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Beliefs and Practices of Some Sacred Trees in the Hindu Tradition

Year 2021, Issue: 18, 127 - 153, 21.03.2021
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4625783

Abstract

Hinduism is one of the oldest religious traditions that have survived in the Indian subcontinent from the 2000s B.C. until today in various countries such as India, Nepal, Pakistan, Indonesia, and Bangladesh. Especially in the Indian subcontinent, it is a mixture of religions, which has caused this religion to have a colorful culture. From primitive tribes to many religious traditions, the sacred tree motif has occupied an important place for human beings. In the Hindu religious tradition, sacred trees have always been at the forefront of religion and culture. In the holy places where Hindu temples are located, there are trees attributed to them by people in houses and places outside them. The most striking belief and practice about these sacred trees is tree marriages, even if symbolically. Especially human-tree, tree-tree marriages are among the practices encountered in Indian society. Besides, we believe that the sacred trees in the Hindu tradition should be examined and examined due to their characteristics such as representing the gods, attributing various meanings due to their physical structure, being a symbol of fertility and fertility, making wishes and wishes for them, and using them for treatment purposes. In this article, we aim to examine some sacred trees in the Hindu tradition and the beliefs and practices related to these trees from various angles.

References

  • Amirthalingam, M. “Sacred Plants Of West Bengal”. Ecological Traditions Of İndia, Ed. M. Amirthalingam, C. XII. Chennai: C.P.R. Environmental Education Centre. (2015): 99-104.
  • Arslan, Hammet. “Holi: Hindu Bahar Bayramı”. Dokuz Eylül Ünivesitesi İlahiyat Fakültesi Dergisi, 39, (13 Şubat 2018): 181-220. https://doi.org/10.21054/deuifd.394309.
  • Aydın, Fuat. Hint Dini Düşüncesinde İnsanın Özgürlük Anlayışı. Ankara: Eskiyeni Yayınları, 2013.
  • Bellenir, Karen, “Religious Holidays and Calendars: An Encyclopedic Handbook”. Choice Reviews Online 42, 01 (01 Eylül 2004): 42-0020-42-0020. https://doi.org/10.5860/CHOICE.42-0020.
  • Bhagavadgita: Hinduların Kutsal Kitabı. Çev. Kaya, Korhan. Ankara: Dost Kitabevi Yayınları, 2001. Chauhan, S. and V. S. “Worshıp and Trees in Indıa”. Сибирский Лесной Журнал. 4 (2019): 36-48. https://doi.org/10.15372/SJFS20190404.
  • Dalal, Roshen. The Vedas (An Introduction to Hinduism’s Sacred Texts). Penguin Group, 2014.
  • Eck, Diana L. “India’s Tirthas: ‘Crossing’ in Sacred Geography”. History of Religions. 20/4 (1981): 323-344.
  • Eliade, Mircea. Dinler Tarihi (İnançlar ve İbadetlerin Morfolojisi). Çev. Mustafa Ünal. Konya: Serhat Kitabevi, 2005.
  • Eliade, Mircea. İmgeler ve Simgeler. Çev. Mehmet Ali Kılıçbay. Ankara: Gece Yayınları, 1991.
  • Ergun, Muharrem, Osmanoğlu, Abdullah, Özbay, Nusret ve Çakır, Atilla. “Bel (Aegle Marmelos (L.) Corr. Serr.) Meyvesi”. Meyve Bilimi. 2 (2014): 15-20.
  • Folkard, Richard. Plant, Lore, Legends and Lyrics. London: Sampoon Low, Maroton-Company, 1892.
  • Gandhi, Maneka and Singh, Yasmin. Brahma’s Hair- The Mythology of Indian Plants. Rupa Publications Private Limited, 2000.
  • Gupta, Shakti M. Plant Myths and Traditions in India. New Delhi: Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers, 2001.
  • Gopukumar, S. T and Praseetha, P.K. “Ficus benghalensis Linn – The Sacred Indian Medicinal Tree with Potent Pharmacological Remedies”. International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences Review and Research. 32, (13 Mayıs 2015): 223-227.
  • Güç, Ahmet. Dinlerde Mabed ve İbadet. İstanbul: Düşünce Kitabevi Yayınları, 2011.
