बुद्धाज् कोकोनट , लेखक : श्री. मारुती चितमपल्ली (Buddha's Coconut)

Shri.Maruti B. Chitampalli (Devanagari: श्री. मारुती चितमपल्ली; born 5 November 1932) is a naturalist, wildlife conservationist and Marathi writer from Maharashtra, India. The birthdate of Maruti B. Chitampalli is given by him in his autobiography 'Chakvachandan' as 12 November 1932. He grew up in Solapur and then went to enroll himself in State Forest Service College in Coimbatore. After completing his training, he joined the services with Maharashtra State government. During his professional life, he moved at various forests and national parks, having live experiences with various entities. This laid the foundation of his interest in writing his literary works, mostly in Marathi. He retired from Maharashtra state government service as the Deputy Chief Conservator of Forests. He was instrumental in the development of Karnala Bird Sanctuary, Navegaon National Park, Nagzira Sanctuary and Melghat Tiger Project; also constructing orphanages for displaced wildlife at the last two institutions. Shabdancha Dhan (शब्दांचं धन) beautiful book and must read book. “बुद्धाज कोकोनट” is a beautiful experience written by Chitampalli sir and it is a part of this book. Buddha’s Coconut : The nickname "Buddha’s Coconut" comes from the large, hard-shelled, coconut-like fruits it produces — which may resemble coconuts in appearance but are not actual coconuts. The fruit contains seeds inside a woody pod, and the shape or split in the fruit can resemble a reclining Buddha to some people — hence the poetic name. The fruit shape or seed pod may resemble hands in prayer or the shape of Buddha, giving it a spiritual association in some cultures. Cultivation & Propagation : Growth Needs: Prefers full sun to partial shade and can tolerate drought, weather variation, poor soils, and neglect once established  Planting Advice: Space trees about 10–12 m apart; buttress roots may damage nearby structures  Propagation Methods: From seeds: Soak before sowing in well-drained soil; germination may take over a month. Vegetative methods: Stem cuttings, layering, and grafting are also viable Sterculia alata is not just a visually striking tree but also ecologically valuable and rich in traditional uses. Whether you're considering planting it for shade, exploring its ethnobotanical significance, or intrigued by its biochemical properties, The following are some of Chitampalli Sir’s works: Ratawa (रातवा) Chaitrapalavi (चैत्रपालवी) Ranvata (रानवाटा) Nilawanti (निळावंती) Pranikosh (प्राणीकोश) Pakshikosh (पक्षीकोश) Suwarna Garud (सुवर्ण गरुड) Nisargawachan ( निसर्गवाचन) Shabdanche Dhan (शब्दांचे धन) Jangalache Dene (जंगलाचं देणं) Mrugpakshishastra (मृगपक्षीशास्त्र) Kesharacha Paus (केशराचा पाऊस) Gharatya Palikade (घरट्या पलिकडे) Anandadayi Bagale (आनंददायी बगळे) Pakshi Jaya Digantara (पक्षी जाय दिगंतरा) Chitragriwa: Eka Kabutarachi Katha (चित्रग्रीव : एका कबुतराची कथा) Navegavbandhache diwas: (नवेगाव बांधचे दिवस) Chaitrapalawi: 2004 Chakva Chandan : Ek Vanopanishad (चकवा चांदण : एक वनोपनिषद) (Autobiography) An Introduction to Mrugpakshishastra of Hansadev (in English) My Sincere thanks to, BGM Flute : Mr. Ainuddin Warsi Sir Photography : Saurabh J.