In the quaint village of Saligao in Goa, there is a banyan tree growing along the road. According to legend, the tree is haunted by Cristalina's spirit, waiting to possess those passing by.
One Sunday morning in January 1953, the people of Saligao, Goa, India, were waiting for a priest to lead mass.
Missionary Padre Inácio Lourenço Pereira came to this quaint little village from Portugal in 1951 to serve as overseer during the construction of the Saligao-Pilerne Seminary in 1952. The village of Saligao is located about 15 kilometers from Panaji, known for its handsome churches.
At least Pereira is said to have disappeared under mysterious circumstances on a Saturday evening in January 1953 when he went for a walk along Seminary Road, which took him past a banyan tree at night.
What is known, however, is that this particular fig tree in the village of Saligao, whose deep roots cast long shadows, was haunted by a woman named Cristalina and shunned by the locals. But did Pereira know this as he walked past it to get to the church?
He didn't return that night and didn't show up for mass the next morning. When some workers finally found Pereira the next morning, he was lying unconscious under a banyan tree. When his helping hand, Frank and other workers who were looking for him found him, he was lying flat on the ground, his face buried in the mud.
Pereira was in shock when he finally woke up, covered in scratches and wounds, unable to remember all the details of his ordeal.
Locals from Saligao village took him to a doctor or at least home, but he did not speak for four days. They even brought in a priest to take care of him, and Frank and the other workers attached a cross to one of the branches of Banyan Trees.
When he first began to speak, he was said to speak with a female voice and in Konkani, one of the Indian languages spoken on the west coast of India. One of the things he kept saying was the name Cristalina.
After this ordeal, he was admitted to hospital and then sent back to Leiria, Portugal in 1953. He never returned to Saligao village or Goa, but his legend certainly remained there.
Cristalina Haunting the Banyan Tree
For over sixty years, her ghostly presence has been associated with a specific fig tree in the village of Saligao. It is said that to this day people avoid walking past this tree after shadowy because it is said that Cristalina can possess you, as she once did.
According to the testimonies of local residents, the fig tree was haunted by Cristalina's spirit even before it was possessed by the priest. But how much of it really happened and how much of it was rumors and fear-mongering from the locals?
Who exactly was Cristalina? One of the most commonly told versions of the banana tree is that she hanged herself from it. However, no further details have been found about who she may have been.
Further haunting of Cristalina's Banyan tree
The legend resurfaced when the horizontal part of the cross disappeared from the tree branch and breathed modern wind into it as more than just a one-time haunting. He has since become a local legend in the village of Saligao.
There was also talk of a tree that glowed in the shadowy, and the tree itself was the subject of scientific research. What really happened to it? According to scientists, they claimed that the lights came from carts of Petromax lamps that were parked near the tree.
Banyan Trees and Why They Are Haunted
But what about the tree found in Saligao village? Why are so many ghost stories associated with the majestic looking Banyan and Peepal trees in India?
First, they have a spiritual connection to mythology, both Hindu and Buddhist, and are seen as divine places of sorts. There are many legends associated with the venerable trees with their twisted branches, often found in isolated places.
One popular legend says that you should not sit under one of these trees at night because ghosts and other supernatural beings live there.
It is also worth noting the scientific justification for the spiritual phenomena that supposedly happen during a night under one of these trees and that they can be explained by plain biology. During the day, the tree absorbs carbon dioxide and releases oxygen thanks to the sun. However, at night it releases carbon dioxide, which lowers the level of oxygen needed for humans to breathe.
This process can cause suffocation, lead to hallucinations, and in the worst cases even death. Could this be the reason why there are so many stories involving seeing ghosts, hearing voices, and even achieving some kind of enlightenment? Could this be related to what happened to Father Inácio Lourenço Pereira?
The haunted village of Saligao
The incredible stories surrounding the village of Saligao have made it a balmy spot for paranormal enthusiasts and curious tourists. Despite its horrific history, the village of Saligao remains a handsome example of Goan heritage, with well-preserved churches and time-honored houses.
Visitors to Saligao often report strange occurrences near the banyan tree. Some felt an inexplicable chill in the air, others heard whispers and saw fleeting shadows.
Locals who practice both Hindi and Christian rituals have tried to appease Cristalina's spirit by building a petite altar on which they offer her gifts. According to the Hindu villagers living near this haunted tree, they call it Ximecho Devchar or the Border Devil.
Reference:
[Goanet] “The Visitation” of Father Lourenço
https://creepysilencefy.blogspot.com/2017/01/old-saligao-village.html
Saligao Christalina Tree – Spooky Goa
Image Source: Pixabay.com
