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| binomial = ''Ficus religiosa''
 
| binomial = ''Ficus religiosa''
 
| binomial_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]
 
| binomial_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]
}}
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}}  
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The '''Sacred Fig''' ''Ficus religiosa'', also known as '''Bo''' (from the [[Sinhalese]] Bo), '''Peepal''' (Pipal, Peepul) or '''Ashwattha''' tree, is a species of [[banyan]] [[fig]] native to [[Nepal]] and [[India]], southwest [[China]] and [[Indochina]] east to [[Vietnam]]. It is a large [[dry season]]-[[deciduous]] or semi-[[evergreen]] [[tree]] up to 30m tall and with a [[tree trunk|trunk]] diameter of up to 3m.  
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{{Inc|<br>Ficus religiosa, Linn. P.......... of the Hindoos. Lvs. ovate-rotund, at tip,........into a long linear-lanceolate tail-like ...........petiole 3-4 in. long; stipules minute: fr......pairs, sessile, dark purple, ½in. thick. In.....p.435.K.67a.Grows 100 ft. high, and........suspended on their long, flexible petioles,......the slightest breeze. "Quite hardy in S. .....attaining very large size."—Franceschi.
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[[Image:Mahabodhitree.jpg|thumb|left|The [[Bodhi Tree]] at the [[Mahabodhi Temple]].  Propagated from the [[Sri Maha Bodhi]], which in turn is propagated from the original Bodhi Tree at this location.]]
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}}<br>
The [[leaf|leaves]] are [[Wiktionary:Cordate|cordate]] in shape with a distinctive extended tip; they are 10-17cm long and 8-12cm broad, with a 6-10cm petiole. The [[fruit]] is a small fig 1-1.5cm diameter, green ripening purple.
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The [[Bodhi tree]] and the [[Sri Maha Bodhi]] propagated from it are famous specimens of Sacred Fig. The known planting date of the latter, [[288 BC]], gives it the oldest verified age for any [[flowering plant|angiosperm]] plant.
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The '''Sacred Fig''' ''Ficus religiosa'', also known as '''Bo''' (from the [[Sinhalese]] Bo), '''Peepal''' (Pipal, Peepul) or '''Ashwattha''' tree, is a species of [[Banyan]] [[Fig]] native to [[Nepal]] and [[India]], southwest [[China]] and [[Indochina]] east to [[Vietnam]]. It is a large [[Dry season]]-[[Deciduous]] or semi-[[Evergreen]] [[Tree]] up to 30m tall and with a [[Tree trunk|trunk]] diameter of up to 3m.  
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This plant is considered sacred by the followers of [[Hinduism]], [[Jainism]] and [[Buddhism]], and hence the name 'Sacred Fig' was given to it. [[Siddhartha Gautama]] is referred to have been sitting underneath a Bo Tree when he was [[bodhi|enlightened]] (Bodhi), or "awakened" (Buddha). Today [[Sadhu]]s still meditate below this tree. <br clear = left>
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[[Image:Mahabodhitree.jpg|thumb|left]] The [[Leaf|leaves]] are [[wiktionary:Cordate|cordate]] in shape with a distinctive extended tip; they are 10-17cm long and 8-12cm broad, with a 6-10cm petiole. The [[Fruit]] is a small fig 1-1.5cm diameter, green ripening purple.  
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[[Image:pipal.jpg|thumb|right|typical shape of the leaf of the Ficus Religiosa]]
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The [[Bodhi tree]] and the [[Sri Maha Bodhi]] propagated from it are famous specimens of Sacred Fig. The known planting date of the latter, [[288 BC]], gives it the oldest verified age for any [[Flowering plant|angiosperm]] plant.
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== Plaksa ==
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This plant is considered sacred by the followers of [[Hinduism]], [[Jainism]] and [[Buddhism]], and hence the name 'Sacred Fig' was given to it. [[Siddhartha Gautama]] is referred to have been sitting underneath a Bo Tree when he was [[Bodhi|enlightened]] (Bodhi), or "awakened" (Buddha). Today [[Sadhu]]s still meditate below this tree. <br>
Plaksa is a Sanskrit term for the Sacred fig. According to Macdonell and Keith (1912), it denotes the waved leaf fig-tree (''Ficus infectoria'').
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[[Image:Pipal.jpg|thumb|right]]
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== Plaksa ==
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Plaksa is a Sanskrit term for the Sacred fig. According to Macdonell and Keith (1912), it denotes the waved leaf fig-tree (''Ficus infectoria'').  
    
