Indian Ber: Unveiling the Richness and Exploring the Benevolent Sacred Tree and Healing Wonder

Nature seldom creates without purpose, and some she creates with endless generosity.

- Uday Kumar Varma

Among such creations are some exceptionally rich and gifted trees, whose every part is of use to humanity. 'Neem' readily comes to mind if we look around for such a tree. It is a tree par excellence, with its leaves, fruits, bark, and wood serving us well. But there is yet another tree that not only competes with Neem in its utility but in fact, scores over it in several other respects. It may not be as celebrated as 'Neem' for its great medicinal and air-purifying properties, but its place in Indian culture and the devotional universe remains beyond parallel, offering its every part to mankind for some purpose or the other. It is the Ber tree.

My Sylvan Heaven

Among the many beautiful trees that adorn the sylvan landscape surrounding and consecrating my dwelling, is a tree whose thick foliage and dark green appearance easily draw attention. The Ber tree is a much-branched, thorny deciduous tree with a spreading crown, growing to a height of about 45 feet. If it appears inviting and fetching, it also has the distinction of being one of the hardiest species grown in India, unmistakably present mostly in the sandy soils of arid and semi-arid zones of India, both in the wild and as a cultivated variety.

Apart from being a tree that produces sweet and tasty fruits in  abundance, its value as a cure for a variety of ailments including chronic fatigue, loss of appetite, diarrhea, pharyngitis, bronchitis, anaemia, irritability, and hysteria is well-known. The seeds are used in the treatment of insomnia and nervous exhaustion, among others. The list is long and exhaustive.

And yet, Ber invokes thoughts that transcend its immediate benefits or its uncommon beauty. It symbolizes a deep connect with India's spiritual quest and identity. It will till eternity stand as the ultimate icon of selfless love and devotion that a human being can have for his or her deity.

Shabari and Ber