ॐ Hindu Of Universe ॐ
“God’s light is within you, It never leaves you.”
Parijatha flower and the Sun god
Parijatha tree is a heavenly tree in Hindu mythology.
It is said to grow in Lord Indra’s garden in his capital city Amaravathi.
Lord Krishna brought a Parijatha sapling from Indra’s garden, and planted in his wife Sathyabhama’s courtyard, to please her.
But, when it bloomed, all the flowers fell into Devi Ruckmini’s courtyard, for she is more beloved to Lord Krishna! Also that, her love towards Him was so pure!
But, there is an interesting folk lore about this Parijatha tree.
Once, there lived a beautiful princess named Parijatha. She fell in love with the Sun-god.
Though, the Sun-god explained to her that he can not marry her, for his heat would burn her away, she wouldn’t listen.
As feared by every one, upon his touch, she was burnt into ashes, and immediately, a tree grew upon the ashes! That tree is known to be called as the Parijatha tree.
Every night the tree blooms fragrant flowers and shed them like tear drops before the Sun rises!
The fragrant myth of Parijat
Our special garland for #3 With Nature was devised by Tanya Dutt, who swapped an Indian summer for a bone-chilling Melbourne winter to help produce this issue.
To honour the contributors to the issue present at the Cairns Indigenous Art Fair, she made this garland fashioned from pages of a book about Australian craft, which tells the story of the tragic love of Parijat—the night jasmine.
There are many stories and references in the Puranas and the Mahabharat to the Parijat tree.
Known as the Night Jasmine and even Queen of the night, it has several beneficial properties for the mind and body.
It is said that it was one of the sacred treasures and among the five divine trees that came out from the milking of the universe and that the Gods, kept this flower for themselves in Indra’s garden.
But karma and justice plays out even on Gods and therefore, just as it was meant to be, Parijat is now shared by all.
Parijat is also known in India as Harsingar, or the ornament of The Gods.
It is therefore the only flower that can be offered to the Gods after picking it up from the ground.
The flower is said to also help one remember one’s past lives and incarnations. In this reference there is a story from ancient texts.
Princess Parijat was said to be a very beautiful yet sensitive princess who fell in love with Surya, the Sun God as he rode his fiery chariot from the east to the west in the sky.
Her father and others had warned her that loving a divine being is not advisable for earth bound humans, most especially Surya, the Sun God whose power is supremely intense.
However, Parijat cannot be persuaded otherwise and is devoted to Surya with all her heart.
Surya is swayed to leave the heavens and come down to Earth to be with Parijat for a while, but soon grows tired of Earth and longs to return to his heavenly abode.
Come summer, Surya’s power becomes so intense that he must leave for the heavens and when Parijat tries to follow him she is burned.
Surya turned to the Gods for help.
The Gods knew Parijat had loved Surya with all her heart, so they granted her another life and she is reincarnated as a tree.
From her ashes arose a single tree with the purest of white flowers and with blazing orange hearts.
A symbol that Surya always remained in her heart – the Sun God now visits her during the night and the flowers are so fragrant because they have been kissed by Surya.
They, however, still can’t bear the rays of the sun and at the first stroke of dawn, at the sight of the rays – they shed
Come summer, Surya’s power becomes so intense that he must leave for the heavens and when Parijat tries to follow him she is burned. Surya turned to the Gods for help.
The Gods knew Parijat had loved Surya with all her heart, so they granted her another life and she is reincarnated as a tree.
From her ashes arose a single tree with the purest of white flowers and with blazing orange hearts.
A symbol that Surya always remained in her heart—the Sun God now visits her during the night and the flowers are so fragrant because they have been kissed by Surya.
They, however, still can’t bear the rays of the sun and at the first stroke of dawn, at the sight of the rays.
They shed like tears of pain, spreading their sweetest fragrance, reminding us of the lingering love that Parijat pledges to the Sun even after she has died.
PARIJAT THE GRAND SYMBOL OF INDIAN MYTHOLOGY
The Parijat tree is considered to be a divine tree which blooms occasionally (usually after Ganga Dusshera) with flowers that are white on blooming and turn yellow on drying.
The tree is unique in more than one aspect.
It is a unisex tree which cannot be grown by plantation of its offshoots and it does not produce either its seeds or fruits.
The leaves of the tree in the lower portion have five tips like the fingers of our hand and the upper portion having seven.
The flower from the tree is referred to as the Parijat flower and the perimeter of the trunk of this tree is around 50 feet and its height is close to 45 feet.
The tree is believed to be more than 1000 years old.
In Botany, the Parijat tree is named as Adansonia digitata, due to its resemblance to the Adansonia class of trees.
This class has eight members with six being found in the African continent and the other two in the Arabian Peninsula and Australia respectively.
Trees of this class reach heights upto 100 ft and their trunk diameters range from 23 to 36 ft.
The other common name for Adansonia digitata is Baobab.
The Parijat tree is located in the Kintur village which is near Barabanki, a district about 30 km from the capital city of Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Kintur is about 38 km from Barabanki and was named after Kunti who was the mother of the Pandavas in the epic Mahabharata.
There are several temples around the place and the tree is located near one such temple that was established by Kunti.
There are a number of legends associated with this tree.
The common ones are listed below:
- It is believed by some that the tree originated from the ashes of Kunti.
- Some say that Arjun brought this tree from the heavens and Kunti used to offer its flowers to Lord Shiva.
- It is also said that Lord Krishna stole a branch of this tree from Indra’s kingdom and brought it to the earth.
The Parijat tree was planted in Indralok, being one of the many gifts from the Samudra Manthan.
Narada brought some flowers from the tree and gave them to Lord Krishna. Lord Krishna gifted the flowers to his wife Rukmini.
Narada told Satyabhama (Krishna’s other wife) about this and advised her to ask Krishna to get the Parijata tree from Indralok and plant it in her garden. Satyabhama did exactly that and in the meantime, Narada went back to Indralok and warned Indra that someone from the earth might attempt to steal the tree from Indralok.
An angry Indra confronted Krishna while he was leaving with a branch of the tree.
This led to a battle which Indra lost. However, he put forth a curse on the branch that it will never bear fruit even though it may produce flowers. Since then, the tree does not bear any fruit.
Once Krishna brought the tree to Dwarka, another conflict arose between his two wives, with both insisting to have the plant in their respective gardens.
So, Krishna planted the tree in such a manner that although it was planted in Satyabhama’s garden, its flowers would fall in Rukmini’s garden.
In this way, Rukmini got the flowers and Satyabhama got the tree.
- In the Harivansh Puraan, the tree is referred to as a “KALP-VRAKSH”, or wish bearing tree which apart from this one can only be found in heaven. Newly-weds visit the tree for blessings and a fair is held every Tuesday when people worship the tree.
- The tree stands tall as evidence of the strong cultural backdrop India has and being the only one of its kind also supports the Hindu mythology.
It has been the center of attention of botanists over the years and several efforts have been made to prevent it from dying.
In 2010, there was a committee formed by the Uttar Pradesh government to save the tree from attacks from moths and insects. A stamp of the tree has also been issued by the Indian Postal Department.
Being located in a remote village does not help its cause as it hinders the importance it deserves.
It would not be surprising to find that most of the people in the country may not be aware that a grand symbol of Hindu mythology exists in this remote village of Uttar Pradesh.
The site should be actively promoted and maintained by the concerned department of the Government of India.
