कनेर के फूल ... Oleander flower !

कनेर के फूल (हिंदी ब्लॉग)

A shrub of yellow oleander (Cascabela Thevetia - पीला कनेर ) 

Beautiful Oleander flowers !

              Oleander is one of the common flowers of worship in India. This evergreen tropical plant is easy to grow. Once it is planted it requires little care. It grows as a shrub and even in drought-like conditions it survives. The flowers are beautiful too. So it is even grown as an ornamental flower. Some people grow it as a hedge. Nowadays it is being extensively grown as ornamental plants on the dividers of National Highways due to the above qualities. Oleander and hibiscus flower trees can be seen near almost all the temples. Oleander flowers are of two types- Yellow oleander (Cascabela Thevetia, पीला कनेर ) and Red oleander (Nerium oleander, लाल कनेर ), both of them used in worship. Though the looks and structure of flowers of both varieties vary a lot, the difference between their leaves is not much.  

The Oleander tree full of flowers

Cascabela Thevetia, पीला कनेर   

               This is a funnel-shaped flower of mostly deep yellow color but sometimes white or reddish-yellow colored flower may also be found. Almost all parts of the plant are toxic but the fruit is the most toxic. There have been many incidents of death due to consumption of this fruit which is peculiar in shape. The flower has a faint fragrance. Like many other toxic flowers, the yellow oleander flower is very much liked by Shiva.

Yellow oleander flower (Cascabela Thevetia - पीला कनेर ) 

     The western specialists think it is native to Mexico or Central America but it is present in India from ancient times. Its proof is the Holy book "Sri Madbhagawat Purana" written by "Ved Vyas".In tenth "Skanda" (section) while describing the childhood "Leelas" of Sri Krishna there are many activities of child Krishna which are quite interesting. One of these activities says that while playing with friends in the jungle Child Krishna plucks yellow oleander flowers and puts them on both of his ears. This shows that the oleander flower is present in India from time immemorial.

   Since yellow is the favorite color of Krishna (He wears the "Peetamber" - yellow-colored clothes) and the above activity mentioned in the Holy book "Sri Madbhagawat Purana", so the yellow oleander flowers are also offered to Sri Krishna during his worship. So this flower is offered to both Shiva and Krishna. 

Nerium Oleander (लाल कनेर)

Nerium Oleander / लाल कनेर 

          Red oleander can be differentiated from yellow one by looking at the leaves. The leaves of the red oleander plant are somewhat broader and darker in shade compared to the yellow variety. But the most striking feature is the completely different shape of the flower. It is smaller, red-pink or white in color and it flowers in bunches. 

White flowers on a
Nerium Oleander shrub
at
Sun Temple, Bundu

            The red/pink flowers are offered to Goddess Durga, Kali, Gauri, and her other "Roopas". In "Tantrik worship" (तांत्रिक साधना) this flower is very important. Even the shrub of red oleander has its importance in this worship. The "Tantrik" (The devotee who takes the path of 'Tantra') has to worship and complete the related "Mantra Jaap" near the red oleander tree.    

Golden Trumpet (स्वर्ण कनेर)

Golden Trumpet, Allamanda, Swarn Kaner
similar to Techoma,Tekumba,TrumpetBush

 This flower resembles Yellow Oleander, only its petals are larger. It comes from a completely different plant family. Earlier I did not take it as a flower of worship but during my recent visit to temples at Bhubaneswar, Orissa  I saw these flowers being offered to gods and goddesses. I asked the priests there what flower it was and whether it should be offered to gods. He told me that here it is called "Swarn Kaner" (स्वर्ण कनेर) and offered to gods. I searched for this flower by this name on the internet but could not find any reference. I went to a nursery and asked its name from the gardener. He told me that it is 'Allamanda' and is offered to god because it has five petals. Though his reasoning was not acceptable because there are numerous flowers that have five petals but are not flowers of worship. Well, I researched on it a bit and found that it is a plant of South America which has got well adapted to tropical areas. Its botanical name is Allamanda Cathertica and commonly called 'Allamanda', Golden Trumpet, or Yellow 'Allamanda'. Again there is yet another similar flower which is used like it and its name is "Techoma stans" or Chestnutleaf Trumpetbush(Tekumba). It flowers in bunches. These flowers do not get any mention in the "Puranas" or ancient Hindu books because they were not available here then. Since these flowers resemble "Kaner" and being offered in most of the temples we too accept it as a flower of the offering.

So be familiar with this important "Puja Flower" and offer them to your God during the worship. 

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अपराजिता पुष्प - The Clitoria Ternatea !

हिंदी में पढ़ने के लिए यहाँ क्लिक करें

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Flower of  Aparajita, Shankhpushp,
blue pea, butterfly pea or pigeon wings

Aparajita, Shankh-Pushp, blue pea, butterfly pea, pigeon wings are the common names for this beautiful blue flower which is scientifically known as Clitoria Ternatea 

        Its scientific name 'Clitoria Ternatea' is due to the resemblance of its shape to the human female genital. It may be a reason that its roots are used as a charm for women in villages of south India, Pregnant women wear the roots of 'Aparajita' in their arms or waist as a charm and think that it will help them to deliver normally. The flower and its roots are being used as "Ayurvedic" medicine since time unknown. Its effect as an antidepressant, anticonvulsant and antistress has been proven in testing on animals.

