Harshingar Flower India's Divine Flower, Harshingar Tree

We all like to write or talk about something which we dream of, something which we aspire for or something which we have accomplished in our lifetime. For me its my friendship with the world of nature and in that process the creation of my small garden which is my biggest and to say the only accomplishment. It was my wish and childhood dream. So let me take you through the journey of the same. Nature is our best teacher they say and so I share with you the innumerable blessings I got and various lessons I learnt in this whole process. As I child I can still remember how I sat in my small garden in front of my house, next to the big tree which was the Harshingar tree. Every morning there was a windfall of small lovely white and orange petal flowers from it which spread on the garden floor. They looked so beautiful and smelt so divine. I collected all of them in my palms. Initially I tried making few mehendi designs with the orange juice which came out of it ones pressed but soon realized that it was better to offer the same to God.

While the elders always insisted that we should not offer the flowers to God which have fallen on ground, but this flower seemed to have exemption in this regard and although l found out the reason for this later on in life, at that age one thing got clear in my mind that there was something special about this tree and hence so dear to God. Although there were many trees and plants around which had flowers all day long but still the pride of my heart was harshingar. At night as I slept they awoke and spread their sweet smell around and in morning they were fallen on the ground to die soon with the early rise of sun rays. What a short life indeed but so much to desire and so much to give.

These flowers defined my day and night. My first and true love. Many of us always wonder why such lovely flowers have such short life which lose their shape and form with early sunlight. Although there are mythological stories supporting the same I learnt my biggest lesson of life which was very clear and bright, that dreams do not last forever. They take form in reality and ones reach its peak disappear and vanish for new dreams to emerge. As the time passed we moved out form our place. For many years I got busy in this material world but again a time came when I got an opportunity to bring my dream back. So I made my new garden in my new house and I knew the tree I wanted to plant first was my Harshingar tree. I wanted to spread the same happiness around and I got my childhood back. Another fact I realized soon was that we human beings are not like flowers, we always believe that we will live long and hence forget our true essence and by the time we realize, its too late. But flowers know that they will wither soon and hence they spread their happiness around the very moment they bloom. So don’t wait for a second chance, grab the moment and let your emotions flow.

Well its time again to say goodbye to my Harshingar tree, but I know deep in my heart that its again waiting in some sweet little corner garden for me.

Facts and some highlights :

1. Harshingar is also known as parijat.

2. It’s also refered to as Kalp Vriksh or wish fulfilling tree which was found in heaven and It was brought to earth by Lord Krishna.

3. It’s the official flower of West Bengal, India.

4. It has high medicinal value.

5. Although it grows wild and tall, it can be managed as a shrub in a big pot.

6. It does not require too much of water and best flowering season is between August and December.