Focus on books:

Plants, flowers and legends

Professor Sunanda Mahendra

This is a book on the mythology of Indian plants. It is the title of an original book written by the well known political figure and writer Menaka Gandhi. The book is translated into Sinhala as Vrukshalatha Gena Puduma Katha by Sunethra Kankanamge.

The most significant feature in this compilation is the scientific botanical knowledge is much to be fused into folklore and other relevant creative areas of interest. The original writer, it is visualised, had been an avid collector of material related to the character of plants and their flowers from various sources.

The methodology utilized is most fitting. The reader gets the opportunity to know about 23 Indian plants, most of which are also grown and seen in our environment as well. So the primary feature is to introduce the plant with its botanical term.

The botanical term for the plant named Sepalika is Nyctanthes arbour tristis in Latin, and ‘Queen of the Night’ in English. The plant is also termed as ‘Coral Jasmine’.

Followed by this, the reader comes to know the title of the same plant as used in various other Indian languages, such as Bengali (the term is Shepalika in Siyuli) in Hindu. In Tamil it is known as Parijatha; in Sinhala we too use the title Sepalika. The plant and its flower belong to the botanical family called ‘Oleacene’.

Then comes a brief discussion the plant and the flower, its design, special features and to what purposes the flower is used, and the place it occupies in the plant life. This looks quite interesting and gives way to investigate more on the plant and the flower. This section which may be of interest to a special reader is followed by a legend or a myth as known in India.

This area is normally a fantasy or a legend that delves around kings, queens, fairies, gods, and goddesses. As a reader I found that this area alone would have created a whole galaxy of legends of human interest, which depicts the sensitivity and human interest in creative communication.

Sunethra Kankanamge makes the text quite interesting at times by adding some of her own material. For instance, dealing the original Indian plant banana, or kehel, the translator adds some of the local folk knowledge into the text edifying the textual value from the original. But this is not a general rule adhered to by the translator.

I was fascinated by the details given on two plants, the tamarind (known as Siyambala) and the other vada or shoe-flower known as Hibiscus. Though we have heard about plant legends at times we have had no compiler for the subject.

As such through a translation, this work emerges as a manual covering two areas, the botany and folklore. Another fascinating feature is that the work could be read from any page you prefer. You may select the plant you like to know more about. Then scan the page and read the embedded material. One may wonder as to how each of these planets and their flowers possess such a vast area of legends.

But I feel that all countries give cultural preference to plants and go to the extent of venerating them. One such tree is widely known Bo tree, venerated in many a Buddhist country, especially as it is regarded as the tree under which the Buddha attained Enlightenment (see pp115, 121).

In the study as laid own in Menaka Gandhi’s work, quite a number of socio religious factors are covered. Bo tree as we come to know is one of the trees that gives a breezy effect during the hot season, and a warm effect during the winter season. Its leaves are symbolic of a unique sign that signifies a fan. The sound of the leaves jostling in the wind too is pleasurable song like rhythm.

The Bo tree had given apt shelter who so desire it. Then come across similar details pertaining to the Araliya tree or the plant known as temple tree. The folk legend behind Araliya too is sensitive. It centres round two queen consorts and a king. The plant known as ‘Tulsi’ is also known as Sacred Basil (122-124). The name sacred is added as it has been grown in ancient times in temple premises and around pilgrim resorts.

It is moreover believed that those who plant and realise the value Tulasi gain fortune in various walks of life such as marital happiness, and wealth. The Tulasi leaves believed to possess the power of turning into golden leaves. With all these behind, the average villager desires to grow a Tulasi plant in the garden.

Reference is also made to the more popular plants like Nelum or lotus which grow in water. Quite a lot has been written about the lotus plant and the flower which is also venerated by Hindus and Buddhists. Lotus, according to the Buddha, is symbolic of a person who, though born in a polluted climate, does not cling on to it. A purified human being is compared with that of a pleasant lotus flower.

People have faiths on the pond of Nelum (Nelum Pokuna) since it brings luck to the householder. In this manner the selection of the original work for a Sinhala translation is both resourceful and investigative. Sunethra Kankanamge, a university lecturer presently engaged in postgraduate research in India, should be commended for the effort.

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