Studies on Sthalavrikshas of Various Temples in Tamil Nadu, India

Bioscience Discovery, 8(1):64-72, Jan. - 2017

Research Article

Studies on Sthalavrikshas of various temples in Tamil Nadu, India

Prabakaran R1* and Sabari Lakshmi G2

1&2 PG & Research Department of Botany,Vivekanandha college of Arts and Sciences for Women (Autonomous) Elayampalayam, Tiruchengode, Namakkal, India 637 205. *[email protected]

Article Info Abstract Received: 03-11-2016, Sthalavirksha refers to the plant which is venerated from time immemorial as holy Revised: 29-11-2016, plant of a temple by devotees. The present study surveyed the Sthalavirkshas of Accepted: 09-12-2016 106 temples in Salem, Namakkal and karur districts of Tamil Nadu, India. Sthalavrikshas were found in 81 temples and a total of 18 plant species were Keywords: recorded. These have been arranged by binomial name, vernacular name, family IUCN, Namakkal, name with age of trees, phenology, IUCN category and medicinal uses. The Phenology, Salem, phenology of Sthalavrikshas was documented by interview and direct observation Sthalavriksha, Tamil Nadu, of plants. As per the results obtained, the maximum flowering stage was recorded Temples. in December and maximum fruiting stage was recorded in January. Medicinal information of Sthalavriksha had been gathered from the available literature. Based on IUCN red data list one threatened species Saraca asoca (Roxb.)De Wild was recorded. A few Sthalavrikshas were associated with plants like Azadirachta indica A.Juss and Cassia fistula L. The age of Sthalavirkshas was recorded and the oldest tree was Ficus religiosa (318 years). Apart from these a survey on temple gardens were also carried out. It was noted that temple gardens occurred in 27 temples and there were 41 species in temple gardens. In the present study, few Sthalavrikshas were found as fossilized forms and this was unique to the study. It was concluded that the Sthalavriksha worship is an age old practise, myths, beliefs and this practise plays a major role in the conservation of plants.

INTRODUCTION Sthalavriksha refers to the plant of which ‘Sthala’ traditional worship practices show the symbiotic means Place and ‘Vriksha’ means tree. From relation of human beings and nature. Sthalavrikshas ancient periods, trees were considered as sacred and are valued for their botanical, medicinal, worshipped in Indian mythology and by folklore. It environmental, religious and mythical importance. is the natural tree found in temple site before The Sthalavrikshas of Tamil Nadu constitute a part construction of the temple. These trees have of genetic resources for the conservation of species religious and medicinal importance. The worshipper diversity and forms an important biological heritage who comes to the temple attains a healthy spiritual of our nation Sasikala (2014). The present study enlightment. Sthalavriksha is a single plant mostly area belongs to Kongunadu region with rich in the form of a tree or in some places occurring as traditional beliefs and heritage. The study aimed at a herb, shrub, grass or climber. Devotees and enumeration of Sthalavriksha of the temples located temple authorities serve as protectors of the in Namakkal, Salem and Karur districts and to Sthalavrikshas and if a tree dies it is usually document their age, medicinal properties, replaces by a sapling from the same species phenology and conservation Saikala et al. (2014) Gunasekaran and Balasubramanian (2012). The and Parthasarathy (2005). http://jbsd.in 64 ISSN: 2229-3469 (Print) Prabakaran R and Sabari Lakshmi 1000 years old respectively Greeshma nair et al. MATERIALS AND METHODS (2014). The survey of Sthalavrikshas was An account of Sthalavrikshas which conducted in temples of Salem, Namakkal and includes their age, phenology, medicinal uses and Karur districts of Tamil nadu, India. Temples were conservation status and the associated plants were frequently visited and survey was carried out during listed in Table 1. Among these Caesalpiniaceae was the year 2015 for documentation. Field observation the dominant family represented by 3 species and field data were noted down in the field dairy. followed by Rutaceae and Moraceae represented by Taxonomic identification was done using the floras 2 species each. The frequently occurring species Gamble and Fischer (1935) and Mathew (1983). was Aegle marmelos (L.) Correa (58%) recorded in The associated plants of Sthalavrikshas were 43 temples followed by Prosopsis spicigera (L.) surveyed by observation. The medicinal properties Druce in 13 temples, Bauhinia purpurea L., of the Sthalavrikshas were collected from the Emblica officinalis Gaertn, Madhuca longifolia available literatures Warrier (1994) and Warrier (J.Konig ex L.) J.F. Macbr, Ficus religiosa L. was (1995). Phenology of Sthalavrikshas was recorded in 2 temples each. The rest were recorded documented by interview and direct observations in one temple each. Singh and Kushwaha (2005). The category of In three temples Sthalavrikshas were temples was recorded from priests, manuscripts and associated with other plants. In Kailasanathar Hindu charitable endowment board Greeshma nair temple, Rasipuram, the Sthalavriksha Aegle et al. (2014).The age of Sthalavrikshas was marmelos (L.) Correa is found associated with determined using the method described in early Cassia fistula, at Subramaniya swamy temple, works Mitchell et al. (1994). Temple gardens have Salem, the Sthalavriksha Aegle marmelos (L.) been surveyed Mohantry (1997). The conservation Correa is found associated with Azadirachta indica status of the Sthalavrikshas was based on IUCN red A. Juss and at Sivan temple, Kottaimedu, the data list was recorded. Sthalavriksha Ficus religiosa L. is found associated