It would be grossly inappropriate to leave it at the mercy of the state government and the village locals. We should not allow such symbols of our glorious past to fade away from our memories.
About Parijat Tree
Parijat tree is usually 10-15 feet tall and is also known as Coral Jasmine Tree.
Some people also refer it to as Kalpa Vriksh or Kalpa Taru– wish-granting tree.
During the Samudra Manthan in Satyug which took place between the Devas and the Asuras to obtain Amrit, the tree emerged as one of the many Ratnas.
It is interesting to note that the Parijat tree blooms at night and the flowers fall on the ground by themselves, making it the only flower that can be offered to the deities after picking them from the ground.
Medicinal properties of the tree
The Parijat tree has many medicinal properties and can be used as a home remedy for a number of diseases.
Its flowers are good for heart, its leaves are mixed with honey to cure cough and various skin diseases.
It is also used for the diagnosis of piles.
Mentions in the Hindu texts
As per Hindu mythology, Indra, the King of Devas, took Kalpa Taru or Parijat tree to Indraloka and planted it in his garden and gifted it to his wife, Indrani.
Since then, the tree is referred to as Tree of the Universe and its flowers are considered as the Jewels of Gods.
Some people are of the view that Lord Krishna brought the tree for his wives Rukmini and Satyabhama from heaven (Indraloka) to his kingdom in Dwaraka, while others believe that Arjun, the son Indra, brought the Parijat tree for his mother Kunti from heaven for performing Shiv Pooja.
It is also believed that Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, loves the flowers of Parijat and its tree is used to appease the Goddess.
It is important to note that only those flowers of the Parijat tree are used, which fall on the ground by themselves and plucking its flowers is prohibited.
As per Harivanshpuran, the tree erased fatigue of Urvashi, whenever she touched it.
Ancient beliefs
Another belief related to the Parijat tree is that there used to be a princess named ‘Parijat’, who fell in love with Lord Surya.
Despite all the efforts, Lord Surya did not accept Parijat’s love and Princess Parijat committed suicide.
The place where the tomb of Princess Parijat was built, the Parijat tree was born.
Parijata – The Flower From Heaven
Parijata (Nyctanthes arbor-tristis) is one is the most beautiful flowers on earth. It is also known as the night-flowering jasmine since blooms open by the night and falls off soon after.
Its Sanskrit name Rajanī-hāsa means “the one who forms the night’s smile.”
In India, Parijata is also known as Harsingar meaning “the ornament of The Gods.”
It is the only flower that can be offered to the Gods after being picked up from the ground.
WHO IS PARIJATA?
Parijata was a beautiful princess who was in love with Surya, the Sun God.
Parijata’s father and many others warned her that loving a divine being like Surya (whose power is highly intense ) was not advisable for earth-bound humans like them.
But Parijata was hell-bent on devoting her heart to Surya.
Initially, Surya did not pay heed to Parijata’s feelings but over time, Parijata’s devotion won Him over.
He was deeply in love with her, so much that He left the sky and came to Earth to spend some time with her.
However, Surya reluctantly left to His abode after spending a few seasons on Earth (since the Earth was not a conducive environment for Surya).
Parijata was heartbroken by this decision and decided to follow Surya . However, the intensity of His heat burnt her to ashes.
This put Surya in deep sorrow.
He decided to grant Parijata another life in the form of a tree that rose from her ashes.
This tree carried white flowers with blazing orange hearts – a symbol that Surya always remains in her heart.
It is said that Surya visits her every night and kisses her, thus, making the flowers fragrant.
However, Parijata still can’t bear the rays of the sun – the flowers shed at the sight of first rays at the crack of dawn.
The flowers shed like tears of pain reminding everyone of the unconditional love that Parijat has for Surya even after she has died.
The tree was said to be planted in Swarga (Heaven).
Another legend says that Parijata sprung as a divine flowering tree from the depths of the ocean during Samudra Manthan (Churning of the ocean of milk).
The tree bore white flowers, with the stalk having a tinge of orange.
Indra decided to keep this beautiful tree with an enchanting fragrance for himself and planted Parijata in his garden at Devaloka.
KRISHNA AND NARAKASUR
Naraka was the son of Bhoomidevi (the Earth), and Lord Varaha (Lord Vishnu in His 3rd Avatar from Dashavatar), hence he was also known as Bhauma.
Despite being noble-born, he turned evil over time and the name “Asur” was added to his name.
With his mighty power, he conquered 16,100 women and Indra’s paradise as well.
Indra approached Krishna for help stating that Naraka had claimed Indra’s throne, elephant, parasol and Indra’s mother Aditi’s earrings and that he had approached Krishna on Brahma’s direction.
Shyam decided to help Indra and headed with his mighty weapons and summoned Garuda to take Him to the kingdom of Pragjyotisha.
Satyabhama, Krishna’s wife, longed to see Her husband in battle and so decided to accompany Krishna.
Naraka was the son of Bhoomidevi (the Earth), and Lord Varaha (Lord Vishnu in His 3rd Avatar from Dashavatar), hence he was also known as Bhauma.
Despite being noble-born, he turned evil over time and the name “Asur” was added to his name.
With his mighty power, he conquered 16,100 women and Indra’s paradise as well.
Indra approached Krishna for help stating that Naraka had claimed Indra’s throne, elephant, parasol and Indra’s mother Aditi’s earrings and that he had approached Krishna on Brahma’s direction.
Shyam decided to help Indra and headed with his mighty weapons and summoned Garuda to take Him to the kingdom of Pragjyotisha.
Satyabhama, Krishna’s wife, longed to see Her husband in battle and so decided to accompany Krishna.
On reaching the fortified city of Pragjyotisha, Krishna challenged Narakasur for a duel.
The battle was magnificent and furious, so much that Indra became anxious and worried if Krishna could succeed.
No matter what Krishna tried, Narakasur was undefeated.
Then, one of Naraka’s spears accidentally struck Satyabhama instead of Krishna.
All hurt, she took the same weapon and attacked Naraka. It pierced his heart, eventually killing him.
It later dawned upon all that Naraka was destined to die at the hands of his mother; Satyabhama was the reincarnation of Bhoomidevi, hence, the prophecy was fulfilled.
KRISHNA AND INDRA
The victory of good over Narakasur was celebrated with great pomp and show.
Satyabhama noticed that Indra had not offered any token of appreciation in exchange for Her husband’s gesture.
She wanted to demonstrate Indra’s attachment to wealth and so asked Her husband to ask Parijata Tree growing in Nandaka (Indra’s favourite garden) as a gift.
Indra was not willing to part with Parijata Tree and this made Krishna realize Indra’s ingratitude.
Had Krishna not helped him, Indra might have lost everything that meant dear to him including Parijata.
Krishna went and uprooted Parijata tree, mounted Garuda along with Satyabhama and decided to plant it on earth at Satyabhama’s garden.
Indra pursued them on his elephant to get Parijata back.
In the subsequent fight that ensued between them, Krishna vanquished Indra, and Krishna and Satyabhama revealed that their intention was to teach a lesson and not to humiliate the Lord of the Celestials.
Indra realized his mistake and offered Parijata, thus making it not only a gift but also a symbol of Krishna’s victory over Indra.
PARIJATA AND KRISHNA’S WIVES
Krishna requested Satyabhama to share the Parijata tree with His other consort, Rukmini, as well.
