# Sacred groves of Biodiversity Park, Visakhapatnam

The sacred groves is a zone of Biodiversity Park, Visakhapatnam located in the premises of Rani Chandramani Devi Government Hospital. It has more than 100 sacred plant species, which are medicinal herbs with religious importance. Many sacred plants are becoming rare and endangered. Hence they are to be reared, protected, and conserved. The zone was inaugurated on February 5, 2017, by Kambhampati Hari Babu, a member of parliament from Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.

## Sacred plant species of the park in general

More than 300 tree species mentioned in holy books (Bhagvad Gita, Ramayana, Mahabharata, Bible, Quran, Tripitaka, Zend-Avesta, Guru Granth Sahib) related to different religions (Hinduism, Christianity, Islam, Jainism, Buddhism, and Sikhism) are reared in different zones of the Biodiversity Park. Many tree species are commonly seen in more than one religion. For example, fig (Ficus carica) is almost common to all religions. Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera), olive (Olea europaea), pomegranate (Punica granatum), cypress (Cupressus sempervirens) are common to Christians and Muslims. Neem (Azadirachta indica), sacred fig or peepal or bodhi (Ficus religiosa), sal (Shorea robusta), sandal wood (Santalum album), bilva (Aegle marmelos) are common to Hindus, Buddhists and Jains. Banyan (Ficus bengalensis) and sacred fig (Ficus religiosa) are common to Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainsism, Judaism and Christianity. The maidenhair tree (Ginkgo biloba) is viewed as a sacred tree in all religions of China, Korea and Japan.
Some of the notable sacred plant species of the park are: maidenhair tree (Ginkgo biloba), Christmas tree (Araucaria excelsa), peepal/sacred fig/aswaddha (Ficus religiosa), banyan/marri/vata (Ficus benghalensis), ashoka tree (Saraca asoca), date palm (Phoenix dactylifera), Indian cedar / devadar (Cedrus deodara), cypress (Cupressus sempervirens), olive (Olea europaea), neem (Azadirachta indica), mango (Mangifera indica), kadamba (Anthocephalus cadamba), sandal wood (Santalum album), sami or jammi (Prosopis cineraria), bel, bilva or maredu (Aegle marmelos), moduga/flame of the forest (Butea monosperma), holy cross / calabash tree (Crescentia cujete), Indian lotus or padmam (Nelumbo nucifera), basilicum / tulasi (Ocimum sanctum), and rudraksha (Elaeocarpus ganitrus).

## Sacred plant categories of the Sacred Grove Zone

The Sacred Groves Zone of the Biodiversity Park contains more than 100 plants under five categories namely Ganesha vana, Nakshatra vana, Raasi vana, Saptarishi vana and Navagraha vana. The pictures are shown in the gallery. Some plants or trees are common to more than one vana or garden. For example, raavi / peepal / sacred fig (Ficus religiosa) is common to Ganesha vana, Raasi vana, Saptarishi vana and Nakshtra vana. Similarly sandra / chandra / kachu (Acacia catechu) is common to Nakshatra vana, Navagraha vana and Raasi vana. Samee / jemmi (Prosopis cineraria) / (Prosopis spicigera) is common to Ganesha vana, Nakshatra vana, Navagraha vana and Raasi vana. Bilva / maredu / bael (Aegle marmelos) is common to Ganesha vana, Nakshatra vana and Saptarishi vana.

