The Symbolism of the World Tree in Ancient Cultures
In ancient myths and faiths, the world tree stands as a powerful emblem of connection, growth, and wisdom—a motif cherished across eras and continents. Across myriad religions and mythologies, the world tree emerges as a sacred cosmic pillar. Known also as the “Tree of Life,” it symbolizes fertility, growth, and life’s profound roots and branches, while acting as the universe’s central axis—axis mundi—uniting heaven, earth, the divine, and the human. The Cosmic Tree Across Traditions Hinduism: In the Vedic tradition, the cosmic or world tree is the Ashvattha —a divine tree with its roots above and branches below. This inverted symbol represents the cosmos’s origin and the need to transcend illusion through detachment. The Bhagavad Gītā urges cutting down this deep-rooted tree with the “strong axe of detachment” to seek the Supreme Lord. Judaism & Christianity: The Hebrew Bible speaks of a “Tree of Life” planted in Eden amidst the garden (Genesis 2:9), offering immorta...