Trees are very important in many mythologies and religions of the world, and have been given deep and sacred meaning throughout the ages. Humans, observing the growth and death of trees, and the annual death and resurrection of their leaves, often see them as a symbol of strong growth, death, and rebirth. Pine trees, most of which remain green throughout this cycle, are sometimes regarded as symbols of immortality, eternity, or fertility. Image Tree of life or tree of the world occurs in many mythologies.
Sacred or symbolic trees include the banyan tree and the sacred tree ( Ficus religiosa ) in Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism, the tree of knowledge about the good and evil of Judaism and Christianity. In folk religion and folklore, the tree is often said to be a tree spirit house. Germanic mythology as well as Celtic polytheism, both appear to have involved cultivation practices in sacred forests, especially oak forests. The term druid itself may be derived from the Celtic word for oak. The Egyptian Book of the Dead mentions sycamore as part of the scene where the soul of the deceased finds a restful break.
Trees are attributes of the archetypical locus amoenus .
Video Trees in mythology
Expect tree
In many parts of the world travelers have observed the habit of hanging objects on trees to build a kind of relationship between them and the tree. Across Europe, trees are known as pilgrimage sites, ambulatory rituals, and prayer (Christian) recitations. Wreaths, ribbons or cloths are postponed to win prizes for sick people or cattle, or just for luck. Popular belief links sites with healing, witches, or mere wishes.
In South America, Darwin records trees that are honored by many offerings (cloth, meat, cigars, etc.); offerings were made for it, and horses were sacrificed.
Maps Trees in mythology
World tree
The world tree, with its branches reaching into the sky, and deeply rooted in the earth, can be seen to dwell in three worlds - the relationship between heaven, earth, and the underworld, united above and below. This great tree acts as Axis mundi, supporting or lifting the cosmos, and providing the connection between heaven, earth, and the underworld. In European mythology, the most famous example is the Yggdrasil tree of Norse mythology.
Religion and folklore
Many popular stories around the world reflect a deeply rooted belief in intimate relationships between humans and trees, plants or flowers. Sometimes human life hangs on a tree and suffers when it withers or is wounded, and we find the idea of ​​an external soul, already found in Ancient Egypt The Story of Two Brothers from at least 3000 years ago. Here one of the brothers leaves his heart at the top of the acacia flower and falls dead when he is cut down. Sometimes, however, the tree is a mysterious token that shows sympathy with the hero absent by weakening or dying, because the person becomes ill or loses his life. Both of these features are very easy to combine, and they agree to represent the mysterious sympathy between trees and human life.
Sometimes a newborn child is associated with a newly planted tree whose life must be tied up; or, at ceremonial occasions (engagement, marriage, ascent to the throne), such personal relationships are instituted by planting trees, on the fate where individual careers depend. Sometimes, branches or plants are selected and the individual draws a sign of life and death. Again, a person will put himself into a relationship with a tree by storing something that has been in close contact with them, such as hair or clothing.
Often trees will be associated with oracle. The oak tree of Dodona is preserved by priests sleeping on the ground. The high oak shapes of the old Prussians are inhabited by gods who respond, and so many examples say that the Hebrew old creatures of the teacher, and part of the forecasters, can be placed in this category. An important sacred tree is also a pilgrimage object, one of the most important of which is the Bo tree branch in Sri Lanka brought there before the Christian era. The spirits of the tree will hold power over the surrounding forest or district, and the animals in the area are often sacred and should not be harmed.
The habit of transferring disease or disease from human to tree is known. Sometimes hair, nails, clothing, etc. from sickly people are repaired to a tree, or they are forcibly inserted into a hole in the trunk, or the tree is split and the patient passes the aperture. Where trees have been injured, recovery and patients are often linked. Different explanations can be found from such habits that naturally take somewhat different forms among people in different classes.
In Arab folklore, the sacred trees are haunted by jinn; sacrifices made, and sick people who sleep under it received a recipe in their dreams. Here, as often as elsewhere, it is dangerous to draw branches. The fear of destruction of these special trees is familiar: Cato instructs the carpenter to sacrifice to a male or female god before diluting the clump, while in Homeric poetry for Aphrodite, the tree nymph is injured when the tree is wounded, and dies when the tree trunk falls..
Early Buddhism states that trees have no thoughts or feelings and may be legally cut off; but it is recognized that certain spirits may be in it, such as Nang Takian in Thailand. Propitiation is made before the ax is placed on the sacred tree; loss of life or wealth and the failure of rain to be feared if they had not been cut off; there are even trees that are dangerous to climb. The Talein of Burma prayed to the tree before he cut it, and the African woodman would put a fresh sprig of it on the tree. Some ancient Indian tree deities, such as Puliyidaivalaiyamman, the Tamil god of the tamarind tree, or Kadambariyamman, associated with the kadamba tree are seen as manifestations of a goddess who offers his blessings by giving abundant fruit.
Holy tree
Trees are often considered sacred in the ancient world, across Europe and Asia. Christianity and Islam treats tree worship as idolatry and this causes their destruction in Europe and much of Western Asia.
Europe
The Glastonbury Thorn in Glastonbury, England is a small Crataegus monogyna considered sacred by many Christians. It is said to have sprouted miraculously from the staff of the early Christian figure of Joseph of Arimathea. With its religious significance and scientific interest, this tree features a rare phenomenon for its species, blooming not once but twice per year. The second bloom takes place around Christmas break.
South Asia
The sacred trees remain common in India. They are found in villages, in the countryside and in the heart of some temples (eg Jain temples). Shripad Vaidya from Nagpur, Maharashtra has been dubbed the "eco-worship center" ( Nakshatravan ). It is the first in the world and is known to worship the environment through plants. Indian shastras and panchang mention several ways to do it, one of which is offering prayers to various trees. There is even a belief in yakshas or yakshis, or natural spirits, who may live in trees or other natural places. By worshiping the tree where yaksha can inhabit, people seek to calm the spirits and bring health and prosperity into their lives. This is often done by placing incense and candles at the root of a tree or doing a "puja tree". Sometimes a statue of a god and a gas may lie between the roots because the tree gives the shade of murti and the protection of a god.
Both in India and Sri Lanka, Buddhists respect the Bodhi Bodh Gaya Tree. It is said to have protected the Gautama Buddha as he meditated for enlightenment. The Bodhi tree symbolizes enlightenment and wisdom and people can continue to meditate under it to get the buddha.
Southeast Asia
In addition to the sacred Buddhist Bodhi tree, the worship of certain tree-related spirits, commonly known as Nang Mai, is common in Thai folklore. The most famous of these tree spirits is the Nang Ta-khian which is according to oral Thai tradition that inhabit the tree Hopea odorata and may appear as a beautiful lady wearing traditional Thai dress. Trees, logs, logs or wooden boat keel where the spirit is considered to be a pilgrimage object and have a colored silk length tied up as offerings. Currently Nang Ta-Khian is usually prayed to be lucky in the lottery.
Sacred forest
Many of the ancient belief systems in the world also include the beliefs of the sacred forests, where the trees are respected and respected and there are priests and priests attending those who also serve as carers, preventing those who want to tear down trees by means of ancient magic and deciphering rituals of protection.
This article incorporates text from publications now in the public domain: Ã, Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). " article name required ". EncyclopÃÆ'Â|dia Britannica (issue 11). Cambridge University Press.
External links
- Ã, "Tree-worshiper". Encyclopedia Americana . 1920.
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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