Banyan tree reminds us of many stories we heard in our childhood. Out of many, the first ones that come to our memory are the ghost stories and spirits hanging out on the roots and everything that is scary. But, the irony is , we also must have seen our parents or aunts or grand parents worshipping the tree by treating it as living creature. It is worshipped as God. How can it be possible? Ghosts and God in the same place? Which one is true. Lets go a step further and understand it clearly.
Banyan trees are native to Asia since many ages and the references are found in many scriptures. Well, when Britishers wanted to invade India, the Banyan tree attracted their attention. The punishment given to the people who revolted against the Britishers is "just hang them from the branches of Banyan tree". Till then the tree was divine as its importance is very well understood by the native Indians. The usage of the banyan tree by the Britishers for a different purpose, made the people imagine wild things. No matter what, the research is still going on by many many scientists around the world to understand banyan tree and banyan tree's uniqueness.
Lets try to rewire our brain and find answers ourselves. If we have to question our ancestors, why did they treat Banyan tree as a living thing and treated it as God? What did they know about the Banyan tree? I believe our ancestors had experimented so much on the tree and realised its potential, that, the banyan tree was given a special place in Ayurveda, as well, due to its immense medicinal properties.
As a traveller, if you had observed, Banyan trees are found on hills, near lakes, near waterfalls, near rivers, near entrance of the villages, near a temple. Does this tree give only shade and leave oxygen like any other trees or does this banyan tree hold any special feature that it occupies a mention in not just Hindu scriptures, but also Jain, Buddhist , Christian scriptures?
There are many rituals performed around banyan tree, just to ensure the performer of the ritual, gets to breath the fresh air, attain some peace while understanding the reason for the humongous growth of Banyan tree.
Krishna in Bhagavad Gita says about Banyan Tree in chapter 15
श्री भगवानुवाच
ऊर्ध्वमूलमधःशाखमश्वत्थं प्राहुरव्ययम्।
छन्दांसि यस्य पर्णानि यस्तं वेद स वेदवित्।।15.1।।
śrī bhagavānuvāca
ūrdhvamūlamadhaḥśākhamaśvatthaṅ prāhuravyayam.
chandāṅsi yasya parṇāni yastaṅ vēda sa vēdavit৷৷15.1৷৷
Meaning - Sri Krishna said, "Banyan tree has roots from the top, branches extending downwards, and leaves produce sound and air like the vedas of our life. It is quoted and said that the knowledgeable is the one who understands this."
अधश्चोर्ध्वं प्रसृतास्तस्य शाखा
गुणप्रवृद्धा विषयप्रवालाः।
अधश्च मूलान्यनुसन्ततानि
कर्मानुबन्धीनि मनुष्यलोके।।15.2।।
adhaścōrdhvaṅ prasṛtāstasya śākhā
guṇapravṛddhā viṣayapravālāḥ.
adhaśca mūlānyanusantatāni
karmānubandhīni manuṣyalōkē৷৷15.2৷৷
Meaning - It is spread above and below, in the form of branches, spreading along with the qualities it has, its buds acting as sensory organs can spreads its roots. And this is the action, that is repeated again and again in this world where humans live.
Now, in these two shlokas lie the key strategy for the project managers, start-up aspirants.
Giving shade, and oxygen is what any tree performs. Similarly, leading any project or any idea is what any manager or any start-up aspirant does. If we continue the same or if that is the whole idea, then how do project managers or start-up aspirants become unique like Banyan Tree.
So, carefully observe 5 important aspects about Banyan tree -
1. Grows out of seed on any tree.
2. Roots become branches
3. The leaves act as spread of air, sound and shade
4. Main tree is covered safely and taken over
5. Zero wastage policy - every part of the tree is useful for good.
Project manager's talent should be like the seed of Banyan tree. All that the talent or the seed finds is an opportunity, the tree. Once the opportunity is figured out, they spread down their ideas, actions, slowly into the organisation that they become the key developments in the organisation. Ideas like roots are spread through downwards into everyway possible so that they become branches or pillars of the organisation. Roots take required amount of time so that there is a safe landing onto the ground.
The leaves or the people hired or who is growing along with the project should be the sound of the project. Their role should reciprocate the purpose of the project. Train people to align and believe in the idea and work for the project so that they can spread the word through their actions.
Organisation is taken a new and useful shape with your ideas and actions. Safety of the organisation and expansion is taken care like the Banyan tree covers the existing tree and gives the tree a new shape.
However, see to it, you value every resource, every work, everyone's time. Recycled , stored, utilised as and when necessary. Banyan tree, stores water, rejuvenates nearby water storage, banyan tree is a home for around 1800 species, 1000s of people can rely for shade under it. The root, trunk, leaf, everything is an important medicinal ingredient. Every resource under you, every project under you should follow a zero wastage policy. Every resource should become as capable and useful in turn giving life to many and many through their talent.
To keep ourselves true to reality, we need to be prepared, any project might be terminated or can be asked for up-gradation, so, lets not stay attached to single project. Stay upgraded with your talent. Repeat the same.
Krishna says,
न रूपमस्येह तथोपलभ्यते
नान्तो न चादिर्न च संप्रतिष्ठा।
अश्वत्थमेनं सुविरूढमूल
मसङ्गशस्त्रेण दृढेन छित्त्वा।।15.3।।
na rūpamasyēha tathōpalabhyatē
nāntō na cādirna ca saṅpratiṣṭhā.
aśvatthamēnaṅ suvirūḍhamūla-
masaṅgaśastrēṇa dṛḍhēna chittvā৷৷15.3৷৷
Meaning - The form, the origin, the end, nor the foundation nor the strong firm roots are to be observed as our benefits, but the science of detachment is to be observed in Banyan tree.
Yes, ofcourse that is the Krishna, He hits the right point. We might spread all around, useful for many and we might land up taking pride as everything is our achievement, giving way to attachment to our spread. So, the last and final lesson in our strategy is work with your talent spread around but not getting stuck or attached with the result or fruit.
This is the best strategy to make you grow in your own organisation as a project manager or as a start-up aspirant. Attachment to result will not make you grow. Once the required is done, when it is necessary, get ready to detach. Because, you are only providing a solution to the needed at that point of time, fulfil the necessary, make the project the pillar and move on to the next one.
If the purpose is served at that place, understand, you can grow again with your talent, again anywhere. Like the banyan tree which grows on any tree.
Let's explore Bhagavad Gita, Lets understand the meaning and implement it and stay confident through out. Your confidence filled with knowledge and your actions make you complete.
----Keerthi Peratla
1 comment
Very nicely explained.