Neem in Indian Life Style
To generations of Indians neem was known to provide protection from disease - therefore protecting and planting Neem was not only considered sacred duty - but it was encouraged by religious sanction. Brihat Samhita , an ancient Hindu treatise, contains a chapter of verses on plant medicine. It contains reccomendations for specific trees to be planted in the vicinity of one's house. Neem was highly reccommended. This can also be borne out by the widely held Hindu belief that one who plants three Neem trees lives after death in Suryalok (Sun World) for three Yugas (epochs) and never goes to hell.
The Neem tree is tied in with every aspect of traditional Indian science and culture. Even in ancient Indian astrology, Neem finds a prominent place. It is associated with the constellation 'Uttara Bhadrapada', whose presiding diety is Abibudhanya. In Indian mythology, insects were said to be the creation of Asuras (the demons) from whom Neem was said to protect, by weakening their life patterns.
The curative properties of Neem were attributed to the belief that a few drops of heavenly nectar fell on it. The efficacy of Neem as a medicine has been documented in several different ancient treatises like the Atharva Veda, the Ghrhyasutra, the Sutragrantha and in the Purana. In Sanskrit the language of ancient Indian literature, it is referred to as Nimba, which is a derivative of the term Nimbati Swastyamdadati (To give good health)