Satyabhama reluctantly agreed, as She resented sharing Her husband’s gifts with any of His other wives, especially Rukmini. Rukmini and Satyabhama were opposites of each other in many ways.
Satyabhama planted Parijata in Rukmini’s garden such that the its branches hung over Her own garden.
This simply meant that while Rukmini had to labour over Parijata’s maintenance, Satyabhama would enjoy the beauty of Parijata while fulfilling Her husband’s request. Krishna recognized Satyabhama’s mischief.
To teach Her a lesson, He declared that Parijata would bloom only when He was with Rukmini.
This meant that everytime Satyabhama found Parijata in full bloom, she would know that Krishna was in Rukmini’s company.
From that moment onwards, Satyabhama felt jealous and no longer rejoiced over the beauty of Parijata.
This myth throws light on why Parijata’s flowers mostly fall in the neighbor’s garden.
Another legend says that Narada had once brought a flower of Parijata tree to Dwaraka and presented it to Krishna, waiting to see to as to whom Krishna would offer the flower to.
Krishna gave the flower to Rukmini upon which Narada went to Satyabhama, Krishna’s other consort, portrayed that he was sad because Krishna had given Rukimi the Parijata flower that he had brought hoping that krishna would give to His favourite wife.
Satyabhama, all jealous, asked Narada on what could be done.
Narada adviced her to ask Krishna to bring the Parijata tree itself to Dwaraka and plant it in her garden.
After giving this advice Narada went back to the celestial world, and informed Indra that thieves were about to rob Parijata and that the tree must be guarded with utmost care.
On Satyabhama’s request, Krishna tried to console Her, but she replied that she would not be satisfied with anything less than the Parijata tree itself.
Krishna took her to Indra’s garden, uprooted Parijata, mounted on Garuda, and escaped with the tree.
But Indra, warned by Narada, pursued them, fought a fierce battle and was defeated by Krishna, who took the tree to Dwaraka.
Krishna wanted to fulfill Satyabhama’s promise without offending Rukmini, so He planted the tree in such a position that while its roots and trunk lay within Satyabhama’s garden,
its branches extended over the adjoining palace of Rukmini, covering it with flowers each morning.
Parijata
Introduction
Parijata is a divine flower revered in India.
The botanical name of Parijata is Nyctanthes arbor-trestis.
Nyctanthes means a flower which blooms in the night and arbor-trestis means a “sad tree”.
Thus it is also known as the “tree of sorrow”, as the flowers bloom in the late evening and wither with the first rays of sun falling on them at dawn.
The tree looks sad in the morning.
Parijata is the State flower of West Bengal.
It belongs to the family of Oleaceae. It is known as Prajakta/Prajakt Nishipushpika or Mandara in Sanskrit.
The other names of the flower are: Singgarei in Manipuri, Sewali (pronounced as Xewali) in Assamese, Shefali Or Shiuli in Bengali, Shephalika, Parijata, Parijataka, Ragapushpi, Kharapatraka, Nalakumkumaka, Harsingarapushpak in Hindi, meaning the ornament of Lord Hari,
Suklangi,
Rajanihasa,
Malika,
Aparajitha,
Vijaya,
Nisahasa,
Praharshini,
Pravalanalika,
Vathari,
Bhoothakeshi, Seetamanjari,
Subaha,
Ganga Shiuli in Oriya,
Paarijaatham or Pagadamalle in Telegu, Paarijaata or Goli in Kannda, Paarijaat or Paarijatak in Marathi,
Pavazha malli (also spelled as Pavazha malli or Pavala malli) and Pavizha malli in Malayalam,
Coral Jasmine or the Night Flowering Jasmine in English.
Parijata is the State flower of West Bengal.
Description of the tree
Parijata is a deciduous shrub or a small tree that grows to a height of 10 mts.
The leaves are opposite, and grow up to 6-12 cm in length. Its aromatic flowers consist of five to eight lobed white petals with an orange red pin-wheeled stalk in the centre.
The flowers bloom in clusters of two to seven together.
Flowering season is from June- December. The tree is mostly found in the premises of temples.
The flowers which bloom in the evening emanate a refreshing fragrance.
The fruit is flat brown in colour.
It is heart shaped or nearly round and has two sections with a single seed in each section.
The tree is propagated through seeds or by cuttings.
The tree is a native of South Asia and South East Asia.
Parijata is grown in the Himalayan region, Jammu & Kashmir, East Assam, Bengal, Tripura extended up to the central region of Godavari in the South.
The tree is also found in Thailand, Indonesia, Nepal, and Pakistan.
Puranic Reference:
According to Bhagavad Purana, the tree emerged during the Samudra Manthana or the Churning of the Ocean.
During the churning of the Ocean, many objects emerged from the ocean and one among them was the Parijata or the Mandara tree.
Lord Indra took the tree and planted it in Deva loka. Sage Narada brought some flowers from Indra Loka and gave it to Lord Krishna.
Sri Krishna gave the flowers to his beloved wife Rukmini. On seeing this, Sage Narada, told Satyabhama about the flowers being given to Rukmini.
Having aroused enough jealousy in Satyabhama about Rukmini, Sage Narada offered a solution to her problem.
He told Satyabhama to urge Sri Krishna to get the Parijata tree from the Indraloka and plant it in her courtyard, instead of few flowers.
When Sri Krishna entered Satyabhama’s palace, she expressed her displeasure about the entire incident and insisted that He get the plant from Indraloka.
Meanwhile, Sage Narada warned Lord Indra that Sri Krishna would come to take the celestial Parijata plant from Indraloka.
When Sri Krishna and Satyabhama were about to leave Indraloka after taking a branch of the tree, a fight ensued between Sri Krishna and Indra,as Lord Indra did not want to part with the Parijata tree.
Indra lost the battle and had to give away the Parijata plant to Sri Krishna. However, he cursed the plant saying that it would not bear fruits.
Thus the Parijata tree never bears fruits.
Having brought the tree from Indraloka, Rukmini was enchanted with the fragrance of the flower.
Sri Krishna, with the objective of pleasing both His consorts, planted the tree in such a way that the flowers would fall in the courtyard of Rukmini, though the tree was planted in Satyabhama’s courtyard.
Thus Sri Krishna fulfilled the wishes of both Satyabhama and Rukmini. Satyabhama wanted the tree, so the tree was planted in her courtyard, and Rukmini wanted the flowers, so the flowers fell in her courtyard.
A Parijata tree located at Kitnur district, in Barabanki district of Uttar Pradesh belongs to the Mahabharata period.
Another reference is that once queen Parijataka wanted to marry the Sun god- Lord Surya.
But when the Sun god rejected her love, the queen committed suicide and a tree sprung from her ashes.
The tree came to be called as Parijata or Parijataka.
Unable to bear the sight of her lover- the Sun god, the tree flowers only during the night and sheds, the flowers (as tear drops) with the first rays of the sun falling on the flowers.
Ayurvedic Uses
Parijata, the divine tree has immense medicinal properties. Its leaves, flowers, seeds and bark are used in various ayurvedic preparations.
The flower is known as Kalpavriksha as it is used as a panacea for several ailments.
Extracts of the seeds, flowers and leaves possesses immunostimulant, hepatoprotective antiviral and anti fungal activities in vitro.
