Ficus religiosa, more popularly known as the pipal in contemporary times, is a holy fig tree.
- The aerial roots of the ashvattha are particularly notable, as they extend downward from some of the limbs until they contact the ground, at which time they establish root.
- Ashvattha trees may grow to be huge because their roots can form secondary trunks.
They've long been regarded as a haven for ascetics, partly due to their holy connotations and partly because to the thick vegetation that offers protection from the weather.
- Their unique structure is mentioned in Bhagavad Gita chapter fifteen, where the ashvattha is referred to as the "tree of life."
- The ashvattha is also said to be the tree that the Buddha gained enlightenment beneath.
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