THE BANYAN
TREE
DR. R. JANARDANA RAO
Heritage of the soil! Let me water thee ever
Reveal to me the secrets of ages you hide
Vedic treasure in every leaf you hold
Thy strength, thy symmetry of leaves are lessons
To me to learn of thy stoic, silent strength
Unbound, immense, of the past, present and future
Of a land immortal with intents of infinity.
All through a tree? Nay, its a tree of invincibility
Mute conveyance of solemn song “Soham” “I am that”
Of unchanging beauty, challenging eternal erosion
Of time, clime and man’s changing rhymes
Wondrous, inexplicable, beauty for eyes to see
How the seers of yore chose it as their shade
Beneath it they sang immortal songs of eternal truth
Of strength, glory, peace for all mankind
The master and the seeker in chorus sang
Of soul’s infinity, leading path to spiritual beauty
Forming Vedas, Smrities, Samhitas, Upanishads
The lore of sweet, splendourous thought-glory
All ending in Peace, Peace, Santi, Swasthi
Banyan tree! Thou art the synonym of strength
Honoured with proximity of the ancient Rishis in Ind.