### Ganesha vana – Ganesha garden with 21 plants

This consists of 21 leaves (Aeakavimshathi patraha) of 21 plant species connected with the worship of Lord Ganesha.
This might also be the same as the Siddhivinayak Mandala Vaatika, where the garden is designed as per sacred geometry dedicated to SiddhiVinayak, another name for Lord Ganesha.
A Mandala Vaatika, simply put, is a garden that is structured like a Mandala (i.e. in a circular geometric designs). However, in Vedic times, these gardens were created as per very specific mathematical calculations, patterns and measurements. Each deity and planet has their own unique Mandala geometry. These gardens were treated as sacred groves where one could meditate and experience the vibrations of these deities.
So, in ancient India one could meditate in a Rudra Mandala Vaatika, a Durga Mandala Vaatika, a Murugan Mandala Vaatika, a Varamahalakshmi Mandala Vaatika or even a Saptarishi Mandala Vaatika dedicated to the 7 most revered sages.
| S.no | Sanskrit name of the leaf | Common name of the tree | Botanical name | Family |
| 1 | Machee patraha | Masapatri | Artemisia vulgaris | Asteraceae |
| 2 | Brihatee patraha | a. nela munaga / mulla vankayi b. vakudu | a. Solanum surattense / Solanum xanthocarpum b. Carissa carandas | a. Solanaceae b. Apocynaceae |
| 3 | Bilva patraha | Bilva / maredu / bael | Aegle marmelos | Rutaceae |
| 4 | Doorvaru yugmaha | Garika | Cynodon dactylon | Poaceae |
| 5 | Datura patraha | Datura / ummetta | Datura metel | Solanaceae |
| 6 | Badari patraha | a. regu / Indian jujube b. Chinese jujube | a. Ziziphus mauritiana b. Ziziphus jujuba | Rhamnaceae |
| 7 | Apamarga patrah | Uttareni | Achyranthes aspera | Amaranthaceae |
| 8 | Tulasi patraha | Tulasi / sacred basil | Ocimum sanctum / Ocimum tenuiflorum | Lamiaceae |
| 9 | Choota patraha | Mamidi / mango | Mangifera indica | Anacardiaceae |
| 10 | Karaveera patraha | a. yerra ganneru / oleander b. pachha ganneru / yellow oleander | a. Nerium indicum b. Thevetia peruviana | a. Apocynaceae b. Apocynaceae |
| 11 | Vishnukranta patraha | Vishnukranta | Evolvulus alsinoides | Convolvulaceae |
| 12 | Dadimee patraha | Pomegranate / danimma | Punica granatum | Punicaceae |
| 13 | Devadaru patraha | a. devadaru b. pine c. local devadaru / pagadamu chettu / red cedar | a. Cedrus deodara b. Pinus roxburghii c. Erythroxylum monogynum | a. Pinaceae b. Pinaceae c. Linaceae |
| 14 | Maruvaka patraha | Maruvamu | Origanum vulgare | Lamiaceae |
| 15 | Sindhuvara patraha | Vavili | Vitex negundo | Verbenaceae |
| 16 | Jajee patraha | Jaji / sanna jaji | Jasminum grandiflorum | Oleaceae |
| 17 | Gandaki patraha | a. sita phalam b. devakanchanamu | a. Annona squamosa b. Bauhinia acuminata | a. Annonaceae b. Fabaceae |
| 18 | Samee patraha | Samee / jemmi | Prosopis cineraria / Prosopis spicigera | Fabaceae |
| 19 | Aswaddha patraha | Raavi / peepal / sacred fig | Ficus religiosa | Moraceae |
| 20 | Arjuna patraha | Arjuna / tella maddi | Terminalia arjuna | Combretaceae |
| 21 | Arca patraha | Tella jilledu / swetarca | Calotropis procera / Calotropis gigantea | Asclepiadaceae / Apocynaceae |

