NAMMAZWAR TAMARIND TREE
Post No. 14,598
Date uploaded in London – 6 June 2025
Contact – swami_48@yahoo.com
Pictures are taken from various sources for spreading knowledge.
this is a non- commercial blog. Thanks for your great pictures.
tamilandvedas.com, swamiindology.blogspot.com
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- (This Story from Tribune is followed by my articles)
A fresh “imli” (tamarind) sapling has been planted at the site in front of the Akal Takht where a historic tamarind tree was destroyed during Operation Bluestar in 1984.
This marks another attempt to revive the symbolic tree after the previous one failed. After the reconstruction of the Akal Takht building by the Damdami Taksal in 1998, a tamarind sapling was first planted around 2000.
From 2009 to 2013, Dr Narinderpal Singh from the Farmer Advisory Service Centre looked after it. Later, fruit science experts from Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) also attempted to preserve it, but the efforts failed. The plant finally dried up during the winter of 2023.
Dr Karanbir Singh said for the new plant, a six-foot-deep and wide pit was cleared and filled with new soil, and a cold-tolerant variety was selected. “The sapling will be monitored for a year. At present, no significant risk factors are visible.
Story of the Original Tree
The original tamarind tree, destroyed during Operation Bluestar, was a silent witness to centuries of Sikh history.
According to Sikh historian Jagdeep Singh Faridkot, during the time of the Sikh Gurus, the area was covered with natural vegetation, including the tamarind tree. “It is believed that the tree stood witness to Guru Hargobind Sahib’s establishment of the Akal Takht.
Several texts make a reference to this tree, and its significance grew when the then Jathedar of the Akal Takht, Akali Phula Singh, tied Maharaja Ranjit Singh to it due to his closeness to dancer Moran. Prem Singh Hoti Mardan records this episode in his book on Akali Phula Singh.
Noted Sikh scholar and historian Giani Gian Singh also made special mention of the tree in his 1889 work, “Tawarikh Amritsar”, describing it as standing beside a marble-lined fountain basin that added to the sacred ambiance of the site, often scented with rose water on special occasions.
British war artist William Simpson painted the Akal Takht in 1864, where the original tamarind tree is visible, appearing as tall as the adjoining three-storey structure. Davinder Singh Sadik, editor of Gurdwara Pedia, said more than 20 paintings and photographs from 1880 to 1984 consistently depict the old “imli” tree as 20 to 25 feet tall and nearly 5 metres wide in canopy.
He emphasised that, like the many physical and emotional wounds of Operation Bluestar, the loss of this tree remains a deep, unhealed mark. In Sikh tradition, trees are often revered as “Sabaj Mandir” (green temples) so this “imli” tree was also a temple, which was destroyed in 1984, said Davinder Singh.
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My Old Articles
Tansen and Tamarind Tree! Ghosts in Tamarind Trees! (Post No 2666)
Research Article by london swaminathan
Date: 26 March 2016
Post No. 2666
1.There is a tamarind tree in Gwalior at the tomb of Tansen, the great singer of Moghul period. People believe that whoever chew the leaves of the tree will get a sweet voice. This, they believe due to the presence of the tomb of Tansen.
Nammalvar and Tamarind Tree
2.There is another famous tamarind tree at Azvar Tirunagari in the far south of Tamil Nadu. Maran Sadagopan, later known as Nammazvar, one of the 12 great Tamil Vaishnavite saints, was deaf and dumb from his birth. He became very eloquent after 16 years and sang the best verses among the Azvars. His fame was known to the world through another saint named Madurakavi. When he went towards North India in search of a Guru, a beam of light lead him to far south Tirukkurukur (Alwar Tirunagari) where he met Nammazvar. Like Buddha attained wisdom under the Bodhi tree (Ficus religiosa), Nammazvar attained wisdom under this tamarind tree (Tamarindus indica).
