Patna: Have you ever been to a park having trees aligned with zodiac signs, nakshatra (constellations) and planets? If not, take a round of the biodiversity park developed by Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University (RPCAU) at Pusa in Samastipur district.
The biodiversity park, developed in an area of 7.5 hectares within the university campus about a couple of years back, hosts several sections containing chosen trees related to different astrological aspects.If someone is interested in knowing the trees related to planets, he has to visit the ‘Navgraha Van’, where the trees are planted in particular place and direction to provide protection from negative forces as mentioned in horoscope.
Here one will come across all the eight plants associated with as many planets. This section contains plants like Chichida (for the planet Mercury), Gular (Venus), Palas (Moon), Pipal (Jupiter), Aak (for Sun), Khair (Mars), Dabhi (for Dragon’s tail or Ketu), Shami (Saturn) and Doob (for Dragon’s head or Rahu). These planets are supposed to influence different organs in the body either in positive or negative manner and may result in diseases due to evil effects, believe astrologists.
Rajesh Kumar Meena of forestry department and professor-in-charge of the biodiversity park said there are separate Nakshatra van, Rashi van, Saptharishi van, Panch Pallav van, Panchvati van, Shree-parni van and Shiv Panchayatan within this mega park. In Nakshatra van there are 27 plants, each representing one constellation of star. It is believed that celestial bodies like the Sun and the Moon exert different influences on human beings when they are transiting through these 27 constellations. Such effects can be moderated by planting and worshipping trees assigned to each constellation, it is said.
The Rashi van has 12 plants, one for each rashi (zodiac sign). The Saptharishi van has seven trees associated with the seven major saints and the constellations, namely, Kashyapa, Atri, Bharadwaja, Vishwamitra, Gouthami, Jamadagni and Vasistha. The trees identified with these seven saints are Tulsi, Agust, Supari, Bel, Dhatura, Chandni and Shami respectively.
In Panch Pallav van, there are five sacred plants whose leaves are used in almost all the religious practices and marriages. The sacred leaves belong to Mango, Paakar, Gular, Peepal and Banyan trees, said Meena.
Similarly, the Panchvati van contains five holy trees, namely Vad, Pipal, Bilva or Billi, Amla and Ashok.

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