Flowers
The flowers contain essential oils, nyctanthin, D-mannitol, tannins, glucose, carotenoids, glycosides including β-monogentiobioside ester of α-crocetin (or crocin-3), β-monogentiobioside-β-D monoglucoside ester of α-crocetin, and β-digentiobioside ester of α-crocetin (or crocin-1).
Flowers are diuretic, anti bilious, anti oxidant, anti inflammatory, sedative and anti filarial in nature.
The flowers are used as a face pack which makes the skin glow.
Flowers are used to treat piles, constipation, fevers, rheumatism, Jaundice, Sciatica, dry cough, ring worm, intestinal problems and for all women related ailments.
Flowers are effective in the treatment of lies and dandruff.
Flowers are used in preventing the excessive secretion of Bile by liver.
It is effective in toning the stomach, prevents gas formation and cures cough.
A soup made out of the flowers taken early in the morning acts as an energiser.
Dried flowers are used as components of a recipe in Assamese food.
Bark: The bark contains glycosides and alkaloids. Bark is used to treat swelling of lungs.
The oil extracted from the bark is used to treat eye pain and as a hair tonic.
Stem: The stem contains the glycoside naringenin -4’-0-β- glucapyranosyl-a-xylopyranoside and β-sitosterol.
The stem is effective in the treatment of malaria and rheumatic joint pain.
A decoction of the stem boiled in water along with ginger and long pepper, taken twice a day is used to treat malaria.
Flower oil: The flower oil contains a-pinene, p-cymene, 1-hexanol, methylheptanone, phenyl acetaldehyde and 1-decenol andanisaldehyde.
Seeds: seeds have antibacterial, antifungal, immunomodulatory and antileishmanial properties.
Leaves: Leaves contain D- mannitol, β-sitosterol, flavanol glycosides, astragalin, nicotiflorin, oleanolic acid, nyctanthic acid, tannic acid, ascorbic acid, methyl salicylate, an amorphous glycoside, an amorphous resin, trace of volatile oil, carotene, lupeol, mannitol, glucose, fructose, iridoid, glycosides and benzonic acid.
Leaves are used in Ayurvedic and homeopathic medicine for sciatica, arthritis, fevers and for several painful conditions.
Leaves are used as laxative too.
The leaves have anti arthritic properties.
It is effective in the treatment of all types of inflammation and fever including malaria, intermittent fever, common cough and cold.
The juice of the leaves which tastes saline and bitter, mixed with sugar is used an antidote to treat various stomach ailments in children.
The decoction of the leaves possess properties that protect the liver, anti-viral, anti-fungal, analgesic, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory antispasmodic, hypotensive and respiratory stimulant activities.
Juice of the leaves mixed with honey is effective in the treatment of chronic fever and cough. The juice acts as an appetiser and provides a soothing effect in the stomach.
A decoction of the leaves boiled in water is effective in treating joint pains, swelling and Sciatica.
A paste of the leaves when applied on skin cures ring worm associated skin ailments.
Seeds
The seeds contain arbortristosides-A and B, glycerides of linoleic, oleic, lignoceric, stearic, palmitic, and myristic acids; nyctanthic acid; 3,4- secotriterpene acid, and a water soluble polysaccharide composed of D- glucose and D- mannose. Seeds have antibacterial, antifungal, immunomodulatory and anti- leishmanial properties. Seeds are effective in the treatment of constipation and skin ailments.
Other uses The leaves are used for polishing wood and ivory.
Significance
Parijata flowers signify the arrival of the Durga Puja.
In the ancient days, the robes of the monks were dyed using the orange of the Parijata flower.
The flower which withers on the ground is collected and the orange stalk is separated from the white petals.
These stalks are then dried and were used as a dye for the clothes.
The white petals of the flower signify purity, while the orange colour in the centre symbolises fire, Agni, which destroys the worldly pleasures and makes one concentrate on the higher Self.
The orange colour robes used by monks signify the renunciation of worldly pleasures.
Parijata flower is the only flower which can be offered to the Lord though it falls on the ground.
The scent of the flower is used in making incense sticks and attar.
In Assam, the flowers are used in cuisine, as they are rich in medicinal properties.
The wood of the Parijata tree is considered sacred and is offered in Homa/ Havan.
Parijata Tree – The Story of How the tree of Heaven Reached Earth
As per Hindu Tradition, Parijata Tree appeared during the Samudra Manthan or Churning of Ocean.
The tree was carried to heaven by Indra.
It was Sri Krishna who brought the tree from heaven to earth.
There are a couple of popular legends associated with Parijata was brought to earth.
The most famous and widely accepted story is that of Sri Krishna bringing it to earth.
After defeating Narakasura, Sri Krishna and his wife, Sathyabhama, went to heaven to return umbrella and earrings of Aditi, the mother of Indra.
Narakasura had forcefully taken them away.
While returning, Sathyabama asked Sri Krishna for a Parijata Tree to be planted in her garden.
Sri Krishna immediately uprooted a Parijata Tree and carried it to Dwarka.
The act of uprooting the divine tree angered Indra. Blinded by anger and ego, Indra stopped Sri Krishna.
A war ensued and the foolish Devas and their King Indra was easily overpowered by Sri Krishna.
When Parijata Tree was brought to Dwarka, Rukmini, another wife of Sri Krishna, wanted the flowers of it.
To avoid a domestic strife, Sri Krishna thought of a plan.
Sri Krishna planted the tree in such a way that the tree was in the garden of Satyabhama and the flowers from it fell in the garden of Rukmini
The Story of Parijata
We see millions of dazzling flowers in our life.
We recognise them by their colour, their fragrance and their appearance.
But do we know the deep meaning behind them?
Do we know what exactly the flower symbolises..?
- Hindu Mythology
Mythologies make us see the world from a different perspective.
From a different point of view. A rather interesting one .
Mythologies make us see a simple flying bird from a different frame of reference.
Similarly, in the Hindu mythology many flowers and many objects which we see in our daily lives have a greater meaning to it.
One of them is the Parijata flower.
- The Story
Once upon a time, there lived a princess named Parijaat. She was exquisitely beautiful and delicate.
It is believed that she saw the Sun God( Surya Dev) riding in his chariot from east to west and immediately fell in love with him.
Many warned her that the relationship of a God and a materialistic person is not possible, but she was blinded and completely devoted to the Sun God.
Even the Sun God was swayed by her devotion and had to descend on the earth to stay with Parijaat for a while.
Soon, the summer season arrived.
With time, the Sun God’ s energy intensified due to staying on earth and yearned to go back to the heaven.
When he stood up in his chariot, to return to heaven, Parijaat tried to follow him.
The Sun God’s energy was excessive to its most at that time, and Parijaat being a human, burned due to such a force of energy.
The Sun God stood helpless and asked help from the other gods.
The Gods, seeing the love of Surya and Parijaat, gave princess Parijaat another life. Hence, she embodiments as a tree of Parijata
In her next life.
The Parijata flower was of the purest shade of white,with the bright orange delicate stem like structure.
The Parijata flower embellished the love of Parijaat and Surya.
But even as a plant,it was affected by the Sunrays.
It cannot even stand the first stroke of the Sun and therefore sheds, symbolising the story of Princess Parijaat and Surya.
The shedding releases a heavenly scent of the flowers.
It has the sweetest scent, because it was believed to be kissed by the Sun God himself.
Parijata became one of the purest flowers.
One of the five divine flowers in heaven. Later, during the time of Samudra Manthana,the gods found a Parijata flower, deep in the milk ocean.
