Singgarei -The Parijat Flower

Pārijāt पारिजात (Nyctanthes arbor-tristis) -- Hār-Singār -- Singgarei.

"Set full of leaves...among which come forth most odoriferous and sweet smelling flowers, whole stalks the color of saffron, which flourish and show themselves only in the night time, and in the daytime look withered and with a mourning cheer: the leaves also at that time shrink in themselves together...very sadly lumping, lowering, and hanging down the head, as though it loathed the light and could not abide the heat of the sun." - John Gerard (The Herbal 1633)

Known as Night-flowering Jasmine or as Coral Jasmine worldwide, it is one of the most beautiful and sacred of India's many exotic flowering trees. Countless souls throughout the ages have lived in the gentle presence of this beneficent being that has given it's barks, leaves, roots, seeds, and flowers for medicine, ceremony, and pleasure. Gifted from the heavenly realms, bestowed upon humanity and brought to earth by the Gods of the Hindu pantheon....Endowed with religious symbolism and divine attributes, this tree in particular is deeply entwined with the culture, lifestyle, and ancestral memories of people across the Indian subcontinent. It happens to be the official flower of the state of West Bengal in India, and for Kanchanaburi Province, Thailand. Parijat grows in the outer Himalayas, and are found in tracts of Jammu & Kashmir, Nepal to East of Assam, Manipur, Bengal, Tripura extended through the Central region up to Godavari in the South. Besides India, they are found in Thailand, Indonesia, Nepal and Pakistan.

The Parijat flower in bloom.

Family                       : Oleaceae

Order                        : Lamiales

Genus                        : Nyctanthes

Species                       : N. arbor-tristis

Binomial name          : Nyctanthes arbor-tristis

Origin                         : India.

Type                           : Shrub/small tree

Size                             : 6'- 8' with trimming

Light requirements  : full / partial sun

Water requirements : Average

Min. Temperature    : Keep above 40F. Does not grow well indoors without proper conditions

Flower: Awesome honey fragrance, Oct to May.

Known as            : Singgarei in Manipuri, Sewali(pronounced as Xewali) in Assamese, Shefali or Shiuli in Bengali. Paarijaatham or Pagadamalle in Telugu. Paarijaata or Goli in Kannada. Paarijaat or Paarijatak in Marathi. Pavazha malli in Tamil (Also spelled pavaza malli or pavala malli). Pavizha malli in Malayalam. Prajakta or Prajakt in Sanskrit. Shephali/Shefali or Ganga Shiuli in Oriya.

Other names: Sephalika, Parijatha, Parijataka, Ragapushpi, Kharapatraka, Prajakta, Nalakumkumaka, Harshingarapushpak, Suklangi, Rajanihasa, Malika, Aparajitha, Vijaya, Nisahasa, Praharshini, Pravalanalika, Vathari, Bhoothakeshi, Seetamanjari, Subaha, Nishipushpika (in Sanskrit)

Collected Parijat flowers on an Autumn morning.

There is no doubt that a garden is not complete without a Singgarei Tree in bloom. I got one blooming every year near my balcony in my Imphal residence and where I am now, there is one right in the front which should be shedding the blooms shortly showing everyone how beautiful and fragrant can Autumn be here in India. Come October and the Coral Jasmine blooms and sheds till May. The Parijat flowers also marks the arrival of Goddess Durga. Rabindra Nath Tagore in his poems has mentioned about Parijat flowers and its importance in Durga Puja. 

Description : - The Parijata flowers resembles miniature mandalas, with four to eight pure white petals unfolding from a vibrant orange center (tube) in a pinwheel pattern which opens up at night spreading their their fragrance in the surrounding area with an intensely sweet floral aroma. Just as the dawn breaks, they drop one by one, forming a carpet of snow-white petals, an enchanting sight that takes one’s breath away. This image was seen by the Rishis as symbolic of Agni, the purifying flame of awareness, burning away the obscurations of the mind to reveal the petals of purified consciousness. Sometimes this tree is called "The tree of sorrow”. It's scientific name itself...Nyctanthes which means ‘night flowering’ and Arbortristis means ‘The sad tree’ or ‘The tree of sorrow’ as in the early morning when it has dropped its flowers, the tree appears to look sad. Flower lovers wake up in the early morning to collect them and generally place them in a flat dish to make their rooms fresh and fragrant. 

It's Romantic Origin : - Considered to be a divine tree, Parijat is not without it's share of tales of it's

romantic origin. Close to the heart of the lovers that of a 

princess “Parijataka”, who was in love with the sun. She tried a lot to win the heart of Sun, but when he rejected her she committed suicide and a tree sprung from her ashes. Unable to stand the sight of the lover, the tree flowers only at night and sheds them like tear drops before the sun rises. That is how they are, even today.