  • James, George. “The Environment and Environmental Movements in Hinduism”. Contemporary Hinduism: Ritual, Culture and Practice, Ed. Robin Rinehart. California: ABC-CLIO, 2004.
  • Keith, Arthur Berriedale. “Yajur Veda 1-8”. Four Vedas. Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1914.
  • Khandera, M.S. “Mango (Mangifera Indica Linn) A Medicinal and Holy Plants”. Journal of Medicinal Plants Studies. 4/4 (2016): 44-46.
  • Krishna, Nanditha and Amirthalingam, M. Sacred Plants of Indian. Penguin Group, 2014.
  • Kumar, J. I. Nirmal, Soni, Hiren, ve Kumar, Rita N. “Aesthetic Values of Selected Floral Elements of Khatana And Waghai Forests of Dangs, Western Ghats”. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge. 4/3 (2005): 275-286.
  • Kutlutürk, Cemil. Hinduizm’de Avatar İnancı. Ankara: Otto, 2017.
  • Mangar, Ritu. “Bel Bibaha Among the Newars and Its Social Significance”. Peer-Reviewed National Journal-Social Trends. 6 (2019): 219-221.
  • Nagar, Murarilal. Ashvattha is Shri Krishna. OM Shanti Mandiram Columbia, MO, 2011.
  • Ojha, Purna Chandra. Flora in The Bahagavata Purana. Orissa: Utkal University, Doctorate Thesis, 2008.
  • Omura, Hiroshi. “Trees, Forests and Religion in Japan”. Mountain Research and Development. 24/2 (2004): 179-182.
  • Öztürk, Nermin. “Hinduizm’de Ganga Arti Ritüeli”. Harran Üniversitesi İlahiyat Fakültesi Dergisi. 40, (15 Aralık 2018): 71-98. https://doi.org/10.30623/harranilahiyatdergisi.471817.
  • Prime, Ranchor. Hinduizm ve Ekoloji. Çev. Mehveş Kayani, Vedat Diker, Mehmet Demirhan. İstanbul: İĞDAŞ, 1997.
  • Rajasekaran, R., Gomathi, A., Narayana, Ala. “Medico Historical Study Of A Siddha Drug ‘Vilvam’ (Aegle Marmelos Linn)”. Journal Ind. Med. Heritage. XXXIX (2009): 171-190.
  • Rowe, Rey. A. D., M. A., Every Day Life in India. Newyork: American Tract Society, 1881.
  • Sharma, Prabodh Chandar, Bhatia, Vivek, Bansal, Nitin and Sharma, Archana. “A Review On Bael Tree”. Natural Product Radianc. 6/2 (2007): 171-178.
  • Shastri, J: I. The Siva-Purana. A Board of Scholars. C. I. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, 1970.
  • Samaj, Saraswat Mahila.Rasachandrika (Saraswat Cookery Book). Bombay: Popüler Prakashan Private Limited., 1988.
  • Sarıkçıoğlu, Ekrem. Din Fenomenolojisi (Dinlerin Mahiyeti ve Tezahür Şekilleri). Isparta: Fakülte Kitabevi, 2011.
  • Sivananda, Sri Swami. Hindu Fasts and Festivals. Shivanandanagar, Himalayas, India: Divine Life Society, 1997.
  • Tümer, Günay. “Budizm”. Türkiye Diyanet Vakfı İslam Ansiklopedisi, 6: 352-360. İstanbul: Türkiye Diyanet Vakfı Yayınları, 1992.
  • Upadhyaya, K. D. “Indian Botanical Folklore”. Tree Symbol Worship in India. Ed. Sankar Gupta Sen. Calcutta-India: Indian Publications, 1960.
  • Vijnanananda, Swami. The S’rimad Devi Bhagawatam, 1921.
  • Walter, Kurt. Prosopis, an Alien Among The Sacred Trees of South India. Helsinki: Unıversıty Of Helsınkı Viikki Tropical Resources Institute Vıtrı, 2011.
  • Walter, Kurt J. “Sacred Trees Among The Tamil People of South India”. Soumen Antropologi: Journal of The Finnish Anthropological Society. 40/1 (2015): 47-65.
  • Wilkins, W.J. Hindu Mythology, Vedic and Puranic. London: Kessinger Publishing, 1882.
  • Yitik, Ali İhsan. Batı’yı Aydınlatan Doğu. İstanbul: Okur Akademi, 2018.
  • https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/biggest-tree-canopy-planet-stretches-across-five-acres-180962470/ (Erişim 31/12/2020)
  • https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/banyan-marries-peepal-sends-green-signal/story k9V5Bkkq2c7OFUcCQ0KpDJ.html (10/12/2020)
  • https://www.indiatoday.in/information/story/tulsi-vivah-2020-date-time-and-how-puja-is-performed-1743972-2020-11-25 (Erişim 20/12/2020)
  • https://kajhalberg.dk/en/plants/pipal-and-banyan-two-sacred-fig-trees/(Erişim 04/03/2021)

