The Brahma Purana says that Lord Vishnu was born under a Peepal tree and also supposedly hid in this tree when demons defeated all the gods. Buddh, Lord Vishnu's ninth avatar, attained enlightenment while meditating under a Peepal tree which came to be known as the Bodhi Tree. The Peepal tree, symbolising Lord Vishnu, is thus a vital element in Indian culture.

Doing a pradakshina (circumambulation) around the Sacred Fig is considered a mark of devotion, and many of the greatest architectural marvels built by ancient South Indian rulers have a Peepal tree within their walls.