Hyderabad: President Pranab Mukherjee on Monday opened a Constellation Garden at the Rashtrapati Nilayam premises here.
The opening of the 'Nakshtra Vatika' was done by planting an Ashoka (Saraca Indica) sapling in the area earmarked for the garden, an official release said. The garden is expected to be completed within six months and will comprise 27 plants.
A herbal garden already exists at the Nilayam Gardens and the proposed one will be the second specialised garden within the complex, the release said. Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi has within its premises a Nakshatra garden, herbal garden, cactus garden, spiritual garden, bonsai garden, besides the famous Mughal Garden known for its large collection of roses.
"According to Hindu astrology, every person born on the Earth belongs to any of the 27 Nakshtras i.e. 27 or 28 divisions of the sky that the moon passes through its monthly cycle," the release said.
"Each nakshtra is identified by its prominent stars and is associated with a zodiac sign. It is believed that each constellation of the zodiac is associated with a tree," it said.
The release said these 27 nakshtras and nine planets correspond to each other and each constellation of the zodiac is associated with a tree on earth.
"Trees give energy to human beings and it is believed that presence of trees creates a healthy mental, physiological and spiritual effect on people meditating near the tree. These trees are of high medicinal, social, aesthetic and economic values," the release added. Ashoka is a native plant of India, Burma, Ceylon and Malaysia.
