Ficus racemosaFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaFicus racemosa

Scientific classification

Kingdom:Plantae

(unranked):Angiosperms

(unranked):Eudicots

(unranked):Rosids

Order:Rosales

Family:Moraceae

Genus:Ficus

Species:F. racemosa

Binomial name

Ficus racemosaL.

Synonyms

Ficus glomerataRoxb.

Ficus racemosa(syn.Ficus glomerataRoxb.) is a species ofplantin theMoraceaefamily. Popularly known as theCluster Fig Tree,Indian Fig TreeorGoolar (Gular) Fig, this is native toAustralia,Malesia,South-East Asiaand theIndian Subcontinent. It is unusual in that its figs grow on or close to the tree trunk, termedcauliflory. In India the tree and its fruit are calledgularin the north andattiin the south. The fruits are a favourite staple of thecommon Indian macaque.It serves as a food plant for the caterpillars of thebutterflythe Two-brand Crow (Euploea sylvester) of northern Australia.[1]Contents[hide] 1In Hinduism 2In Buddhism 3Uses 3.1Health Uses 3.2International naming 4References 5External linksIn Hinduism[edit]In theAtharva Veda, this fig tree (Sanskrit:uumbaraorudumbara)[2]is given prominence as a means for acquiring prosperity and vanquishing foes.[3]For instance, regarding an amulet of theudumbaratree, a hymn (AVxix,31) extols:The Lord of amulets art thou, most mighty: in thee wealth'sruler hath engendered riches,These gains are lodged in thee, and all great treasures. Amulet,conquer thou: far from us banish malignity and indigence,and hunger.Vigour art thou, in me do thou plant vigour: riches art thou, sodo thou grant me riches.Plenty art thou, so prosper me with plenty: House-holder, heara householder's petition.[4]It has been described in the story of Raja Harischandra of the Ikshvaku dynasty, that the crown was a branch of this Udumbura tree, set in a circlet of gold. Additionally, the Throne (simhasana) was constructed out of this wood and the royal personage would ascend it on his knee, chanting to the gods to ascend it with him, which they did so, albeit unseen. The tree has been worshipped as Abode under which Guru Duttatreya Dutta,teaches that to teach first learn from others however small or Big.there is always something to be learnt from One and to learn new things one has to learn to Unlearn as per the time.The tree is seen planted in all the places associated with Lord Duttatreya who is seen as an icon Rishi a sage who represents all the three of the TRINITY of hinduism-Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva,Creator,maintainer,and destroyer needed for each one to learn by unlearning the obsolete.this is the plan of evolution in analogy.In Buddhism[edit]

Clusters of gular figs on a tree trunk in IndiaMain article:Udumbara (Buddhism)Both the tree and the flower are referred to as theudumbara(Sanskrit,Pali;Devanagari: ) inBuddhism.[5]Udumbara can also refer to the blue lotus (Nila udumbara) flower. The udumbara flower appears in chapters 2 and 27 of theLotus Sutra, an importantMahayanaBuddhist text. TheJapanesewordudonge() was used byDgen Zenjito refer to the flower of the udumbara tree in chapter 68 of theShbgenz("Treasury of the Eye of the True Dharma"). Dgen places the context of the udonge flower in theFlower Sermongiven byGautama BuddhaonVulture Peak.Udongeis also used to refer to the eggs of thelacewinginsect. The eggs are laid in a pattern similar to a flower, and its shape is used for divination in Asianfortune telling.[6]Uses[edit]

Pickled and halved gular figs

Lion-tailed macaque feeding on this figIn ancient times both Hindu and Buddhist ascetics on their way toTaxila, (Original name is Taksha Sila) travelling through vast areas ofIndian forestsused to consume the fruit during their travels. One challenge to vegetarians were the manyfig waspsthat one finds when opening a gular fig. One way to get rid of them was to break the figs into halves or quarters, discard most of the seeds and then place the figs into the midday sun for an hour. Gular fruit are almost never sold commercially because of this problem[citation needed].TheOvambo peoplecall the fruit of the Cluster Figeenghwiyuand use it to distillOmbike, their traditional liquor.[7]Health Uses[edit]The bark of Audumbar/Oudumbar tree is said to have healing power. In countries like India, the bark is rubbed on a stone with water to make a paste and the paste is applied over the skin which is afflicted by boils or mosquito bites. Allow the paste to dry on the skin and reapply after a few hours. For people whose skin is especially sensitive to insect bites; this is a very simple home remedy.International naming[edit] (Attikka) inSinhala (atti) inKannada (Medi Pandu)Telugu (Malaiyin munivan) inTamil (Aththi)Tamil (Aththi)Malayalam. (Umbar) / (Audumbar) inMarathi. (Dumur) inBengali (Dumri) inNepal ("Ma-Duer Uthumphon") / ("Ma-Duer Chumphon") inThai