Indra declared to have it for himself in his own empire, the gods finally agreed after a lot of thinking.
According to them, if Indra did not get the flower, either he would bring droughts in every land or flood every region heavily.
Indra’s wife Indrani(Sachi) cherished the flower like her own child with love and affection.
After many years, Narada once visited Krsna and offered him a Parijata flower.
He wanted to see who would Krsna give the flower , amongst his wives. Krsna gave the Parijata flower to his first wife, Rukmini.
Narada immediately goes to Satyabhama, the second wife of Krsna with a grieved face.
Upon Satyabhama asking what the problem was, Narada said about the Parijata flower.
Now, Satyabhama ,being a human became furious with jealousy.
When Krsna arrived and asked the reason about her anger, she demanded Krsna to give her not the flower but the whole tree of Parijata.
Hence, Lord Krsna set out to the empire of Indra, who was believed to be residing in Amravati.
As Lord Krsna worked to root up the tree,the king of Gods, Indra arrived at the place.
In some scriptures, it is said that , Indra being intoxicated, challenged Krsna for a combat and was defeated in the most humiliating way,whereas in some scriptures, Indra, understanding that it was Lord Krsna who came to take the tree, allowed him to take the the Parijata.
In this way, the Parijata flower descends to the earth. Hence,it is still believed to be the flower which incarnated from heaven.
Not only this, but Parijata leaves also have many medicinal properties! Parijata leaves have the properties like,
- The leaves having an anti aging property and is often used by people
- Helps in the curing of fever, with being anti- malarial.
- Usually considered beneficial for dry cough.
- The leaves are meant to be good for diseases like Arthritis.
- It is also a natural laxative
Parijata leaves have so many more medicinal properties in the branch of Ayurveda.
The flowers? Well, as the flowers taste a bit bitter, it is used for ophthalmic disease. It is also said to be very useful for constipation in children.
And also for the various treatments like snakebites, antidotes, etc.
Many flowers have deep and philosophical meaning behind them. Which is why mythologies are read.
So that we know we should not repeat what happened in the Deut Sabha in Mahabharata. And what happens in the Trojan War.
Fact: Parijata flower is the only flower which can still be offered to the gods after falling to the ground.
Parijat (Nyctanthes arbor-tristis) is a night flowering jasmine that is native to only southern and south-eastern Asia.
It is a pretty unique tree in the sense it never fruits and its heavenly-fragrant flowers usually drop off as soon as the sun-rays strike them.
Parijat (also written as Pārijat) tree finds special mention in many Hindu scriptures such as the Bhāgavata Purāna, the Mahābhārata and the Vishnu Purāna.
This tree is often referred to as one of the Kalpavriksha or Kalpataru, the wish fulfilling trees of divine origin – a belief also common in Jain, Sikh and Buddhist traditions.
Birth of the Parijat
The legends say that Parijat tree emerged during the cosmic churning of the ocean (Samudra Manthan) and along with the divine cow, Kamadhenu reached the paradise of Indra, the king of Gods.
So, how did it land up on our Mother Earth? We find the answer in another story which is about Lord Krishna and his two wives, Rukmini and Satyabhama.
One day Devarishi Narada, the sage who frequently travelled between the deva-loka and prithvi-loka and also well-known for churning confusion and chaos, went to Sri Krishna’s palace in Dwarka and offered him a few Parijat flowers.
Krishna gave the flowers to Rukmini, his older queen, who was present there.
Not the one to be sitting quiet, the sage then visited the younger queen Satyabhama’s palace.
He told her about the heavenly parijat flowers which he had offered to Sri Krishna who then gave them to Queen Rukmini.
Envy and rage filled Satyabhama – as Narada suggested that perhaps Rukmini was Krishna’s special favourite.
As if to stoke the fire a bit more, he also planted an idea in Satyabhama’s mind that perhaps she should ask her husband to get her the tree itself so that every day she can have all the fragrant flowers for herself.
And informed her where the tree was to be found, in Indra-loka.
Satyabhama put her demand in front of Sri Krishna.
Not wanting any disharmony between the two queens, the Lord agreed to bring down the tree for Satyabhama.
In the meantime, Narada went to Indra Loka and told Lord Indra that some earthly mortals are bent upon stealing the Kalpavriksha.
One day, Sri Krishna under the pretext of roaming the garden of Indra-loka took a branch from Parijat tree and reached the earth.
When Indra came to know about this, he became very angry and cursed that the tree will never bear fruit and the flowers will not stay on the tree after sunrise.
But the story of Parijat and Lord Krishna doesn’t end here.
When Rukmini came to know that Sri Krishna has brought the parijat tree on the earth, she too wanted its flowers for her daily offerings to the Divine.
What a fix the husband must have been in! But he was Krishna after all – the Super Diplomat Dwarkadheesh! He planted the tree in Satyabhama’s garden in such a way that the most of the tree’s flowers fell in Rukmini’s garden.
Aspiration, a Psychic Fire Within
Such stories are deeply symbolic, often hiding many truths within, waiting to be revealed.
The Mother, through her psychic vision, saw Parijat as the flower that verily represents “aspiration”.
According to her, this veritable aspiration represents the pure and sacred flame of the psychic fire rising from the depths of consciousness.
Rukmini was the most devoted of Krishna’s wives and her wishes and aspirations were always laced with surrender and detachment.
Perhaps, that’s why she got the blooms to herself while the tree still remained in Satyabhama’s garden.
But there is another important truth in this story.
Parijat flower has been given the spiritual significance ‘Aspiration’ by the Mother.
Rukmini was an incarnation of Mata Lakshmi or Sri, with her abode in Vaikuntha.
And Satyabhama was an incarnation of Mother Earth, Bhu Devi.
By planting the parijat tree in Satyabhama’s garden – whose flowers symbolising aspiration will reach the heavenly feet of the Lord when offered by Sri Lakshmi – it is as if an aspiration was planted in the very heart of the earth-consciousness to aspire for a divine life!
10 Benefits of Parijat Tree
1. Medicinal properties: The Parijat tree has been used in traditional Ayurvedic medicine for centuries. The tree’s leaves, flowers, and bark are all used to treat various ailments such as fever, arthritis, rheumatism, and digestive disorders.
2. Anti-inflammatory: The Parijat tree has strong anti-inflammatory properties, which make it an effective natural remedy for inflammation-related conditions like arthritis.
3. Antioxidant: The tree’s leaves and flowers are rich in antioxidants that help protect the body from free radicals, reducing the risk of diseases like cancer and cardiovascular diseases.
4. Anti-microbial: Parijat tree extracts have been shown to have antimicrobial properties, which make them effective in treating various bacterial and fungal infections.
5. Digestive aid: The Parijat tree is an excellent digestive aid, thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties. It helps soothe the digestive tract and relieve conditions like bloating and constipation.
6. Skincare: The Parijat tree has been used for centuries in traditional Indian medicine to treat skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis. Its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties make it effective in soothing irritated skin and promoting healing.
7. Immune booster: The Parijat tree is an excellent immune booster. Its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties help strengthen the body’s immune system, reducing the risk of infections and diseases.
8. Respiratory health: The tree’s leaves and flowers are used in traditional medicine to treat respiratory conditions like asthma, bronchitis, and cough. Its anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties help soothe the respiratory tract and reduce inflammation.
