Brahma Kamal

[Guest guest]

Brahma Kamal:known as King of Himalayan flower. Very lucky if u see

it bloom. Botanical name is Saussurea obvallata. The Brahma Kamal is

the state flower of Uttarkhand, India. Brahma Kamal, is a species of

flowering plant named after Brahma, the Hindu god of creation. It is

native to the Himalayas, northern Burma and south-west China. A

flower of the Himalayas, that blooms in the alpine habitats at the

upper reaches of the mountain ranges between (approx) 11,000 to

17,000 feet. The flowers bloom in mid monsoons (July - August)

amongst the rocks and grass of the hillsides in places like The

Valley of Flowers and Hemkund Lake at Sapta Shringa. The flowerheads

are purple, but are hidden from view in layers of yellowish green,

papery bracts which provides the necessary protection from cold

mountain environment. These flowers looks gorgeous, but they smell

awful, perhaps that explains why we do not bring them home, but have

been offering them with devotion in the hill temples at Kedarnath

and Badrinath.

 

This flower is very sacred to Himalayan gods. It looks like a bliss

in the form of a flower. The story goes that once Lord Shiva was in

Kailash and Parvati created Ganesha, which was unknown to Shiva.

When Parvati went for a bath, she posted Ganesha as a guard outside

leaving a word not to let anyone in. and that moment Lord Shiva

tried to enter the house and Ganesha refused. In anger Lord Shiva

cut the head of Ganesha, so one sees here just the body without the

head.On Parvati`s request Brahma created Brahma kamal, with whose

help Shiva placed the head of an elephant on to the body of Ganesha.

Here one can also see the Brahma kamal which drips water from its

petals on to the body like Amrit. There is also a story in

Mahabharata where Brahma Kamal is mentioned. Remember the story of

Bhim meeting Hanuman in a jungle. Bhim was going up the jungle

looking for Brahma Kamal when he met Hanuman disguised an old

monkey. Similarly in Ramayan when the Sanjeevani herb was

administered to Lakshman, he miraculously revived. In celebration,

God showered flowers from heaven, which fell to the earth and took

root in the Valley of Flowers. So it is called Brahma kamal, which

is The God's own lotus, far from the earth!