Banyan tree, impermanent. (Glossary for the Vahinis)

The tree of Samsara or Life is a very peculiar one. It is quite distinct from the trees of the world. The trees that you see in the world have their branches above and roots below. The Ashvattha tree of Samsara however has roots above and branches below. It is a topsy-turvy tree. Ashvattha means Anitya, impermanent, transient. It also means the ‘banyan tree’. Its flowers and fruits are neither good for smelling nor good for eating. However its leaves will be ceaselessly quivering in the wind. So it is also called Chaladala, meaning ‘quivering leaves’. Like the quivering leaves of the banyan tree, worldly objects too are ever wavering, unsteady, ever changing positions. In order to make people understand this truth and strive to overcome it, it is called Ashvattha. (GV, p. 230)