with Azadirachta indica A. Juss. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION To determine the age of Sthalavrikshas Sthalavriksha worship in temples is a Mitchell et al. (1994) method was adopted. Among famous religious practice in India. This work was the surveyed Sthalavrikshas the oldest was Ficus the first attempt to survey the Sthalavrikshas of 106 religiosa L. (318 years old) which occurred in temples in Kongunadu region which included Balasubramaniya samy temple at Oothumalai, districts of Salem, Namakkal and Karur along with Salem district. The Sthalavrikshas Aegle marmelos their importance. Of the surveyed 106 temples, 82 (L.) Correa recorded in various temples ranges were Lord Shiva temples, 8 were Lord Vishnu between 14-250 years old, Prosopsis spicigera (L.) temples, 7 were Goddess Sakthi temples, 7 were Druce ranges between 12-87 years old, Azadirachta Lord Murugan temples and two other deity temples. indica A.Juss ranges between 25-119, Ficus The present study includes 38 temples in Salem religiosa L. ranges between 120-318 years in district, 51 temples in Namakkal district and 17 various temples surveyed, Emblica officinalis temples in Karur district. Sthalavrikshas occurred in Gaertn is 47 years, Madhuca longifolia (J.Konig ex 81 temples, a total of 18 plant species belongs to 18 L.) J.F. Macbr is 95 years old, Cassia fistula L. is genera and 14 families. All these plants belong to 18.3 years old, Saraca asoca L. is 119.4 years old, dicotyledons of angiosperms. All the 18 species Crataeva religiosa Frost is 143.3 years old, were reported to have medicinal properties. Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels is 159 years old, In Namakkal district the oldest temple was Naringi crenulata Nicolson is 25 years old, Kailasanathar temple at Rasipuram built by King Strychnos nux-vomica L. is 95.5 years old, Bauhinia Valvil Ori and Someshwarar temple at purpurea L. and Calophyllum inophyllum L. are Senthamangalam built by King Somapuri, both are 23.8 and 27.8 years old. In most of temples in 2000 years old. The oldest temple in Salem district comparison with the age of Sthalavrikhas and age of was Thanthorieswarar temple at Belur built by King temples there is no correlation. Kesarivaruman and it was 2000 years old. In Karur Sthalavrikshas worshipped in plants are a district, the oldest temple was Pasupathieswarar means of conservation of plants. Plants in the temple built by Pugazhl Chola Nayanar and it was temple gardens are cultivated and maintained and this is also a means of conservation of plants.

