This is my entry for nature photos in #thaiphotocontest66 hosted by @thaiteam. This tall Banyan tree sits right in the middle of a narrow path which is used as a shortcut to the river. I always slow down my walk and ask for a permission for passing through the narrow walkway. There are always some cats around the area.
This Banyan tree must have been growing here over sixty years ago. Looking at the tree trunk touching the extended rain awning of the two houses, I could imagine that very soon the local people will have to replace their light aluminum awning. The narrow walkway between these two houses would possibly be completely blocked by this tree one day.
This tree must have arrived here by a bird dropping. Being a Banyan tree, people would be very reluctant to cut it down. Thai Buddhists have respect for trees which are associated with Buddhism and they believe that fairies, angels and other traveling spirits may be living on the Banyan tree. So, it would bring bad luck and bad karmic consequences to those who cut the tree down. People would pay respect by setting up a small shrine with offerings of fruits, sweets, water including model dolls and animals to entertain these angels or spirits in the trees. Some people would ask these angels for help and blessings by promising to donate special garland or colour clothes to wrap around the Banyan tree. Local people would know whether the head or most senior angel or fairy is actually in charge of governing the community of fairies, angels, stray spirits and other tree spirits.
To please the head angel, offerings on the shrine would include old fashion Thai cigarettes made from betel leaves. On the other hand, the head fairy will be given traditional Thai costume; these would be seen hanging on the tree. In the past I often wondered whether local people have indulged in too much superstition. I changed my mind when I had direct experience of the spirits living in two Banyan trees. I had to accept that there’s still so much that I don’t know or haven’t read or learned before. That has helped in keeping me humble and ready to learn new things everyday.
วันนี้เราได้แสดงรูปต้นไทรขนาดใหญ่มาก ที่ขึ้นอยู่กลางทางเดินแคบๆ ระหว่างบ้านสองแถวตรงทางลัด สำหรับเดินไปท่าน้ำสาทร เราแปลกใจมากที่ชาวบ้านแถวนั้นยอมปล่อยให้ต้นไม้มาเติบโตจนต้นใหญ่มากที่นั่น เราคิดว่านกพิราบคงเป็นตัวเอามาปลูกไว้มากกว่าห้าสิบปีแล้ว ชาวบ้านคงไม่มีใครกล้าไปตัดต้นไทร เพราะกลัวจะไปรบกวน เหล่าเทวดา นางไม้หรือ วิญญาณที่มาสิงสถิตที่นั่น ชาวบ้านก็แสดงความเคารพศรัทธา ด้วยการตั้งศาลให้ท่านอยู่ มีการถวายอาหาร ขนมหวาน น้ำแดง ดอกไม้ตลอดจนตุ๊กตามากมาย สมัยก่อนเราสงสัยว่าคนไทยเชื่อเรื่องนี้มากไปกระมัง เราไม่เขื่อว่าจะมีอะไรไปสิงสถิตในต้นไม้ได้ จนกระทั่งวันหนึ่งเราบังเอิญมีประสบการณ์ตรงเรื่องต้นไทรเก่าแก่ขนาดใหญ่ เราเจอสองครั้งต่างที่ต่างเวลา ก็เลยเป็นการตอบโจทย์ของเรา เราก็เลยรู้ว่ายังมีอะไรอีกหลายอย่างที่เรายังไม่เคยเจอเคยรู้ เรายังต้องเรียนรู้อีกมากทีเดียว
A monk used to warn me about cutting big branches or trees in my garden; he was concerned that those spirits would have no places to stay during their transition. So, we always ask for permission and give warning about our action. So, these spirits have enough time to move to other trees.
Local people often pay respect to old trees by giving them ‘seven colours’ cloth to protect the trees; this means these trees have spirits living in them. People who cut these trees would have bad luck and terrible karma.
Wishing you peace, good health and prosperity.
Cheers.
Nice! Thank you very much for your support.
This is very informational. Thank you for sharing. You are right! I happen to know of someone living with bad karma caused by cutting down tree and being a playboy in his previous life. Though this person is very gentlemanly, kind and likable with near perfect qualities in this lifetime, he could never have a child no matter how hard he tries. I was shocked by the severity of the impact of past actions on his present life.
Oh! Poor him! I hope his life will improve as he endeavor to do more good karma and make merits or charity according to his means. Doing meditation will help alleviate the severity of bad karma a little.
I should do that myself! Must be more diligent!
Cheers.
Banyan trees are not only aesthetically appealing but are religiously preached as well. you gave a good description of the pictures. great work pal!
Thank you very much for your kind comment.
Everything Nature Photography Contest ครั้งที่ # 1
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Good Work!
@thaiteam
Thank you very much.
Wooow!! Wonderful
Thank you very much.
Interesting!
Thank you! See you in your new post!
:-)))
wonderful tree, looks like thousand years old
Oh! It’s about sixty years old! Those really old trees could be found in the old capitol Ayutthaya!
Congratulations, your post has been added to Pinmapple! 🎉🥳🍍
Did you know every user has their own profile map?
And so does every post as well!
Want to have your post on the map too?
Such a cool map! Thanks a lot for your good work.
its a pleasure @kaminchan