Vanapāla

Vanapāla · vana-pāla, “the protector of the forest”

Vanapāla is named among the devatās who receive pūjā at the pratishṭhā (consecration) of the bilva tree. The Madhyama Parva of the Bhavishya Purāṇa gives this in Sūta’s account of consecrating trees and gardens.

On the second day of the rite, at the base of the bilva, one builds a round vedī of two hastas and draws an eight-petalled lotus on it. Pūjā is then done in order of Śiva, Vishṇu, Brahmā, Gaṇeśa, Śesha, Ananta, Indra, Vanapāla, Soma, Sūrya and Pṛthivī.

Source: Bhavishya Purāṇa, Madhyama Parva, Bhāga 3, Chapters 9–11

Sources

• Bhavishya Purāṇa, Madhyama Parva, Bhāga 3, Chapters 9–11