TITLE- NAKSHTRA VATIKA RECHARGING HUMAN

INTODUCTORY MATERIAL-Planning a Nakshatra vatika with study on plant species

useful in each nakshatra/constellations for human society
The ‘sacred garden’ is an evolving concept that is gaining popularity. This article deals with how
the sacred gardens are related with zodiac signs; the nakshatras a man is born in and what are
the basic principles kept in mind when planning and aligning with the spiritual garden for
healing. It deals with a preliminary study on plant species useful in each
nakshatra/constellations for human society.

“I go to nature to be soothed and healed ,and to have my senses put in tune once more”

John Burroughs

American naturalist and writer

‘Zodiac’ is a band in the sky, in which the planets wander. There are 12 zodiac signs and each
occupies 30 degrees out of 360 degrees in total. 27 Nakshatras (Lunar Mansion) –Mankind’s
oldest astrological system known. In short, Astrology plays a very important role in Indian
culture, based on 12 zodiac signs,9 planets(grahas) and 27 nakshatras.

Affect of Nakshatra on our life

Every person born on earth belongs to any one of the 27 stars. Moon has to pass through one
of the Nakshatras on each day of its monthly cycle, while travelling in the zodiac. Janma
Nakshatra is the nakshatra in which moon was situated at the time of birth. Astrologers predict
you as per your birth nakshatra. Mapping of sky at the time of the birth, is the first step of
Hindu Mythology.The birth chart governs many of the important decisions in our lives. We have
to face all nice, dangerous and worse effects of nakshatras . When Nakshatras are well
placed,they display their positive indications and when they are wrongly placed,they display
negative indications.To keep off these worse effects , caused by the wrong placement of
nakshatras , there are several solutions in our vedic astrology. Planting of trees is one of them.

Nakshatras and Trees

Every nakshatra has a symbolic tree or plant, which connects him with the nature. As per our
Indian culture, there was a tradition that at the time of birth of a baby, a person is supposed to
plant a tree of the same nakshatra on which the baby was born. Person was supposed to take
care of that tree as a child as it was believed that more the tree will grow healthy, more
prosperous and happy life the child will lead to. Studying Nakshatras is a job of an astrologer.
but being a landscape architect, relating the trees with nakshatras will not only recharge the
human with cosmic rays and can help them to get rid of the low spirits
Trees have always been associated with the identity of majesty and grandeur, wisdom and
immortality. If these trees are tended for our psychological benefits along with the medicinal
benefits, that will be ’creating a pharmacy to harvest the healing bounty of Mother Nature’. In
tribal areas, people of tribes are considered to be the nature lovers and used plants in various
forms and ways. They believed the factors that caused problems can be minimized by wearing
or wrapping plants or their parts like bark around their body. This proves that certain plant
species which are associated with the nakshatra are believed to have medicinal properties for
treating the various diseases as well.In astrology, it is clarified that the person can be free from
depression, sickness, physical, mental, social economical and super natural problems, by
planting a tree /plant relevant to the constellation existing at the time of his/her birth. That is
the reason, trees are related to Gods and placed them ,equivalent to the divine elements
Gods/Goddesses by our ancestors. Worshipping trees , can sort out several unwanted issues
from our lives. Worshipping is one aspect , affect of sunrays passing through the leaves while
sitting under the shade cures you from many mental problems and the problems we face due
to our busy , time bound lives.

By all these things putting together, my aim is to lead you to Nakshatra vana. Vatika based on
nakshatras is rather an innovative concept to have wealth, health and success as per our
nakshatras. Also a good concept to encourage growing trees.

‘Nakshatra Vana’ or Nakshatra Vatika is the name given to such Gardens.This vana is actually
an intimate link between human and nature. it is inspired from the natural resources of air,
water, sun light, vegetation, and all inhabitants of gods creation. Experiencing this serene
environment is, feeling the breeze, seeing the God’s wonderful creation, smelling the
fragrances, touching the natural features, listening to the birds chirping and what nature has to
say about the use of its gifts,it has gathered for us rather than controlling the nature. This is a
temple of natures own making inspired from natural resources of water, light, soil, air,
vegetation, etc. It is not to control the nature but to receive the intimations of the secrets of
nature by seeing, smelling, touching and feeling.

To help the humanity and to heal the mother earth and the man, our sages have
recommended several live protocols, which includes aligning with nature; having a spirit of
friendliness with nature; strolling softly, quietly; respecting and seeing the nature with humility;
observing and watching how tiniest creature is paying debt to the nature; touching; enjoying
the music of rustle of the leaves; developing the kinship with plant or tree; acknowledging the
beauty, strength and grace and finally healing the stresses. Breathing at a place with pure air,
gives a feeling of delight which cannot be replaced by any man made stimulation. Healing that
takes place in such natural surroundings, specifically planned for healing purposes, can cure the
people with imbalances with the quality of oxygen , omitted by them.This experience produces
external and internal peace both. One has a feeling of awareness and gratitude for an unseen
power, which should be honored and appreciated. This is a place where we walk in balance
with nature with a concept of healing. Its an emotional integeration of ‘wholeness’, ‘wellness’

Designing this type of garden, requires not only studies about mythological beliefs but also
celestial activities, planetary and solar movements.This garden has trees, directly which creates
a healthy and sound , physical, mental ,psychological and spiritual beings. In Nakshatra Vatika ,
we can also avail the facility of watering plants, which would be an offering to the ‘Grahaas’.
Planning a ‘Nakshatra vana ‘ needs an intense study of nakshatras. Keeping in mind the
Movement of the sun, an area is selected, that has an influence of the respective stars and the
time of sunrays(sunrise or sunset) falling on that particular area is determined. Accordingly,
those plant species, are planted.

Many temples have developed gardens with nakshatras trees. Meenakshi Temple at Madurai,
Parthasarathi Temple at Thiruvallikkeni Chennai , Bangalore Vidhan Soudha Garden developed
Nakshatra Vana. In the near past, Nakshatra Vatika was inaugurated by the President at
Rashtrapati Nilayam. This Vatika is planned in such a way that it is divided in 9 parts that
represents 9 Navgrahas with a specific tree related to specific Navgraha. Further the circlular
band is divided in 12 small circles making an arc ,according to the angle these zodiacs subtend
on earth ,of 30degree,representing 12 zodiac signs and has a plant representing each zodiac.
Then outer circle is fragmented in 27 parts of 13degrees-20’, representing 27 Nakshatras with
particular plants in relation. As per a particular Nakshatra, trees are planted in its corresponding
arc.

[Navgraha.pdf]attached

Details of all the twenty seven constellations are discussed underhere to help the mankind to
understand their importance in entire life span.This table shown here gives the brief and crisp
knowledge, which would relate all the grahas, rashis, zodiac signs and the trees /flowers
significant for them and the diseases cured by these trees with their botanical names, local
names.

[nakshatra .jpg]attached

[flowers as per zodiac.docx]attached

References
pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=123026
www.ijsrp.org/research-paper-0114/ijsrp-p25120.pdf
www.astroworld.co.in/.../ननननननन-ववववव-plants-trees-of-27-nakshatras-stars/
giftingtrees.blogspot.com/2012/03/nakshatra-is-forever.html

Ar.Ramanjyot (M.Arch Landscape)

Asst.Professor
School of Architecture and Planning,
Graphic Era Hill University
Clement Town, Dehradun-248001
Direct Voice +91 8191003109