http://biosciencediscovery.com 65 ISSN: 2231-024X (Online) Bioscience Discovery, 8(1):64-72, Jan. - 2017 Sacred trees have been chosen on the basis who wished to have a child to go around the peepal of certain ecological, economical and mythological tree and carry out their prayers. Scientific considerations Hangarge (2016) and Sasikala researchers have revealed that peepal is the only (2011). This has enabled a variety of local trees to tree that produces oxygen in abundant quantity day be conserved within the temples. Saraca asoca L., and night. Those days’ peepal trees were planted the Sthalavriksha of Pasupathiswarar temple, Karur along with neem tree Saikala et al. (2011); Saikala is an endangered plant and is recorded in the red et al. (2014) and Parthasarathy (2005). The listed plants (IUCN 2014) and an ideal example for magnetic field created by both the trees along with conservation of endangered species in a protected pure oxygen influenced the body organs and environment. In this study some Sthalavrikshas stimulated FSH/LH hormones which enhance the were found to be conserved in the fossilized forms reproductive process Sthalavriksham-temple (2014). and this was unique to the study. The trees which All these became evidence for the people’s were identified in fossilised forms were Aegle knowledge on importance of plants in purifying the marmelos (L.) Correa at Kasi Vishwanathar temple, temple’s atmosphere. Nerur and Mangifera indica L. at Thanthondri This study was the first report on the age of eswarar temple, Belur. the Sthalavrikshas in temples. An account on age of The Sthalavrikshas also well noted for their these Sthalavrikshas could be an ideal example for biocultural aspects. From the survey, it was noted the people’s role in plant conservation. The role of that the devotees tie bangles, cradles, paper slips people in the conservation of plant is an age old containing their demand and mantras and even practise since historic period. It was concluded that clothes on these Sthalavrikshas for good health, to the Sthalavriksha worship is an age old practise, possess child, for getting married and to achieve myths, beliefs and this practise plays a major role in desired boon (Krishnan 2004). In some temple the the conservation of plants. Sthalavrikshas are worshipped as God by devotees by offering flowers, lighting of camphors and place ACKNOWLEDGEMENT turmeric and kumkum over the trunk. Similarly, The heartfelt thanks to the Chairman and Secretary women often collect the withered plant materials of Vivekanandha Educational Institutions for granting Sthalavriksha based on local beliefs, for instance to permission to pursue the work. The author also tie the plant parts at their doorsteps to ward off evil thankful to temples priests and Tamil Nadu Hindu spirits Gunasekaran and Balasubramanian (2012). Endowment Board for their help in sharing their Those days our ancestors advised married women knowledge about Sthalavrikshas.

Table 1. Age, phenology, medicinal uses, conservation status and associated plants of Sthalavrikshas