Hindu Geleneğindeki Bazı Kutsal Ağaçlarla İlgili İnanış ve Uygulamalar

Year 2021, Issue: 18, 127 - 153, 21.03.2021
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4625783

Abstract

Hinduizm, M.Ö. iki binli yıllardan günümüze kadar Hint alt kıtasında başta Hindistan, Nepal, Pakistan, Endonezya, Bangladeş gibi çeşitli ülkelerde varlığını devam ettiren en eski dini geleneklerden biridir. Özellikle Hint alt kıtasında dinlerin bir karması şeklinde olması, bu dinin renkli bir kültüre sahip olmasına neden olmuştur. İlkel kabilelerden birçok dini geleneğe kadar kutsal ağaç motifi, insanoğlu için önemli bir yer teşkil etmiştir. Hindu dini geleneğinde de kutsal ağaçlar her daim dini ve kültürel açıdan ön planda olmuştur. Hindu tapınaklarının bulunduğu kutsal mekanlarda, evlerde ve bunların dışındaki yerlerde insanlar tarafından kendilerine kutsiyet atfedilmiş ağaçlar bulunmaktadır. Bu kutsal kabul edilen ağaçlarla ilgili göze çarpan en önemli inanış ve uygulama ise sembolikte olsa ağaç evlilikleridir. Özellikle insan-ağaç, ağaç-ağaç evlilikleri Hint toplumunda rastlanan uygulamalardandır. Bunun yanı sıra Hindu geleneğindeki kutsal ağaçların tanrıları temsil etmesi, fiziki yapısından dolayı çeşitli anlamlar yüklenilmesi, doğurganlık ve bereket sembolü olması, kendilerine dilek ve temennilerde bulunulması, tedavi amaçlı kullanılması gibi özelliklerinden dolayı da ele alınıp incelenmesi gerektiği kanaatindeyiz. Bu makalede Hindu geleneğindeki bazı kutsal ağaçlar ve bu ağaçlarla ilgili inanış ve uygulamaları çeşitli açılardan ele alıp değerlendirmeyi amaçlamaktayız.

