Wednesday 26 October 2016

The Natural Forest, Flora & Fauna, The Great Banyan Tree and Baobab Tree, Theosophical Society, Adyar, Chennai Tamil Nadu.

.... a Continuation post. 
 2nd October 2016
Mr Hariharan, GM TS explained the varieties of plants, trees and herbs in side the Theosophical Society premises ( could not remember the numbers. But as per Nandan Sankriti Kaushik's recorded message of Mr Hariharan, GM - TS, 85 kinds of insects, 200 kinds of birds, 40 to 50 types of fishes and 150 different types of plants and trees ). Liked the cannon ball trees with cannon balls hanging with a fragrant smell of flowers, that total atmosphere mas like heaven. 

THE FLORA & FAUNA - THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY
Mr Hariharan, G M – TS, led us through the foot paths covered with thick vegetation and no one behind or before. It was frightening to look at the back. Even at 16.30 Hrs the path was too dark and gets light through the tree branches. It was awesome. With out a known person to lead, there is every chance of getting lost in the Theosophical Society’s jungle..



The arch brought from Chandragiri fort – a Vijayanagara period
The Bodhi tree in front of the Buddhist shrine




Which path you will take..right or left..
See the light at the centre

The flower ‘Senganthal -  செங்காந்தள்-  is the Tamil Nadu’s official flower. It is a wild and poisonous plant with very good medicinial value 






THE GREAT BANYAN TREE
The  tree was there when the piece of land of 25 acres of land bought at a cost of Rs 8900 ( as per Mr Hariharan, G M of TS). The tree is estimated to 450 years old and covers almost 40000 square feet. The main trunk was up rooted by a cyclone during 1989 and a portion of main trunk survived. Historical important events were held under the tree. The first meeting of Indian National Congress was held under the tree during 1914. The Atmosphere inducted an idea of Starting Shanthi Nikethan at Madras for Rabindranath Tagore, but could not materialised.





BAOBAB TREE – THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY,  
There are about species of trees inside the Theosophical society campus. Some of the trees or the saplings are brought from foreign countries with soil and planted. The Baobab tree is the origin of African continent and in Tamil it is called as பப்பாரப் புளி. This is called in different names as up side down tree (since the branches are like roots), dead-rat-tree and monkey bread- tree. This tree grows mainly in the dry countries. During rainy season it will store water in the big trunk and used during dry season to grow. There are about 5 verities of Baobab trees available in Africa. The fruits and seeds are nutritious and seeds are available in the form of powder. For further reading. 

There are about 6 such trees in Madras including one at Theosophical Society. The other places are, Horticultural Society, Chepauk and Madras Museum, Museum Andhra mahila Sabha, C p Ramasamy Iyer's house at Eldams road. We had seen the tree in Egmore Museum, during our Koovam / Cooum river walk.

There are many stories and myths about this Baobab tree. One such myth in India is, if one circumambulate this, their wishes will be fulfilled.





 For More Photographs:CLICK HERE
.... to be continued

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