Significance of flower in worship

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Namaste,

 

Hoping you won't mind, I am cc'ing the reply to .

 

This is a good question. When offering five services to deities representing the five elements, flower is used to represent the element of ether or rather space (aakaasa tattva). The question is why, i.e. what is the link.

 

Aakaasa is the subtlest element. Aakaasa or space is that which is everywhere. It changes and other elements come from it. You may see a solid matter or liquid matter or air in a place *now*, but there was space there before. It is the basis of all other elements.

 

Similarly, a flower is the basis of many things. Flower gives rise to a fruit. Fruit contains seeds and seeds give rise to plants. Plants become trees. Trees give more flowers and fruits. All these lie within the original flower as a potentiality, just as various element lie within space (aakaasa) as a potentiality.

 

When you see a tree or a plant or a fruit, you do not see a flower in them and yet they came from a flower. Similarly, when you see a solid or liquid or airy matter, you do not see space in it and yet they came from space.

 

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The purpose of mantras and rituals is to guide the mind along certain routes where it can visualize certain things well and forget other things. A lot of deep philosophy exists behind symbols used in rituals. The basic philosophy of veda and upanishad is behind a lot of symbols used in rituals and mantras. Following rituals faithfully without understanding the symbolism is also very good. It will eventually have the desired effect on the mind. But, pondering the symbolism can take one closer to the upanishadic essence represented by the symbols.

 

Somebody like Ramakrishna Paramahamsa might offer a flower to Kaali, immediately visualize the symbolism represented by it, visualize how fruit, plant, tree, more flowers, more fruits and more trees come from a flower and, at a deeper level, how various tattvas, deities, worlds and beings evolve from the Supreme Being and just go into samadhi mesmerized by the lila of god. We should try to overcome the regular pre-occupations of the mind and focus it on god and god's lila.

 

Best regards,NarasimhaDo a Short Homam Yourself: http://www.VedicAstrologer.org/homamDo Pitri Tarpanas Yourself: http://www.VedicAstrologer.org/tarpanaSpirituality: Free Jyotish lessons (MP3): http://vedicastro.home.comcast.netFree Jyotish software (Windows): http://www.VedicAstrologer.orgSri Jagannath Centre (SJC) website: http://www.SriJagannath.org

 

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Dear Narasimha garu,Can you please explain how flower indicates the aakasa tatva ? It is easy to understand for the other 4 elements.Deepa - light - AgniGandha - smell - BhuNaivedya - taste - JalaDhoopa - smoke - VayuBut not able to understand how flower signifies aakasa tatva. Thanks,<deleted>