9. Stress relief: The Parijat tree has been shown to have calming properties, which make it an effective natural remedy for stress and anxiety.
10. Aromatherapy: The tree’s delicate, fragrant flowers make it an excellent choice for aromatherapy. Its calming scent can help reduce stress, and anxiety, and promote relaxation.
Know about Parijat Tree Flower
The Parijat tree flower is unique in its appearance, scent, and symbolism, making it a favorite of gardeners and flower enthusiasts around the world.
Appearance: The Parijat tree flower is small and delicate, with five to eight petals that are arranged in a star-like shape.
The petals are pure white in color, with a yellow center and long stamens that protrude from the flower.
The flowers bloom in clusters of two or three, and they have a unique texture that is both soft and velvety to the touch.
Scent: One of the most striking features of the Parijat tree flower is its sweet and intense fragrance.
The flowers emit a strong, fruity aroma that is reminiscent of orange blossom, with a hint of jasmine and gardenia.
The scent of the Parijat flower is most potent at night, making it a popular choice for evening gardens and fragrant pathways.
Symbolism: The Parijat tree flower holds great significance in Hindu mythology and Indian culture.
According to legend, the tree was a gift from the gods to the earth, and its flowers were given to the hero Arjun as a symbol of victory.
The flower is also associated with love and devotion, and it is believed to bring good luck and happiness to those who keep it in their homes.
Growing and Caring: The Parijat tree is relatively easy to grow and care for, making it a popular choice for gardens and landscapes.
The tree requires full sun and well-drained soil, and it should be watered regularly during the growing season.
It is also essential to fertilize the tree with a balanced fertilizer to encourage healthy growth and blooming.
Legend of the Parijat Tree: According to Hindu mythology, the Parijat tree originated during the Churning of the Ocean (Samudra Manthan) when the gods and demons were trying to obtain the elixir of immortality (Amrita).
The Parijat tree is said to have sprung from the celestial waters and was gifted to Lord Krishna by the gods.
The tree is associated with the tale of the love between Lord Krishna and Satyabhama, his queen.
Unique Characteristics of the Parijat Tree
The Parijat tree is a deciduous tree that grows up to 10 meters tall.
Its leaves are simple, green, and lance-shaped, and its flowers bloom at night, emitting a sweet fragrance.
The flowers are white and delicate with orange-red stalks, and they bloom for only a few hours before falling off the tree.
The tree’s fruit is a small, round capsule that contains five seeds.
Cultural Significance of the Parijat Tree
The Parijat tree holds a special place in Hindu culture and is often associated with love, sorrow, and death.
The tree is considered a symbol of hope, and its flowers are used in religious ceremonies and offerings to deities. In some regions of India, the tree is also used in traditional medicine and is believed to have the power to ward off evil spirits.
Threats to the Parijat Tree
Despite its cultural and medicinal significance, the Parijat tree is under threat due to deforestation, urbanization, and climate change.
The tree is now a protected species in India, and efforts are being made to conserve and propagate it.
The Parijat tree is a reminder of the delicate balance between nature and culture and the need to protect both.
In conclusion
The Parijat tree is a mystical and revered tree with a rich cultural and medicinal significance.
It is a symbol of hope, love, and the delicate balance between nature and culture.
It is our responsibility to protect and conserve this magnificent tree for future generations to enjoy.
Secret Parijat Plant Vastu Shastra Tips to Attract Positivity to your Home
Are you aware that plants are no longer just limited to home decor elements? With people being cautious about positive and negative energies at home, plants have also started holding significance in Vastu Shastra.
Like Feng Shui, which encourages growing plants in the living space, Vastu Shastra promotes the same thing to add positivity to your environment.
A plethora of tips has been given in Vastu Shastra to place plants and other things in the home in the right direction.
Though plenty of plants are considered Vastu-friendly, in this guide, we will focus on the Parijat plant.
Also known as Harsingar, the Parijat tree is beautiful, and planting it at home is considered very auspicious.
People generally use these plants for worship, but keeping the Parijat Tree at home Vastu is also highly recommended.
So, let us know in detail about the Parijat plant, its importance, the right direction to place it, care and maintenance, and much more.
Parijat Plant Vastu Shastra
Popularly known as ‘Raat Ki Rani’ or ‘Night Blooming Jasmine’ in English, the Parijat plant Vastu Shastra is an ornamental plant that boasts enormous medicinal and Vastu potential.
These attractive plants are commonly used in Homoeopathy and Ayurveda and are grown for foliage and floral charm.
The Parijat plant at home for Vastu bears small white flowers with orange pedicles that start blooming in late September and continue to bloom till December.
The plant’s flowers generally bloom in the late evening or night, spreading a strong fragrance nearby.
The uniqueness of this auspicious Vastu Shastra plant is that these plants are very dear to Goddess Laxmi and can truly transform your home into an adobe for her.
Yes, you read that right! With this quality, the Parijat plant Vastu shastra brings prosperity and happiness to your house and detaches Vastu defects, if any.
When placed in the right direction, these plants communicate positive energy and calm the mind with their sweet aroma.
Now, let us find out in which direction it is right to place the Parijat plant at home for Vastu!
Worried About Your Home Vastu – Have Vastu Consultant Advice for Your Home
Right Direction to Position Parijat Plant at Home
If you struggle to find the right direction to place the Parijat plant as per Vastu shastra at home, your search ends here.
The pointers below will help you know the most suitable direction for your Parijat plant at home.
- As per Vastu Shastra, the Harsingar plant must be positioned in the East or north of your house. By positioning the plant in this direction, the plant will eliminate all the negative energies from your house and bring peace, prosperity, and happiness.
- It is also appropriate to place the Parijat plant in the West or North-West direction of your house.
- Remember not to place Parijat plants in the south of your house because this direction is the direction of Yama- the God of Death.
- You can also place the Parijat plant home in Vastu near the temple or the courtyard. This will not only attract massive wealth but will also help you get rid of all your sins.
Once you are done positioning the Parijat plant in the right direction of your home, you must know what benefits it will offer.
So, let’s get an answer to this in the upcoming section.
Vastu Advantages of Including a Parijat Plant in Your Home Decor
Besides bringing prosperity and happiness to your living space, the Parijat plant is well known for offering multiple Vastu benefits that involve the following on top:
1. Parijat Plant Eradicates Negative Energy
As per Vastu Shastra’s belief, planting the Parijat plant in your house will surely eradicate the negative vibes from your home. The fragrance of this plant removes mental stress and calms the mind. Moreover, in the area where the Parijat plant is placed, there is a communication of positive vibes, and this is something that every homeowner looks forward to.
2. Invites Goddess Laxmi into the House
Goddess Lakshmi resides in every house that has got a Parijat plant planted. If you have positioned the plant in the right direction, nothing can stop you from attracting wealth, and you will never face any loss of money. But do you know why it is Maa Lakshmi’s favourite? Well, the plant was in the 11th out of 14th gems that came out during the churning of the ocean, and Maa Lakshmi also came out during the ocean churning. So, this made her love the Harsingar plant.
3. Provides Longevity to House Residents
It is believed that the houses where Rat ki Rani is planted grant a long life for all the residents. Also, the residents get freedom from most of the sins that might create hardships in the near future.
4. Placing it Near the Temple
Planting ‘Rat Ki Rani’ near the temple in your household has great significance because it will help you gain merit.