S.N Temple name Sthala vriksha Local Family Age of IUCN Phen Medicinal o name Sthala Category ology properties vriksh a (Years ) Aaniliappar Aegle marmelos Vilvam Rutaceae 46 Common Fr: Nausea, temple, (L.)Correa Jan Chronic 1 Vellanayakkan diarrhea palayam. Asthiswarar Emblica offcinalis Nelli Euphorbiace 47.7 Common Fl: Reduces temple, athanur Gaertn. ae feb high 2 pressure, Anti ageing Aatkondeswar Aegle marmelos Vilvam Rutaceae 41 Common Fr: Dysentry, temple, (L.)Correa Jan Antidiabetic, 3 Pethanayakkan Ulcers palayam Aavudaiyar Prosopis spicigera Vanni Mimosaceae - Common Veg: Leukoderma temple, (L.)Druce Dec , Moonusavadi homorrhoids 4 , Scorpion strings http://jbsd.in 66 ISSN: 2229-3469 (Print) Achaladeepeswar Aegle marmelos Vilvam Rutaceae 41 Common Fr: Diarrhea, 5 temple, Mohanur (L.)Correa Jan Dysentry, antidiabetic Agathiya Aegle marmelos Vilvam Rutaceae 39.8 Common Fr: Leucorrhea, lingeswarar (L.)Correa Feb Stomachic, 6 temple, Deafness Thirumukundaloor Agneeswarar Aegle marmelos Vilvam Rutaceae - Common - Piles, Cut 7 temple, Nerur (L.)Correa wounds, Ulcer Ambalavanaswam Aegle marmelos Vilvam Rutaceae 79.6 Common Fr: Nausea, 8 y temple, Salem (L.)Correa July Chronic diarrhea Amirthalingeswara *Bauhinia purpurea Mantha Caesalpiniac - Common - Laxative, r temple, L. rai eae sores& boils, 9 Veppilaipatty Ulcers, Small pox Alagambasewarar Strychnos nux- Yeti Loganiaceae 95.5 Common Fr: Body boils 10 temple, vomica L. July kalarampalli Alagirinathaswam Aegle marmelos Vilvam Rutaceae 167 Common Ffr: Leucorrhea, y temple, Salem (L.)Correa July Stomachic, Swellings Prosopis spicigera Vanni Mimosaceae 34.2 Common Fl: Leukoderma (L.)Druce Dec , Snake bite, 11 Cold, Cough *Stereospermum Pathiri Bignoniacea - Common - Diuretic, 12 chelonoides e Dasamula, (L.F.)DC Brain 13 problems, Hiccup Angalaparameshw Azadirachta indica Vembu Meliaceae 39.8 Common Veg: Intestinal ari temple, A. Juss Dec worms, Skin 14 Palayapalayam ulcers, Analgesic Arthanareswarar Madhucha longifolia Illupai Sapotaceae 95.5 Common Fr: Bleeding temple, (J.Konig Jan gums, Tiruchengode ex.L.)J.F.Macbr. Tonsillitis, 15 Pneumonia, Epilepsy Balasubramaniya Ficus religiosa L. Arasu Moraceae 318 Common Veg: Pile s, samy & Sakradevi July diarrhea, Cut temple, Othumalai wounds, 16 Ulcer Aegle Vilvam Rutaceae 23.8 Common Veg: Diarrhea, 17 marmelos(L.)Correa July Dysentry, Antidiabetic 18 Syzygium cumini Naval Myrtaceae 159 Common Fr: Antidiabetic (L.)Skeels July Bheemeshwarar Aegle marmelos Vilvam Rutaceae 19.9 Common Fr: Blood temple, Mavuretti (L.)Correa Jan disorders, 19 Nausea, deafness Chidambareswarar Aegle marmelos Vilvam Rutaceae 39 Common Fr: Stomach temple, (L.)Correa Feb Disorders, 20 Panamarathupatty cold, Cooling Chidambareswarar Aegle Vilvam Rutaceae 47.7 Common Fr:Fe Leucorrhea, 21 temple, Mamundi marmelos(L.)Correa b Stomachic, Swellings Chinthamani Prosopis spicigera Vanni Mimosaceae 44.5 Common Fl: Leukoderma 22 Eswarar temple, (L.)Druce Feb , Snake bite Nanniyur Chokanathar Aegle Vilvam Rutaceae 19.9 Common - Deafness, 23 temple, marmelos(L.)Correa Jaundice, Amarakunti Conjunciviti http://biosciencediscovery.com 67 ISSN: 2231-024X (Online) Choleeswarar Aegle Vilvam Rutaceae - Common - Deafness, temple, Thozhur marmelos(L.)Correa Jaundice, 24 Conjunciviti s Gurusamy pillayr Ficus religiosa L. Arasu Moraceae - Common - Piles, temple, Rasipuram Diarrhea, 25 Cut wounds, Ulcer Gurueswarar Aegle Vilvam Rutaceae 31.8 Common Fr: Deafness, temple, marmelos(L.)Correa