Background information:

According to , every person born on the earth belongs to any of the 27 stars (Nakshtra) i.e. 27 or 28 divisions of the sky that the moon passes through its monthly cycle. Each Nakshtra is identified by its prominent stars and associated with a zodiac sign. It is believed that each constellation of the zodiac is associated with a tree. These 27 Nakshtras and 9 planets correspond to each other and each constellation of the zodiac is associated with a tree on earth. It is believed that presence of these trees creates a healthy mental, physiological and spiritual effect on people meditating near the tree. These trees are of high medicinal, social, aesthetic and economic value.

The concept was conceived by the Horticulture Department of President’s Secretariat, New Delhi. The civil work for the site development was under taken by the President’s Estate Division, CPWD, New Delhi while the horticulture development and planting work has been executed by the Horticulture wing of CPWD, Hyderabad under control of Chief Engineer, South Zone- II, Hyderabad.

The President had planted an Ashoka sapling in the Garden on December 30, 2013 when the work commenced on the garden.

LIST OF OF THE VATIKA- A. NAVGRAHA PLANTS:

Common Sr.No Botanical Name Name Graha 1 Calotropis Aak (Sun) Butea 2 monosperma Dhak, Palash (Moon) 3 Acacia catechu Kadhira (Mars) Achyranthes 4 aspera Chirchitra Budh (Mercury) 5 Peepal (Jupiter) Gular, 6 Ficus glomerata Udamber Sukra (Venus) 7 Acacia ferruginea Shami Sani (Saturn) 8 Cynodon dactylon Durva Rahu Imperata 9 cylindrica Kush Kethuva

B. RASHI (ZODIAC SIGN) PLANTS:

Sr.No Botanical Name Common Name Rashi Pterocarpus 1 santalinus Red sandal wood Mesha ()

2 Alstonia schloaris Satwin Varishabha ()

3 Artocarpus jack fruit Mithuna () Flame of the 4 Butea monosperma Karkataka ()

5 Ziziphus mauritiana Wild ber Simha ( )

6 Mangifera indica Mango Kanya ()

7 Mimusops elengi Bakul Tula ()

8 Acacia catechu Kadhira Vrischika () Dhanushu 9 Ficus religiosa Peepal (Sagittarus)

10 Dalbergia latifolia Shisham Makara ()

11 Prosopis cineraria Jamnmi Kumbha ()

12 Ficus benghalensis Bargad, bar Meena ()

C. PLANTS:

Sr.No Botanical Name Common Nakshtra Name 1 Strychnos nux vomica Poison nut Ashwini 2 Embilica officionalis Amla 3 Ficus racemosa Fig Krithika 4 Syzygium jambolanum Jamun Rohini

5 Acacia catechu kadhira Mrugasira 6 Aquilaria agallocha Agar wood Arudra 7 Bambusa Bamboo 8 Ficus religiosa Peepal Pushyami 9 Mesua ferrea Naga kesar Aslesha 10 Ficus bengalensis Makha 11 Butea monosperma Flame of the Pubba forest 12 Ficus infectoria Juvvi Uttara 13 Jasminum grandiflora Jai Hastha 14 Aegle marmelos Bilva Chitta 15 Terminalia arjuna Arjun Swathi 16 Limonium acidissimum Wood Apple Visakha 17 Mimusops elengi Bakul 18 Bombax ceiba Semal Jyesta 19 Canarium strictum Black dammar Moola 20 Saraca indica Sita Asoka Purvashada 21 Artocarpus heterophyllus Jack Uttarashada 22 Calotropis gigantia weed Sravana 23 Acacia ferruginea Shami Dhanishta 24 Anthocephalus cadamba Kadamba Satabhisha 25 Azardirachata indica Neem Purvabhadra 26 Mangifera indica Mango Uttarabhadra 27 Madhuca indica Ippe Revathi

D. AUSPICIOUS PLANTS

Sno. Botanical Name Comman Graha Name 1 Ficus religiosa Peepal Lord Brahma 2 Musa X Paradisiaca Banana Lord Vishnu 3 Aegale marmelos Bilva Lord