What is Kalpavriksha in Jainism?

Ground Report | New Delhi: What is Kalpavriksha in Jainism; Kalpavriksha also known as Kalpataru, Kalpadrum, or Kalpapadap, is a wish-fulfilling divine tree in Hindu mythology. It is mentioned in Sanskrit literature from the earliest sources. It is also a popular subject in Jain cosmology and Buddhism. Sage Durvasa and Adi Shankaracharya meditated under the Kalpavriksha.

The credit for the birth of Ashoksundari, the daughter of Shiva and Parvati, goes to the Kalpavriksha tree. Another daughter Aranyani was also presented to keep the Kalpavriksha safe.

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8th century Sacred Temple, Java, Indonesia The Kalpavriksha originated with Kamadhenu, the divine cow providing for all needs, during the Samudra Manthan or "Samudra Manthan".

What is Kalpavriksha in Jainism?

Kalpavriksha is a tree of knowledge. It is the idea of ​​the tree of life that fulfills wishes and is believed by not only Hindus but many cultures. The word used for this in Indian culture is Kalpataru or Kalpavriksha. It is also called Kalpadrum and is a god tree in Hinduism. It is named after a part of Sanskrit scriptures such as Manasara and Shilpa Shastra and even in the Jain universe.

Kalpavriksha was born during the churning of the ocean according to the Hindu tradition or Samudra Manthan. The wish-fulfilling cow Kamdhenu was born with a tree. The tree was then taken to heaven by Lord Indra and planted there. According to Hindu tradition, there are five Kalpavrikshas, ​​Mandana, Santana, Kalpavriksha, Parijata, and Harichandan. He fulfilled the will of the gods and out of hatred and jealousy, the demons fought with him.

In Jain cosmology, Kalpavrikshas are wish-giving trees that fulfill the wishes of people in the initial stages of a world cycle. In the early period, children are born in pairs (boy and girl) and do not perform any karma. There are 10 Kalpavrikshas that bestow 10 specific wishes such as abode, clothing, utensils, nutrition including fruits and sweets, pleasant music, ornaments, fragrant flowers, shining lamps, and bright light at night.

According to Jain cosmology, in the three aaras (unequal periods) of the descending arc (avasarpini), the kalpavriksha provided everything that was needed, but at the end of the third aara, the yield from them decreased. Some texts describe eight types of these trees, each of which provided different objects. (What is Kalpavriksha in Jainism)

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wish-fulfilling tree

Thus a tasty and nutritious drink could be obtained from the "Madyanga tree"; From "Bhojananga", delicious food; From "Tiranga", brighter light than the Sun and the Moon; While the indoor light came from "Dopanga". Other trees provided homes, musical instruments, tableware, fine textiles, wreaths, and fragrances.

Kalpalatha is another wish-fulfilling tree, a creeper, which was admired in the later part of the Aryan period. It is said that a person standing under this tree is blessed with beautiful jewelry, clothes and even unmarried girls.

The Kalpavriksha is also dated to the Dharmachakra period of Buddhism. The paintings from this period depicted the tree with various branches and leaves, with a female figure depicted on its top part. The female figure is depicted holding a bowl in her hand raised above the mast. A similar depiction of the female figure with a tree, which depicts it as the presiding deity, was a notable feature during the Shunga period as seen in the image of "Salabhavaka" in the railing pillars.

Shiva and Parvati are a common feature in most of the paintings of the Kalpavriksha. It forms an umbrella over Shiva. In one of the paintings, Parvati is worshiping Lord Shiva when she is blessed by a stream of water from the Kalpavriksha.

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