Shivalinga Flower - नाग-केसर पुष्प !

Shivalinga / Nagkeshar flower

                This flower is not so common and many devotees may not know about it. I too came to know about it a few years ago when I visited Lingaraja Temple at Bhubaneswar, Orissa. They call it "Shivaling" flower. The flower seller inside the temple asked me if I wanted this special flower which was selling at Rs 5/- a piece. "What was special about it" I asked. They told me that it resembles a "Shiva-linga" with a hooded snake over it. It was enough to make me curious. They showed me the flower and its parts then only could I believe it. Due to this shape it is considered a holy flower and loved by Shiva. It is offered to God Shiva only.  

             Shivalinga flower is known by different names in different regions of India. In Bengali it is known by "Nagkeshar", in Kannada by "Nagalinga", in Telugu "Nagamalli" and in Tamil by "Lingam". Its tree grows up to a height of about 30 m and bears big ball like fruits that are edible to animals. Commonly it is known as 'Cannonball Tree' in English. It flowers abundantly and looks beautiful when whole tree is covered in flowers that are scented. And due to this fact it is grown as ornamental tree in western countries where it has no religious importance.  "Couroupita Guianensis" is its botanical name. 

              It is believed that origin of this tree is in Latin America. From Guyana it was brought to Sri Lanka where Buddhists revere it believing it related to Buddha. 

               Its fruit and parts of the tree have some medicinal properties useful to treat high BP, pain, common cold, malaria and skin conditions. This tree is grown near Shiva temples in India.