Feb Jaundice, 26 Gurusamypalayam Conjunciviti s Jambugeswarar Aegle Vilvam Rutaceae 31 Common Fr: Jaundice, 27 temple, marmelos(L.)Correa July Conjunciviti Minnampalli s Kailasanathar *Emblica officinalis Nelli Euphorbiace - Common - Reduces temple, Rasipuram Gaertn. ae high pressure, 28 Anti ageing Common Diarrhea, 29 Aegle Vilvam Rutaceae 26 Fr: Dysentry, marmelos(L.)Correa Dec Antidiabetic Kailasanathar Aegle Vilvam Rutaceae 14.3 Common Fr: Diarrhea, 30 temple, Ealur. marmelos(L.)Correa Jan Dysentry, Antidiabetic Kailasanathar Prosopis spicigera Vanni Mimosaceae 46.9 Common Fr: Snake bite, temple, (L.)Druce Jan Cold, Tiruchengode Cough, 31 Asthma, Dysentry Kailasanathar Prosopis spicigera Vanni Mimosaceae 34.2 Common Fl: Leukoderma 32 temple, (L.)Druce Dec , Snake bite, Tharamangalam Cold, Cough Kailasanathar Aegle Vilvam Rutaceae 26.2 Common Fr: Stomach 33 temple, marmelos(L.)Correa Jan disorders, poolampatti Cold Kailasanathar Aegle Vilvam Rutaceae 31 Common Fr: Deafness, temple, Athur marmelos(L.)Correa Jan Jaundice, 34 Conjunctiviti s Kailasanathar Aegle Vilvam Rutaceae 71.6 Common Fr: Leucorrhea, 35 temple, Karpur marmelos(L.)Correa Feb Stomachic, Deafness Kaliyamman Azadirachta indica Vembu Meliaceae 119.4 Common Veg: Intestinal temple, A.Juss July worms, Skin 36 Minnampalli Ulcers, Analgesics Karpoorananthaes Prosopis spicigera Vanni Mimosaceae 55.7 Common Fr: Snake bite, warar temple, (L.)Druce Dec Cold, Kalkurichi Cough, 37 Asthma, Dysentry Karpuranathar Aegle Vilvam Rutaceae 39 Common Fr: Blood temple, marmelos(L.)Correa Jan purifier, Uthamasolapuram. Cough, 38 Deafness, Ulcers Kasiviswanathar Aegle Vilvam Rutaceae 51.7 Common Fr: Diarrhea, 39 temple, marmelos(L.)Correa Jan Dysentry, Paramathivellore Antidiabetic Kasiviswanathar Prosopis spicigera Vanni Mimosaceae 12.7 Common Fr: Leukoderma temple, Pothanur (L.)Druce Jan , Hemorrhoids 40 , Scorpion strings http://jbsd.in 68 ISSN: 2229-3469 (Print) Kasiviswanathar Prosopis spicigera Vanni Mimosaceae 32.6 Common Fr: Snake bite, 41 temple, (L.)Druce Jan Rheumatism Pandamangalam. , astringent Kasiviswanathar Prosopis spicigera Vanni Mimosaceae 63.6 Common Fr: Snake bite, 42 temple, Omalur (L.)Druce Feb cold, cough, asthma Kasiviswanathar @ Aegle Vilvam Rutaceae 250 Common - Nausea, 43 temple,Nerur marmelos(L.)Correa chronic diarrhea Kayanirmaleswara Prosopis spicigera Vanni Mimosaceae 22.2 Common Fl: Leukoderma 44 r temple, Athur (L.)Druce Jan , snake bite, cold Madeswaran Aegle Vilvam Rutaceae - Common Veg: Haemorrhoi 45 temple, marmelos(L.)Correa Dec ds, nausea Jalkandapuram Magudeswar Crataeva religiosa Mavizh Capparidace 143.3 Common Veg: Urinary 46 temple, Mamundi Forst i ae Jan infection, rubrifacient Maligarjuna Aegle Vilvam Rutaceae 19.9 Common Fr: Jaundice, 47 temple, marmelos(L.)Correa Jan asthma Keelsathampur Maligeswarar Cassia fistula L. Sarako Caesalpiniac 18.3 Common Fr: immunity temple, ndrai eae Jan booster, 48 Kothapalayam blood purifier Mariamman Azadirachta indica Vembu Meliaceae 79.6 Common Veg: Antimalarial 49 temple, Ponkurichi A.Juss July , anticancer, Antioxidant Meenakshi Aegle Vilvam Rutaceae 79.6 Common Fr: Dysentry, 50 sundareswar marmelos(L.)Correa July Antidiabetic, temple, Sevapettai ulcers Nageswarar *Aegle Vilvam Rutaceae - Common - Leucorrhea, 51 temple, Keerambur marmelos(L.)Correa Stomachic, Deafness Nageswarar Aegle Vilvam Rutaceae 35.8 Common Fr: Deafness, temple, marmelos(L.)Correa Jan jaundice, 52 Periyamanali conjunctiviti