Tirumangai and Tamarind Tree
3.There is one more story of another tamarind tree linked with another Vaishnavite saint known as Tirumangai Azvar. He wanted to refurbish and build a new temple for Vishnu at Sri Rangam. He needed lot of money for it. Someone gave him an idea to plunder the golden Buddha statue at Nagapattinam. When he went there he sang a verse to change it into a statue of base metals and leave the gold cwith him. Thus he got the gold and on his way to Sriranagam, he was very tired and slept under a tamarind tree after hiding the gold under the bush. He ordered the tamarind tree not to sleep during night. Tamarind trees used to close their leaves in the night which the Tamils think they have gone to sleep. He overslept and the farmers came to their fields to plough the land. At once the tamarind tree shed all the leaves on him and woke him up. He thanked the sleepless tamarind tree and went on his way. This happened at Tirukkannankudi.
Ghost in Tamarind Trees
4.Like many cultures around the world Tamils also attribute lot of things to trees. There is a common belief that ghosts reside on tamarind trees. So people never sleep under these trees. Though there is no scientific evidence to suggest the bad effects of a tamarind tree, it is believed the acidic leaves never allow other plants to grow under it. Moreover it may emit more carbon di oxide than other trees. During day time it is other way round. Plants take carbon di oxide from the atmosphere and emit oxygen.
5.Tamarind Trees that never sleep!
Several temples in Tami Nadu have tamarind trees that never sleep i.e. they never close their leaves during night. Normally they should close. There are two explanations to it. One is that certain type of tamarind trees do not close the leaves like other trees. Another explanation is that it is a miracle of god of that particular shrine.
6.True Ghost story!
Sri Anantha Rama Dikshitar was the most famous religious speaker of yesteryears. He had created his own style of delivery which became very popular. He was a great devotee of Krishna of Guruvayur who cured his disease of leprosy completely. He wrote about the greatness of his forefathers in the 8th part of his book Jayamangala Stotra. Here is a true ghost story:
If a Brahmin commits suicide or involves himself in big crimes he becomes a ghost known as ‘Brahmarakshas’. One of the wealthy families had a big problem from a Brahmin ghost. Wife of one of the rich men of Sengalipuram village was possessed with this particular ghost. The family underwent lot of difficulties due to this. Her husband spent enormous money to drive away this ghost. One famous magician did a big puja and threatened the ghost to leave with some ‘bali’ (sacrifice). Immediately the ghost told him that it did not want anything other than a blessing from the eldest in the family who is known as Big Muthanna. His actual name was Vaidhyanatha Dishitar. All of the family members went to him and begged to come to the spot and ‘bless’ the ghost so that it would be released from the bondage of ghosthood. Though he hesitated to do such non-religious things in the beginning, he came forward to save a family. The ghost immediately told him it would leave the house. The magician asked what proof they would get to know that it had left. It told him that it would leave the tamarind tree at the backyard in the night and they can hear the noise of breaking branches. To every one’s amazement, the ghost left with a big noise in the night and when they went to the garden in the backyard in the morning they saw a big broken branch of the tamarind tree. Then the lady of the house had no ghost problem at all. (This is a rough translation of what Sri Anantharama dikshitar gave in Tamil in his eighth volume of Jayamangala Stotra).
New Stories about Tamarind Tree (Post No.11,905)
WRITTEN BY LONDON SWAMINATHAN
Post No. 11,905
Date uploaded in London – – 15 APRIL 2023
Botanical Term for Tamarind -Tamarindus indica
Earlier in 2016, I wrote about the stories behind famous and notorious Tamarind Trees. I told you about the trees used by Tansen, Tamil Vaishnavite saint Nammalvar, Tirumangai Alvar and the ghost driven by Anantharama Dikshitar’s family from a garden tamarind tree. Now let us learn about two more tamarind trees.
Sirala in Maharashtra is the site of a gigantic tamarind tree, the trunk of which is scored with lines and cracks. By the side of the tree , a temple has been built to Gorakhnath, a manifestation of Shiva.
Once Gorakhnath had stuck a stick in the ground from which the tree sprung. It is believed that some unknown writing is on the lines and cracks of the tree trunk.
This small village hit the head lines 15 years ago because of the Nag Panchami (Snake Festival) show. Live snakes were brought on that day in hundreds in pots by the snake charmers. Women used to worship them every year and then the snakes were let free in the bushes in different parts.
Anti Hindu groups filed a case against the Hindu festival in the name of animal rights. Bombay High court banned it and now every year drones are used to prevent snake catching . The same anti Hindu group filed a case against Tamil Bull Fighting in the courts, but the courts did not ban the Bull Fighting in Tamil Nadu fearing peoples revolt. The anti -Hindu groups spoiled the income of thousands of snake charmers and the Hindu women are also deprived of their age old custom.
