Indian Devil Tree is known as Pala, Yakshippala, Daiva pala or ezhilam pala in Kerala. The tree is associated with ghosts, pretam, brahmarakshas, yakshi, goblins, elfs, demons and other malicious spirits. To walk under the shade of pala tree at night is considered suicidal. It is believed that people never return back after walking or taking refuge under a pala tree at night. The malicious spirits residing on the pala tree throw mud and round stones on passerby. The tree is a favorite spot of poisonous snakes as the sap of the tree is milky. A cobra after biting a person goes up to a bough of a pala tree and hangs its head down till the person is dead. The trunk of the tree emits a stinking smell and it is interpreted due to malicious spirits inhabiting it. Hindus never cut pala tree as it is believed to bring bad luck and ill health to the family. Pala tree is not grown in the household compounds. There are numerous stories associated with the pala tree. People say that t