 A 'Puja' flower 

'Aparajita' means 'unbeatable' or 'undefeatable' in Hindi, and 'Shankh-pushp' means - a flower that resembles a conch shell. This blue flower is offered to Goddess 'Durga', 'Kali' and her different 'roop'. Goddess loves this flower. It remains available during "Durga Puja"This flower is also offered to God Shiva. It is even more fruitful to offer this flower to "Mahadeo" with the recitation of the mantra - 

" ह्रीं ॐ नमः शिवाय "

It pacifies the bad effects of "Shani Gruh". Both Shiva and Shakti like this flower so bring the "Ardhanarishwar" in your "Dhyana" and offer it on the "Shivalinga".

A flowering vine of Aparajita, Shankhpushp, blue pea,
 butterfly pea or pigeon wings on a rooftop garden

   The plant of 'Aparajita' flower is a climber or vine. If it gets regular moisture in the soil near its roots then lots of flowers will come upon the vine. So it can be easily grown in the backyard, rooftop garden or balcony but some people avoid growing it in the balcony. Since it is a plant of pea family so it is propagated through seeds. Five to six seeds come out of a pod. Like pea  (a legume) its roots help in nitrogen fixation in soil. 

   Generally, other flowers we see around are white, orange, red, yellow and their different shades but blue flowers are uncommon. That is why it is also used as an ornamental plant. 

Multi-layered variety of Aparajita/Shankh Pushp flowers
The Clitoria Ternatea

         It is also found in a light blue color. It is sometimes also found in white color that is rare. It has a single layer of petal but a multi-layered petals variety is also found at some places. Here is a picture of a multi-layered petals variety of blue Aprajita flowers.

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Other uses

  The flower and seeds are edible. Its flowers are used to color rice or other food in southeast Asia. In China, it is traditionally used to treat ailments like gonorrhea and unusual menstrual discharge. They also use it as an aphrodisiac. In India, it is used as an "Ayurvedic" medicine to treat many ailments.

      The tea of its flower is available on Amazon as - Blue Tea

      

Dhatura flowers and fruits (धतूरा) .. The Datura !

Blooming Dhatura flowers

Only God Shiva is offered this flower of Dhatura (धतूरा)!

Dhatura is known by the name of Datura, Angel's trumpet, thorn apple or moon-flower. It is found all over the world in tropical and temperate zone. Its trumpet like look is very attractive. It grows and flowers in the rainy season which contains the Hindu month of "Sawan". "Sawan" is the holy month in which Shiva is specially worshiped. Availability of Dhatura flowers and fruits in this month makes Shiva devotees happy. Both flowers and fruits are offered to Shiva. Though both Dhatura flowers and fruits are toxic, Shiva accepts them because he can tolerate them. As you know He had taken the most toxic poison (विष) named "Halahal" which came out of ocean when it was churned by gods and devils. This story of Hindu mythology says that Shiva took that poison to save the world and kept it in his throat. It made his throat blue. So He is also called "Neel-Kanth" meaning blue throat. Dhatura fruits which have thorns on it contain numerous toxic seeds. These seeds when consumed even in small quantities may produce symptoms of hallucination to madness. A bit more taken may result in death.

A bunch of double layered Dhatura flowers in the flower basket for worship

 Why God Shiva is offered toxic things like this

 In general when something is offered to gods, it is taken by devotees as "Prasada" after worship. But in the case of Shiva-worship if something is offered to Shiva putting it on the Shiva-linga, the eatables like fruits and sweets are not consumed by devotees as "prasada". So offerings of toxic things like 'bhaang', 'dhatura', 'aak' etc has a symbolic meaning that we should never consume such things and these are to be offered to Shiva only for the grater purpose of welfare of world.
In towns the flowers and fruits of Dhatura is in great demand in the month of "Sawana". Poor boys of nearby villages collect them and sell near temples at a good price. So by the grace of Shiva they earn some money.

Dhatura bud and flower just few hours before bloom

How can "Dhatura" be identified

Dhatura/Datura has many varieties all over the world. There are some other close relatives of this plant. But the Dhatura used for worship in India is a plant of herb category growing up to a height of about two meters. Flowers are white with blue tint. Generally the they have simple trumpet like structure. But some varieties have double layers of petals as if one trumpet is inserted in other. They flower erect and do not droop or hang. There are some other relatives of this plant which are bigger in size like a shrub and its flowers hang like a bell. But these are bell-flowers, not 'Dhatura'. So not used in worship. The thorny fruit called thorn apple is another thing from which it can be identified. 

Double layered Dhatura
flower that looks as if
one flower is inserted
into other

It is a hardy plant

It flourishes in warm and humid areas and easily can be seen as a healthy plant with big flowers. But it can even grow in water deficient areas changing its look drastically. Small thin plant with smaller flowers. Many times botanists have got confused thinking these two as different varieties. But later they found these as same. It is a hardy plant but can not withstand very cold and frosty weather. It even can not survive in water logged conditioned.

Uses of 'Dhatura"

In India "Dhatura" flowers and fruits are mainly used in worship of Shiva. Sometimes its toxic seeds are used in very small quantities as medicine in 'Ayurveda'. In other parts of world and mostly in tribal community its seeds and roots are used in rituals of ghost calling. 

  Multi-layered Dhatura    

Triple layered "Dhatura" flower

Today on 16/09/2015 on the occasion of "Teej" festival our worship-flower supplier boy gave a bunch of "Dhatura" flowers, most of which had double layered petals. But a few of them had three layers. Remarkable difference between double layered and triple layered flowers is that while in the double layered flower half of the inner round of petals is protruded outward (as is clear from the picture above) but in the triple layered all the three layers of petals are almost at the same level. It makes triple layered flower bigger and denser. It has more shade of blue over white. I am giving a picture of this multi-layered "Dhatura" flower.