[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Religion and philosophy](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.religion) › [The Religion and Philosophy of the Veda and Upanishads](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.religion.keith-1925) › v1.c19.s3.8 # The Religion and Philosophy of the Veda and Upanishads v1.c19.s3.8 The Religion and Philosophy of the Veda and Upanishads v1.c19.s3.8 - **Language:** English ### [v1.c19.s3.8](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.religion.keith-1925.v1.c19.s3.8) The cult of trees, and above all of forest trees, Vanaspati, is recognized by the Rigveda,¹⁰ which in a few passages invokes either one or many along with the Waters and the Mountains. In the later Saṁhitās, as we have seen, trees are the favourite homes of the Apsarases and also of the Gandharvas. The Taittirīya Saṁhitā¹¹ assigns to them as their homes the trees Açvattha, Nyagrodha, Udumbara, and Plakṣa. When the wedding procession passes by large trees, these deities are to be besought to afford their favour. More directly, in the same ceremony, in some accounts the tree is solemnly honoured on the fifth day after marriage with gifts of flowers, of food and clothing, and the part of trees in the marriage ritual is one of the commonest features of Indian marriage among the less advanced tribes.¹² There is, however, no trace in the Vedic literature of the marriage to a tree, which in modern India often precedes certain classes of marriages. Again, if a man is driving out on a new car, and he comes across a good tree, he should go round it from left to right, the way of the sun, and take from it branches with fruit.¹ - [Previous: v1.c19.s3.7](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.religion.keith-1925.v1.c19.s3.7) - [Next: v1.c19.s3.9](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.religion.keith-1925.v1.c19.s3.9) - [Up: v1.c19.s3](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.religion.keith-1925.v1.c19.s3) ## Linked texts (2) - [Taittirīyasaṃhitā](https://indike.org/pramana/in.veda.samhita.krsnayajur*taittiriya) — Sanskrit - [Ṛgvedasaṃhitā](https://indike.org/pramana/in.veda.samhita.rg) — Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.religion.keith-1925.v1.c19.s3.8](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.religion.keith-1925.v1.c19.s3.8) · Pramāṇa