Thimmamma Marrimanu

Thimmamma Marrimanu is the largest, known tree in the world by area of canopy coverage.

Coordinates: 14°1′40.80″N 78°19′30.37″E / 14.0280000°N 78.3251028°E / 14.0280000; 78.3251028Thimmamma Marrimanu is a banyan tree in Anantapur, located about 25 kilometers from Kadiri, Andhra Pradesh, India. It is probably a specimen of Ficus benghalensis. In the Telugu language, "marri" denotes "banyan" and "manu" denotes "trees".[1][2] Its canopy covers 19,107 m2 (4.721 acres),[3][4][5] and it was recorded as the largest tree specimen in the world in the Guinness Book of World Records in 1989.[3][6] [7]

Legend

A Telugu account preserved at the shrine says that the daughter of a Settibalija couple, who were named Sennakka Venkatappa and Mangamma, was born in AD 1394. She married Bala Veerayya, who died in 1434, and Thimmamma committed sati.[8] She was a just lady who served her ailing husband devotedly.[9] The tree is believed to have sprouted at the place of her ascension of the funeral pyre.[8] Specifically, it is believed that the northeastern pole of the pyre grew into this tree.

Religious significance

A small temple dedicated to Thimmamma is beneath the tree. The residents of the region strongly believe that if a childless couple worships Thimmamma they will beget a child in the next year. A large jatara is conducted at Thimmamma on the day of the Shivaratri festival, when thousands flock to the tree to worship it.[10]

Recordation

The tree was first noticed and revealed to the world by Regret Iyer (Sathyanarayana Iyer), a freelance journalist and photographer from Bangalore, Karnataka, India. Later he made all efforts to have the tree recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records. His name was included in the Book in this regard.

Thimmamma Marrimanu was discussed in the second segment of the BBC series 'The Tree Spirits' (29 Aug 2017)[11]

See also

References

  1. ↑ C. Sudhakar; R. Suguna Kumari (2008). Women and Forestry. The Associated Publishers. ISBN 978-81-8429-081-3. Retrieved 5 June 2012.
  2. ↑ Lavanya Vemsani (31 October 2006). Hindu and Jain Mythology of Balarāma: Change and Continuity in an Early Indian Cult. Edwin Mellen Press. ISBN 978-0-7734-5723-2. Retrieved 5 June 2012.
  3. 1 2 Matthews, Peter; Dunkley McCarthy, Michelle; Young, Mark (CON) (October 1993). The Guinness Book of Records 1994. Facts on File. ISBN 978-0-8160-2645-6. Retrieved 5 June 2012.
  4. ↑ Confer "Banyan Trees". Backpacker-backgammon.com. Backpacker-Backgammon. Archived from the original on 2012-07-10. Retrieved 2012-07-10.
  5. ↑ Confer "Thimmamma Marrimanu". anantapur.com. Retrieved 2017-01-04.
  6. ↑ India Today. Living Media India Pvt. Ltd. 1992. p. 53. Retrieved 5 June 2012.
  7. ↑ Sayeed, Vikhar Ahmed. "Arboreal Wonder". Frontline. Retrieved 5 June 2012.
  8. 1 2 ""Thimmamma Marri Maanu"".
  9. ↑ Various (2005). Tourist Guide to South India. Sura Books. pp. 295 et seq. ISBN 978-81-7478-175-8. Retrieved 5 June 2012.
  10. ↑ Various. Tourist Guide to Andhra Pradesh. Sura Books. pp. 44 et seq. ISBN 978-81-7478-176-5. Retrieved 5 June 2012.
  11. ↑ http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3csvntf
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