Old Delhi – Peepal Trees

On our tour around Old Delhi with a former street child, we visited a couple of the old Peepal (Ficus religiosa) trees in the city. The trees can grow to be well over 100 years old and have pointy heart-shaped leaves. The Hindu locals leave offerings at them because Lord Krishna said that he was a Peepal tree and Vishnu is the roots of the tree. Further, Krishna died underneath a Peepal tree, and spirits are said to inhabit the trees at night. The tree is worshipped as being a diety in the Hindu faith.

The Peepal tree is also important to Buddhists as Buddha gained his enlightmentment while meditating under one as well.

in the city, they are often surrounded by cement or other building materials. Some even have had houses grow up around them, nearly encasing them.

Further, parts of the tree are used in traditional medicine, so it is important locally even outside of the religious connections.