आक(aak) के फूल - The Crown Flower {अकबन (akban), मदार (Madar), मन्दार (Mandar), अर्क (Ark)}

हिंदी में पढ़ने के लिए यहाँ क्लिक करें

         आक(aak) के फूल - The Crown Flower {अकबन (Akban), मदार (Madar), मन्दार (Mandar), अर्क (Ark)}

Blooming Crown Flower

 मन्दारपुष्प (Mandar flower),

 Aak-flower,
Calotropis Gigantea

                      The crown flower is known by different names in different part of the country. In local language we know it by the name of आक (Aak) and अकबन (Akban); in Sanskrit मदार (Madar), मन्दार (Mandar), अर्क (Ark). In fact, Hindi word आक (aak) has followed from Sanskrit word अर्क (Ark). It has two varieties based on the color of the flower. The one with white and purple-red color is called रक्तार्क (Raktark). It is the most common type.

आक के फूल - The Crown Flower

मदारपुष्प (Madar flower)

Another one is one having pure white flower called श्वेतार्क (Shwetark). It is a rare variety. In English, it named as Crown flower because in the middle of the flower there is a beautiful crown-like structure. It is found in China, south-east Asia and East Asia. It grows in barren lands stony areas too. It is very common in north Indian states like Rajasthan, UP, Bihar and Jharkhand. Since the seeds spread by air somewhat like silk cotton seeds, It spreads to very distant places from the mother plant. The thin flaky seed is enveloped in spherical cotton which radiates out from the seed. This whole structure easily floats in the air and rides the wind to travel to far lands.

Fruit of Crown Flower- resembles a
cattle horn, (aak fruit)

           This flower is one of the most favorite flowers of Shiva and is used in worshiping of Shiva. A garland of Crown flower is offered to Him and generally, the priest takes this offered garland and puts over the head of भक्त (The devotee) as 'Prasadam'. On big occasions like 'Shivaratri', the Shiva temple is also decorated with the garlands of Crown flowers. In Shivapanchakshri Stotra (शिवपञ्चाक्षरी स्त्रोतम् ) it has a mention as "मन्दारपुष्प बहुपुष्प सुपूजिताय .... ".Though many people confuse "Mandar" flower with Tiger's Claw flower (called "mander" flower in Bangla) but that is a totally different flower.

A large bee/Bumblebee sits over the
crown flower (आक फूल पर भंवरा )

           The whiter and rarer shrub is much sought after. It is said that after 21 years its root takes a shape of Ganapati which is taken out with some rituals and 'mantras'. Even the part of the root is worn as Talisman after due rituals. Its garland is offered to Lord Hanuman on Saturday for remedy of some special problems.

Aak fruits-In left down yellow opened cover
of fruit; In center exposed seeds starts
leaving the fruit and begins floating

           From the month of  March onwards the flowering starts and in April and May the shrub is in full bloom. The most common visitors are large black bees or bumblebees. The bunch of white with a little purple color flower looks beautiful. It has a specific smell too. You can feel it while passing by a shrub in full bloom.

       

Half the crown flower seeds gone to winds
in the pic whites are floating seeds
(आक के बीजों का हवा द्वारा प्रसारण ) 

After pollination by bees, the flowers develop into green fruits which resembles a cattle horn. After more than forty days the seeds inside are ready to spread. At this time outer cover starts to change color and gets dried day by day. Also, a tensile stress develops in this cover and at some point of time it opens up exposing the cluster of seed to winds. Seeds do not come out all at once but slowly in few numbers. Within a day or two, nearly all seeds leave the pod. In this duration direction of the wind changes many times. That is the strategy to spread in different directions with the wind.

Mixture of white and purple gives an awesome effect when you
take a close look at Crown Flower [आक(aak), अकबन (Akban),
 मदार (Madar), मन्दार (Mandar), अर्क (Ark)], Calotropis Gigantea

          The green leaves feel buttery and if you pluck it or flowers, a milky liquid oozes out. It makes your finger dirty. It is said that this milky liquid can make one blind if it goes in his eyes. So one should be careful while plucking flowers. Though the tree has medicinal value in 'Ayurved'. The leaves are one of the five leaves of "Panch Pallav" which is used in giving hot treatment at the body part where it pains.

The story, why "Mandar" flowers are sacred, may be seen in my blog 'Aadhyatma' by clicking here.   

More Pictures below:-

Bumble bee on Crown Flowers
(आक फूल पर भंवरा )

Crown Flower tree is a shrub that can grow up to 4 m high
आक का बड़ा वृक्ष