The intention of describing this tree in the Vedas was to make us understand that, we are beyond the cycle of life and death, and we should work towards cutting this tree down. “Those who know this tree with its roots upward and branches downward will not believe that death can finish them.” Na sa jātu janaḥ śhraddhayātmṛityutyurmā mārayaditi (Taittirīya Āraṇyak 1.11.5)

Ūrdhvamūlaṁ arvākśhākhaṁ vṛikṣhaṁ yo samprati “The aśhvatth tree, with its roots upward and branches downward is eternal.” Ūrdhvamūlo ’vākśhākha eṣho ’śhvatthaḥ sanātanaḥ (Kaṭhopaniṣhad 2.3.1)

Likewise, the cycle of life and death is also continuous. As the water from the oceans evaporates forming clouds that rain the earth, which then forms rivers, and eventually flows back to the oceans. Hence, this tree form of the world is Avyayam or eternal. Due to this continuity, the beginning and the end are not experienced by the souls. In this way, the leaves of the Aśhvatth tree nourish the material existence of the souls and perpetuate the continuous cycle of life and death. By performing such rituals, the soul can ascend to the heavenly abodes and enjoy celestial pleasures, but eventually, when the rewards deplete, they have to fall back to earth. Its leaves are the Vedic mantras ( chhandānsi), which describe rituals, ceremonies, and its reward. The trunk and branches which are extending downwards ( adhaḥ-śhākham) encompass all the life-forms from different abodes of the material realm. Its roots are going upwards ( ūrdhva-mūlam) originating from God nourished and supported by Him. The Lord explains that this material world is like a huge Aśhvatth tree for the soul. Therefore, the world we live in is temporary, or Aśhvatth.

The world is not just moving or constantly changing, but someday it will be completely destroyed and reverted unto God. Another Sanskrit word for the world Jagat is also defined as gachchhatīti jagat, that means it is a constantly moving world. The Sanskrit word for the world, Sansar is defined in the Sanskrit dictionary as sansaratīti sansāraḥ something that is constantly shifting. Aśhvatth also means which will not remain the same even on the next day or something which is constantly changing. Lord Shree Krishna speaks of the eternal Aśhvatth tree, which is an upside-down peepal (sacred fig) tree with its roots above and branches below.

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