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

.... a Continuation post. 

 2^nd October 2016

Mr Hariharan, GM TS explained the varieties of plants, trees, and herbs inside 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 was like heaven. 

THE FLORA & FAUNA - THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY

Mr Hariharan, G M – TS, led us through the footpaths 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 got light through the tree branches. It was awesome. Without a known person to lead, there is every chance of getting lost in the Theosophical Society’s jungle.

The arch was 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 medicinal value 

THE GREAT BANYAN TREE

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

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 the African continent and in Tamil, it is called பப்பாரப் புளி. This is called by different names such as side down the tree (since the branches are like roots), dead-rat tree, and monkey bread- tree. This tree grows mainly in the dry countries. During the rainy season, it will store water in the big trunk and be used during the dry season to grow. There are about 5 varieties of Baobab trees available in Africa. The fruits and seeds are nutritious and seeds are available in the form of powder. For further reading. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adansonia

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, that if one circumambulates this, their wishes will be fulfilled.

 For More Photographs: CLICK HERE

.... to be continued