The Indian flowers are an integral part of the Indian ecosystem and they are also an inseparable part of the Indian culture. The Indian flowers are found in almost all parts of the country and the Indian people plant flower trees in gardens, in order to decorate themselves and also to enhance the beauty of their residence. The flowers have a special place in the Indian literature; just like world literature, the Indian literary personalities have also mentioned flowers in most of their notable creations. Ancient Indian literature is also full with names of a variety of flowers. Historical records prove that people of all ages, during the various periods in history, have used flowers mainly for decorative purposes and also as a gesture of welcoming and wishing good luck.
Use of Indian Flowers in Mythology
The ancient Hindu epics like Mahabharata and Ramayana have descriptions about different kinds of Indian flowers. The Indian flowers have been an essential part of Hindu worshipping for the past several centuries. It is a very popular tradition in India of offering flowers to the God, as a symbol of their love and devotion. The association of Lord Krishna with the Kadamba tree (Anthocephalus indicus) is a legend. Apart from Lord Krishna, almost all the other Gods and Goddesses also have their respective flower of liking. The famous Indian flower and also the National Flower of India, Lotus has a mention in the ancient Sanskrit scripture of the Vedic era. The renowned Indian literary personality, Kalidasa has also mentioned about Lotus in his play Shakuntala. Lotus is mentioned in the creations of the other poet and novelists like Asvaghosa (A.D.100), as well.
Quite a few beautiful flower trees are stated in the ancient Sanskrit work of Panini in Ashtadhyayi, as well. Historical evidences prove that the flowering trees were commonly grown in the gardens during the Hindu-Buddhist periods. During the Buddhist period, the Indian people used to lay out gardens around the monasteries and stupas and it is said that Lord Buddha was born under a tree in a garden. The Bodhi tree, under which Lord Buddha attained nirvana, is sacred to the Buddhists. Moreover the lotus is also closely associated with worship of Lord Buddha.
Use of Indian Flowers in Modern Day
The Indian flowers are used quite widely by the Indian people during wedding ceremonies. In fact, no wedding can be celebrated in India without flowers. They set the exact joyous mood and tone for the event and are mainly used as garlands, decorations, and as bouquets. There are several usages of flowers. Like for instance, a flower can lighten a room adding more colour and making it more vibrant and appealing.
Use of Indian Flowers in Medicine
Other than these there are also a number of flowers that are used as medicinal plants, such as Porcupine Flower, Hophead, Kariyat, Blue Fox Tail, Bell Weed, Marsh Barbel, Gandarusa, Malabar Nut, Water Willow, Frilly Lepidagathis, Blue Pussyleaf, Karvy, Snake Jasmine, Singkrang, Himalaya Onion, Chives, Sage Leaved Alangium, Two-toothed Chaff Flower, Mountain Knot Grass, Marking Nut, Sugar Apple, Himalayan Hogweed, Indian Pennywort, Ajwain, Indrajao, Sea Mango, Nag Kuda, Water Jasmine, Sarpagandha and many others. These flowers are widely used in ayurveda in treating various types of ailments. The use of Indian flowers as medicinal plants has also been recognised globally.
The Indian flowers are mainly grown in the gardens, bushes, roadsides, forests, etc. and they are of two principal types, like fragrant or decorative flowers and the wild flowers. Indian flowers include the orchids, musk rose, begonia, balsam, rhododendron, globe amaranth, glory lily, foxtail lily, primula, blue poppy, lotus, water lily, etc. Most of these Indian flowers are also being widely cultivated in different countries in the world.
There are also several Indian flowers that have won the hearts of people from all over the world. Some of these flowers include the jasmine, madhavi, rose, peacock flower, sunflower, queen`s flower, marigolds, bulbs, saffron flower, Rio Grande Trumpet Flower, Gul Mohr flower, etc. Apart from the decorative or ornamental flowers, there are also numerous wild flowers found in India. The Indian wildflowers are also found throughout the country and some of the most notable amongst them include the Hibiscus Lobatus, Katechendu, Cup -Saucer, Pandhra Kuda 4, Ranjire, Glory Lily, Commelina (Kena), Sesamum Orientale (Ran Til), Ceropegia, Begunia, etc.
