Three-leaved Caper
In Religion and Mythology
The tree is sacred to Lord Shiva and the leaves are used to worship Him
The tree is sacred to Lord Shiva and the leaves are used to worship Him, especially on Mahashivaratri. The tree is also sacred to Rahu (Planet Neptune), one of the nine planets or the navagrahas. The plant is very important in traditional medicine. It is used as a cure for urinary infections. The bark and leaves are used to cure rheumatic pain and swellings.
Botanical Name: Crataeva religiosa
Common Name: Three-leaved caper, Barun (Hindi), Mavilankai (Tamil), Varuna (Sanskrit)
Distribution: Throughout India