s Nithiya sumangali Azadirachta indica Vembu Meliaceae 25.4 Common Veg: Antimalarial 53 Mariamman A.Juss. Dec , anticancer, temple, Rasipuram antioxidant Paranjothieswarar Aegle Vilvam Rutaceae 19.1 Common Fr: Jaundice, 54 temple, Monjanur marmelos(L.)Correa July conjunctiviti s Pasupathi eswarar Saraca asoca Linn Asoka Caesalpiniac 119.4 Endangere Veg: Dysmenorrh 55 temple, Karur m eae d Feb oea, depression Ponvaratharaja Calophyllum Punnai Calophyllace 23.8 Common Fl: Eye perumal temple, inophyllum L. ae Dec inflammatio 56 Rasipuram ns, cosmetics, Prasana Aegle Vilvam Rutaceae 19.9 Common Fr: Jaundice, 57 Nanjundeswar marmelos(L.)Correa Jan conjunctiviti temple, Edapaddi s Punnai Vananathar *Calophyllum Punnai Calophyllace - Common - Bleeding, 58 temple, Valavanthi inophyllum L. ae fever, eye diseases Rajarajeswarar Prosopsis Spicigera Vanni Mimosaceae 20.7 Common Veg: Leukoderma 59 temple, Ponkurichi (L.)Druce July , snake bite, cold, cough Raviswarar temple, Aegle Vilvam Rutaceae 22.2 Common Fr: Dysentery, 60 Vangal marmelos(L.)Correa Feb antidiabetic, ulcers Sambamoorthiesw Aegle Vilvam Rutaceae 15.9 Common Fr: Dysentery, 61 arar temple, marmelos(L.)Correa Jan antidiabetic, Ethapur ulcers http://biosciencediscovery.com 69 ISSN: 2231-024X (Online) Senguntharkula Prosopsis spicigera Vanni Mimosaceae 19.1 Common Fr: Leukoderma Balasubramaniyar (L.)Druce July , snake bite temple, 62 Kunavelampattiput hur 63 Sevanadhi Eswarar Aegle Vilvam Rutaceae - Common - Jaundice, temple, Seerapali marmelos(L.)Correa Astham Sivan temple, Ficus religiosa L. Arasu Moraceae 125 Common Veg: Piles, Kottaimedu Dec diarrhea, cut 64 wounds, ulcer Siyalinathar Aegle Vilvam Rutaceae 23.8 Common Fr:Jan Chronic temple, Konur marmelos(L.)Correa diarrhea, 65 haemorrhoid s, swellings Somanathar Ficus religiosa L. Arasu Moraceae 120.2 Common Veg: Piles, temple, Dec diarrhea, cut 66 Kannurpatti wounds, ulcer Someswarar Aegle Vilvam Rutaceae 53 Common Fr:De Nausea, temple, marmelos(L.)Correa c jaundice, 67 Senthamangalam blood disorders. Someswarar Aegle Vilvam Rutaceae 35 Common Fr:De Leucorrhea, 68 temple, nangavalli marmelos(L.)Correa c stomachic, swellings Someswarar Aegle Vilvam Rutaceae 32 Common Fr:Jan Dysentery, 69 temple, Sankari marmelos(L.)Correa antidiabetic, Ulcer Soorya Aegle Vilvam Rutaceae 23.8 Common Fr:Fe Nausea, Lingeswarar marmelos(L.)Correa b Chronic 70 temple, diarrhea Panamarathupatty Subramaniyaswam Aegle Vilvam Rutaceae 87.5 Common Fr:Jul Dysentery, 71 y temple, marmelos(L.)Correa y antidiabetic, Sevaipettai ulcers Suguvaneswar *Stereospermum Pathiri Bignoniacea - Common - Diuretic, temple, Salem chelonoides(L.f.)DC e dasamula, brain 72 problems, hiccup Sundara Naringi crenulata Maha Rutaceae 25.4 Common Fr:Jan Leucorrhea, pandeeswarar Nicolson Vilvam stomachic, 73 temple, deafness Kumaramangalam Suyambu eswarar Aegle Vilvam Rutaceae 27 Common Fr:Jan Chronic temple, Puthur marmelos(L.)Correa diarrhea, 74 haemorrhoid s, swellings Thantondrieswarar temple, Mangifera indica L. Ma Anacardiace - Common - Hypertensio Belur Atrocarpus ae n, heterophyllus Lam. Pala antioxidants, Madhuca longifolia Moraceae insomnia, 75 (J.Konig ex Illupai antiulcer L.)J.F.Macbr Sapotaceae Thantondri eswarar temple, Aegle Vilvam Rutaceae 45.3 Common Fr:Jan Nausea, Vallipuram marmelos(L.)Correa Jaundice, 76 Blood disorders. TheerthagiriEswar Aegle Vilvam Rutaceae 119 Common Fr:Fe Deafness, ar temple, marmelos(L.)Correa b Jaundice, 77 Vennanthur Conjunctiviti s

