Devotees to miss 'darshan' of Akshayvat during Ardh Kumbh

Allahabad, Dec 13 (UNI) Lakhs of devotees visiting the Ardh Kumbh, the largest religious fair of the country, would again not have a 'darshan' of the mythological tree of Akshayvat (Eternal Tree), a big banyan tree situated inside the historic Allahabad Fort on the banks of Sangam, the conflunce of rivers Ganga, Yamuna and the invisible Sarswati.

The Allahbad Fort where the banyan tree is situated, is under the control of the Army and has been closed for the public.

The devotees who come to Sangam banks, also the venue of Ardh Kumbh next month, want to have a 'darshan' of and worship the Akshayvat. Their wish would remain unfulfilled this time also as the Army authorities have refused to open the Fort to the public citing security reasons.

Ardh Kumbh Mela Officer Pragyan Ram Mishra told UNI the army authorities had expressed their inability to open the Fort for the 'darshan' of the Akshyawat following security reasons.

There is a common belief among Hindus that they would get rid of their sins by the 'darshan' and 'poojan' of the Akshyavat tree. This holy banyan tree is believed to be the tree where Lord Ram gave '' pind daan'' for his father Dashrath Chinese pilgrim Huen Swang, who visited India during the rule of Harshvardhan, had also written about the Akshyavat. Several Muslim authors and writers have also mentioned the presence of this tree near the Sangam.

Hindus believe that Lord Vishnu, Laxmi and Parvati, Lord Shankar and other gods and goddesses reside on this tree and anyone who breathed his last under this tree gets salvation. References of this tree are also found in the Valmiki Ramayan, Ram Charitmanas of Tulsi Das as well in the Puranas and Jain scriptures.

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