Significance  and it's Mytholigical background : - Although most of the flowers, viz., jasmine, lily, rose are offered to God plucked directly from the plants, yet Parijat is considered as the only flower that can be picked from the ground and offered to God. The Parijat tree is believed to be one of the products that surfaced as a result of the ‘Samudra manthan’which then was planted in Indralok(the abode of Lord Indra) and thus a celestial plant, not grown on earth.  

Another story surrounding the trees origin found in several ancient Indian scriptures is that of  Lord Krishna bringing this heavenly tree to earth.  It so happened that one day, Narada, brought some flowers from Indralok and gave them to Lord Krishna, which the Lord gave to his first wife Rukmini. On seeing this, Narada went to Satyabhama, Lord Krishna’s other wife and told her about it. 

Jealousy roused in Satyabhama’s mind and then, Narada went on to give a solution to her. He suggested that she should insist on Krishna getting the plant itself from Indralok and plant it at her home, instead of asking just a few flowers. Satyabhama decided to do that and when Krishna came to her quarters, she showed her anger and disappointment on the whole incident and insisted that he get the plant for her. 

True to his nature, Narada, in the meanwhile went and warned Indra that Lord Krishna is coming to take away the celestial plant from his Indralok! When Krishna and Satyabham arrived at Indralok, Lord Indra objected and a battle took place between them resulting in Indra losing the battle. 

Having brought the tree to Dwarka, Rukmini too took fancy to the tree, because of its flowers. So Krishna planted the tree in such a manner, that though the tree was planted at Satyabhama’s house, but when it bore flowers, they would fall in Rukmini’s home. Satyabhama had asked for the tree and she got it, and Rukmini wanted the flowers, and she had it too. 

The ancient Parijat tree at Kintur

Another legend in the Puranas suggests that Arjuna, the Pandava of Mahabarata brought the Parijata Tree for his mother Kunti, who offered it to Lord Shiva. A Parijat Tree located at Kintur  about 38 kilometres (24 mi) east of the district headquarters, Village in Barabanki District in Uttar Pradesh in India is believed to be the same. It is also said that this special tree has grown from Kunti's ashes. The age of this tree is said to be 1000 to 5000 years. The perimeter of the trunk of this tree is around 50 feet and height of around 45 feet. Historically, though these saying may have some bearing or not, but it is true that this tree is from a very ancient background. According to the Harivansh Puraan the Parijaat Tree is a Kalpavriksha, or wish bearing tree, which, apart from this tree, is only found in heaven. Newly-weds visit the tree for blessings, and every Tuesday a fair is held where local people worship the tree.

Uses : -

#First and foremost, The Parijat, being the divine flower is often used as offerings to Gods and Goddesses and used in various ceremonies.

#In north east India especially in Assam these flowers are sold in the vegetable markets and people buy them not just for its medicinal values but also for use in various food recipes. It is often used as a seasoning or as a main ingredient in various food recipes mostly in Assam. At times Mom uses the flowers in her fish curry. (Will be sharing the recipe in my food blog shortly).

# In Asia, the orange colour of the flower is often used to dye the silk and cotton clothing for Buddhist monks.

# The fragrance of the flower is so fresh that it's essential oil and aroma is extracted for use in perfumery. It is also widely used for adding fragrance to incense sticks too.

Medicinal properties : - 

The Parijaat offers a vast pharmacy of ethnobotanical remedies, utilized for centuries for ailments ranging from sore muscles and the common cold to malaria and epilepsy.

# The juice of its leaves is bitter and saline in taste and provides effective relief in the treatment of several types of inflammation and fever including malaria, the intermittent fever, common cough and cold.

# It also provides an assured remedy for various body disorders ranging from common cough and cold to arthritis and sciatica.

# The juice of its leaves when mixed with little sugar is a good medicine for treatment of stomach ailments of children.

# Its flowers, though bitter in taste act as appetizer and soothe the stomach.

# In the treatment of skin diseases and constipation, the seeds of the Parijat tree are used.

# Parijat is also used in making different ‘face pack’, as it procures a glow and shine to the face and gives guaranteed remedy to a variety of skin ailments.

Plant Care : -

The greatest enemy of this plant is standing water, which causes the roots to rot and die. Periodic deep watering, well rotted parijat flower compost, and judicious pruning, is sufficient for this plant and is enough to make it bloom and make your garden beautiful and fragrant.

Fertilising the plants once a year will be beneficial. The plant needs trimming as the shoots grow in different directions. It is better to grow the plant in the shaded area of the garden which receives a few hours of direct sunlight.

Complete your garden by planting a Coral Jasmine and get enchanted by the beauty and fragrance of these divine flowers. Happy Gardening dear all !!!