The Forest

Sacred peepul and jamun trees at Guru Kripa Forest Hermitage

When visitors came to the Forest Hermitage land they would wonder, “Where is the forest?” The land was barren, except for two trees that were on the land when it was purchased: a large peepul tree and a jamun tree. The peepul is considered the most sacred tree in many eastern religions, including Hinduism. After spending time on the land the last two years, we’ve seen that these trees have been the guardians of this place, keeping the land holy until our arrival. Local people tell us they are about seventy years old. 

Now that there are over 400 new trees on the land, it’s easy to see a growing forest. Some trees less than four years old are already thirty feet tall!

A path on the northern perimeter through some of the new trees.

Most of the land for sale in the area we were searching is farmland —  but we weren’t intending to be farmer monks. True forest land is rare in India, except in the mountain regions. The best solution was to grow our own forest. Trees grow remarkably fast in this area, as we saw on the land of our friends and neighbors, Aanandaa Permaculture Farm. They too had mostly barren land, with just six native palm trees on their similarly sized property. Thousands of trees on their land have grown so quickly in just twelve years that we saw, “This is how we can build a forest monastery!”

Our Aanandaa friends already live in a forest, evident every time we visit. Their forest also sustains a diverse range of vegetables and fruit trees, embodying the concept of a permaculture food forest.

About four hundred trees have now been planted at the Hermitage and are thriving. As buildings are completed, we can properly place and plant many more trees in the next two years.

We’ve planted approximately 40 different native, flowering, medicinal, fruiting, and windbreak tree varieties. Over 150 fruit trees have been planted.

Triveni

The head monks of the Ananda U.S. and India monasteries, Brahmachari Prashad and Nayaswami Devarshi, helping to plant the sacred triveni trees at the Hermitage

The most sacred planting at the Hermitage is the Triveni. Triveni is a traditional planting in villages and near temples throughout India. Three trees — banyan, peepul, jamun — are planted very close to each other. They represent the three aspects of the Hindu trinity: Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva. 

The banyan tree we planted in the Triveni has an unusual and blessed history. In October 2022, several of us went on a pilgrimage to Serampore, near Kolkata, with Nayaswamis Jyotish and Devi, spiritual directors of Ananda Sangha worldwide. One day we visited Rai Ghat, where there is a banyan tree that features prominently in Autobiography of a Yogi. Mahavatar Babaji miraculously appeared to Sri Yukteswar under that tree — many Ananda pilgrims visit there each year.

We collected seeds from the falling fruit, planted them, and obtained a few banyan seedlings. One of those seedlings is now part of the Triveni, a first-generation child of the Babaji Banyan Tree.

The Triveni is located right next to where our meditation temple will be built. The fruits of sadhana and meditation are said to be quickly hastened when done under a Triveni.

Sri Yukteswar describes his meeting with Babaji under the Rai Ghat banyan tree:

“The morning after I had concluded my literary efforts,” Master [Sri Yukteswar] continued, “I went to the Rai Ghat here to bathe in the Ganges. The ghat was deserted; I stood still for awhile, enjoying the sunny peace. After a dip in the sparkling waters, I started for home. The only sound in the silence was that of my Ganges-drenched cloth, swish-swashing with every step. As I passed beyond the site of the large banyan tree near the river bank, a strong impulse urged me to look back. There, under the shade of the banyan, and surrounded by a few disciples, sat the great Babaji!

“‘Greetings, Swamiji!’ The beautiful voice of the master rang out to assure me I was not dreaming. ‘I see you have successfully completed your book. As I promised, I am here to thank you.’

“With a fast-beating heart, I prostrated myself fully at his feet. ‘Param-guruji,’ I said imploringly, ‘will you and your chelas not honor my near-by home with your presence?’

“The supreme guru smilingly declined. ‘No, child,’ he said, ‘we are people who like the shelter of trees; this spot is quite comfortable.’
 — Autobiography of a Yogi