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Classification of Flowers as Gleaned from Ancient Indian Literature and Culture


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1 RMV Clusters, Phase2, Block2, 5th floor, Flat No.503, Devinagar, Lottegollahalli, Bengaluru 560094, Karnataka, India
     

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Nature's diversity has fascinated humans from the ancient times. Plant and Animal diversity constitutes the foundation for sustainable livelihoods and happiness. Among plants, it is the flower that is the most attractive part which bewitches with its beautiful harmony, colors and fragrance, and thus symbolizing the blossoming of Universal Consciousness and the smile of spirit hidden in Nature. Poets of ancient India have described the glory and beauty of these flowers in their works. As the six seasons constitute the year, different flowers display their beauty by blooming at different times. Importance of flowers was recognized since ancient times and was classified based on many factors. These modes of classification have been discussed from Vedic period to the Post-Vedic texts and are presented in this paper. Flowers have therapeutic uses, religious uses and other general uses. Several texts are devoted only to them in the epics, Ayurvedic texts as well as those dealing with flowers.
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  • Classification of Flowers as Gleaned from Ancient Indian Literature and Culture

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Authors

K. G. Sheshadri
RMV Clusters, Phase2, Block2, 5th floor, Flat No.503, Devinagar, Lottegollahalli, Bengaluru 560094, Karnataka, India

Abstract


Nature's diversity has fascinated humans from the ancient times. Plant and Animal diversity constitutes the foundation for sustainable livelihoods and happiness. Among plants, it is the flower that is the most attractive part which bewitches with its beautiful harmony, colors and fragrance, and thus symbolizing the blossoming of Universal Consciousness and the smile of spirit hidden in Nature. Poets of ancient India have described the glory and beauty of these flowers in their works. As the six seasons constitute the year, different flowers display their beauty by blooming at different times. Importance of flowers was recognized since ancient times and was classified based on many factors. These modes of classification have been discussed from Vedic period to the Post-Vedic texts and are presented in this paper. Flowers have therapeutic uses, religious uses and other general uses. Several texts are devoted only to them in the epics, Ayurvedic texts as well as those dealing with flowers.

References