"God of the forest" redirects here. For the tree in New Zealand with this nickname, see
Tāne Mahuta.
A tree deity or tree spirit is a
nature deity related to a
tree. Such deities are present in many cultures. They are usually represented as a young woman, often connected to ancient
fertility and
tree worship lore.[1] The status of tree deities varies from that of a local
fairy,
ghost,
sprite or
nymph, to that of a
goddess.[2]
Examples of tree deities
The
Yakshis or Yakshinis (
Sanskrit: याक्षिणि),
mythical maiden deities of
Hindu,
Buddhist, and
Jain mythology are closely associated with trees, especially the
ashoka tree and the
sal tree. Although these tree deities are usually benevolent, there are also yakshinis with malevolent characteristics in
Indian folklore.[1]
Panaiveriyamman, named after panai, the
Tamil name for the
Palmyra palm, is an ancient fertility deity linked to this palm that is so important in
Tamil culture. This deity is also known as Taalavaasini, a name that further relates her to all types of
palm trees.
Some other Tamil tree deities are related to ancient
agricultural deities, such as Puliyidaivalaiyamman, the deity of the
tamarind tree, and Kadambariyamman, associated with the
kadamba tree. These were seen as manifestations of a goddess who offers her blessings by giving fruits in abundance.[3]
In
Thailand the village ghosts or fairies related to trees such as
Nang Takian and
Nang Tani are known generically as Nang Mai (นางไม้).[4] There are also other tree ghosts that are male.
Tree deities were common in ancient
Northern European lore. In
Charlemagne's time, following the Capitulatio de partibus Saxoniae in 782 offerings to sacred trees or any other form of worship of the spirits of trees and springs were outlawed. Even as late as 1227 the Synod of
Trier decreed that the worship of trees and sources was forbidden.[5]
List of tree deities
Tree deities in different cultures of the world include:
In the play Love Story at the Snow-covered Barrier, the villain's wishes to cut down a giant blossoming black cherry tree are thwarted. As he wields an ax, a courtesan who is the living incarnation of the spirit of the tree manages to freeze the villain's hands. Then the spirit herself appears and overcomes him.
Lengths of brocade tied around the exposed roots of a Hopea odorata or "Ta-khian tree" growing on a steep slope as an offering to
Nang Ta-khian