Goraknath tamarind tree story is confirmed by the Maharashtra Gazeteer as well:
Sirala, 16. 59′ north latitude and 74. 11′ east longitude, is the headquarters of the mahal of the same name . It lies 14.43 km (nine miles) south-west of Peth on the Varna valley and has sprung up on either side of a stream which flows into the Morna, a tributary of the Varna a mile down-stream. It is surrounded on three sides by barren hills with broken and undulating ground in the neighbourhood.
The brass lamps or samais manufactured here are well-known all over the district. The village was surrounded by mud walls and during the times of the Marathas was fort of some strength.
Gorakhnath Shrine
About three quarters of a mile from the village there is an old shrine dedicated to Gorakhnath situated amidst a small grove of tamarind trees. In ancient days the grove was very large and was frequented by a large number of peacocks whose lives were carefully respected and which fed on the grains thrown to them by the Gosavis inhabiting the math or the monastic house.
The image of the presiding deity is a large mill-stone placed on the north side of a gigantic old tamarind tree of the species known as Gorakh Amli. There is an image of Gorakhnath installed in the math by the Gosavis. A remarkable property is attributed to this tree. Its bark is scored everywhere in every direction by natural lines and cracks. These are believed to be the characters written by the deity in an unknown tongue and every devotee coming to worship there has his name written on the tree. A fair in great local repute is held in the month of Chaitra or March-April. It is attended by many Lingayat Varus, Marathas and other people.
Nagapancami Festival.
Perhaps the most distinguishing feature of the village is the way the Nagapancami festival is observed and celebrated by its inhabitants. It is celebrated by the village folk of Battis Sirala with a difference in that venomous snakes are made to sport by the village folk. This unique way of observance of the festival has aroused the curiosity of even foreigners. Legend tells us that the village was formerly known as Srigal and the local inhabitants used to worship a clay image of the snake-god. One day while Gorakhnath was on his usual rounds for alms he had to wait on the threshold of a house for quite some time. The woman of the house who came with alms a little later, regretted the delay and told the saint that she was engaged in the worship of clay image of Naga. The saint thereupon produced a live snake by his divine powers and asked her to worship it instead, assuring her and the village folk at the same time that on Nagapancami day the snakes would do no harm. The inhabitants of the thirty-two neighbouring villages following this incident became his ardent devotees and hence significantly enough the village has earned the name Battis Sirala.
Following this practice, even to this day, when the festival approaches, people round-up hundreds of venomous snakes from the neighbouring hilly regions and take them out in a procession on the Nagapancami day. A spacious platform has specially been constructed on which snakes are made to dance to the tune of pebble filled earthen pots which are gently made to roll on the ground. It is. very interesting to note the village folk both young and old going about merrily with snakes round their necks without the slightest expression of fear on their faces. Fights between snakes and wild lizards are also arranged. To witness this unusual spectacle thousands of enthusiasts gather, coming from Bombay, Kolhapur, Poona, Satara and many other places.
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One more story about the town is
On the following day of Naga Panchami, i.e Sravana sukla Sashti, a fair held in memory of a banker Siraala Setti, once a king for one and a quarter hours. An earthen image of him is made and worshipped, women dancing round it. It is then thrown into a tank or a well.
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One more Tamarind Tree Story
A certain woman was anxious that her husband should return home soon ,when he was preparing to go on a long business tour. She sought help from an astrologer who is also a medicine man. He advised her husband to sleep under a Tamarind Tree on his way out every night during his travels, and to sleep under a neem tree on his return journey. He did so and he was soon taken ill owing to the unhealthy air given out by the tree and its tamarind fruits. He therefore did not prolong his journey . He had to turn back.
This folk tale among the villagers instruct the villagers not to use Tamarind Trees for night halt. Since neem leaves are good for health Hindus use them on New Year and Gudi Padwa festival time. They hang the neem leaves outside the houses if someone is afflicted with small pox.
–SUBHAM—
TAGS- Tamarind Tree, Akal Takht, Amritsar, famous tamarind trees, Imli, Tansen, Nammalwar, Sleepless trees,
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