As per Vastu Shastra experts, the Harsingar plant was created during the churning of the ocean, and Indra kept it in the Swarg Vatika.
Correspondingly, you can bring this plant home and be free from all flaws.
Other Benefits of the Parijat Plant at Home
Apart from being advantageous in Vastu Shastra, the Parijat plant is also known for providing the following medical benefits:
1. The juice of the Parijat plant’s leaves can be used with honey to cure chronic fever.
2. The stem of this plant can be used to treat snake bites, bronchitis, and joint pain.
3. Flowers of the Parijat plant are used as a medicinal solution for respiratory and gastric complaints.
4. Parijat flowers are highly recommended for diabetic patients.
5. You can use Parijat plant leaves and flowers as immunostimulants.
6. The extract of Parijat flowers can be used to cure stomach pain.
7. Parijat Plant is believed to cure dry cough.
8. The plant can be used for treating Malaria.
9. Parijat seeds control dandruff and hair lice.
10. The Parijat plant leaves provide nourishment to the hair.
Care and Maintenance of Parijat Plants at Home Vastu
Tips for managing and maintaining the Parijat plants at your home expect you to take care of the following:
- Soil: Perfectly drained fertile soil is highly preferable for Parijat Plants and that too with high organic matter content. The soil’s pH level must range between 5.6 and 7.4 for healthy plant growth.
- Temperature: The ideal temperature for growing Parijat Plant Vastu Shastra at home is 20°C to 25°C. Note that these plants can not survive for a long period of time in low temperatures.
- Light: Harsingar plant requires no less than 6 hours of daily sunlight. You should consider growing these plants in open spaces.
- Water: Standing water in the pot is a big NO for Parijat plants at home Vastu. Therefore, proper water drainage must be provided. Also, watering these plants must be high in the summer and less during the winter. You should always water these plants with 200 ml of water when the top 1 or 2 inches of the soil feels dry.
With these tips, you can maintain the Parijat plants at your home for an extended period of time.
And this eventually means long-lasting prosperity in your home.
The Bottom Line
The Parijat tree is a very auspicious tree that is considered to be a symbol of prosperity, peace, and happiness.
As per Vastu Shastra, it is believed that having a Parijat tree in your home will bring bundles of goodness and wealth.
In short, it is a wonderful gift from nature and you must look forward to adding it to your house if you are a Vastu believer.
The Parijata Tree
The Parijata tree emerged as one of the divine valuables during Samudra Manthan (the churning of the ocean).
The celestial tree bore beautiful white flowers and had a divine fragrance.
This tree was placed in Indra’s heavenly abode. Read the story of how Indra and Krishna fought for its possession.
Aditi’s earrings
Narakasura was a vicious asura who took pleasure in terrorising the inhabitants of all three worlds.
He invaded heaven and drove Indra out of his abode.
The asura also snatched Aditi’s earrings during one of these attacks.
Indra approached Krishna for his help in defeating the evil asura.
Krishna, along with his wife Satyabhama, rode on Garuda to confront Narakasura in his capital Pragjyotisha.
After a fierce battle, he finally defeated Narakasura, with Satyabhama at his side.
Satyabhama’s disappointment
After killing Narakasura, Krishna and Satyabhama visited heaven to return Aditi’s earrings.
Indra welcomed them and thanked Krishna for killing Narakasura for him. Satyabhama, who had fought the asura with Krishna, felt slighted as she was ignored by Indra.
She was also affected by the fact that Indra’s wife Shachi, did not arrive with him to welcome her.
When Shachi arrived to take the couple to Aditi, Satyabhama noticed that both Shachi and Aditi ignored her contribution to Narakasura’s defeat and gave their full attention to Krishna.
Though disappointed, Satyabhama ignored the slight and prepared herself to return to Dwaraka with Krishna.
Visiting Nandana
Seated on Garuda, Krishna and Satyabhama started their journey to Dwaraka. On their way, they landed at Nandana, Indra’s garden, to spend some time there.
Satyabhama was impressed with the divine Parijata tree and decided to take the tree to Dwaraka.
Suddenly, one of the guards approached them and prohibited both Krishna and Satyabhama from taking the tree as it belonged to Shachi.
He added that taking the Parijata tree would infuriate Indra. Satyabhama was angry.
She announced that nothing could stop Krishna, the slayer of Narakasura, from taking the tree.
Terrified, the guard ran to Shachi, to report to Satyabhama.
Fight for the Parijata tree
Angered by Satyabhama’s words, Shachi asked Indra to stop them.
Indra marched to Nandana with his army.
When Krishna and Satyabhama noticed the arrival of
Indra with his army, they realised that he meant to fight them for the Parijata tree. Soon, a fight ensued between Krishna and Indra’s army.
Krishna cut down their arrows faster than they were shot.
Even Yama and Indra himself were no match for Krishna. Meanwhile, Garuda attacked Indra’s mount Airavata.
The run of the startled elephant caused chaos in the celestial army and the army began to flee. Indra himself was all set to flee, but Krishna asked him to stop.
Satyabhama said that since Indra was the Lord of the Celestials, he should not suffer humiliation.
She then added that she started this fight to teach a lesson to Shachi as she deliberately ignored her part in the battle with Narakasura.
Both Satyabhama and Krishna apologised to Indra and asked him to let the tree remain where it stood.
Indra also apologised to the couple for fighting.
He requested them to take Parijata to Dwaraka, as a symbol of their forgiveness.
Krishna and Satyabhama flew to Dwarka on Garuda, carrying the celestial tree with them.
‘Puja’ Flowers and other things used in ‘puja’ (Hindu Worship).
The sacred tree that came out of ‘Churning of Ocean”
This flower is favorite of Vishnu and Lakshmi and their avatars.
It is said to be a divine flower which tree used to be in the heaven.
It came out of the famous “Churning of ocean by gods and demons” according to the Hindu mythology.
Like most of other good things that came out of this event, this tree too was taken hold of by gods.
King of gods, Indra, brought it to heaven (Swarglok) where its lovely flowers spread beneath the tree to give pleasure to gods.
It was brought to earth by God Krishna on request of one of his queens, Satyabhama.
The story behind it is thus – Parijat / Harsingar Tree Once Narada Muni came to Dwarka where God Krishna ruled.
Narada was coming from heaven and he gifted some Parijat flowers to God Krishna that he had brought from there.
Krishna in turn gave these lovely and beautiful flowers to his beloved Patrani (Designated queen) Rukmini.
Narada gave this news to Krishna’s other queen Satyabhama.
She got jealous and asked Krishna to bring the Parijat tree to her so that she be one up to Rukmini.
Krishna explained her in many ways that it is not good to bring the tree from heaven but she would not accept it.
Finally he agreed and went to heaven to bring this tree but Indra was not ready to give it to Krishna.
They fought and Krishna defeated Indra.
He brought Parijat tree to earth and gave it to queen Satyabhama.
It is said that due the selfless devotion of queen Rukmini to Krishna, he would not let her down.
So he planted the tree in Satyabhama’s backyard in such away that she had only the tree as demanded but the flowers used to fall in Rukmini’s backyard.
The flower and its name
It is known by many names of which Hindi name Parijat (पारिजात) and similar sounding names are popular in south Indian languages.
There is another story about this name and making of its tree.
It says that there was a princess named Parijataka who wanted to marry God Sun but he was not interested in her.
Dejected she gave up her “prana” and died.