### Nakshatra vana - garden with plants for 27 stars

The nakshatra vana comprises plant species connected with the 27 stars or star constellations of Indian astrology.
| S.no | Name of the nakshatra / star | Common name of the tree | Botanical name | Family |
| 1 | Ashwini | a. mushidi / vishamusthi b. jeedimamidi / cashewnut | a. Strychnos nux-vomica b. Anacardium occidentale | a. Loganiaceae b. Anacardiaceae |
| 2 | Bharani | Konda vusiri / amla / Indian gooseberry | Phyllanthus emblica | Euphorbiaceae |
| 3 | Krittika | Athi / medi / udumbara | Ficus glomerata / Ficus racemosa | Moraceae |
| 4 | Rohini | Neredu / jamun | Eugenia jambolana / Syzygium cuminii | Myrtaceae |
| 5 | Mrigashira | Kachu / sandra / chandra/ khair | Acacia catechu | Mimosaceae |
| 6 | Aarudra | Tumiki chettu / beedi aaku | Diospyros melanoxylon | Ebenaceae |
| 7 | Punarvasu | Golden bamboo / painted bamboo | Bambusa vulgaris 'Vittata' | Poaceae |
| 8 | Pushyami | Raavi / aswaddha / pipal / sacred fig | Ficus religiosa | Poaceae |
| 9 | Aashlesha | Ponna / laurel wood | Calophyllum inophyllum | Clusiaceae |
| 10 | Magha | Marri / vata / banyan tree / Indian fig | Ficus benghalensis | Moraceae |
| 11 | Pubba | Moduga / flame of the forest | Butea monosperma | Fabaceae |
| 12 | Uttara | a. karaveera / ganneru b. juvvi | a. Nerium indicum b. Ficus virens | a. Apocynaceae b. Moraceae |
| 13 | Hasta | a. tella tumma b. adavi mamidi / hog plum c. jaji / sanna jaji | a. Acacia leucophloea b. Spondias pinnata c. Jasminum grandiflorum | a. Mimosaceae b. Anacardiaceae c. Oleaceae |
| 14 | Chitra / Chitta | Maredu / beal / bilwa / | Aegle marmelos | Rutaceae |
| 15 | Swathi | Tella maddi / arjun | Terminalia arjuna | Combretaceae |
| 16 | Visakha | a. velaga / stone apple / wood apple b. naga keshar / cobra saffron | a. Feronia elephantum / Limonia acidissima b. Mesua ferrea | a. Rutaceae b. Caryophyllaceae |
| 17 | Anuradha | a. bogada b. naagkeshar / cobra saffron | a. Mimusops elengi b. Mesua ferrea | a. Sapotaceae b. Caryophyllaceae |
| 18 | Jyeshtha | a. devadaru b. pine c. barnika d. local devadaru / pagadamu chettu / red cedar | a. Cedrus deodara b. Pinus roxburghii c. Streblus asper d. Erythroxylum monogynum | a. Pinaceae b. Pinaceae c. Moraceae d. Linaceae |
| 19 | Moola | a. dhoop / sambrani b. sal / guggilam c. anjan / aepi | a. Boswellia serrata b. Shorea talura / Shorea roxburghii c. Hardwickia binata | a. Burseraceae b. Dipterocarpaceae c. Fabaceae |
| 20 | Purvashada | a. jammi / samee b. ashoka | a. Prosopis cineraria / Prosopis spicigera b. Saraca asoca | a. Fabaceae b. Fabaceae |
| 21 | Uttarashada | Jack fruit / panasa | Artocarpus heterophyllus | Moraceae |
| 22 | Sravanam | Swetarka / tella jilledu | Calotropis procera / Calotropis gigantea | Asclepiadaceae / Apocynaceae |
| 23 | Dhanishta | a. munaga / drumstick b. anasandra | a. Moringa oleifera b. Acacia ferruginea | a. Moringaceae b. Fabaceae |
| 24 | Satabisha | Kadambam | Anthocephalus cadamba / Neolamarckia cadamba | Rubiaceae |
| 25 | Purvabhadra | a. neem / vepa / margosa b. nalla maddi | a. Azadirachta indica b. Terminalia elliptica / Terminalia tomentosa | a. Meliaceae b. Combretaceae |
| 26 | Uttarabhadra | a. neem / vepa / margosa b. mango / mamidi | a. Azadirachta indica b. Mangifera indica | a. Meliaceae b. Anacardiaceae |
| 27 | Revathi | Ippa / mohua / butter tree | Madhuca longifolia / Madhuca indica | Sapotaceae |