In Hindu texts, the Plaksa tree is associated with the source of the [[Sarasvati River]]. The [[Skanda Purana]] states that the Sarasvati originates from the water pot of [[Brahma]] and flows from [[Plaksa]] on the Himalayas. According to Vamana Purana 32.1-4, the Sarasvati was rising from the [[Plaksa tree]] (Pipal tree).<ref>D.S. Chauhan in Radhakrishna, B.P. and Merh, S.S. (editors): Vedic Sarasvati, 1999, p.35-44 </ref>  
 
In Hindu texts, the Plaksa tree is associated with the source of the [[Sarasvati River]]. The [[Skanda Purana]] states that the Sarasvati originates from the water pot of [[Brahma]] and flows from [[Plaksa]] on the Himalayas. According to Vamana Purana 32.1-4, the Sarasvati was rising from the [[Plaksa tree]] (Pipal tree).<ref>D.S. Chauhan in Radhakrishna, B.P. and Merh, S.S. (editors): Vedic Sarasvati, 1999, p.35-44 </ref>  
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Plaksa Pra-sravana denotes the place where the Sarasvati appears.<ref>Pancavimsa Brahmana, Jaiminiya Upanisad Brahmana, Katyayana Srauta Sutra, Latyayana Srauta; Macdonell and Keith 1912</ref> In the Rigveda Sutras, Plaksa Pra-sravana refers to the source of the Sarasvati.<ref>Asvalayana Srauta Sutra, Sankhayana Srauta Sutra; Macdonell and Keith 1912, II:55</ref>
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Plaksa Pra-sravana denotes the place where the Sarasvati appears.<ref>Pancavimsa Brahmana, Jaiminiya Upanisad Brahmana, Katyayana Srauta Sutra, Latyayana Srauta; Macdonell and Keith 1912</ref> In the Rigveda Sutras, Plaksa Pra-sravana refers to the source of the Sarasvati.<ref>Asvalayana Srauta Sutra, Sankhayana Srauta Sutra; Macdonell and Keith 1912, II:55</ref>  
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== Notes  ==
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== Notes ==
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<references />
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<references/>
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== See also ==
==See also==
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*[[Sri Maha Bodhi]]
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*[[Sri Maha Bodhi]]  
 
*[[Sitala]]
 
*[[Sitala]]
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== References ==
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== References ==
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*Keith and Macdonell. 1912. Vedic Index of Names and Subjects.
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*Keith and Macdonell. 1912. Vedic Index of Names and Subjects.  
 
*[http://iu.ff.cuni.cz/pandanus/database/details.php?plantno=400094&enc=utf&sort=ka&display=50&reswind=this&lat=&skt=on&pkt=&tam=&start=0 plaksa description]
 
*[http://iu.ff.cuni.cz/pandanus/database/details.php?plantno=400094&enc=utf&sort=ka&display=50&reswind=this&lat=&skt=on&pkt=&tam=&start=0 plaksa description]
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== External links ==
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== External links ==
 
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{{commons|Ficus religiosa}}
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*[http://iu.ff.cuni.cz/pandanus/database/details.php?plantno=800009&enc=utf&sort=ka&display=50&reswind=this&lat=&skt=on&pkt=&tam=&start=0 sacred fig description]
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{{commons|Ficus religiosa}}  
* {{ppn|b/bodhirukka.htm|Bodhi Tree}}
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*[http://iu.ff.cuni.cz/pandanus/database/details.php?plantno=800009&enc=utf&sort=ka&display=50&reswind=this&lat=&skt=on&pkt=&tam=&start=0 sacred fig description]
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*{{ppn|b/bodhirukka.htm|Bodhi Tree}}
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[[Category:Ficus|Fig, Sacred]]
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[[Category:Ficus|Fig, Sacred]] [[Category:Flora_of_Asia]] [[Category:Flora_of_China]] [[Category:Flora_of_India]] [[Category:Flora_of_Pakistan]] [[Category:Medicinal_plants]]
[[Category:Flora of Asia]]
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[[Category:Flora of China]]
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[[Category:Flora of India]]
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[[Category:Flora of Pakistan]]
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[[Category:Medicinal plants]]
 
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