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The Science Behind Worshipping the Peepal Tree

Ankit Gupta | Jul 16, 2025, 20:37 IST
( Image credit : Freepik )

Highlight of the story: Rig Veda references the Ashvattha as a cosmic tree, symbolizing the eternal source of life that supports all creation. It is seen as a tree whose roots grow upwards and branches spread down - reflecting the spiritual truth that life originates from the Divine and flows downward into the physical world.

Peepal Tree: The Divine Bridge Between Nature and Eternity

"Among all trees, I am the Ashvattha." – Bhagavad Gita 10.26

This isn’t mere metaphor—it’s revelation. In this verse, Lord Krishna proclaims the Peepal tree (Ashvattha) as His own manifestation among all trees. This ancient declaration reflects a truth deeper than devotion: it reveals a timeless connection between spirituality, science, and nature.

A Sacred Tree Rooted in the Cosmos

Ficus religiosa (Peepal)
( Image credit : Pexels )

The Peepal tree holds a revered place in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. But its worship isn’t just ritualistic—it’s deeply symbolic. The Peepal is the only tree believed to represent the Hindu Trinity:

Roots – Brahma, the CreatorTrunk – Vishnu, the PreserverLeaves – Shiva, the DestroyerTogether, they form the cycle of creation, preservation, and dissolution—the foundational rhythm of existence. In the Rig Veda, the Ashvattha is described as the cosmic tree, whose roots grow upward and branches extend downward, reflecting the spiritual truth that life flows from the Divine into the material world.

This mystical description is echoed again in the Bhagavad Gita (15.1-2), where the Ashvattha becomes a metaphor for the eternal source of life—a living symbol of maya, the illusory nature of worldly existence.

Scientific Wonders of the Peepal Tree

While ancient sages worshipped the Peepal tree for its spiritual significance, modern science is only beginning to understand its incredible properties:

Releases Oxygen Even at Night

Unlike most trees, the Peepal continues to release oxygen during the night through a process called CAM (Crassulacean Acid Metabolism). This makes it a rare botanical marvel and a natural purifier for the environment even after sunset.

Purifies the Air

Its broad leaves absorb carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and other pollutants, acting as a living air filter. Planting Peepal trees in urban areas can significantly reduce the harmful effects of pollution.

Calms the Nervous System

Spending time under a Peepal tree reduces stress hormones, enhances mental clarity, and stabilizes heart rate. This is due to its bioenergetic field, which influences the human electromagnetic system, promoting peace and calm.

Ideal for Meditation

The Peepal tree generates a high-frequency vibration field, making it a natural amplifier of consciousness. This is why many sages meditated beneath it, including Gautama Buddha, who attained enlightenment under a Peepal tree (Bodhi tree).

Peepal Tree and Moksha

The Path to Liberation
( Image credit : Pixabay )

To the sages, the Peepal wasn’t just sacred—it was a spiritual portal. Sitting under it was considered a gateway to moksha (liberation). Why?

Its energy aligns with the Sahasrara (crown) chakra, facilitating cosmic connection.It anchors the mind in stillness, helping transcend the ego and duality.Its roots mirror the soul’s journey—originating from the Divine and extending into the illusion of the world.Hence, worshipping the Peepal is not idol worship—it is idea worship. It’s the act of bowing to the intelligence behind life, the sacred structure of the universe, and the unseen force that breathes through all living beings.

Why Peepal Trees Were Central to Temples and Villages

In ancient India, Peepal trees were never cut. They were planted at the heart of villages, temple courtyards, and pilgrimage centers. People would light lamps around it on Saturdays, walk around it in pradakshina (circumambulation), and tie sacred threads as acts of devotion and healing.

Such rituals weren’t superstition—they were coded wisdom. They recognized the Peepal as a life-sustaining force, worthy of reverence and protection.

Honoring the Divine Intelligence in Nature

When we worship the Peepal tree, we don’t just bow to nature—we bow to the divine design behind nature. In this single tree, the ancients saw the Creator, Sustainer, and Destroyer—all in one.

We honor the oxygen it gives, the clarity it offers, the stillness it nurtures, and the reminder it brings: that life is sacred, interconnected, and born from the same eternal source.

In a world increasingly disconnected from nature, the Peepal tree whispers an ancient truth:

“You are not separate from the cosmos. You are rooted in it.”

A Living Temple of Life

The Peepal tree is not just a tree—it is a living temple. A sacred bridge between biology and divinity, ecology and eternity. Revered in shastras, validated by science, and experienced through stillness, its worship invites us to return to harmony—with nature, with breath, and with the Self.

So the next time you see a Peepal tree, don’t just walk by. Pause. Sit. Breathe.

And remember: The Divine doesn’t only reside in temples. Sometimes, it grows in silence, under a canopy of leaves, whispering truths only the soul can hear.

Tags:
  • peepal tree
  • jainism
  • gautama buddha
  • rig veda
  • meditationthe peepal
  • Hindu Mythology
  • Ayurveda
  • Bhagavad Gita
  • Sacred Tree