Many a flower is born…

Many a flower is born…

A beautiful garden stretches out as far as the eye can see. Plants too numerous to count, laden with blossoms in myriad hues that seem to vie with each other for attention. Flowers with a heady fragrance, brightly-coloured ones that attract the bees and insects, yet others that merge into the grass beneath one’s feet.

Groups of chattering girls and women pick the varieties of jasmine, jevandi (shamandi), kanakambaram… Strings of these flowers are sold by the muzham (a measure of about 4.6666 cm), they may adorn a bride’s hair plaited with a kunjalam and the tresses of the women of the wedding party, a lady’s chignon or the braids of young girls. At the reception, the bride and groom usually wear fragrant garlands of paneer rose (<?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comffice:smarttags" /><st1lace>Rosa</st1lace> damascena) criss-crossed with shining silver thread.

Vendors seated outside the entrance to temples deftly string the jadi malli, gundu-malli or mullai buds and the <st1:City><st1lace>Madurai</st1lace></st1:City> malli, unmatched for its fragrance, as they entreat the devotees to buy the sarams to offer to the idols. The Deities in temples are decorated with big garlands of multi-coloured flowers, roses, tulasi leaves. Baskets of assorted flowers are used for the archanai, doubly-blessed as they fall the feet of the idols.

Long-stemmed roses, gladioli, carnations, tiger lilies, asters, gerberas, chrysanthemums and many exotic orchids make their way to the florists’ where thay are made into bouquets and basket flower-arrangements to wish a loved one on their birthday, wedding anniversary, Valentine’s Day…or simply as a romantic ‘I Love You’ or ‘Sorry’ gift!

Day after day, the weeds and wildflowers like the oxalis, yarrow, butterfly weed and dandelion watch the gardener tend to his plants so lovingly and whisper among themselves.

‘Flowers are one of the most beautiful of God’s creations. We are thankful to Her for making us so delicate yet so hardy. Alas! we are not as fortunate as the others, the flowers that are used to worship Her or to decorate wedding pandals or like the roses or carnations that are traditionally used as a declaration of one’s love. We are just ignored, not even worth a look, left on the plant to wither away and die…we are of no earthly use’ they lament…

The Almighty one hears their sighs and hastens to reassure them, ‘Is that what you think, do you really feel that you are of no use? Do you not see that whether it be a flower or a plant or a tree, an insect, an animal, a human being, all of creation must wither away and die one day, merging into the earth and enriching it. In this never-ending cycle of birth and death, you may be reborn as beautiful flowers and evolve with every birth as you aspire towards the Ultimate Supreme Consciousness. Do not grieve, this is the very purpose of Life, of Existence…


With acknowledgements to Thomas Gray

Full many a flower is born to blush unseen,
And waste its sweetness on the desert air…



Padma Srinivas

 

Hi TL/Lakshmi,

A heart-warming response, the first one too!

Mysterious indeed are Her ways...

Thank you so much, my friend

Love,
Padma

 

Dear Bhargavi,

Lovely to see you here, my dear...

Those who believe in rebirth say that the path to Moksha is by changing and evolving into a better soul, thereby striving for perfection...

Thank you for stopping by Bhargavi, you would be aware that I look forward to your comments...

Jai Bhavani Maa!

Love
Padma