Myths and stories involving a Tree of Life have played a role in many cultures for thousands of years (most recently at the heart of Disney's Animal Kingdom park itself). In most of these legends, the tree is a symbol for the idea that all living things are connected.
Along the ruined walls of the ancient Tomb of Anantah in Anandapur's Royal Forest is a series of bas relief sculptures, depicting a tale of the Tree of Life. In the first panel (above), the Tree draws life to it and supports that life in harmonious balance. In the next panel, however, Man cuts down the Tree, upsetting that balance.
God unleashes the power of the Heavens to strike down Man, teaching him a lesson.
Finally, Man replants the Tree and learns to live in harmony with nature.
Legend has it that the man in the version of the myth depicted here was Anantah himself, founding ruler of Anandapur. He has passed what he learned down through the generations of Anandapuris, teaching them a reverence for the natural world.
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