After her cremation she rose from her ashes in the form of a tree that was named after her as Parijat.
Since she was not able to see the Sun during the day who was her love, so the Parijat tree flowered at night and shed the flowers before the day as tears.
That is why it is also call a ‘tree of sorrow’ by the westerners.
The brightness of the flowers decrease as the day advances.
Other popular name in Hindi is Harsingar (हरसिंगार) which is derived from the word “Hari-Shringar (हरि-श्रृंगार)”.
Hari means God Vishnu or his avatars Ram and Krishna while Shringar means ‘to adorn’.
Since Hari likes this flower very much and adorn himself with it, hence the name.
In some Hindi dialects even Harsingar has been shortened to singar and pronounced as singhara flower सिंघारा फूल).
In Bengali it is Shefali and Shiuli while Assamese call it Sewali.
In English it is called Coral Jasmine or Night flowering Jasmine.
The Parijat flowers are white with orange-red center, small in size and orange stem. They flower in clusters.
Though in Hindu tradition the flowers dropped on the ground are not offered to gods, but these Parijat flowers are exception to this rule.
These are picked up from the ground to keep with other flowers of worship.
The ground around a Parijat tree is kept clean and where possible it is wiped with the cow-dung paste.
The Parijat flowers are offered to God Shiva too.
There is an example of Shiva worship with these flowers in Mahabharata.
There it is said that Pandava prince Arjuna brought this tree from Indra for his mother Kunti who used to offer its flower to Shiva.
As ‘Hari’ means Vishnu similarly ‘Har’ means Shiva.
From this point of view the ‘Har-singar’ may mean decoration of Shiva.
At some places the Parijat tree is also described as Kalpataru in Hindu mythology.
Kalpataru means a tree that fulfills wishes of a person who demands something under it.
But some other trees are also said to be Kalpataru, one of them is a variety of ‘Baobab’ tree.
Medicinal value of Parijat treeNearly all parts of the tree has medicinal qualities.
The leaves are well known to possess Antibacterial, Anthelmintic, Anti-inflammatory, Hepatoprotective, Immunopotential, Anti-pyretic, Antioxidant and Anti-fungal properties.
The flowers have Diuretic, Antioxidant, Anti-filarial and Sedative properties.
Similar medicinal values are found in its bark, seeds and stem.
Medicinal uses of various parts of Parijat plant
From leaves to the roots, the whole Parijat plant is very useful for various healing properties.
It is known to improve the function of insulin and reduce the symptoms of diabetes.
Thus, it can be included in your Diabetes Diet Plan.
Parijat leaves:
In Ayurveda, Parijat leaves has been used to treat a different kind of fevers, cough, arthritis, worm infestation, etc.
The leaves juice is bitter and works as a tonic. The kadha or decoction is excellent for arthritis, constipation, worm infestation.
Parijat flowers:
This small, aromatic, white flower works wonderfully for gastric complaints and respiratory complaints.
Parijat stem:
Parijat stem powder is very good to treat joint pain and malaria.
Health benefits of Parijat
Parijat is a wonderful plan in Ayurveda particularly known for its enormous health benefits.
Due to its broad-spectrum medicinal properties, it has become a matter of interest for research.
This antioxidant, medicinal plant has numerous health benefits from alleviating pain to reducing fever.
1 Treats various types of fever
Parijat is known as a great anti-pyretic.
It cures various nauseous types of fever including malaria, dengue, and chikungunya fevers.
Recent studies suggest that Parijat leaf and bark extract are very useful to ameliorate fever instantly.
It helps to increase platelet count in dengue and chikungunya fever.
It also inhibits bacterial / parasite growth that can cause fever.
How to use it – Take a one tsp of leaf extract and boil it with 2 cups of water, until it reduces to one cup. Also, you can mix 1 ml of olive oil with 2 drops of Parijat extract oil and rub on the soles.
It helps to reduce your body temperature.
2 Treat arthritic knee pain and sciatica
Arthritis and sciatica are the most painful conditions.
Parijat leaves and flowers possess anti-inflammatory properties and specific essential oils to makes them beneficial in the treatment of arthritic knee pain.
How to use it – Ayurveda doctors suggests that decoction of Parijat leaves are excellent for relieving arthritis and sciatica.
Also, add 5-6 drops of Parijat essential oil in coconut oil and apply it to the affected area to reduce pain.
3 Cures dry cough
Are you suffering from constant cough and irritation of the throat? A tea made from Parijat leaves and flowers is used to reduce cough, cold, and bronchitis.
Studies show that the ethanol extract of the Parijat plant is an excellent bronchodilator.
It also works beautifully in asthma.
How to use it – Take a few Parijat flowers and leaves with ginger and boil it in 2 cups of water for 5-7 minutes.
Steep the residue and drink it by adding honey in it.
4 Anti-allergic, antiviral, and antibacterial properties
Parijat oil works wonderfully as an anti-allergic, antiviral, and antibacterial.
It helps to inhibit germs like E. coli. , staph infection, and some fungal infection.
It can also be used to treat the various fungal infection of the skin.
5 Immunity booster
Parijat flowers and leaves act as immunostimulatory to boost immunity due to the presence of ethanol in it.
How to use it – Take 20-25 leaves and flowers of Parijat and grind it by adding 1 glass of water.
Boil the mixture and reduce it to half, then, filter the solution and divide it into three equal parts.
Consume each part in the morning, noon and evening, 1 hour before the meals & continue for 2 months.
6 Diabetes Control
One of the major health benefits of Parijat is to control high blood sugar levels.
Previous studies suggest that Parijat flower extract has a potent anti-diabetic effect.
7 Nourishment of hairs
A decoction of Parijat seeds clears and controls dandruff and hair lice.
Flowers of Parijat works as a hair tonic and are used to strengthen the hairs and prevent hair fall.
Parijat also helps to prevent greying of hairs and other scalp related problems.
8. For the treatment of Malaria
Studies have found that parijat leaves are very beneficial for the treatment of the symptoms of malaria. Parijat leaves alleviate malaria fever and helps reduce the parasite concentration in the body.
The leaves also reduce inflammation caused by malaria significantly.
Apart from the above benefits Parijat also works great in the following conditions:
Works as laxative
Best skin healing properties
Manages anxiety
Helps to relieve menstrual cramps
Prevent dental issues
Cures digestive problems such as hyperacidity, nausea, etc.
Get rid of worm infestation
How to Use
Parijat leaves and flowers can be used in a few different ways:
The easiest way to use Parijat is to make a tea or decoction using the leaves and flowers.
Oil extracted from the plant is also used for its healing properties.
There are capsules, powders and tablets of the Parijat plant that can be found in the market too.
Parijat tincture (an alcoholic extract) is also used for medicinal purposes.
Side Effects of Parijat
Parijat should be used cautiously and in moderation.
There can be a few side effects of Parijat that can be seen:
Parijat leaves have a bitter and sharp taste that can cause vomiting for first time consumers.
Continuous use of parijat leaves can cause gastric lesions as it contains methyl salicylate.
The leaves also contain tannic acid that can cause stomach irritation, nausea, and vomiting for some people.
Ingesting large amounts of Parijat leaves at once can cause nausea, stomach irritation, and diarrhoea due to the presence of glycoside in the leaves.
Disclaimer: The information included at this site is for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional.
Because of unique individual needs, the reader should consult their physician to determine the appropriateness of the information for the reader’s situation.