http://jbsd.in 70 ISSN: 2229-3469 (Print) Theniswarar Prosopis spicigera Vanni Mimosaceae 15.1 Common Veg:J Cold, cough, 78 temple, (L.)Druce an fever, Thindamangalam toothache Thirumaliswar Aegle Vilvam Rutaceae 71.6 Common Fr:Fe Nausea, 79 temple, marmelos(L.)Correa b chronic Thirumanilayur diarrhea Thiruvelinathar Prosopis Vanni Mimosaceae 52.5 Common Fr:Jan Dysentery, 80 temple, spicigera(L.)Druce prevent Nanseiidayar miscarriage Thiruveswarar Bauhinia purpurea Punnai Caesapiniace 27.8 Common Fl:De Laxative, temple, L. ae c sores& boils, 81 Singalanthapuram ulcers, small pox Vanjaleswarar *Salix tetrasperma Vanji Salicaceae - Common - Veneral temple, Karur Roxb. diseases, 82 stones in bladder Vasantheswarar Aegle Vilvam Rutaceae 23.8 Common Fr:Fe Jaundice, 83 temple, Kottai, marmelos(L.)Correa b conjunctiviti Omalur s Virateeswar Aegle Vilvam Rutaceae - Common - Diarrhea, 84 temple, Pillur marmelos(L.)Correa dysentery, antidiabetic Viswanatha Prosopis spicigera Vanni Mimosaceae 27 Common Fr:Fe Astringent, 85 eswarar temple, (L.)Druce b muscle Vennanthur troubles 86 Aegle Vilvam Rutaceae 27 Common Fr:Fe Nausea, marmelos(L.)Correa b Ulcers Vykapuriswar Aegle Vilvam Rutaceae 29.4 Common Fr:Fe Dysentry, 87 temple, Puliyur marmelos(L.)Correa b antidiabetic, ulcers