References

  • Amirthalingam, M. “Sacred Plants Of West Bengal”. Ecological Traditions Of İndia, Ed. M. Amirthalingam, C. XII. Chennai: C.P.R. Environmental Education Centre. (2015): 99-104.
  • Arslan, Hammet. “Holi: Hindu Bahar Bayramı”. Dokuz Eylül Ünivesitesi İlahiyat Fakültesi Dergisi, 39, (13 Şubat 2018): 181-220. https://doi.org/10.21054/deuifd.394309.
  • Aydın, Fuat. Hint Dini Düşüncesinde İnsanın Özgürlük Anlayışı. Ankara: Eskiyeni Yayınları, 2013.
  • Bellenir, Karen, “Religious Holidays and Calendars: An Encyclopedic Handbook”. Choice Reviews Online 42, 01 (01 Eylül 2004): 42-0020-42-0020. https://doi.org/10.5860/CHOICE.42-0020.
  • Bhagavadgita: Hinduların Kutsal Kitabı. Çev. Kaya, Korhan. Ankara: Dost Kitabevi Yayınları, 2001. Chauhan, S. and V. S. “Worshıp and Trees in Indıa”. Сибирский Лесной Журнал. 4 (2019): 36-48. https://doi.org/10.15372/SJFS20190404.
  • Dalal, Roshen. The Vedas (An Introduction to Hinduism’s Sacred Texts). Penguin Group, 2014.
  • Eck, Diana L. “India’s Tirthas: ‘Crossing’ in Sacred Geography”. History of Religions. 20/4 (1981): 323-344.
  • Eliade, Mircea. Dinler Tarihi (İnançlar ve İbadetlerin Morfolojisi). Çev. Mustafa Ünal. Konya: Serhat Kitabevi, 2005.
  • Eliade, Mircea. İmgeler ve Simgeler. Çev. Mehmet Ali Kılıçbay. Ankara: Gece Yayınları, 1991.
  • Ergun, Muharrem, Osmanoğlu, Abdullah, Özbay, Nusret ve Çakır, Atilla. “Bel (Aegle Marmelos (L.) Corr. Serr.) Meyvesi”. Meyve Bilimi. 2 (2014): 15-20.
  • Folkard, Richard. Plant, Lore, Legends and Lyrics. London: Sampoon Low, Maroton-Company, 1892.
  • Gandhi, Maneka and Singh, Yasmin. Brahma’s Hair- The Mythology of Indian Plants. Rupa Publications Private Limited, 2000.
  • Gupta, Shakti M. Plant Myths and Traditions in India. New Delhi: Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers, 2001.
  • Gopukumar, S. T and Praseetha, P.K. “Ficus benghalensis Linn – The Sacred Indian Medicinal Tree with Potent Pharmacological Remedies”. International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences Review and Research. 32, (13 Mayıs 2015): 223-227.
  • Güç, Ahmet. Dinlerde Mabed ve İbadet. İstanbul: Düşünce Kitabevi Yayınları, 2011.
  • James, George. “The Environment and Environmental Movements in Hinduism”. Contemporary Hinduism: Ritual, Culture and Practice, Ed. Robin Rinehart. California: ABC-CLIO, 2004.
  • Keith, Arthur Berriedale. “Yajur Veda 1-8”. Four Vedas. Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1914.
  • Khandera, M.S. “Mango (Mangifera Indica Linn) A Medicinal and Holy Plants”. Journal of Medicinal Plants Studies. 4/4 (2016): 44-46.
  • Krishna, Nanditha and Amirthalingam, M. Sacred Plants of Indian. Penguin Group, 2014.
  • Kumar, J. I. Nirmal, Soni, Hiren, ve Kumar, Rita N. “Aesthetic Values of Selected Floral Elements of Khatana And Waghai Forests of Dangs, Western Ghats”. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge. 4/3 (2005): 275-286.
  • Kutlutürk, Cemil. Hinduizm’de Avatar İnancı. Ankara: Otto, 2017.
  • Mangar, Ritu. “Bel Bibaha Among the Newars and Its Social Significance”. Peer-Reviewed National Journal-Social Trends. 6 (2019): 219-221.
  • Nagar, Murarilal. Ashvattha is Shri Krishna. OM Shanti Mandiram Columbia, MO, 2011.
  • Ojha, Purna Chandra. Flora in The Bahagavata Purana. Orissa: Utkal University, Doctorate Thesis, 2008.
