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 / deodar (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.