Did you know that the Vanjula Tree or Indian Willow with botanical name salix tetrasperma is Sthala Vriskha (a monumental tree) in many South Indian temples, and is also a herbal species cultivated in many countries? 

Vanjula is a Sanskrit name for the tree or plant, with Vetasa as its synonym, and with the botanical name salix tetrasperma of the Genus Salix (Family Salicaceae). It is the Sthala Vriskha (a monumental tree that is indigenous to every historical Hindu temple) in many South Indian temples, and is also a herbal species cultivated in many countries, apart from India. The 13th century Rajanighaṇṭu (an Ayurvedic encyclopedia), an Ayurvedic medicinal thesaurus, identifies this plant as Vetasa, which is eaten as a vegetable (shaka), and it is therefore part of the Shakavarga group of medicinal plants, referring to the “group of vegetables/pot-herbs”. 

Vanjula is a pious tree as it is associated with many Hindu temples in South India and is listed as the Nakshatra (celestial star) named Purvaṣaḍha; it is one of the twenty-seven trees related to the twenty-seven Nakṣhatras which are said to be Deva-vṛikṣhas or Nakṣhatra-vṛikṣhas. The belief is that if grown and protected, this tree promotes long life. 

According to a legend related to the Nachiar Koil near Kumbokanam in Tamil Nadu, the goddess Lakshmi, the consort of Vishnu, appeared to the sage Medhavi in the form of a small girl below a Vanjula tree (Indian Willow tree) on the banks of the pushkarini tank (temple pond), and requested the sage to take care of her. Hence this tree is worshipped as Sthalvrisha at this temple. and the Goddess is worshiped as Vanjulavalli.

Vanjula, commonly known as a four-seeded willow, Indian willow, is known in Indian languages as: bhe in Assamese; boishakhi in Bengali; bed-laila (बेद लैला) in Hindi; baiche mara (ಬೈಚೆ ಮರ) or neeruvanji (ನೀರುವಂಜಿ) in Kannada; vir (वीर्) in Kashmiri; bahuja (वाळुंज) In Konkani and Marathi; Vanchi (വഞ്ചി) in Malayalam;l ooyum in Manipuri; bainsa(बैँस) in Nepali; jalavetasa (जलवेतस) in Sanskrit; arru-p-palai or cuvetam in Tamil; and konda ganneru (కొండగన్నేరు) in Telugu.

Vanjula or Indian Willow (Jalavetasa) is a deciduous tree, grows to 25 m high, a tree of wet and swampy places (found gregariously growing near banks of ponds, rivers throughout India), sheds its leaves at the end of monsoon season. It flowers after leafing. The bark is rough, with deep, vertical fissures and the young shoots leaves are silky. It is Tikta (Bitter) and is a Kashaya (Astringent).

The phenolic glycosides contained in this species are known for their anti inflammatory, analgesic, and fever-reducing effects and have been shown to relieve rheumatic disturbances, infections, and headache. In its leaves, dried and powdered are mixed with sugar and given for the treatment of several diseases, such as rheumatism, epilepsy, swelling, piles, venereal diseases, and stones in bladder. It is a popular skin cream which is used to clear debris from the skin’s surface and to unclog pores with its deep-cleansing action.

Its wood is used for making posts, planks, bent wood furniture, ploughs, implements, cabinet and fancy work, match boxes and holders.

- Narasipur Char