  • Omura, Hiroshi. “Trees, Forests and Religion in Japan”. Mountain Research and Development. 24/2 (2004): 179-182.
  • Öztürk, Nermin. “Hinduizm’de Ganga Arti Ritüeli”. Harran Üniversitesi İlahiyat Fakültesi Dergisi. 40, (15 Aralık 2018): 71-98. https://doi.org/10.30623/harranilahiyatdergisi.471817.
  • Prime, Ranchor. Hinduizm ve Ekoloji. Çev. Mehveş Kayani, Vedat Diker, Mehmet Demirhan. İstanbul: İĞDAŞ, 1997.
  • Rajasekaran, R., Gomathi, A., Narayana, Ala. “Medico Historical Study Of A Siddha Drug ‘Vilvam’ (Aegle Marmelos Linn)”. Journal Ind. Med. Heritage. XXXIX (2009): 171-190.
  • Rowe, Rey. A. D., M. A., Every Day Life in India. Newyork: American Tract Society, 1881.
  • Sharma, Prabodh Chandar, Bhatia, Vivek, Bansal, Nitin and Sharma, Archana. “A Review On Bael Tree”. Natural Product Radianc. 6/2 (2007): 171-178.
  • Shastri, J: I. The Siva-Purana. A Board of Scholars. C. I. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, 1970.
  • Samaj, Saraswat Mahila.Rasachandrika (Saraswat Cookery Book). Bombay: Popüler Prakashan Private Limited., 1988.
  • Sarıkçıoğlu, Ekrem. Din Fenomenolojisi (Dinlerin Mahiyeti ve Tezahür Şekilleri). Isparta: Fakülte Kitabevi, 2011.
  • Sivananda, Sri Swami. Hindu Fasts and Festivals. Shivanandanagar, Himalayas, India: Divine Life Society, 1997.
  • Tümer, Günay. “Budizm”. Türkiye Diyanet Vakfı İslam Ansiklopedisi, 6: 352-360. İstanbul: Türkiye Diyanet Vakfı Yayınları, 1992.
  • Upadhyaya, K. D. “Indian Botanical Folklore”. Tree Symbol Worship in India. Ed. Sankar Gupta Sen. Calcutta-India: Indian Publications, 1960.
  • Vijnanananda, Swami. The S’rimad Devi Bhagawatam, 1921.
  • Walter, Kurt. Prosopis, an Alien Among The Sacred Trees of South India. Helsinki: Unıversıty Of Helsınkı Viikki Tropical Resources Institute Vıtrı, 2011.
  • Walter, Kurt J. “Sacred Trees Among The Tamil People of South India”. Soumen Antropologi: Journal of The Finnish Anthropological Society. 40/1 (2015): 47-65.
  • Wilkins, W.J. Hindu Mythology, Vedic and Puranic. London: Kessinger Publishing, 1882.
  • Yitik, Ali İhsan. Batı’yı Aydınlatan Doğu. İstanbul: Okur Akademi, 2018.
  • https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/biggest-tree-canopy-planet-stretches-across-five-acres-180962470/ (Erişim 31/12/2020)
  • https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/banyan-marries-peepal-sends-green-signal/story k9V5Bkkq2c7OFUcCQ0KpDJ.html (10/12/2020)
  • https://www.indiatoday.in/information/story/tulsi-vivah-2020-date-time-and-how-puja-is-performed-1743972-2020-11-25 (Erişim 20/12/2020)
  • https://kajhalberg.dk/en/plants/pipal-and-banyan-two-sacred-fig-trees/(Erişim 04/03/2021)
There are 45 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language Turkish
Subjects Religious Studies, Religion, Society and Culture Studies
Journal Section Research Articles
Authors

Ayhan Aslanoğlu 0000-0002-4496-4528

Publication Date March 21, 2021
Submission Date January 24, 2021
Published in Issue Year 2021 Issue: 18

Cite

ISNAD Aslanoğlu, Ayhan. “Hindu Geleneğindeki Bazı Kutsal Ağaçlarla İlgili İnanış Ve Uygulamalar”. Kilitbahir 18 (March 2021), 127-153. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4625783.

Our journal, which was published as Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University Journal of Theology Faculty, changed its name to Kilitbahir as of August 1, 2019.

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