The Vatikas: Ancient Hindu Astrological Gardens

Originally posted on Indosphere.co

A vatika is a sacred ‘cosmic garden’ planted according to precise instructions from the Hindu scriptures.

They are said to protect the location and to energize the area by aligning it with cosmic and astrological principles.

Vatikas can be planted around hotels, industrial areas, residential bungalows, farm houses, etc.

Various scriptures like the Narada Purana, Shiva Purana, the Ramayana, Samarangana Sutradhara and Saraswati Purana have described how to design astrological gardens (vatika).

Rashivatika — Gardens of the 12 Zodiac Signs

The Vatikas of the 12 Zodiac signs include plants for:

• Aries — Malabar Kino (Pterocarpus marsupium)
• Taurus — Milkwood (Alstonia scholaris)
• Gemini — Champak (Michelia champaca)
• Cancer — Asoka tree (Saraca indica)
• Leo — Steriospermum chelonoides
• Virgo — Mango (Mangifera indica)
• Libra — Bullet Wood (Memusops elenegi)
• Scorpio — Flame of the Forest (Buteamono sperma)
• Sagittarius — Cotton tree (Bombax ceilba)
• Capricorn — North Indian Rosewood (Dalbergia sissoo)
• Aquarius — Kadam (Neolamarckia cadamba)
• Pisces — Bilva (Aegle marmelos)

Navgraha Vatika — Gardens of the 9 Planets

In Jyotish, it is said that there are 9 planets (Navgraha) which are controlling the destiny of a person.

There people can sit in the shade of trees and let the cosmic rays ‘recharge’ them.

Each planet is associated with a sacred plant which has to be planted in a 3 by 3 grid:

• Arka (Calotropis procera) — Milkweed Plant (for Sun) in the Centre
• Palash (Butea monosperma) — Flame-of-the-forest Tree (for Moon) in the South East
• Kadhira (Acacia catechu) — Couch plant (for Mars) in the South
• Apamarga (Achyranthus aspera) (for Mercury) in North East
• Peepal (Ficus religiosa) (for Jupiter) in North
• Anjeer (Ficus racemosa) (for Venus) in East
• Shami (Prosopis cenneraria) (for Saturn) in West
• Durva (Cynodon dactylon) (for Rahu) in South West
• Darbha / Kusha (Imperata cylindrica) (for Ketu) in North West

Panchvatika — Gardens of the 5 Sacred Trees from the Ramayana

Panchvatikas are groves made of 5 trees mentioned in the Ramayana:

• Vata (Ficus bengalensis)
• Peepal (Ficus religiosa)
• Anjeer (Ficus glomerata)
• Bilva (Aegle marmelos)
• Amla (Emblica officionalis)

Bilva (Aegle marmelos), sacred tree of Shiva

Astrological gardens: A renewal of interest

In 2016 The President of India Pranab Mukherjee had created such a garden which has plants representing planets, zodiac signs and stars at his official Rashtrapati Nilayam retreat in Secunderabad. It is square-shaped and has nine squares.

• Each square is planted with a particular plant variety that represents the respective planet of the Navgraha (Nine Planets) and is placed as per astrological directions.
• Around this square lies a first inner circular band is divided in 12 small circles holding plants corresponding to the 12 zodiac signs.
• Then, the outer circular band consists of 27 parts, each with smaller circles representing each nakshatra (group of stars), planted with a representative plant of that particular star.

In all, the garden has 48 plants representing 9 planets, 12 zodiacs and 27 nakshatras.

Types of vatikas

There are several types of vatikas, such as

• Navgraha Vatika — Gardens of the 9 Planets
• Nakshatra Vatika or Nakshatravana — has 27 tree varieties, planted in specific positions to connect to the 27 nakshatras (lunar mansions)
• Dhanvantari Vatika — has 75 types of medicinal plants and herbs
• Panchvatika — Gardens made of 5 tree varieties mentioned in the Ramayana
• Harishankari — Gardens made of a formation of three tree species which represent the Trimurti (with Pakar for Brahma, Peepal for Vishnu and Banyan for Shiva).

Nandana Vana, Indra‘s forest-garden in Svargaloka, described by ancient poets and writers. It is the home of the wish-fulfilling Kalpavriksha.

Nyagrodha tree near Candi Mendut

Nakshatra Vatika — Trees of the 27 nakshatras

These trees have been assigned to the 27 nakshatras by the Vedic Rishis.

1. Ashvini — Strychnine (Strychnos nux-vomica) — From it is derived strychnine, The bark is used against cholera, the root against intermittent fever, the leaves are useful in the treating of wounds.

2. Bharani — (Tamarindus indica) — Its bark is used as a medicine for lameness, its ash is used against gonorrhea, its leaves against swellings, its blossoms are good appetizers. Its fruits are helpful in case of wounds and its seeds in case of stomach ulcers.

