The story of origin of coconut tree in Hindu religion is associated with Sage Vishwamitra and it is found in the Vishnu Purana and the Bala kanda of Valmiki Ramayana. The sage practiced severe austerities for a long period of time and acquired various Siddhis. To prove his prowess, he decided to send King Satyavrata to heaven in his mortal body.
Once, young Satyavrata was exiled from his kingdom by his father. During his exile period there was a severe famine. Satyavrata protected the wife and children of Sage Vishwamitra – as the sage was performing intense austerities. Satyavrata later became the king of his kingdom.
Satyavrata desired to reach heaven in his mortal body. Sage Vishwamitra repaid him for having looked after his family by fulfilling his desire and raised him to heaven in his mortal body in spite of strong opposition from sages and Devas.
When Satyavrata reached heaven in his mortal body, Indra was furious as it was against rules.
He hurled Satyavrata out of heaven. When Rishi Vishwamitra saw this he used his magical powers and stopped Satyavrata from falling on earth. This resulted in Satyavrata getting suspended in air. To prop him, Vishwamitra put a pole under him.
In due course of time, the pole became the coconut tree. The tree is straight and unbranched like the pole erected by Rishi Vishwamitra.
Satyavrata remained suspended in mid-air and got the epithet Trisanku, one who is neither here nor there.
The coarse outer fibrous covering of coconut symbolically resemble the hair of king Satyavrata and two prominent black spots on the outside are believed to be the eyes of the king.