holy trees growing on koh phangan

    Divine flora of Koh Phangan includes some of the beautiful trees and other plants, described in ancient scriptures as "sacred", related to define aspects of Supreme spirit. For all the history that trees were under care and protection, people worshiping them. When Gautama Buddha come to this world, he prefer to stay with his followers under the trees in a various groves.  Its believed that holy trees attracts health and fortune of people around, also some of that trees also has a  various usage in Ayurveda (आयुर्वेदः) - traditional medicine, still remained in India and rarely found in Thailand. So as green trends growing, we feel its useful to share some colorful facts about few of the most significant trees, growing on the island.

Pippal, bodhi tree, ashwattha or sacred fig

    Now its a main tree, associated with Lord Buddha, however before it was connected with Jupiter, and Sarasvati (river and Goddess energy).  Famous temple tree of Thailand, this tree so strongly related with Buddhist temples, that we met a people who immediately cut it down after noticing on their land (sad & funny)! Actively used in herbal medicine, beloved by birds and other flying animal, such as a flying foxes. Seeds used for the beads in rituals and altars. Bodhi tree can be so strong and big that sometimes its "captures" the building, as its happens in "Garuda Pagoda" in Baan tai. Leaves of Bodhi are so beautiful that people use them as a gifts, souvenirs and decoration, washing from flesh in a water. You can meet old Bodhi tree at most of the island's temples. But even older trees you can see, travelling around the country.

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bead tree, manjadikuru or coral acacia

    Blissful beautiful beads with soft "female" energy effects, grows also in holy areas of Nakhon Si Thammarat, where we saw it first. ​Adenanthera pavonina among the botanists, this tree has even more intrigue names such as Circassian Seed, Red Sandal, Saga tree or Piriquiti. Red glossy beads can vary in size, depends on area where tree grows. The biggest we saw on Bali, where people call it "Shiva Beads", the smallest - here on Koh Phangan. Biggest Bead Tree we saw on a internal road which leads opposite "Bangkok Hospital". Here are the full-size photos and interesting story - one of many, about that tree.

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rudraksha

  "Tears of god Rudra", Rudraksha trees are the most interesting tree what we ever saw. Since first discovery of that trees on Phangan at winter-17 we spent most of our "Eco-research" activity regarding trees of Rudraksha - where its grows, how the seeds of particular tree looks like, how its connected with other forms of life, soil & water. Being from ancient times the nesessary spiritual item of Shivaist tradition, nowadays Rudraksha beads are highly popular among all the other circles of people. Medics and pharmacists, physics and thinkers, ecologists and botanists - many of them and many others exploring various effects and sides of Rudrakshas for the wealth of Being. Based from Phangan trees we created Rudraksha Life (now on Russian, but we wish to translate it), dedicated solely to the Rudraksha trees - on the island and worldwide. I can advice to wear at least 1 Rudraksha to all the people, no matter of gender, religion and occupation - Rudraksha is visibly good for health, mind and their balance. Find more about Rudraksha looking at the links library on the end of that article. Contact us urgently to get your Phangan Rudraksha for free, while we are still here - its hard to find it out of the fruit season.

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udumbara, gular or CLUSTER fig tree

    One more sacred tree of Buddha, as one of the previous Buddhas - Buddha Konagamana (Kanakamuni in India) attained the Nibbana (full enlightenment) under Udumbara tree. On Latin its named Ficus racemosa. In Vadic tradition Its also a tree of Lord Dattareya, who blessed everybody, worshiping under this tree. Full of fruits, edible by birds, whom spreading the seeds after. Udumbara loves cool clean water, and its easy to meet it in a waterfalls area of Koh Phangan. This tree also meets in various ancient fairy-tales, including the "Ocean of Tales" of Somadeva,
    where once monkey got friendship with the dolphin, by feeding him fruits of Udumbara. Dramatic continue ends happily - wife of dolphin begins to jealous her husband, and female friends-dolphins giving her advice, full of cunning and cruelty - to pretend ill and ask for monkey's heart as the only effective cure. But smart monkey, being informed about that already on a way to death in the ocean found the right answer "he left the Lotus of his heart on that big Udumbara tree, as monkeys always do, when leaving home. So he need to return to take his heart and save the wife of his dolphin-friend" :)