Fl: Flowering *- Not found Fr:Fruiting Veg:Vegetative @- Fossil

REFERENCES its environs. Ph.D. Thesis, Pondicherry Univ., Gamble JS and Fischer CEC, 1935. Flora of Puducherry. Presidency of Madras Adlaed & Son Lid. London. Mathew KM, 1983 . The Flora of Tamil Nadu Greeshma nair P, Balasubramaniyan P and Carnatic. Rapinet Herbarium, Trichirapalli, 1-3. Jaishanhar R, 2014. Taxonomy and ethnobotany Mitchell AF, Schilling VE and White JEJ, 1994. of Sthalavrikshas in Palakad Kerala, India, Science Champion trees of the British landscape, Forestry and culture, 80(3-4):103-105. commission technical paper, Forestry Commission, Gunasekaran M and Balasubramanian P, 2012. Edinburgh 1: 7. Ethnomedicinal uses of Sthalavrikshas in Tamil Mohantry RB, Mohapatra BK and Padhy SN, Nadu, Southern India, Ethnobotany research and 1997. Plant conservation in temple yards of Orissa, applications, 10:253-268. Ancient science of life, 17(2):1-5. Hangarge L M, Kulkarni D K, Gaikwad V B, Parthasarathy N, Venkateswaran R, Sridhar Mahajan D M and Gunale V R, 2016. Plant Reddy and Mani S, 2005. Role of sacred groves in diversity of sacred groves and its comparative Biodiversity conservation of Tropical dry evergreen account with surrounding denuded hills from Bhor forests. In: Kunhikannan, C. & Singh, B.G. (eds.), region of Western Ghats. Bioscience Discovery, Proc. Natl. Workshop Strat. Conserv. Sacred 7(2):121-127. Groves. Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree http://petaldew.com.au/nature-worship- Breeding, Coimbatore. 40 - 46. sthalavriksham-temple IUCN redlist.org. Sasikala K, Harilal CC and Pradeepkumar G, Krishnan V, 2004. Plant Diversity and Biocultural 2014. Phytosociological Studies of two sacred perspectives of sacred groves in Pondicherry and groves in Mahe, U.T. of Puducherry, India. Bioscience Discovery, 5(2):154-159

http://biosciencediscovery.com 71 ISSN: 2231-024X (Online) Bioscience Discovery, 8(1):64-72, Jan. - 2017 Sasikala K, Pradeepkumar G, Harilal CC and Sivarajan VV and Indra Balachandran, 1994. Ravindran CP, 2011. Ecological and socio- Nimbah in Ayurvedic drugs and their plant sources, economic studies of the sacred groves in Mahe with Oxford and LBH Ltd. Delhi. special reference to the conservation and Umavathi R and Parvathi A, 2012. Sacred trees management. Project Report submitted to DSTE, of temples of Tiruchirapalli, Tamil Nadu- The Govt. of India, Puducherry. natural and ecological heritage of India, Global Singh KP, Kushwaha CP, 2005. Emerging Journal of research on medicinal plants and paradigms of tree phenology in dry tropics. Current indigenous medicine, 1 (6):225-223. science 89:964-975. Warrier PK, Nambiar PK and Ramankutty C, 1995.Indian medicinal plants, A Compendium of 500 species. Orient Backswan Madras, 1: 89.

How to Cite this Article: Prabakaran R and Sabari Lakshmi, 2017. Studies on Sthalavrikshas of various temples in Tamil Nadu, India. Bioscience Discovery, 8(1):64-72.

http://jbsd.in 72 ISSN: 2229-3469 (Print)