 |
| Botanical Name |
Crataeva religiosa |
| Common Name |
Three-leaved caper, Barun (Hindi), Mavilankai (Tamil), Varuna (Sanskrit) |
Distribution
Throughout India |
Religious association
The tree is sacred to Lord Shiva and the leaves are used to worship Him, especially on Mahashivaratri. The tree is also sacred to Rahu (Planet Neptune), one of the nine planets or the navagrahas. |
Uses
The plant is very important in traditional medicine. It is used as a cure for urinary infections. The bark and leaves are used to cure rheumatic pain and swellings. |