Can you imagine a tree which is more than five and a half thousand (5,500) years old? A tree which Lord Shri Krishna himself brought to earth from heaven? A tree which never bears fruit, has no seeds and from whose stem no other plant grows? This is not a story, but a reality.
This miraculous and mysterious Parijat tree, located in Barabanki district of Uttar Pradesh, still stands proudly and hides many deep secrets related to the Mahabharata period in its chest.
It is not just a tree, but a living proof of faith and wonder. What is the story of this ‘Tree of Heaven’? There are two very interesting legends associated with this amazing Parijat tree: 1. When Shri Krishna brought these flowers from heaven: According to a legend, Lord Krishna’s wife Satyabhama had insisted him to bring Parijat flowers blooming in heaven.
To fulfill his wife’s wish, Shri Krishna fought with Lord Indra and won a branch of the Parijat tree and brought it and planted it in the garden of Satyabhama in Dwarka. It is said that this is the same ‘Harsingar’ tree, which is also called Parijat. 2. When Arjun created history for mother Kunti: The local and most popular story is related to the Mahabharata period. It is said that the Pandavas spent a lot of time here during their exile.
During this time, Mother Kunti wanted to worship Lord Shiva, but there was no temple nearby. To fulfill his mother’s wish, Arjun built a Shiva temple (known today as ‘Mahabharata Temple’) here with his arrows in a single night. Mother Kunti wanted flowers from the sky for worship, so Arjun, through his penance, brought this entire Parijat tree from heaven to earth. It is said that Mother Kunti used to anoint Shiva with its golden flowers every day.
What is mysterious and special about this tree? This tree has become a mystery even for botanists. Unique: It is considered to be the only tree of its kind in the world. By cutting any of its branches and planting it at another place, a new plant does not grow.
No fruits or seeds: This tree never bears fruits or seeds. Color changing flowers: Its white flowers turn golden in the morning. Giant: Its trunk and branches are so thick and huge that its age can be estimated by looking at them. Looking at it, it seems as if it has really come from another world. Due to these qualities, it is the center of faith of crores of people and people come from far and wide to see this ‘divine tree’.