Answers: Thedal Quiz 12

Thedal Quiz - 12
Answers: Thedal Quiz – 12

Thanks for your participation in the 12th Thedal Quiz on ‘trees’. Here is the reader who got all answers right:

E N Renganathan

Many congratulations!

Here are the answers:

1. Name the tree under which Goddess Sita sat in Ashokavana in Ramayana.

Shimshupa tree (Dalbergia sissoo). In Sundarakanda, “Lord Hanuman narrates his meeting with Goddess Sita to Jambavan thus: Unable to find Seetha anywhere near Ravana’s palace, I saw a beautiful Ashoka grove. In that garden, I saw a large Shimshupa tree under which I saw Goddess Seetha. Her eyes were like lotus-petals, and she had a face filled with grief and her hair soiled with dust. She was surrounded on all sides by ugly and cruel female-demons.”

2. Which tree featured in Bhishma’s flag during the Kurukshetra war?

Palm tree. This was to denote his tall stature and immense knowledge. Also, Drona’s flag had a bow and ‘kamandalam’ (water bowl) and Kripacharya’s flag had a bull in it.

3. In Ramayana, Rama’s arrow pierced seven set of this tree to prove his power to Sugriva. What is the name of the tree?

Saala Tree (‘aacha maram’ in Tamil/’Shorea Robusta’). In Kishkinta Kanda (Ramayana), Sugriva wants to subtly test Rama’s prowess to see if was more powerful than his brother Vaali. He leads Rama to a set of 7 robust Saala trees which are lined up. Rama shoots a single arrow that pierces each of these trees effortlessly and returns to his quiver. Sugriva becomes overwhelmed and falls on Lord Rama’s feet.

Rama piercing seven Sala trees, Halebidu Temple, Karnataka

4. The leaves of which tree are considered sacred by devotees of both Lord Shiva and Goddess Lakshmi?

Vilva (‘Bilva’/ Aegle marmelos) Tree. Shri Shuktam from the Vedas reveres this plant as the residence of goddess Lakshmi. Lord Shiva is worshipped with Vilva leaves as well.

5. This tree is most sacred for the Vaishnavite sect because Nammazhwar made this tree his abode. Name the tree.

Tamarind. As per legend, as a child Nammazhwar was left at the feet of Lord Adhinatha by his parents since he showed no movement. The child then got up and climbed into a hole in a tamarind tree and began to meditate. He became the preceptor to another Azhwar, Madhukavi after 16 years and taught him the essence of Vedas from the same Tamarind tree. Due to his contact, the tree came to be known as ‘Thiru-puLi-Azhwar’ (puli is tamarind in Tamil).

6. Which tree emerged from the churning of the ocean and was owned by Lord Indra?

Kalpa vruksha (Karpaga Vruksha/Paarijatha). The Kalpavriksha originated during the churning of the milky ocean. It came alongside other beings such as Kamadhenu, the divine cow, Iravatha, the four tusked elephant and Goddess Lakshmi. The king of the gods, Indra took possession of this tree. The tree is also mentioned in several puranas.

7. Lord Krisha is said have slept in the leaf of this great tree. Name the tree.

Banyan Tree. In the first sloka of Balamukundaashtakam, the infant Lord Krishna is described thus : “With His soft lotus hands, infant Lord Mukunda has grabbed His lotus like toe and placed it in His lotus mouth, decorated with red lips, and sucks on it in amusement as He rests on the tender shoot of a banyan leaf (‘vatasya patrasya pute shayanam’) contemplating on the next cycle of creation.”

8. The leaves of this tree are tied at the entrance of houses and the leaves are also used in rituals involving a pot and a coconut (kumbham). Name the tree.

Mango tree. Mango leaf decorations are considered very auspicious in our tradition. Also, after purification ceremony, the water from the holy pot is sprayed over everyone and everything using mango leaves.

9. The term audumbari is associated with the deity at Kanchipuram and a periodic event. What is the name of this term?

Fig tree. Athivaradhar of Kanchi is brought for worship from the temple pond every 40 years.

10. What is the specialty of Naimisharanya, one of the 108 Divya Desams?

The whole forest of Naimisharanya is considered as the abode of Lord Vishnu.

11. What is the name given to our country based on abundance of a particular tree (‘also known an Indian Blackberry’)?

Jambudweepam. Jambu is a type of fruit (‘Naval pazham’ in Tamil) and since it was found in abundance, the entire Indian subcontinent is called “Jambudweepa”, the Island of Jambu fruit.

12. Which tree represents Lord Brihaspathi (Guru of Devas)?

Banana tree. According to ancient scriptures, the banana tree is equated to “Devaguru Brihaspati” or planet Jupiter.

Author Details

Rangarajan has been blogging for over 12 years now on various topics. With Thedal, he becomes one with the universe and he is hoping that his search will help him discover the eternal truth.  Please join him as he traverses through the universe across temples, philosophies and science!

3 thoughts on “Answers: Thedal Quiz 12”

    1. Thanks Shoba.. This place is situated in North India, about 90 Kms from Lucknow.

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