### Raasi vana - garden with plants for 12 zodiac signs

This comprises plant species connected with the 12 signs in the zodiac system.
| S.no | Name of the raasi / zodiac sign | Common name of the tree | Botanical name | Family |
| 1 | Mesha / Aries | Red sandars / rakta chandanam / erra chandanam | Pterocarpus santalinus | Fabaceae |
| 2 | Vrishabha / Taurus | Aedakulapala / saptaparni | Alstonia scholaris | Apocynaceae |
| 3 | Midhuna / Gemini | a. jack fruit / panasa b. ankudu | a. Artocarpus heterophyllus b. Wrightia tinctoria | a. Moraceae b. Apocynaceae |
| 4 | Karkataka / Cancer | Moduga / flame of the forest | Butea monosperma | Fabaceae |
| 5 | Simha / Leo | a. padaari / b. Chinese jujube c. regu / Indian jujube | a. Stereospermum colais / Stereospermum tetragonum b. Ziziphus jujuba c. Ziziphus mauritiana | a. Bignoniaceae b. Rhamnaceae c. Rhamnaceae |
| 6 | Kanya / Virgo | Mango / mamidi | Mangifera indica | Anacardiaceae |
| 7 | Tula / Libra | Bakul / bogada | Mimusops elengi | Sapotaceae |
| 8 | Vrishchika / Scorpion | Sandra / chandra / kachu | Acacia catechu | Mimosaceae |
| 9 | Dhanus / Sagittarius | Raavi / aswaddha / peepal | Ficus religiosa | Moraceae |
| 10 | Makara / Capricorn | Sissoo / north Indian rose wood | Dalbergia sissoo | Fabaceae |
| 11 | Kumbha / Aquarius | Jammi / samee | Prosopis cineraria / Prosopis spicigera | Mimosaceae |
| 12 | Meena / Pisces | Marri / vata / banyan tree / Indian fig | Ficus benghalensis | Moraceae |

### Saptarishi vana - garden of plants for seven great Indian sages

This comprises plant species connected with seven great Indian sages or rishis.
| S.no | Name of the rishi / sage | Common name of the tree | Botanical name | Family |
| 1 | Vasistha | a. anasandra b. tulasi | a. Acacia ferruginea b. Ocimum sanctum / Ocimum tenuiflorum | a. Mimosaceae b. Lamiaceae |
| 2 | Athri | a. avisi b. kaluva | a. Sesbania grandiflora b. Nymphaea nouchali | a. Fabaceae b. Nymphaeaceae |
| 3 | Gouthama | a. ummetta b. sanna jaji / star jasmine | a. Datura metel b. Jasminum pubescens / Jasminum multiflorum | a. Solanaceae b. Oleaceae |
| 4 | Kashyapa | Tulasi | Ocimum sanctum / Ocimum tenuiflorum | Lamiaceae |
| 5 | Bharadwaja | a. uttareni b. poka chekka / betel nut | a. Achyranthes aspera b. Areca catechu | a. Amaranthaceae b. Arecaceae |
| 6 | Jamadagni | a. garika b. wild jasmine/adavi malli | a. Cynodon dactylon b. Jasminum angustifolium | a. Poaceae b. Oleaceae |
| 7 | Vishwamithra | a. maredu / bilva b. sugandhipala / nannari | a. Aegle marmelos b. Hemidesmus indicus | a. Rutaceae b. Apocynaceae |

### Navagraha vana - garden with plants for nine planets

This comprises nine plant species connected with nine planets or celestial bodies.
| S.no | Name of the graha / planet | Common name of the tree | Botanical name | Family |
| 1 | Budha / Mercury | Uttareni | Achyranthes aspera | Amaranthaceae |
| 2 | Sukra / Venus | Athi / medi / udumbara | Ficus glomerata / Ficus racemosa | Moraceae |
| 3 | Chandra / Moon | Moduga / flame of the forest | Butea monosperma | Fabaceae |
| 4 | Guru / Jupiter | Raavi / aswaddha / pipal / sacred fig | Ficus religiosa | Poaceae |
| 5 | Kuja / Mars / Mangala | Kachu / sandra / chandra/ khair | Acacia catechu | Mimosaceae |
| 6 | Surya / Sun | Swetarka / tella jilledu | Calotropis procera / Calotropis gigantea | Asclepiadaceae / Apocynaceae |
| 7 | Kethu / South Lunar Node | Dharba gaddi | Imperata cylindrica | Poaceae |
| 8 | Sani / Saturn | Jammi / samee | Prosopis cineraria / Prosopis spicigera | Fabaceae |
| 9 | Rahu / North Lunar Node | Garika | Cynodon dactylon | Poaceae |

## Gallery

Some notable sacred plant species:
* Sacred groves views (1), Biodiversity park, Visakhapatnam