Udumbara or Umbar tree or Audumbara tree (Ficus glomerata) is one of the cosmic trees of India which is known since Vedic times due to its religous siginficance but also due to its peculiar and useful quality and also partly due to its healing and medical powers?

Udumbara or Umbar tree or Audumbara tree (Ficus glomerata)

Did you know that the Udumbara or Umbar tree or Audumbara tree (Ficus glomerata) is one of the cosmic trees of India which is known since Vedic times due to its religous siginficance but also due to its peculiar and useful quality and also partly due to its healing and medical powers? 

Udumbara or Umbar or Audumbara tree with scienitic name Ficus glomerata Roxb. with dried bark called Ficus racemosa Linn (Fam. Moraceae), is a large deciduous tree distributed all over India. It grows and flourishes throughout the year in evergreen forests, moist localities and bank of streams up to the elevation of 1800 m, and is often cultivated in villages for shade and its edible fruits. 

The Udumbara's or Audumbara's religious honour in history is traced to the Vedic times as one the Cosmic trees with certain gods enjoined to be worshipped at its root representing the Goddesses Ganga, Sarasvati, and Lakşmi, and also Nandi (the Vehicle of Siva). It is believed that the River Ganga sent by Shiva when Gautama rishi propitiated Shiva, first alighted on a branch of the Audumbara tree (the Indian fig tree) that was on the Brahamgiri hill, and hence is believed to be very auspicious. It is worshiped as a sacred grove along with the famous Indian banyan (Ficus benghalensis), amd peepal (Ficus religiosa). 

Udumbara's great sacredness is also attributed its peculiar water emitting or water giving quality. In India, in ancient days, travellers in the summer season passing through places where water was scant, when felt thirtly went in search of Udumbara tree. On finding one, they would dig up to its roots and cutting a portion of the roots place a pot under it. In an hour or so the pot would get filled with sweet water. In view of this peculiar characteristics of the Udumbara tree it is known as 'Kshiravrikhsa' in Sanskrit or the milk tree, and Hemadughda or the gold milk-tree.

Even now in villages in India, Audumbara is worshipped by barren women. due to a belief that the use of the powdered bark parasite of this tree, if taken with goat's milk would give them the gift of a son. This belief is probably due to the folk lore that sage Vishvamitra's mother in order to beget the rishi, hugged the Audumbara Tree. 

In the Atharva Veda, Umbara or Audumbara is given prominence as a means for acquiring prosperity and vanquishing foes; and an amulet of the Audumbara tree and a hymn recited in its honour was in popular usage It is also mentioned in the Taittiriya Samhita, Aitareya Brahmana, Shatapatha Brahmana and the epic Mahabharata

In ancient history, Udumbara was described in the story of Raja Harischandra of the Ikshvaku dynasty. It was said that Harischandra's crown was a branch of the Audumbara tree, set in a circlet of gold. Further, the throne (simhasana) was said to have been made out of this wood and the royal personage would ascend it on his knee, chanting to the gods to ascend it with him, which they did so, albeit unseen.

The Shatapatha Brahmana, a commentary on the Shukla (white) Yajurveda, mentions that the Audumbara tree was created from the force of Indra, the leader of the gods that came out of his flesh when he overindulged in soma (intoxicating wine). It is said that from Indra's hair his thought flowed, and became millet; from his skin his honour flowed, and became the Asvattha tree (ficus religiosa); from his flesh his force flowed, and became the Udumbara tree (ficus glomerata); from his bones his sweet drink flowed, and became the nyagrodha tree (ficus indica); from his marrow his drink, the Soma juice, flowed, and became rice: in this way his energies, or vital powers, emerged from Indra. 

It is also said, Lord Dattatreya who represents the trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Maheswara, delivered his religious sermons sitting under the Udumabara tree. 

The twigs of the Udumbara tree are used as offering to the sacred Yagna fire, and as such according to the rule of the Smriti, the whole of an Audumbara post (piece of wood from the Audumbara tree used in a religious ceremony should be covered by cloth. 

In Buddhism, Uḍumbara (Pali, Sanskrit) refers to the tree, flower and fruit of the Ficus racemosa (syn. Ficus glomerata). In Buddhist literature, this tree or its fruit carries the connotation of rarity and parasitism.

It is also a folk beilef that Audumbara (Ficus racemosa),, Banyan tree (Ficus benghalensis), Portia tree (Thespesia populneoides), and Khaira (Acacia Catechu) shall not be planted around the house as they may impact the prosperity of the people who live in the house.

The Audumbara Tree, which is known in English as Cluster Fig. Country fig, has many vernacular names such as: Attihanninamara, Oudumbara, Athimara ಅತ್ತಿಮರಾ, and Attigida in Kannada; Gulara, Gular in Hindi and Urdu; Athi in Malayalam; Kath Gular, Gular in Tamil; Atti, Medi in Telugu; Atti, Gular, Umber in Marathi; Umbro, Umerdo, Umardo, Umarado in Gujarati; Kath Gular, Gular in Punjabi; Rumbal in Kashmiri; and Jantupala, Yagyanga, Hemudugdhak, and Sadaaphala in Sanskrit.

Udumbara is a fast-growing tree with large, very rough leaves; the older specimens can grow quite large and gnarled. It is unusual in that its figs grow on or close to the tree trunk, termed cauliflory. Its bark, leaf and fruit.are used. Its leaves are simple, alternate with elliptic-ovate or oblong-ovate, and apex narrowed. Its flowers in pale yellow colour are unisexual with 10 stamens, bloom on short leafless branches. Its fruit is of the Syconium type (type of inflorescence) with orange, pink or dark crimson colour. It is propogated through seeds and cuttings. It can be used in food; unripe green fruits are cooked and eaten. Mature fruits are eaten raw. Fruits are also dried, floured and consumed with milk.

Udumbara's medicinal use has been extensviley mentioned in the Indian pharmacopoeia of Ayurveda (Charaka and Srushruta samhitas), in Siddha medicine and in Unani medicine. Charaka prescribed tender leaves of Udumbara as an astringent and styptic in diarheoa and haemorrhages. Sushruta prescribed the juice of pounded fruit in intrinsic haemorrhages; the decoction of the fruit with powdered Shaali (Oryaza sativa) rice, with sugar and honey for checking miscarriage; ash of the bark mixed with honey in hiccup; In dyesentry tender fruits of Udumba, steamed and mixed with curd were prescribed. Externally, the latex of Udumbra was applied to boils due to diabetes. In Unani medicine its fruits, also the root-water are prescribed as a tonic to diabetes. As a home remedy, its bark is rubbed on a stone with water to make a paste, which can be applied to boils or mosquito bites.

- Narasipur Char