In Jainism, the tree of Sal holds huge importance as it is believed that the 24th Tirthankara, Mahavira, achieved enlightenment under a sal tree.
Even certain animist cultures worship the Sakhua tree as they believe that there is a Goddess of the sal tree. The goddess is called Sarna Burhi, or Woman of the Grove, as is associated with the well-being of water and plant life. She is worshipped by the Munda, Kurukh and Oraon tribes of West Bengal and Odisha.
In Buddhism, the Sal tree forms an entire circle of life in the life of Gautam Buddha. It is believed that queen Maya gave birth to Gautam Buddha while holding on to the branch of a Sal tree. And when Gautam Buddha was dying, he requested his disciple Ananda to prepare a bed for him between two sal trees, where he eventually passed away. The Sal tree is also where the fifth and twenty-fourth Buddhas before Gautam Buddha attained enlightenment. In fact, the brief flowering of the tree is a reminder of the impermanence and rapid passing of glory in the world.