Birds and Plants

Mentioned in Vaishnava Literature

THE BIRDS

Chakora

Alectoris graeca, a Himalayan partridge, the lover of the moon, said to feed on the rays of the moon.

Chakravaka

Casarca ferruginea, a variety of duck, also called chakava (surkhab). Legend relates that pairs of these birds are souls of two sinning lovers, who are said to sleep apart at night, and call endlessly to one another, "Chakava, may I come to you?", "No, Chakavi".

Chataka

Cuculus melanoleucas, a type of swallow said to drink only drops of rain as they fall from the clouds.

Hamsa

Phoenicopterus ruber, the flamingo, and also the goose, Acer indicus.

Khanjana

Motacilla maderaspatensis, the wagtail, symbol of restlessness, and also of the eyes of the beloved.

Koel

Eudynamis scolopaceus, a dark bird, commonly found in mangoe gardens during the large trees' flowering and fruiting times. Its cry is kuhu, kuhu, kuhu, rising in pitch with each successive call, and its panchama-note is the dominant of nature's chorus.

Koonja

Anthropoides virgo, the demoiselle crane.

Krauncha

Numenius arquata, the curlew.

Nilakantha

Coracias benghalensis, roller or blue jay, sacred to Sri Vishnu.

Papiha

Hierococcyx varius, the hawk-cuckoo or the brain-fever bird. Its cry is, "Pi kahan", which sounds like 'Where is my love?'

Parrot

Psittacula eupatria, a pet bird said to overhear conversattions of lovers, and to repeat it in awkward circumstances.

Peacock

Pavo cristatus, the male is said to be lover of the clouds and delights in rain.

Saras

Antigone antigone, a slate colored crane, said to pair for life, and hence a symbol of devoted love.

THE TREES, SHRUBS AND CLIMBERS

Aguru

Aquilaia agallocha, a large evergreen tree with fragrand wood.

Amaltas

Cassia fistula, a small hardy tree with pendulous racemes of large bright yellow flowers in April and May.

Arjuna

Terminali arjuna, a large, shady tree.

Ashoka

Saraca indica, a herald of spring, has scarlet or crimson bunches of flowers in early March. It is said to flower upon being touched by a beautiful woman's feet.

Atimukta

Jasminum sp.

Bandhuka

Pentapetes phoenicia (or Lucas linifolia)

Betel

Piper betel, a climber, leaves used for chewing.

Bimba

Momordica coccinia, a climber with bright red fruit.

Champaka

Michelia champaka, a large tree, commonly grown in temples, with fragrant, light yellow flowers. A type of jasmine.

Chameli

Jasminium sambac, Arabian jasmine.

Devadaru

Cedrus deodara, Himalayan cedar.

Gandharaja

Gardenia florida, a shrub with highly fragrant white flowers.

Gunja

Abrus precatorius, seeds used as weights by jewellers.

Gul Mohar

Delonix regia, an umbrella tree with pinnate feathery leaves. It bears scarlet flowers in May.

Honey Apple

Aegle marmelos, a large, round fruit also known as Bengal quince.

Jasmine

several varieties are mentioned, including chameli, champaka, malati and kunda.

Jujube

Zizyphus jujuba, small round fruits that are favorites of boys.

Kachnar

Bauhinia variegata, a medium sized ornamental tree with drooping branches. It produces a rich harvest of mauve and white blossoms, that resemble orchid flowers, in February-March.

Kadamba

Anthocephalus indicus, has ball like flowers in the rainy season. One of Krishna's favorites.

Kandali

Aneilema nudiflorum, an annual herb with blue purple flowers in the rainy season.

Karnikara

Pterosper mum acerifolium, a large tree with broad leaves.

Kasa

Saccharum spontaneum, a tall grass.

Kesara

Crocus sativa, safflower, a herald of spring.

Ketaki

Pandanus odoratissimus, screw pine, a highly fragrant plant with spiny, sword-like, pointed leaves.

Kimsuka

Butea frondosa, a tree with beautiful crimson flowers, a herald of

spring.

Kovidara

Bauhinia purpurea, a small tree bearing pink flowers in November.

Kumda

Nymphaea esculenta, a water lily with white flowers that open at night, and close during the day.

Kunda

Jasminium pubescens, a jasmine.

Kurabaka

Lawsonia alba, mehende, crushed leaves used to make the dye for painting decorations on brides' palms.

Kutaja

Wrightia zeylanica, a small tree with white flowers.

Lavagna Vine

Limonia scandens, a vine whose appearance indicates the beginning of spring.

Lodhra

Symplocos racemosa, pollen used as a face powder in ancient India.

Lotus and Water Lily

Many varieties are mentioned. Aravinda and kamala are day-flowering. Kubalaya and kumudini flower at night. Common Lotus, Nelumbium speciosum Utpala, Nymphaea coerulea, the blue water lily.

Madhavi

Hiptage madhablota, a scadent, shrubby climber, herald of spring, and lover of the mango tree.

Mahua

Bassia latifolia, a common shade tree in central India. An alcoholic beverage of the same name is distilled from its flowers.

Malati

Jasminum grandiflorum, a twining shrub with fragrant white flowers.

Mandara

Erythrina Indica, a small tree that has red flowers during March, when it has no leaves.

Mango

Mangifera indica, tender shoots and herald of spring. Flowers in early March in North India. Called chuta in Sanskrit

Naga Kesara

Mesua ferrea,a forest tree of Eastern India with flowers that are mostly white, but with yellow inside.

Narikela

Cocos nucifera, the coconut palm.

Navamallika

Jasminium arboriscens, a shrubby jasmine.

Nim

Azadirachta indica, a shady tree that flowers in March-April.

Padam

Prunus cerasioides, wild cherry found in the temperate regions of the Himalayas, at altitudes from 3,000' to 6,000'.

Parijataka

Nyctanthes arbortristis, drops its flowers in the early morning.

Patala

Bignonia suaveolens, trumpet flower, herald of spring.

Pipal

Ficus religiosa, a large tree with glossy, dark green, poplar-like leaves.

Pital

An unidentified yellow flower.

Plantain

Musa paradisiaca, smooth, straight stem, symbol of female beauty.

Priyangu

Panicum italicum, a shrub that flowers in August.

Punnaga

Calophyllum inophyllum, a tree with glabrous leaves, and fragrant white flowers.

Sala

Shorea robusta, a tall timber tree, associated with the birth of Buddha. Sarja in Sanskrit.

Saptachchhada

Alstonia scholaris, a handsome tree.

Sandal

Santalum album, a small evergreen tree growing in Bangalore, with fragrant heart wood. Sandal paste (finely ground sandalwood and water) has a cooling effect when applied to the skin, and is used in summer for cooling the body.

Sarja

see Sala.

Sarson

Brassica campestris, an oilseed plant with golden yellow flowers.

Semal

Bombax malabaricum, silk cotton tree.

Salmali

Salmalia malabarica, silk cotton tree with beautiful cup-like red flowers in early March.

Sirisha

Albizzia lebeck, fragrant flowers in the beginning of the rainy

season.

Sisam

Dalbergia sissoo, a deciduous tree with hard wood, principally found in sub-Himalayan areas of North India.

Tala

Borassus flabelliformis, palmyra, round purple fruits, symbol of female charm.

Tamala

Garcinia xanthochymus or Cinnamomum tamala, straight stem, dark fragrant leaves, symbol of Krishna.

Vakula

Mimusops elengi, a dwarf tree, bears highly fragrant flowers during the rains.

Yuthika

Jasminium auriculatum, a jasmine with fragrant white flowers tinged with purple.