Asoka

/əˈsoʊkə/ noun

Definition

A flowering plant (Saraca asoca) native to India, also called the 'Ashoka tree,' sacred in Buddhist and Hindu traditions.

Etymology

From Sanskrit 'aśoka' (literally 'without sorrow'), combining 'a-' (without) + 'śoka' (sorrow), reflecting the tree's spiritual significance as a symbol of peace and freedom from suffering.

Kelly Says

The Asoka tree is so important in Buddhism that it appears in countless stories—Buddha was born under one, and Ashoka the Great named himself after the tree, showing how plants become woven into religious and political identity across entire civilizations.

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