Prayagraj: Ahead of Maha Kumbh, the state govt is taking a big initiative to enhance spiritual experience of devotees as they offer prayers to Akshayvat tree during the mega religious fair. While information pertaining to the sacredtree is mentioned in the Puranas, including the Agni Purana, Padma Purana, Vayu Purana, and Brahma Purana, few would know that if Mughal ruler Jahangir had his way, this Akshayvat would not be there.

Jahangir not only tortured Hindus but also made a malicious attempt to wipe out Akshayvat from its roots. This has been prominently mentioned in the book ‘Tarikh-e-Hind‘, written in Urdu in 1878 by Hakim Shams Ullah Qadri.

Shams Ullah Qadri writes that Jahangir cut down Akshayvat and covered the entire place with a thick iron sheet pan so that the tree would not grow again, but its buds still flourished. It is also written that it is recognised as a big pilgrimage site among Hindus. Qadri has also written in the book that “two rivers meet near the fort. A source emerged from within the fort from where another stream emerged, possibly this is Saraswati”.

According to historian Prof Yogeshwar Tiwari, Jahangir not only cut down Akshayvat but also burnt it along with its roots. Jahangir attacked Akshayvat during his rule when he knew that it was the main centre of faith for Hindus.

“At that time, many people used to go to Akshayvat to attain salvation. Akshayvat has great importance in Sanatan Dharma as it is believed that when there was a deluge on earth, everything was submerged in water, however, Akshayvat was the only thing that could not be submerged by the flood,” said Prof Tiwari.

The manuscript of Tarikh-e-Hind is a rare collection in the archives. Akshayvat has been mentioned in great detail on its pages. Believing that Akshayvat is the centre of faith for Hindus, Shams Ullah Qadri prominently mentioned Jahangir and the incident of the attack by him in the book, said Ghulam Sarwar, officer in-charge, Regional Archives.