Apta tree

Did you know that the Apta Tree, is the Bidi, Indian cigarette leaf tree, which is worshiped by the traditional Maharaj Gonds in Aheri in Maharashtra?

Apta tree, a sacred tree in India, with the scientific name Bauhinia racemosa in the family Fabaceae, is widely known as the 'Bidi tree' as its leaves are used to make the poor man's Indian cigarette populalry smoked as Bidi, a thin cigarette or mini-cigar filled with tobacco. Bidi is also made of tendu leaves which is Diospyros melanoxylon, known as the Coromandel ebony or East Indian ebony. 

Apta tree leaves are also called 'Son Patta' meaning "gold leaf" and symbolically given as a gift on the Vijayadashmi day of Dasara festival (Navaratri or Nine holy nights in the autumn month, in the bright half of the Hindu calendar month Ashvin, which typically falls in the Gregorian months of September and Octobe) celebrations in some regions of India. The folk lore or legend behind this practice is traced to the Treta Yuga when Lord Rama ruled from Ayodhya. The story goes that Rama was in the process of helping a young person called Kaustya to meet gurudakshina (gift to the teacher), an unsual demand or tall order by the guru Varatanatu of fourteen crore gold coins. Rama had asked the young Kaustya to sit under the shade of an Apta tree till he made suitable arrnagements to help him. Rama soon sought the help of then world's richest man Kubera. Kubera came to the spot where the young man was sitting, and just by touching the tree he converted all the leaves of the tree into gold leaves. Kaustya, then at the behest of Kubera and Rama, shook the tree and all the leaves fell to ground forming a huge heap of gold coins, out of which he collected 14 crores of gold coins to give as gift to his Guru, and the balance he distributed among the people of Ayodhya. Since then the apta leaves have come to be known as leaves of gold.

Apta Tree has the dubious distinction of scaring spirits, particularly the spirit of lightning. It is believed that ligtning is frightfully afraid of the apta leaves and for this reason the native physicians in India called it as ‘Bhuta-jit’ or ‘the spirit conqueror’. It is said that the Konkan Kunbi tribals while going to the fields carry with them Apta leaves to scare the spirit of lightning. This superstition is attributed to the great medicinal and healing qualities of Apta. It is thus worshipped both in the Deccan and in Konkan region of Maharashtra and Goa on the Dasara day. 

The Aptra tree, known in English as Bidi tree, native to India (also tropical to Southeast Asia), as an ornamental tree, has many vernacular names (Indian) such as: Yamalapatrakah in Sanskrit;, Aralukadumandara ಅರಳುಕದುಮನ್ದರ and Apta ಅಪ್ತಾ in Kannada; Katmauli in Hindi; Arampaali in Malayalam; Atti in Tamil; Tella arecettu in Telugu; and Apta in Marathi. The apta is compared to the olive laurel and is supposed to be a sign of truimph, and can never be blated by lightning. In Sri Lanka, it is called Malla. During the Vedic period, its wood was used to make fire by friction.

It is very popular in the Indian state of Maharashtra as a symbol of gold and given as gift to their loved ones, formally kept in box, on the Dashami day (10th day) of Dasara festival. On this occassion, people also offer obeisance to the family elders seeking their blessings. The folklore associated with this custom is that the Maratha warriors who used to cross borders to loot and plunder without persmission during Dussehra, initially before ridin the neighouring territory, they used to offer Apta leaves to Durga for their victory. Following the raid, collecting booty of gold, they used to distribute the gold among their Kingdom's people. Ever since, on Dasara day (Vijayadashami day marking victory over enemies) ) giving gold to people is the custom of giving Apta leaves symbolically representing gold; this is widely practised in Maharashtra. People re-enact a ritual called Simollanghan (Marathi: सीमोल्लंघन) by crossing boundary of the village ( as symbol of raiding in war to loot gold) and collect leaves of the Apta tree which symbolises gold. In particular, the traditional Maharaj (feudal chief of the tribe) of the Gonds in Aheri ( Gadchiroli district ) worship Apta tree with great fervour on the Vijayadashmi day i.e. on Dusserah day.

Bauhinia racemosa or Apta tree, a native Indian tree, a plant of dry to moist areas of the tropics and subtropics, is a small tree with a short spreading crown. It grows up to 3-5 m tall, in very harsh climatic conditions and in poor soil. The roots of this plant are known to go down as deep as 35 meters in search of water. The tree is more or less deciduous, but the new leaves are sometimes produced before the old leaves fall. Its flowers are small, yellowish white or greenish white, borne in clusters. It bears fruits which are thin, wrinkled pod about 12–25 cm long and 2 cm wide. The tree is easily recognized by its typical rough textured twin leaves which are shaped like cow's hooves (ideal for rolling tobacco in it called bidis, the Indian cigaratte). It contains Benzoxepin Chroman derivaties etc. Its gum and leaves are used as food. Young leaves are cooked as vegetable. Seeds are eaten raw. It is a popular feed for elephants. Its bark is used for tanning and dyeing.

Every part of the tree has some medicinal value in Ayurvedic pharmacopoeia. Its stem bark has been used to cure headache, fever, skin diseases, blood diseases, dysentery and diarrhea. It is said to possess anti- oxidant and hepatoprotective effects. A decoction of the bark has been used as a useful mouth wash for ulcers..

In Maharashtra growing Apta Tree is strictl;y regulated under the Maharashtra Minor forest Produce (Regulation of Trade in Apta leaves) Rules, 1971.

- Narasipur Char