3. Krittika — Cluster Fig (Ficus racemosa) — Its fruits are used against diseases of the blood, fatigue, lepra, bleeding nose, cough, etc. Its bark is helpful against asthma, its leaves against bronchitis. The ripened fruits are eatable, in times of shortage of food, the unripe ones are used together with rice for making chapatis.

4. Rohini — Malabar Plum, Java Plum or Jamun (Syzygium cumini) — Its bark is used as a medicine against asthma, fatigue, diarrhea, and bronchitis. Its seeds are said to be helpful against syphilis.

5. Mrigashira — (Areca catechu) — Medicines produced from it are Svalpakhadirvatika, which is used against tooth diseases and other ailments. Another of its products is Khadirastaka, used against skin diseases

6. Ardra — Red Sandalwood (Pterocarpus santalinus)

7. Punarvasu — Indian thorny bamboo (Bambusa arundinacea) — It is used as a medicine against blood diseases, bronchitis, asthma, acidity of the stomach, syphilis, etc.

8. Pushya — Peepal (Ficus religiosa) — This 25 m high holy fig tree is planted near temples and villages. Its fruits ripen in May-July. This holy plant is also used for healing purposes in case of heart diseases, stomach ulcers, etc. Also it is used as aphrodisiac.

9. Ashlesha — Cobra Saffron (Mesua ferrea) — This tree has large white flowers (February-March) which smell like roses and violets. Its eatable fruits are of the size of dove-eggs, and contain large stones. It is regarded as a medicinal plant, and used against fever, skin diseases, and headaches. Its flowers are especially used against cough. Its bark, in combination with ginger. It drives out sweat.

10. Magha — Banyan (Ficus indica) or vata in Sanskrit. Its milky juice and seeds or fruits are useful as external application to pains and bruises, sores and ulcers, in rheumatism, to the soles of the feet when cracked or inflamed, and to the teeth and gums for toothache. The juice of the fruits is useful in dysentery and diarrhoea. An infusion of the bark (1 in 10) has specific properties in reducing blood sugar in diabetes, dysentery, hemorrhagic fluxes, gonorrhoea, and in seminal weakness, and is a powerful tonic. Slender twigs of the tree form a good toothbrush and its use strengthens gums and teeth.

11. Purvaphalguni — Flame of the Forest (Butea monosperma) — It grows in salty, dry soil, where no other plants can flourish. Its wood is used as a dying agent. Its root is used as a medicine against night blindness. Its bark is used as aphrodisiac and appetizer, its leaves against eye diseases and its flowers are used against skin diseases.

12. Uttaraphalguni — (Ficus tinctoria)

13. Hasta — (Jasminum grandiflorum) — The white flowers are used against mouth-tooth-eye-and ear diseases, as well as against blood diseases, lepra and asthma. Its root is regarded as a medicine against headache and rheumatism.

14. Chitra — (Aegle marmelos) — This tree grows in dry places, but is often planted near temples. Its roots are used against fevers and colic pains. The flowers are helpful in quenching thirst and work against vomiting. The ripe, sweet fruits are beneficial for the heart and the head, but not good for lungs and chest. The skin of its fruit is supposed to help in cases of diarrhea. This tree is dedicated to Lord Shiva.

15. Svati — (Terminalia arjuna) — This tree grows at river banks, up to the height of 24 m. Its pale-yellow flowers appear in April-May. The juice of the fresh leaves is used against ear pains and the bark has a strengthening effect in case of heart problems.

16. Vishakha — (Limonia acidissima)

17. Anuradha — (Mimusops elengi)

18. Jyeshtha — (Calamus rotang)

19. Moola — (Shorea robusta)

20. Purvashadha — (Tinospora cordifolia)

21. Uttarashadha — Jackfruit (Artocarpus integer) — Its long pumpkin-like and prickly fruits (jack fruits) are very tasty (June-August). The young leaves are used against skin diseases.

22. Shravana — (Calotropis gigantea) — It grows at dry places and it has large, green fruits. Its juice is used against hemorrhoids. Its root against asthma and syphilis. All parts of this plant, dried and taken together with milk, have a strengthening effect.

23. Dhanishtha — (Prosopis spicigera) — Its wood is used as building material and as fuel. It is also used as fodder for camels and goats.

24. Shatabhisha — (Mitragyna parviflora) — Its light pinkish-brown wood serves as building material, and its leaves are used as fodder.

25. Purvabhadrapada — (Mangifera indica) — This is the Indian Mango tree, which is also used as medicinal plant. The smoke of its leaves are useful against neck pains.

26. Uttarabhadrapada — (Melia azadirachta) — Its yellow-brown fruits ripen in the raining season. The tree is considered good for health when it is planted around a village. It is supposed to protect the villagers against malaria. Practically every part of the tree has some medical application. The oil from its seeds is used in the production of soap.

27. Revati — (Madhuca longifolia) — This so called ‘honey tree’ or ‘butter tree’ is one of the most important Indian forest trees. Has yellow-white, meaty flowers (March-April), which are raw eatable and serve as food. The oil, that is won from its fruits is processed into a kind of butter, but is also used as a medicine against skin diseases.