Agni Purāṇa

70 - Mode of planting trees

The Lord said:

1-2. Ishall describe the mode of planting trees conferring enjoyment and emancipation. The trees having been smeared with all the herbs and adorned with fragrant powdersshould be decorated with flower garlands. Clothshould be put around them. (The rite known as) the perforation of the carshould be done for them with a golden needle.

3-4. Collyriumshould be applied with ashort stick. Seven kinds of fruits (should be placed) on the platform. The pitchersshould be consecrated. The offeringshould be made for (the gods) Indra and others and the consecrationshould be done. Oblations to the fireshould be done for (the sake of) plants. Remaining in the midst of trees a cowshould be let off with the (recitation of) abhishekamantra.

5-6. Brahminsshould bathe the trees as well as the yajamana with the waters of pitchers placed in the platform with (the recitation of) the rk, yajus, såma mantras and also that of varuna accompanied by auspicious music. The yajamanashould adorn (himself) andshould present the fees as well as a cow, ornament and cloth.

7. Foodshould be given along with milk (to brahmins) for four days consecutively. Oblationshould be made with sesamum and twigs of palasa (tree). The sacrificial priestshould be paid the fees double (the value of what is given to other brahmins).

8. The construction ofsheds etc. hereshould be done as laid down earlier. The consecration of trees and a garden destroys one's sins and gets the highest merit.

9. Listen to the (mode of) installation (of the image) of Sürya (sun), Gaņeśha, the goddess (Gauri) and the attendant deities of Lord Hari as described by Isha (Śiva) to Skanda (earlier).

Summary of chapter 70 of the Agni Purāṇa is as follows:

The seventieth chapter extends the pratiṣṭhā tradition to the natural world: the ritual consecration of trees and gardens within the temple compound or in public spaces. The karṇa-vedhana (ear-piercing) of a tree — performed with a golden needle and the recitation of Vedic mantras — marks the tree's elevation to a sacred status analogous to the upanayana sacrament for a human child. The four-day milk-diet observance for the priests performing the tree consecration, and the subsequent bathing of the tree's roots with sacred water, are described. The chapter then transitions into Śaiva material as Śiva speaks directly to Skanda, establishing that all the preceding ritual knowledge derives from the supreme Śaiva Āgama tradition. The merit of planting and consecrating a single tree is declared equal to giving birth to ten sons, for the tree nourishes all beings indiscriminately.