Dear Sibdas da, Palmately compound leaf with five leaflet and also it's a tree , this can be seen from the stamp. I am hoping it to be *Aesculus flava.* Leaving this name nothing more is coming to my mind at this moment. Regards, Tanay On Wed, Mar 3, 2010 at 10:22 PM, sibdas ghosh <[email protected]> wrote:
> > > ---------- Forwarded message ---------- > From: Pradyot Bhanja <[email protected]> > Date: 3 March 2010 21:12 > Subject: PARIJAT TREE > To: Sibdas Ghosh <[email protected]> > > > শিব Forwarding a mail I received for the knowledge of our members. What > is this plant shown in the postal stamp labeled as Parijat? > PARIJAT TREE > *Stamp Issue Date* *:* 08/03/1997 > *Postage Stamp Denomination* *:* 5.00 & 6.00 > *Postal Stamp Serial Number* *:* 1705 > *Postal Stamp Name* *:* PARIJAT TREE (SE-TENANT) > *Stamp Currency* *:* P > *Stamp Type* *:* COMMEMORATIVE > *Stamp Language* *: *English > ------------------------------ > Plants of India: Parijata > > Parijata-The Wish-Granting Tree > by Christopher McMahon > > * *Part 1: Collecting Parijat* > > [নিচের* এইটা *শিউলী* সম্বন্ধেই লেখা হয়েছে সে বিষয়ে কোনও সন্দেহের অবকাশ নেই > ! ~ প্রদ্যোত।] > > This January(1998) we(Ramakant Harlalka and I) were on our morning walk in > the Matunga section of Mumbai. Along a busy thoroughfare we spotted a > beautiful parijat tree(Nycanthes arbortrisis) growing near an apartment > complex. As it was the sunrise hour, the delicate flowers were gently > falling to the ground and covering the pavement with elegant beauty. We > carefully collected a few of them and placing them in my palm I inhaled a > lovely bouquet that reminded one of the essense of orange flowers and > jasmine. It had a slightly sharper penetrating note but the overall effect > was soft and sweet. We decided to collect a small basket of them so we could > photograph them in the small studio we had set-up in the flat I was staying. > As we picked up one ethereal flower after another, I felt as if I was > joining hands with generation after generations of Indians who have > collected them for offering at home alters or in the numerous temples that > are to be found in countryside, town and city. In ancient Hindu literature > the parijatak tree appears as one of the first gifts to humankind hence its > sacred status. It was a simple, pleasurable activity that did not harm the > tree and gave us a lot of joy because we could come close to the plant and > appreciate a little more what a special role it played in the lives of the > Indian people. > > The tree we were collecting flowers from was located on a main street and > even at that early hour the constant flow of buses, trucks, scooters, and > cars with their accompanying noise had commenced. The enviroment in which > the tree was living was far from ideal both from the viewpoint of air and > sound pollution and the neglected soil in which it was growing yet it gave > of its fragrant essence for one and all to enjoy. Its concern was not for > caste, color or creed but only to serve the purpose for which it had been > created. Its scattered fragrant flower, for the most part, were neglected > and trod underfoot as the people rushed to their various jobs, unaware of > the refined beauty and aroma within easy reach of their hands. I found in > its example a very good lesson for my own life in that a person should > always strive to do good no matter how adverse the outer circumstances may > be. It is not an easy lesson to learn but one well worth considering as > through it nobility of character is built and inner peace is attained. > > The parijatak tree is known in Hindi as harsinghar and Bengali as shifali. > It bears the botanical name of Nycathus arbortristis. It is a hardy large > shrub or small tree sometimes reaching a height of 30 feet. Its bark is > green is grey to greenish-white in color and a bit rough in texture. It has > a thick branching structure with green oval-shaped leaves. Its 4 to 8 flower > petals are arranged about a vibrant orange tube in a pinwheel pattern. These > highly fragrant flowers open at night perfuming the surrounding area with an > intensely sweet floral aroma. The morning following the night bloom, the > flowers fall to the earth carpeting it with their fragile beauty. In the > ancient times sages and seers noted each intesting quality of individual > plants and in order to teach the people to closely observe their life cycles > they created beautiful stories > > ------------------------------ > http://www.whitelotusaromatics.com/fragrant/parijat2.html > ------------------------------ > > Plants of India: Parijata > > Parijata-The Wish-Granting Tree > by Christopher McMahon > > *Part 2: Stories of Parijata* > > With regards to the parijatak tree this story is often narrated in certain > communities. > > Once a royal princess fell in love with the sun god-Surya Dev. She was > enamored of his brilliance and beauty as he daily passed through the sky > from east to west in his fiery chariot. Her devotion attracted his attention > and for a while he favored her with his attention but after awhile he was > distracted with other interests and she was deserted. In despair she killed > herself and from her cremated ashes the parijatak tree arose. Since she was > rejected by Surya Dev, the flowers of the tree only bloom at night. Then > before the sun rises the flowers fall so its rays will not strike her. Based > on this story the tree was given the species name ëarbortristisí which means > ëtree of sorrowí. > > Another story surrounding the treesí origin is found in several ancient > Indian scriptures called the Puranas. It is said that when the celestial > beings, at the behest of Hari-the Preserver of the Universe, churned the > cosmic ocean to obtain certain boons that would help alleviate suffering and > protect the powers of good from the powers of evil one of the parijatak tree > appeared as one of the divine treasures. Its perfume was said to permeate > the entire universe. Because the tree holds such a elevated place in Indiaís > sacred lore, the tree is revered by devote Hindus. The story, on one level, > clearly illustrates that trees, flowers and fragrance represent some of the > finest boons for humankind. > > After the parijatak tree emerged from the ocean of existence it taken to > the heaven worlds and planted in the pleasure garden of Indra- the lord of > the gods. One day a great sage of ancient times named Narad Muni visited > this garden in his meditations visited this garden and saw this lovely tree > emitting its divine perfume. Using his yogic powers he gathered up some of > these ethereal blossoms and brought them back to the physical plane and gave > them to Rukmini, the favorite wife of the renowned avatar of Vishnu, Lord > Krishna, who was at that time dwelling in Dwaraka in north India. The > flowers were so lovely and the fragrance so delicate that Satyabhama another > wife of Lord Krishna became desirous of possessing that celestial tree and > having it planted in her own garden. She was jealous of the attention > Krishna was showing to Rukmini and wanted him to give more time to her. She > implored him to obtain the tree for her. To satisfy her desire he entered > into a state of deep meditation and in that state plucked up the tree from > the garden. Before leaving that place he was accosted by the keepers of the > garden and was told he would incur the wrath of Indra as the tree belonged > to his wife Sachi. But Satyabhama would not be put off by any obstacle and > said that the tree was the common property of all and had as much place on > earth as it had in the heavens. As a result Krishna waged a great war with > Indra and his celestial army. In the end Krishnaís strength prevailed and > Indra was forced to retreat. At that time Satyabhama taunted him as being a > coward but decided to give back his celestial tree. Krishna also consented > to return the tree to its celestial abode. But Indra said that there was no > shame in being defeated by the avatar of Vishnu and that the tree should be > taken to earth and planted in Dwarka where its fragrance could be enjoined > by all the people of the earth. Thus the first parijatak tree was planted > and its divine fragrance was said to spread for three furlongs. Its aroma > was charged with so much power that it would help people enhaling it to > remember events of their past lives. In this instance also we can see that > the sages were explaining to the people that fragrance was a valuable means > of accessing stored memories. In the East memory has a much more > comprehensive meaning than in the West as it can include past lives as it is > believed that the soul takes countless births on its journey to perfection > but the same basic principal is explained in this story as is encountered in > western literature regarding how fragrance stimulates memories of past > events in ones life. > > The above mentioned stories come down to us out of Indiaís rich cultural > and spiritual heritage and are charged with tremendous meaning. The key to > understanding can only be obtained by deep thought and contemplation and > even this process may not totally unlock their secret is much is lost in > translation or in change in the story over a period of time. Still, on a > very basic level we can say that sages were trying to create in the mindís > of the people a powerful remembrance of the plants that surrounded them so > that they would learn to observe them minutely and learn to love and > appreciate them. If a person could be encouraged to do this then they would > definitely learn that every created object had numerous qualities that could > prove beneficial in the form of foods, medicines, condiments, construction > materials, cosmetics, and the like. Knowing this a simple hearted person > would want to nourish, protect and propogate such plants so that their would > be a constant supply of its beneficial products for one and all to use. It > is in this way that a refined social consciousness was developed that did > not depend on any external agencies but rather on the individuals efforts to > keep the environment healthy and intact. > ------------------------------ > Parijata-The Wish-Granting Tree > by Christopher McMahon > > *Part 3: Cultural Significance of Parijata* > > The parijatak tree is native to India and in its natural habitat is found > growing up to an altitude of 1,500 meters. It adapts well to dry slopes and > rocky ground. Because of its fragrant flowers it is cultivated in gardens > throughout the country. Even when neglected it still produces fragrant > flowers in abundance. Its greatest enemy is standing water which causes the > roots to rot and die. If a little care is given to the plant in the form of > periodic deep waterings, well rotted compost, and judicious pruning it can > take on the form of a trully elegant specimen. Its flowering season is quite > long, extending from August to December in most regions. It is an excellent > selection for planting in semi-shady situations. > > Aside from its esteemed position in the home garden parijatak has sometimes > been planted in the precincts of temples as its fragrance creates a > devotional atmosphere that aids in the remembrance of the sublime power > embodied by the particular diety worshipped in that place. The flowers are > particularly offered to Lord Ganesh, Satyanaryana, Samba and Swarna Gowri. > In the Indian system of belief these dieties are embodiments of particular > qualities or virtues which assist in the aspirants spiritual quest and so > the offering of particlar flowers is highly significant. As with many of the > ancient traditions the reasons for offering a flower with a particular > shape, color and fragrance have been lost or is in the hands of a rare few > individuals but one thing we now know is that specific odors can stimulate > certain centers in the brain to act in a particular way. It is not an exact > science as it can vary from individual from individual and from culture to > culture. But in India the science of fragrance was highly evolved and could > serve to evoke a particular response on a large group of people who commonly > shared in the worship of a particular diety. That particular fragrance could > bring the minds of those people a shared devotional aspiration. In that > atmosphere fragrance along with several other rites and rituals could > produce a state of profound concentration that would allow an openess to > occur that would refresh a persons heart and mind and bring them into unity > with the community in which they lived and with the mystery of life in which > everyone was a participant. It is also possible that the sages knew that the > perfume of a particular flower when inhaled could help stimulate the immune > system against certain disease organisms prevailing at the season of the > year in which it was blooming. We now know that natural fragrances do have > some anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties so it is not impossible that > ancient sages discovered these properties, not with technical instruments > which they did not posses, but through the powers of keen observation which > they had in abundance. > > In India the parijat tree is planted in the precincts of temples because of > the sublime atmosphere created by the aroma of its flowers. I know the > fragrance of parijatak is dear to my wife, Suzanne and I, as we use fo go > for a walk about a small temple in the suburbs of Bombay every evening > during the month of January. A number of parijatak trees were planted in the > shrines vicinity as we would inhale the delicious odor of the last flowers > of the season as we slowly strolled about the complex. The refreshing odor > helped sustain the beautiful time we had just spent listening create a mood > of peace and relaxation that allowed us to quietly digest the words of a > great sage whose discourse we had just listened too. To this day the memory > of that time is quickly awakened when we smell the fragrance of parijat. The > flower itself conveys a very special message to those who know how to read > its language. If one closely observes its delicate beauty one will observe > that it has a vibrant orange center. This color is a symbol of fire in the > Hindu tradition. Fire, in turn, is considered that power which purifies a > persons heart and mind so that all desires for the world are consumed. > leaving only a pure consciousness which directly communes with the Hidden > Power within that has been and is called by many names. The white petals > which surround the orange center symbolic of that pure consciousness. In the > ancient times Buddhist monks and Hindu ascetics dyed their robes a rich > fiery color to show that they had renounced the world. This dye was produced > from the very same orange centers of the parijat. When the flowers would > fall to the ground, people would collect them and separte the orange tube > from the white petals and dry them. Once they were dried they could be used > for making this saffron-colored dye. At one time an attempt was made to > commercialize this dye as it gave a fine color to cotton and silk but due to > the labor intensive nature of its collection and the fact that a good means > of fixing it were not obtained the concept was abandoned. Perhaps in the > future the study of this dye will be resumed and a cottage industry > developed where its beautiful color could be extracted. > > The Muslim people, too, have an affection for the flower and it is said > that it is planted in their grave yards. In the morning the ethereal flowers > carpet the tombs with a natural aromatic floral display. The story that this > tells is simple and beautiful. In nature, the parijat tree grows to a mature > specimen which produces innummerable flowers. These flowers grow to maturity > and for a brief time give off their fragrance for one and all to enjoy. When > the perfume is exhausted, they fall to the earth, wither, and die having > fulfilled the mission of their life. Our lives, in the ideal sense, should > follow their example. We, as part of the human family, are like the flowers > of the mother plant. In the beginning our innate beauty is hidden as it can > only be developed through the experiences of life both good and bad. Through > the ups and downs of life, if we are fortunate, we come to the point where > out of the heart comes a sweet perfume of love and compassion for one and > all. Having given of that perfume in a quiet, unassuming way, the time comes > when the bodies resources are exhausted and we depart from this plane of > existences and our soul essence reunites with the invisible essence from > which we come. > > > > -- > sibdas ghosh > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "efloraofindia" group. > To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > [email protected]<indiantreepix%[email protected]> > . > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/indiantreepix?hl=en. > -- Tanay Bose +91(033) 25550676 (Resi) 9830439691(Mobile) 9674221362 (Mobile) -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "efloraofindia" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. 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