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Peepal Tree:
Shri Guru smiled and said, `Service to the Ashwattha will not be futile. There is an Ashwattha tree at the Bhima Amarja sangam. I am present there after the bath in the river. Therefore worship the Ashwattha devotedly. The greatness of Ashwattha is narrated in the Puranas. Brahmadeo is at its root, Vishnu is in its middle portion and the Rudra is on its top and the Agni (fire god) lies in the interior of this tree.
In the months of Ashadha, Poush, or Chaitra, when Guru and Shukra are not set, when the moon is favorable on an auspicious day, observe fast and start worshipping the Ashwattha. Do not touch the tree on Sunday, Sankranti, and in the evening. The floor at the root should be smeared by cow dung and have rangoli designs. Worship the Ashwattha thinking of it as a Trimurti, with 16 upchars, then say Purushsukta and observe `moun’ take rounds of the tree. Two lakh rounds destroy even the sin of Brahmahatya. The Ashwattha gives four purusharthas. The desire of a son is also fulfilled by him.
Recitation of Mrityunjaya sitting at the Ashwattha on Saturday avoids accidental death and gives a long life. One gets credit for feeding several Brahmins if one Brahmin is fed under this tree. If one Ashwattha tree is grown, 42 generations are liberated; but if one Ashwattha is cut, it is a great sin performed. Home performed under the tree gives credit for a great sacrifice. Do Homa of one-tenth of the number of rounds feed Brahmins and give golden Ashwattha in charity.
. Bhagavan Nityananda has told about the glory of the Peepal tree, especially one particular one that was on the way to the river in Ganeshpuri. Even today this tree exists. He had told my father that all gods, Krishna, Rama, Shiva, Vishnu, and goddess were on the branches of that tree. When devotees come to Ganeshpuri they express their joy ( seeing them coming to see This One.).
Ashvattha Tree is popularly known as pipal (ficus religiosa), or the sacred fig, and it is of great spiritual and religious importance in Hinduism. It is known as the tree of knowledge and enlightenment. It is the symbolic inverted tree mentioned in Hindu scriptures. Ashvattha Tree is also the seat of gods and abode of the Goddess of wealth.
Ashvattha means the tree under which the horses stand. As per old beliefs, it was the chariot of Gods.
As per the Puranas, Lord Vishnu resides in the root of the holy tree; Hari lives in the leaves, and Achyuta in the fruits. Hari and Achyuta are both forms of Lord Vishnu. The other parts of the tree are occupied by the other Gods. Another belief has it that Brahma resides in the root of the tree, Vishnu in the middle and Shiva at the top. In Guru Charitra, Shree Narshima Saraswati says that Brahma resides at the roots, Vishnu at the trunk, and Shiva at the top of the tree. They along with their consort reside in Peepal Tree. Lord Dattatreya too is found below this tree.