Parijata – The Flower of God

10/30/2017

Each morning at the first rays of light, the gentle skinny Parijata tree generously drops its highly perfumed, sweet scented orange-stemmed white flowers.

They fall ever so easily.
One small shake of the tree and the flowers shower in abundance to be caught by leaves, hands and the floor below.

Generally, when flowers fall on the ground they cannot be offered to Gods. However, Parijata flowers are so auspicious that they are the only flowers that can be picked up from the ground, washed, then offered.

Names:

Sanskrit: Parijata, Harsinger
English: Night Jasmine
Botanical name: Nyctanthes arbortristis

Nyctanthes = “night flowering.”

Arbor-tristis = “sad-tree” because the flowers loose their brightness during daytime.

The Mythology of Parijat: The Birth of a Celestial Tree

“Mythology” symbolises states of higher consciousness, told in a legendary format to trigger a connection between oneself and the larger universe. Usually experienced in an abstract fashion.

There was a Princess named Parijat who fell in love with Surya (the Sun as a divine Being).

Surya however had a condition before marrying her that she would never turn away from him. Parijat agreed as she could never imagine going away from her beloved.

They married in autumn and timeless love caused winter and spring to fly by.

But then, the first summer for them as a married couple arrived…

Surya’s power became so immense, it became difficult for her as even nearing him would burn her.

One day at noon, suddenly Surya appeared at her door and Parijat flinched for a second. Becoming angry, Surya’s power knew no bounds and Parijat harmfully wilted.

On coming to his senses, Surya realised his mistake and turned to the Gods (supreme aspects of Being in consciousness) for help. Gods knew how much Parijat loved Surya and they granted her another life as a Tree.

Surya (Sun) and Parijat are not able to meet each other in day light as she still cannot bear his glow and sheds her flowers.

But at night, Surya visits her and so Parijata becomes fragrant again being kissed by Sun.

Other Mythology:

Other tales link this tree to what is known in Vedic Scripture as the Kalpavriksha (Kalpavṛkṣa) tree, meaning “Wish Fulfilling Tree”.

It is believed that the Parijata tree emerged from the Ocean of Milk when the Devatas (celestial beings) and Asuras (demons) churned it to retrieve the Amrita (nectar of immortality), and it has the power to give any object that one desires to get from it.

Indra, the lord of the Devatas, took the tree to Devaloka after the churning of the ocean of milk and planted it on his palace’s garden.

The story goes that on one of his visits to Indra’s palace, a famous sage known as Narada Muni picked a flower that fell off the tree and took it to Lord Krishna of Dwaraka, who was an Avatar of Vishnu.

One of Krishna’s wifes, Satyabhama saw the effulgent beauty of this flower as well as sensed it’s graceful aroma and pleaded to Lord Krishna for him to bring the tree to Dwaraka. It was then when Krishna headed to Indraloka and uprooted the tree after fighting Indra for it.

This is how the Parijata tree, that emerged from the Ocean of Milk and holds it’s unique Divine energy, came on to earth.

Medicinal Uses

All vata issues, especially joint problems like types of arthritis.
Skin conditions.
Respiratory System (Pranavaha srota).
Sweet divine aroma.

Parts Used

Leaf and root bark.

Remedies

Boil Parijata leaves with cumin seeds in water, reduce the water so as to make a decoction (kashayam) and drink.

Ayurvedic Properties

Rasa (taste) – Tikta (bitter)
Virya (potency) – Usna (heating)
Vipaka (post-digestive effect) – Katu (pungent)
Gunas (quality) – Laghu (light), Usna (hot)
Doshas – KPV-

Each morning at the first rays of light, the gentle skinny Parijata tree generously drops its highly perfumed, sweet scented orange-stemmed white flowers.

They fall ever so easily.
One small shake of the tree and the flowers shower in abundance to be caught by leaves, hands and the floor below.