthas