Flowers
Flowers
Their spiritual significance
IntroductionWhat are flowers? Are they not messengers of love, prayers of the vegetal world, the aspiration and adoration of Nature, the smile of the Divine? Says Sri Aurobindo in his epic poem, Savitri: "The world's senseless beauty mirrors God's delight. That
rapture's smile is secret everywhere; It flows in the wind's breath, in the tree's sap, Its hued magnificence blooms in leaves and flowers ."Flowers may appear frail and fleeting, but for a brief moment they bring a touch of eternity, of joy and beauty which lie beyond the sorrows and cares of the human world. In the beautiful words of Sri Aurobindo,
" Earth's flowers spring up and laugh at time and death." In all countries flowers have been associated with religion and worship, with myths and legends. And to people all over the world they have been symbols of love and remembrance. A flower
contains all the elements of Nature - air, water, fire, earth and ether. Apart from its beauty of form, colour, fragrance and texture there is something more - an indefinable, subtle and mysterious quality about it. In the words of Liselle Raymond,
"in its simplicity, it carries the vibrations of the Akasha the ethereal element itself, - that is all that is most abstract, pure and perfect. It is, above everything else, the form, behind which is the sound, the all powerful creative Mantra. "This is why flowers have charmed and attracted men and women alike, down the ages. It is this subtle element, their soul which has given them a very special place in the life of men and of communities. This is very evident in the Sri Aurobindo Ashram
at Pondicherry, where the Mother has revealed the spiritual meaning of flowers, where the flowers are tended with great love, affection and care and are looked upon as powerful means of finding oneself and communing with the Divine.This book primarily focuses its attention on this new, and not so commonly known, spiritual and deeper aspect of flowers. The flowers have been grouped together according to certain themes in various chapters. The book also takes in its ambit
articles from different lands which reveal the many facets of one of the most wonderful of Nature's creations. We begin to see the great truth contained in the lines of Tennyson,"Little flower - but if I could understand What you are, root and all, and all in all, I should know what God and man is."
Yes, if only we could understand or, rather, if only we could be like a flower. Indeed this, in a way, is the entire theme of the book. If it can help to kindle this aspiration in even a few of us, the book will have served its purpose.
Of all the messages sent through flowers, the one which is predominent, is love. May we pray with the Mother,
"0 Lord, let this pure flower of love blossom in me, so that it may make fragrant all who approach me and its perfume sanctify them."
Be like a FlowerBe like a flower. One must try to become like a flower: open, frank, equal, generous and kind. Do you know what it means?
A flower is open to all that surrounds it: Nature, light, the rays of the sun, the wind, etc. It exerts a spontaneous influence on all that is around it. It radiates a joy and a beauty.
It is frank: it hides nothing of its beauty, and lets it flow frankly out of itself. What is within, what is in its depths, it lets it come out so that everyone can see it.
It is equal: it has no preference. Everyone can enjoy its beauty and its perfume, without rivalry. It is equal and the same for everybody. There is no difference, or anything whatsoever.
Then generous: without reserve or restriction, how it gives the mysterious beauty and the very own perfume of Nature. It sacrifices itself entirely for our pleasure, even its life it sacrifices to express this beauty and the secret of the things
gathered within itself.And then, kind: it has such a tenderness, it is so sweet, so close to us, so loving. Its presence fills us with joy. It is always cheerful and happy.
Happy is he who can exchange his qualities with the real qualities of the flowers. Try to cultivate in yourself their refined qualities.
THE MOTHER
Soul of a FlowerHave you ever gone into a garden early in the morning? The flowers are facing the sun, awaiting its advent. Have you felt the mighty aspiration that surges all around for the coming light?
Have you watched a bud, completely closed, and how slowly, miraculously, the petals open, one by one? Whence came this force, this energy, this pulsating life?
Have you seen the earth after it has received a few drops of rain. Multi-coloured little hands come out from the earth in a gesture of thanks giving? They are the fairy-lilies named 'Prayer' by the Mother. We can palpably feel the vibration of
gratitude and we look in joy at this spontaneous and beautiful response of Nature. Nature, so receptive, so open to the Grace! If only we could be likewise....And then we wonder: What is it that gives to a flower and so often to a child, its beauty, its sweetness, its feeling of a happy self-giving? It is the presence of the Divine in the flowers, in Nature. It is what we call the 'Psychic Presence'. And
love. Love of flowers can help us to find our own psychic being, the Divine within us.The unselfish movement, uncalculating, is one of the most beautiful forms of psychic consciousness in the world. But the higher one rises in the scale of mental activity, the rarer it becomes. Per with intelligence come all the skill and cleverness,
and corruption, calculation. For instance, when a rose blossoms it does so spontaneously, for the joy of being beautiful, smelling sweet, expressing all its joy of living, and it does not calculate, it has nothing to gain out of it: it does so
spontaneously, in the joy of being and living. Take a human being, well, apart from a very few exceptions, the moment his mind is active he tries to get some advantage out of his beauty and cleverness; he wants it to bring him something, either men's
admiration or even much more sordid gains yet. Consequently, from the psychic point of view, the rose is better than human beings.Only, if you climb a rung higher and consciously do what the rose does unconsciously, then it is much more beautiful. But it must be the same thing: a spontaneous flowering of beauty, uncalculating, simply for the joy of being. Little children have
thisat times (at times, not always). Unfortunately, under the influence of their parents and the environment, they learn to be calculating when yet very young.
But this kind of wish to gain by what one has or does is truly one of the ugliest things in the world. And it is one of the most widespread and it has become so widespread, that it is almost spontaneous in man. Nothing can turn its back on the divine
love more totally than that, that wish to calculate and profit.Do flowers love?
This is their form of love, this blossoming. Certainly, when one sees a rose opening to the sun, it is like a need to give its beauty. Only, for us, it is almost unintelligible, for they do not think about what they do. A human being always
associates with everything he does this ability to see himself doing it, that is, to think about himself, think of himself doing it. Man knows that he is doing something. Animals don't think. It is not at all the same form of love. And
flowers, so to speak, are not conscious: it is a spontaneous movement, not a consciousness that is conscious of itself, not at all. But it is a great Force which acts through all that, the great universal Consciousness and the great Force of
universal love which makes all things blossom in beauty.Is there a sense of beauty in flowers?
Directly there is organic life, the vital element comes in, and it is this vital element which gives to flowers the sense of beauty. It is not perhaps individualised in the sense we understand it, but it is a sense of the species and the species
always tries to realise it. I have noticed a first rudiment of the psychic presence and vibration in vegetable life, and truly this blossoming one calls a flower is the first manifestation of the psychic presence. The psychic is individualised only
in man, but it was there before him; but it is not the same kind of individualisation as in man, it is more fluid: it manifests as force, as consciousness rather than as individuality. Take the rose, for example; its great perfection of form, colour,
scent expresses an aspiration and a psychic giving. Look at a rose opening in the morning at the first touch of the sun, it is a magnificent self-giving in aspiration.What is this psychic prayer that flowers represent?
The psychic, when it manifests in a plant, in the form of a flower, is in the form of a wordless prayer; it is the elan of the plant towards the Divine.
Prayer Self-Swing Is true prayer.
You have written: "Love of flowers is a valuable help for finding and uniting with the psychic. Could you explain this more in detail?
Since flowers are the manifestation of the psychic in the vegetal kingdom, love of flowers would mean that one is drawn by the psychic vibration and consequently by the psychic in one's own self.
When you are receptive to the psychic vibration, that puts you in a more intimate contact with the psychic in your own self. Perhaps the beauty of flowers too is a means used by Nature to awaken in human beings the attraction for the psychic.
How can one enter into psychic contact with flowers?
When one is in conscious contact with one's own psychic, one becomes aware of an impersonal psychic behind the whole creation and then, through this, one can enter into contact with flowers and know the psychic prayer they represent.
THE MOTHER
Flowers - their Spiritual NamesFlowers are the 'wordless prayers of Nature', beautiful expressions of its yearning for the Divine. And each flower has its unique aspiration, its own vibration, its true meaning.
Very rarely do the botanical or the common names given to flowers represent their true meaning. The Mother has given spiritual names to nearly eight hundred flowers revealing their deepest aspiration. She has also described the process, though it is
not something which can be done by the mind. In several cases, the name given by the Mother is very much in harmony with the common name given traditionally or the use to which a flower is put, specially in worship.The lotus, the flower of the gods, is named by the Mother the Avatar or the. Divine Consciousness. Tulsi is an inseparable part of all worship in India and is offered to Vishnu and Krishna. The name given by the Mother to Tulsi is 'Devotion'. Shiva,
the eternal ascetic, is offered the wild Dhatura flower which the Mother called 'Tapasya' meaning askesis. Kali, the mighty Goddess of strength, is worshipped with the red hibiscus, named 'Power' by the Mother. And then we have the Mudar, named
'Courage' by the Mother, which is offered to Hanuman, the courageous and devoted servitor of the Divine. The Sunflower, forever facing the sun, is 'Consciousness turned towards the Divine'. And what about those unforgettable tiny flowers popularly
known as 'Forget-Me-Not'? To these, the Mother has given the name of 'Lasting Remembrance'. The bright orange flower of the tree called 'Ashoka' in lndia, under whose spreading branches captive Sita sat in Lanka, means in Sanskrit exactly what the
Mother has called it, 'Without Grief.There are other flowers whose significance, as given by The Mother, has reference to the name of a god or goddess, in particular there are several flowers named after Krishna. Most of these flowers are blue, the colour associated with Krishna and, in
the Water Hyacinth called by the Mother 'Krishna's play in the Vital', one can even see the peacock plume.Mother, when flowers are brought to you, how do you give them a signiflcance?
To the flowers? But it's in the same way, by entering into contact with the nature of the flower, its inner truth. Then one knows what it represents.
Tapasya A discipline aiming at the realization of the Divine.
Each flower has its special significance, hasn't it?Not as we understand it mentally. There is a mental projection when one gives a precise meaning to a flower. It may answer, vibrate to the touch of this projection, accept the meaning, but a flower has no equivalent of the mental consciousness. In
the vegetable kingdom there is a beginning of the psychic, but there is no beginning of the mental consciousness. In animals it is different; mental life begins to form and for them things have a meaning. But in flowers it is rather like the movement
of a little baby - it is neither a sensation nor a feeling, but something of both; it is a spontaneous movement, a very special vibration. So, if one is in contact with it, if one feels it, one gets an impression which may be translated by a thought.
That is how I have given a meaning to flowers and plants - there is akind of identification with the vibration, a perception of the quality it represents and, little by little, through a kind of approximation (sometimes this comes suddenly, occasionally it takes time), there is a coming together of these vibrations
(which are of a vital-emotional order) and the vibration of the mental thought, and if there is a sufficient harmony, one has a direct perception of what the plant may signify.In some countries (particularly here) certain plants are used as the media for worship, offering, devotion. Certain plants are given on special occasions. And I have often seen that this identification was quite in keeping with the nature of the
plant, because spontaneously, without knowing anything, I happened to give the same meaning as that given in religious ceremonies. The vibration was really there in the flower itself.... Did it come from the use that had been made of it or did it
come from
very far, from somewhere deep down. From a beginning of the psychic life? It would be difficult to say.If our flower-offering depends on our state of consciousness, does it help us to learn the significances of flowers even if it is purely mental to begin with?
Yes, surely. THE MOTHER
Krishna's play in the vital It is in His midst that it has all its charm.
Flowers where the spiritual name matches perfectly with the common name or with the way the flowers are used traditionally.
Common Name ! Common Name (India) ! (Wesi) ! Botanical Name ! Explanation
No. Spiritual Name
I. Devotion ! Tulsi ! Ocimum sanctum ! Very sacred plant in India used for worship since ancient times
2. Dynamic Power ! Java ! Hibiscus ! Hibiscus ! Offered to Kali the Goddess of power and strength
3. Tapasya ! Dhatura ! Angel's Trumpet ! Datura suaveolens ! Offered to Shiva the Lord of ascetics
4. Devotional attitude ! Bael ! Wood apple ! Aegle marmelos ! Leaves and flowers offered to Shiva
5. Courage ! Mudar ! Calotropis procera ! Offered to Hanuman the courageous and devoted servitor of the Divine
6. Without grief ! Ashoka ! Soraca Indica ! The spiritual name matches perfectly with the popular name in India
7. Lasting remembrance ! Forget me not ! Myosotis ! The spiritual name matches perfectly with the popular name in West
5. Consciousness turned Suryamukhi Sunflower Helianthus This flower always turns towards the Light its face to the sun
d:\my\10.tif Flowers whose spiritual significance has reference to the name of gods or goddesses.Common Name ! Common Name (lndia) ! (West) ! Botanical Name
No. Spiritual Name
1. Satchidananda ! DulabaChampa ! Ginger lily ! Hedychium 2. Godhead ! Hibiscus Hawaian ! Hibiscus "Hawaian" 3. Integral Wealth of Mahalakshmi! Water Lily ! Nymphaea
4. Mahasaraswati's Perfection ! Sweet-smelling in Works ! Rondeletia ! Rondeletia odorata
5. Aditi - The Divine Consciousness ! Safed Kamal ! White Lotus ! Nelumbo nucifera 'Alb@
6I. The Avatar - The Supreme manifested on earth in a body ! Lal Kamal ! Red Sacred Lotus ! Nelumbo nucifera
7. Krishna's light in the Overmind ! Blue Sage ! Salvia farinacea 8. Krishna's ananda ! Cape leadwort ! Plumbago auriculata
9. Krishna's integral play ! Wishbone flower ! Torenia fournieri "Alba 10. Krishna's light in the mind ! Mulata ! Heavenly Blue ! Thunbergia grandiflora 11. Krishna's light in the physical mind ! Ruellia ciliosa 12. Krishna's light in the vital !
Ruellia tuberosa 13. Krishna's play in the vital ! Water Hyacinth ! Eichhornea crassipes 14. Krishna's light in the senses ! Butterfly pea ! Clitoria ternatea15. First sign of Krishna's light in matter ! Evolvulus alsinoides
16. Krishna's play in matter ! Torenia fournieri 17. Krishna's light in the subconscient ! Eranthemum wattii
18. Krishna's influence in the subconscient ! Priya-darsa ! Crossandra ! Crossandra
19. Radha's consciousness (ultramarine) ! Clitoria ternatea
20. Radha's consciousness in the vital (light purple) ! Clitoria ternatea
21. Protection of the gods ! Baganvilas ! Bougainvillea ! Bougainvillea
Flowers containing Sri Aurobindo's name.
Common Name ! Common Name (India) (West) Rulanicul Nilulf
No. Spirimal Name
1. Sri Aurobindo's compassion ! Rose Moss ! Portulaca grandiflora
2. Remembrance of Sri Aurohindo ! Lobelia crinus
3. Opening to Sri Aurobindo's Force ! Thunbergia kirkii
4. The Avatar - The Supreme manifested on earth in a body ! Lal Kamal ! Red sacred lotus ! Nelumbo nucifera
Flowers around usThere are some flowers with which we are all familiar, which are known as common flowers. But with the spiritual meaning given to them by the Mother, they appear to us revealed in a new light, with an added significance. Jasmine is 'Purity', and the
Bougainvillaea, planted all around the house, is 'Protection'. The Chrysanthemum is 'Life Energy', and the Pansy is 'Thoughts turned towards the Divine'. The Gulmohar is 'Realisation', the Sadabahar blooming throughout the year, is 'Progress',
Gladioly is 'Receptivity' and the Marigold, 'Plasticity'.Consciousness turned towards the Supramental Light It is athirst for Truth and will find its satisfaction only in the Truth.
Plasticity Always ready for the progress demanded.Obedience
To learn to obey is good; to obey only the Divine is better.
Progress The reason why we are on earth.
To see the world in a grain of sand,
And a heaven in a wild flower, Hold infinity in the palm of your hand, And eternity in an hour.
William Bloke
Life energy Powerful and manifold, it meets all needs.Some wen known and common flowers.
Common Name Common Name
No. Spirilual Name (India) (West) Botanical Name
I. Aristocracy of Beauty ! Iris ! Iris
2. Aspiration ! Parijata ! Night Jasmine ! Nyctanthes arbortristis
3. Attachment for the Divine ! Orchid ! Orchidaceae 4. The Avatar - The Supreme manifested on earth in a body ! Lal Kamal ! Red sacred lotus ! Nelumbo nucifera
5. Balance ! Begonia ! Begonia 6. Beginning of the Supramental Realisation ! Palash ! Flame of the Forest ! Butea monosperma
7. Beauty in Art ! Udsalep ! Peony ! Paeonia
8. Bird of Paradise ! Bird of Paradise ! Heliconia metallica
9. Blossoming ! Tulip ! Tulipa 10. Boldness ! Cockscomb ! Celosia argentea cristata 11. Collaboration ! Carnation ! Dianthus caryophyllus 12. Complexity of the Centres ! Canna ! Canna
13. Consciousness turned towards the Light ! Suryamukhi ! Sunflower ! Helianthus
14. Constant Remembrance of the Divine ! Japanese Honey suckle ! Lonicera Japonica 15. Courage ! Mudar ! Calotropis procera 16. Distinction ! Lilae ! Syringa 17. Dynamic Power ! Java ! Hibiscus ! Hibiscus
To me the meanest flower that blows can give Thoughts that do often lie too deep for tears.William Wordsworth
Common Name Common Name (India) (West) Botanical Name
No. Spiritual name
18. Endurance ! Zinnia ! Zinnia 19. Enthusiasm ! Petunia ! Petunia hybrida 20. Gentleness ! Sweet Pea ! Lathyrius odoratus 21. Integral Purity ! Mogra ! Jasmine ! Jasminum
22. Joy of Vegetal Nature in answer to the New Light ! Bottle Brush ! Callistemon
23. Lasting Remembrance ! Forget-me-not ! Myosotis 24. Life Energy ! Chrysanthemum ! Chrysanthemum morifolium 25. Love for the Divine ! Culab ! Rose ! Rosa 26. Modesty Sweet Violet Viola odorata 27. Nature makes an offering of her beauty ! Morning
Glory ! Ipomoea 28. The New Creation ! Rajanigandha ! Tuberose ! Polianthes tuberosa 29. Nobility ! Dahlia ! Dahlia 30. Plasticity ! Genda ! Marigold ! Tagetes 31. Power of Beauty ! Daffodil ! Narcissus 32. Progress ! Sadabahar ! Vinca roseus 33.
Protection ! Baganvilas ! Bougainvillea ! Bougainvillea 34. Psychological Perfection ! Chameli ! Temple Tree ! Plumeria 35. Realisation ! Gul Mohar ! Flamboyant ! Delonix regia 36. Receptivity ! Gladiolus ! Gladiolus 37. Riches ! Cactus Flower !
Cactus 38. Spiritual Atmosphere ! Neem ! Margosa ! Azadirachta indica 39. Spiritual Happiness ! Garden Geranium ! Pelargonium hortorum 40. Spontaneous Joy of Nature Poppv Papaver rhoeas41. Supramental Influence in the Subconscient ! Priyadarsha ! Crossandra ! Crossandra
42. Supramental Psychological Perfection ! Champak ! Golden Champa ! Michelia champaca 43. Supramental Sun ! Kadamba ! Anthocephalus indicus 44. Surrender ! Gulab ! Country Rose ! Rosa 45. Thoughts turned towards the Divine ! Pansy ! Viola tricolor
hortensin 46. Transparency ! Aster ! Callistephus chinensis 47. Wealth ! Water Lily ! Nymphaea 48. Without Grief ! Ashoka ! Sorrowless Tree of India ! Saraca indica
d:\my\15.tif Sitent Language of FlowersFlowers have always been an intrinsic part of life in the Ashram. For several years, (he Mother distributed flowers to the sadhaks everyday. This is not merely because of the love of beauty which pervades the Ashram atmosphere, nor is it because
flowers are a part of worship in all countries. In the words of Sahana Devi, "there (at the Ashram) it is much more, it has been the language of our inner communication with the Mother. How often have we not intimated our heart's yearnings through
the flowers and received her blessings and directions through them". Adds Lizelle Raymond, "the one who receives a flower from her hands knows that it is a living Mantra, which will act profoundly at its time; all depends on the opening, on the
sincerity, on the surrender of the one who delivers himself to the Divine influence. There is here a process of transmutation, of stimulation, which is evident. The flower is the active agent which accomplishes the aim... The mute message of the
flower is neat, precise, often as sharp as a razor's edge... At the very moment he receives the flowers they become for him literally the steps of the stairs of light he has to climb.Q: What is the significance of the Mother's giving us flowers at Pranam every day?
A: It is meant to help the realisation of the thing the flower stands for.
Q: Are powers mere symbols and nothing more? Can the flower symbolizing silence, for example, help in the realisation of silence?
A: It is when the Mother puts her force into the flower that it becomes more than a symbol. It then can become very effective if there is receptivity in the one who receives.
SRI AUROBINDO
I can transmit a state of consciousness more easily to a flower than to a man: it is very receptive, though it does not know how to formulate its experience to itself because it
lacks a mind. But the pure psychic consciousness is instinctive to it. When, therefore, you offer flowers to me their condition is almost always an index to yours. There are persons who never succeed in bringing a fresh flower to me - even if the
flower is fresh it becomes limp in their hands. Others, however, always bring fresh flowers and even revitalise drooping ones. If your aspiration is strong your flower-offerings will be fresh. And if you are receptive you will be also very easily
able to absorb the message I put in the flowers I give you. When I give them, I give you states of consciousness; the flowers are the mediums and it all depends on your receptivity whether they are effective or not.When I give flowers, it is as an answer to the aspiration coming from the very depths of your being. It is a need or an aspiration, it depends upon the person. It may fill a void or else give you the impetus to progress, or it may help you find the
inner harmony in
The Mother in Japan in 1919. order to establish peace.Flowers-are extremely receptive. All the flowers to which I have given a significance receive exactly the force I put into them and transmit it. People don't always receive it because most of the time they are less receptive than the flowers, and,
they waste the force that has been put in it through their unconsciousness and lack of receptivity. But the force is there, and the flower receives it wonderfully.I knew this a very long time ago. Fifty years ago.... There was that occultist who later gave me lessons in occultism for two years. His wife was a wonderful clairvoyant and had an absolutely remarkable capacity - precisely - of transmitting forces.
They lived in Tlemcen. I was in Paris. I used to correspond with them. I had not yet met them atall. And then, ana day, she sent me in a letter petals of the pomegranate flower, "Divine's Love". At that time I had not given the meaning to the flower. She sent me petals of pomegranate flowers telling me that these petals were bringing me her
protection and force.Now, at that time I used to wear my watch on a chain. Wrist-watches were not known then or there were very few. And there was also a small eighteenth century magnifyingglass... it was quite small, as large as this (gesture).... And it had two lenses,
you see, like' all reading-glasses; there were two lenses mounted on a small golden frame, and it was hanging from my chain. Now, between the two glasses I put these petals and I used to carry this about with me always because I wanted to keep it
with me; you see, I trusted this lady and knew she had power. I wanted to keep this with me, and I always felt a kind of energy, warmth, con-
Divine Lovefidence, force which came from that thing.... I did not think about it, you see, but I felt it like that.
And then, one day, suddenly I felt quite depleted, as though a support that was there had gone. Something very unpleasant. I said, "It is strange; what has happened? Nothing really unpleasant has happened to me. Why do I feel like this, so empty,
emptied of energy?" And in the evening, when I took off my watch and chain, I noticed that one of the small glasses had come off and all the petals were gone. There was not one petal left. Then I really knew that they carried a considerable charge of
power, for I had felt the difference without even knowing the reason. I didn't know the reason and yet it had made a considerable difference. So it was after this that I saw how one could use flowers by charging them with forces. They are extremely
receptive.A flower which is said to bloom even in the desert.
An old Chaldean Legend
Long, long ago, in the dry land which is now Arabia, a divine being incarnated upon earth to awaken in it the supreme love. As expected it was persecuted by men, misunderstood, suspected, pursued. Mortally wounded by its assilants, it wanted to die
quietly in solitude in order to be able to accomplish its work, and being pursued, it ran away. Suddenly, in the vast desert land there appeared a small pomegranate bush. The saviour crept in under the low branches, to leave its body in peace; and
immediately the bush spread out miraculously, it grew higher, larger, became deep and thick, so that when the pursuers passed by, they did not even suspect that the One whom they were chasing was hidden there, and they went their way.While drop by drop the sacred blood fell, fertilising the soil, the bush was covered
with marvellous flowers, scarlet, large, crowded with petals... innumerable drops of blood.These are the flowers which express and contain for us the Divine's Love.
Sweet Mother, has that Chaldean legend which you have written any relation with Kali Puja?
Yes, my child, because on Kali Puja day I always distribute the flowers of "Divine's Love"; for Kali is the most loving of all the aspects of the Mahashakti; here is the most active and most powerful Love. And that is why every year I distribute the
petals of "Divine's Love" on Kali's Day. And so naturally this explanation of why these flowers were chosen to express the Divine's Love - it is a sufficient explanation.Have flowers a power in the occult world?
Yes, they have an occult power; they can even transmit a message if one knows how to charge them with it.
Can the flowers transmit other messages apart from the significances you have given
It is not impossible but the person who sends the message must have a great power of formation.
Is the power of formation purely occult or can a mental or vital power of formation also transmit messages?
The mental power of formation can certainly transmit messages. But for these messages to be received and understood, the person to whom they are sent must himself be very receptive mentally and particularly attentive.
When we offer flowers, with what attitude should we offer them? Does it matter if we do not know the significance?
This depends complely on the person who gives the flowers and on his state of consciousness. The same answer may be given to both the questions. According to the degree of consciousness of people what they do has a deep significance.
Do flowers retain the force always, even when they decay?
Decay? No, my child; when Bey dry up, yes. Decayed flowers are just nothing. A decomposition takes place, so the thing disappears. Perhaps it brings energy to the soil, that's quite possible; but still, when it decays it is good only to make manure
to grow other flowers. But if it dries up, it is preserved, it can remain for quite a long time.Sweet Mother, what should we do with the flowers which you give us every day?
Rowers? You ought to keep them as long as they are fresh, and when they are no longer so, you must collect them and give them to the gardener (any gardener you know), so that he can put them in the earth to produce other flowers. Yes, one must give
back to the earth what it has given us, for otherwise it will become poor.THE MOTHER
Each Petal is a ThoughtThe white Champak flower, Plumeria, is named by the Mother 'Psychological Perfection'. It has five petals. In this beautiful talk the Mother reveals the meaning of each petal and the quality it signifies for the aspiring sadhak and, with a unique
psychological insight, throws a new light on the true meaning of each quality. The talk begins with the Mother showing the Champak flower and counting its petals.Who remembers this?
(Counting the petals) One, two, three, four, five psychological perfections. What are the five psychological perfections?....
So, if someone knows it, he can tell us, we'll compare....
Aspiration, devotion, sincerity and faith. That makes only four, so far. And surrender.
In any case, what is always there, in all combinations and to whomever I give it, the first among them all is sincerity. For if there is no sincerity, one cannot advance even by half a step. So that is the first, and it is always there.
But it is possible to translate it by another word, if you prefer it, which would be "transparency". I shall explain this word:
Someone is in front of me and I am looking at him; I look into his eyes. And if this person is sincere or "transparent", through his eyes I go down and I see his soul - clearly. But - this is precisely the experience - when I look at somebody and see
a little cloud, then I continue, I see a screen, and then sometimes it is a wall, and afterwards it is something quite black; and all this must be crossed, and holes bored in order to go through: and even then I am not sure if at the last minute I
may not find myself before a door of bronze so thick that I shall neverget through and see his soul; so, of such a person I can immediately say that he is not sincere. But I can also say, figuratively, that he is not transparent. That is the first thing.
There is a second, which is obviously, as indispensable if you want to go forward; it is to have faith. Or another word, which seems more limited but is for me more important, because (it is a question of experience) if your faith is not made of a
complete trust in the Divine, well, you may very easily remain under the impression that you have faith and yet be losing all trust in the divine Power or divine Goodness, or the Trust the Divine has in you. These are the three stumbling-blocks:Those who have what they call an unshakable faith in the Divine, and say, "It is the Divine who is doing everything, who can do everything; all that happens in me, in others, everywhere, is the work of the Divine and the Divine alone", if they follow
this with some kind of logic, after some time they will blame the Divine for all the most terrible wrongs which take place in the world and make of Him a real demon, cruel and frightful - if they have no trust.Or again, they do have faith, but tell themselves, "Well, I have faith in the Divine, but this world, I see quite well what it's like! First of all, I suffer so much, don't I? I am very unhappy, far more unhappy than all my neighbours" - for one is
always far more unhappy than all one's neighbours - "I am very unhappy and, truly, life is cruel to me.
Psychological PerfectionThere is not one psychological perfection but five, like the five petals of this flower. We have said they are: sincerity, faith, devotion, aspiration and surrender. But as a matter of fact every time I give this flower it is not always the same
psychological perfection, it is something very fluid, depending on the circumstances and the need of people.
Mental Sincerity The essential condition for integral honesty.But then the Divine is divine. He is AllGoodness, All-Generosity, All-Harmony, so how is it that I am so unhappy? He must be powerless; otherwise being so good how could He let me suffer so much?" That is the second stumbling-block. And the third:
there are people who have what may be called a warped and excessive modesty or humility and who tell themselves, "Surely the Divine has thrown meTransparency Can come only as a result of perfect sincerity.
out. I am good for nothing. He can do nothing with me, the only thing for me is to give up the game, for He finds me unworthy of Him!"
So, unless one adds to faith a total and complete trust in the Divine Grace, there will be difficulties. So both are necessary....
Now, we have put "devotion" in this series. Yes, devotion is all very well, but unless it is accompanied by many other things it too may make many mistakes. It may meet with great difficulties.
Faith You flame up and triumph.
You have devotion, and you keep your ego. And then your ego makes you do all sorts of things out of devotion, things which are terribly egoistic. That is to say, you think only of yourself, not of others, nor of the world, nor of the work, nor of
what ought to be done - you think only of your devotion. And you become tremendously egoistic. And so, when you find out that the Divine, for some reason, does not answer to your devotion with the enthusiasm you expected of Him, you despair and fall
back into the same three difficulties I was just
Trust In the Divine Very indispensable for the impulsive vital.speaking about: either the Divine is cruel - we have read that, there are many such stories, of enthusiastic devotees who abuse the Divine because He is no longer as gentle and near to them as before. He has withdrawn, "Why hast Thou deserted me?
Thou hast abandoned me, 0 monster!... They don't dare to say this, but think it, or else they say, "Oh! I must have made such a serious mistake that I am thrown out", and they fall into despair.Devotion
Modest and fragrant, it gives itself without seeking for anything in return.
But there is another movement which should constantly accompany devotion.... That kind of sense of gratitude that the Divine exists; that feeling of a marvelling thankfulness which truly fills you with a sublime joy at the fact that the Divine
exists, that there is something in the universe which is the Divine, that it is not just the monstrosity we see, that there is the Divine, the Divine exists. And each time that the least thing puts you either directly or indirectly in contact with
this sublime Reality of divineGratitude It is you who open all the closed doors and let the Grace which saves penetrate deeply.
existence, the heart is filled with so intense, so marvellous a joy, such a gratitude as of all things has the most delightful taste.
There is nothing which gives you a joy equal to that of gratitude. One hears a bird sing, sees a lovely flower, looks at a little child, observes an act of generosity, reads a beautiful sentence, looks at the setting sun, no matter what, suddenly
this comes upon you, this kind of emotion - indeed so deep, so intense - that the world manifests the Divine, that there is something behind the world which is the Divine.
So I find that devotion without gratitude is quite incomplete, gratitude must come with devotion.I remember that once we spoke of courage as one of the perfections; I remember having written it down once in a list. But this courage means having a taste for the supreme adventure. And this taste for supreme adventure is aspiration - an aspiration
which takes hold of you completely and flings you, without calculation and without reserve and without a possibility of withdrawal, into the great adventure of the divine discovery, the great adventure of the divine meeting, the yet greater adventure
of the divine Realisation; you throw yourself into the adventure without looking back and without asking for a single minute, "What's going to happen?" For if you ask what is going to happen, you never start, you always remain stuck there, rooted to
the spot, afraid to lose something, to lose your balance.That's why I speak of courage - but really it is aspiration. They go together. A real aspiration is something full of courage.
And now, surrender. In English the word is "surrender", there is no French word which gives exactly that sense. But Sri Aurobindo has said - I think we have read this
- that surrender is the first and absolute condition for doing the yoga. So, if we follow what he has said, this is not just one of the necessary qualities: it is the first attitude
Courage Bold, a faces all dangers.
Aspiration Innumerable and obstinate, repeating itself untiringly.
indispensable for beginning the yoga. If one has not decided to make a total surrender, one cannot begin.
But for this surrender to be total, all these qualities are necessary. And I add one more - for so far we have only four - I add endurance. For, if you are not able to face difficulties without getting discouraged and without giving up, because it is
too difficult; and if you are incapable... well, of receiving blows and yet continuing, of "pocketing" them, as they say - when you receive blows as a result of your defects, of putting them in your pocket and continuing to go forward without
flagging - you don't go very far; at the first turning where you lose sight of your little habitual life, you fall into despair and give up the game.The most... how shall I put it? the most material form of this is perseverance. Unless you are resolved to begin the same thing over again a thousand times if need be... You know, people come to me in despair, "But I thought it was done and now I
must begin again!" And if they are told, "But
Endurance Going to the very end of the effort without fatigue or relaxing.that's nothing, you will probably have to begin again a hundred times, two hundred times, a thousand times; you take one step forward and think you are secure, but there will always be something to bring back the same difficulty a little farther on.
You think you have solved the problem, you must solve it yet once again; it will turn up again looking just a little different, but it will be the same problem", and if you are not determined that: "Even if it comes back a million times, I shall do
it a million times, but I shall go through with it", well, you won't be able to do the yoga. This is absolutely indispensable.People have a beautiful experience and say, "Ah, now this is it!..." And then it
Perseverance The decision toga to the very end.
settles down, diminishes, gets veiled, and suddenly something quite unexpected, absolutely commonplace and apparently completely uninteresting comes before you and blocks your way. And then you say, "Ah! what's the good of having made this progress
if it's going to start all over again? Why should I do it? I made an effort, I succeeded, achieved something, and now it's asFaithfulness We can count on you. You never fail us when we need you.
if I had done nothing! It's indeed hopeless." For you have no endurance.
If one has endurance, one says, "It's all right. Good. I shall begin again as often as necessary; a thousand times, ten thousand times, a hundred thousand times if necessary, I shall begin again - but I shall go to the end and nothing will have the
power to stop me on the way."This is most necessary. Most necessary. So here's my proposal; we put surrender first, at the top of the list, that is, we accept
what Sri Aurobindo has said - that to do the integral yoga one must first resolve to surrender entirely to the Divine, there is no other way, this is the way. But after that one must have the five psychological virtues, five psychological
perfections, and we say that these perfections are: Sincerity or Transparency Faith or Trust (Trust in the Divine, naturally)Devotion or Gratitude Courage or Aspiration Endurance or Perseverance One form of endurance is faithfulness, faithfulness to one's resolution - being faithful. One has taken a resolution, one is faithful to one's resolution. This is endurance.
Surrender To will what the Divine wills is the supreme wisdom.
Victory Will triumph over all obstacles.
There you are.
If one persists, there comes a time when one is victorious. Victory is to the persistent.
THE MOTHER
Flower in the crannied wall, I pluck you out of the crannies, I hold you here, root and all, in my hand Little flower - but if I could understand What you are, root and all, and all in all, I should know what God and man is.
Lord Tennyson
The Message of FlowersThe spiritual name of a flower is the message of its soul, inwardly, the flower is the name itself, "an aspect, an emanation, an aspiration and a progress in the evolution of the earth". Outwardly it is the form and shape, the colour and the number
of its petals, its stamens, and the sepals of its calyx. All its various parts have a precise significance. The Mother has pointed out something special about the forms of certain flowers or elaborated on their spiritual significance. These are
grouped together in this section.The Lotus
The red lotus represents Sri Aurobindo, the white represents me.
In a general way the lotus is the flower of the Divine Wisdom - whatever is its colour. But red, it signifies the Avatar - The Divine incarnated in matter, and white, it signifies the Divine Consciousness manifested upon earth.
The Avatar - The Supreme manifested on earth in a body
The Creative Word
Sweet Mother, there's a flower you have named "The Creative Word".
Yes.
What does that mean?
It is the word which creates.
There are all kinds of old traditions, old Hindu traditions old Chaldean traditions in which the Divine, in the form of the Creator, that is, in His aspect as Creator, pronounces a word which has the power to create. So it is this... And it is the
origin of the mantra. The mantra is the spoken word which has a creative power. An invocation is made and there is an answer to the invocation; or one makes a prayer and the prayer is granted. This is the Word, the Word which, in its sound... It is
not only the idea, it is in the sound that there's a power of creation. It is the origin, you see, of the mantra.In Indian mythology the creator God is Brahma, and I think that it was precisely his power which has been symbolised by this flower, "The Creative Word". And when one is in contact with it, the words spoken have a power of evocation or creation or
formation or transformation; the words... sound always has a power; it has much more power than men think. It may be a good power and it may be a bad power. It creates vibrations which have an undeniable effect. It is not so much the idea as the
sound; the idea too has its own power, but in its own domain - whereas the sound has a power in the material world.
Transformation The goal of creation. TransformationDo you know the flower I have called "Transformation"? Yes. You know it has four petals; well, these four petals are arranged like a cross: one at the top which represents the transcendent, two on each side: the universal, and one at the bottom: the
individual.The petal at the top is divided into two.
Exactly, the transcendent is one and two (or dual) at the same time. This flower is almost perfect in its form. This was the original meaning of the cross also, but that was not as perfect as the flower, for it was one, two, and three. It was not so
good - the flower is perfect.SuPramental Psychological Perfection Have you noticed this flower? It has twelve petals in three rows of four. We have called it "Supramental Psychological Perfection".
I had never noticed that it has three rows: a small row like this, another one a little larger and a third one larger still. They are
in gradation of four: four petals, four petals, four petals.
Well, if one indeed wants to see in the forms of Nature a symbolic expression, one can see a centre which is the supreme Truth. and a triple manifestation - because four indicates manifestation - in three superimposed worlds: the outermost - these
are the largest petals, the lightest in colour - that is a physical world, then a vital world and a mental world, and then at the centre, the supramental Truth.Supramentalised Psychological Perfection A psychological perfection aspiring
to be divinised. Concentration
Here is a bunch of Concentration and of New Birth.
To concentrate for developing the intelligence, for developing the inborn faculties which are hidden within ourselves.
To concentrate means to find oneself. It is the quest, the means to follow. It is the shortest way to get anything. One only has to concentrate - but deep within - and toe! you get the thing, the word, the idea, the feeling, the place you want to
discover, the plane of consciousness, and with perseverance and a constant effort, find the Self and the soul. To concentrate in order to find the soul. With the help of concentration, one
can achieve everything.But one has to know how to concentrate, and each plane has a certain level of concentration. To know how to concentrate is to acquire the power to withdraw from all other things except the one thing you wish to achieve.
Do you know what you should do? To start with: you sit before a wall and say to yourself: "Let my mind be as white as the wall.'' Then, if you see a little black dot on the wall, - or anywhere else, - a dot, you start concentrating on this dot, with
an intent gaze, without allowing any other thoughts to come into your mind, without moving, without wavering as if you wanted to envelop this dot with your hypnotic gaze. Then you will see that you begin to have a relation with this dot and that
nothing else around exists any longer. Only the dot exists, and yourself, attracted as if by a magnet. You have a penetrating gaze. Then, little by little, the black dot doesn't exist in your gaze any more; you are concentrating very hard. But
instead of a black dot, there is a luminous dot; as if everything were appearing differently. The black dot has become a luminous dot. And one can see other movements just around this luminous dot. Then, only the luminous dot is seen and nothing else
around. And a kind of deep relation is being established. You are going to try and tell me.Then, if one learns how to concentrate even more, really concentrate with intensity, one perceives that it is not oneself who is concentrating, and that the ego does not exist any longer, but that an altogether detached will, - without thoughts,
unflickering, a sort of emptiness but well sustained by the aspiration, - is acting through the socalled self. For the Self seems to be hidden. But the concentration is well directed, deeply fixed there, within (Mother shows the psychic centre),
undisturbed by the outwardConcentration Does not aim for any effect, but is simple and persistent.
happenings, discovering regions of happiness where the divine sweetness reigns. One discovers layer after layer of planes of consciousness, and one leaves behind oneself the subtle bodies, one after another, until there is no more resistance and the
soul reveals itself before us, without any agent, without any foreign support. And one discovers the soul in its plenitude. If one starts living in such a way, then one lives forever a new birth. At each moment, one discovers a new life, a new
aspiration, a new light and a new love. One springs forward, to always discover something new. That is life.One has to know how to concentrate by going deeply there within, to find the inner seat from where one should aspire more and more, and, at the same time, reject all that disturbs - the impulses, the sensations, and the thoughts. All that does not
belong to us has to be rejected, so that we may be pure in order to identify ourselves with the Divine Consciousness. Three stages that help one another: to concentrate, to reject, and to aspire for the identification with the Divine.
Aspiration Innumerable and obstinate, repeating itself untiringly.Aspiration.
Well, today there is something special. And these two flowers are just fine: Concentration in the Aspiration... But do you know how to aspire? Do you aspire a little?
Do you know where the aspiration comes from?
Yes, Mother, from the heart and from the psychic.
Yes, my little one, rather from the psychic, the true aspiration comes from there; but one first starts from the heart.
As long as you are not in contact with it, in the beginning you can aspire from the mind, saying: Ma, Ma, Ma, Ma, and asking precisely what you want, as, for example, Peace, or let Peace be established within me. Then you silently concentrate and you
remain open. You will see that you will beflooded with Peace.
Then you concentrate in the heart, and you aspire to come into contact with the flame, the psychic flame, the flame of purification and go there, very deeply, and remain silent and open like this (Mother opens Her hands like a flower above Her head).
Once there - but you must sincerely make a great effort to find it, - you are in contact with the central being; everything else becomes silent, and one has the feeling that the Divine is doing everything for oneself. An immutable joy and peace and
freedom then seize you. And nothing in the world is interesting any more, but the aspiration that unites with the Divine.Aspiration in, the Physical for the Divine Love.
Here is the flower we have called "Aspiration in the Physical for the Divine's Love." By the "Physical" I mean the physical consciousness, the most ordinary outwardgoing consciousness, the normal consciousness of most human beings, which sets such
great store by comfort, good food, good clothes, happy relationships, etc., instead of aspiring for the higher things. Aspiration in the physical for the Divine's Love implies that the physical asks for nothing else save that it should feel how the
Divine loves it. It realises that all its usual satisfactions are utterly insufficient. But there cannot be a compromise: if the physical wants the Divine's Love it must want that alone and not say, "I shall have the Divine's Love and at the same
time keep my other attachments, needs and enjoyments...."The fundamental seat of aspiration from which it radiates or manifests in one part of the being or another is the psychic centre. When I speak of aspiration in the physical I mean that the very consciousness in you which bankers after material
consort and well-being should of itself, without beingcompelled by the higher parts of your nature, ask exclusively for the Divine's Love. Usually you have to show it the Light by means of your higher parts; surely this has to be done persistently, otherwise the physical would never learn and it would
take Nature's common round of ages before it learns by itself. Indeed the round of Nature is intended to show it all possible sorts of satisfactions and by exhausting them convince it that none of them can really satisfy it and that what it is at
bottom seeking is a divine satisfaction. In Yoga we hasten this slow process of Nature and insist on the physical consciousness seeing the truth and learning to recognise and want it. But how to show it the truth? Well, just as you bring a light into
a dark room. Illumine the darkness of your physical consciousness with the intuition and aspiration of your more refined parts and keep on doing so till it realises how futile and unsatisfactory is its hunger for the low ordinary things, and turnsspontaneously towards the truth. When it does turn, your whole life will be changed - the experience is unmistakable.
When, as a child. I used to complain to my mother about food or any such small matter she would always tell me to go and do my work or pursue my studies instead of bothering about trifles. She would ask me if I had the complacent idea that I was born
for comfort. "You are born to realise the highest Ideal," she would say and send me packing. She was quite right, though of course her notion of the highest Ideal was rather poor by our standards. We are all born for the highest Ideal: therefore,
whenever in our Ashram some petty request for more comfort and material happiness is refused, it is for your own good and to make you fulfil what you are here for. The refusal is actually a favour inasmuch as you are thereby considered worthy to
stand before the highest Ideal and be shaped according to it.Aspiration in the Physical for the Divine Love Manifold and intense, difficult to satisfy.
Mental Simplicity Does not like complications.Simplicity
As soon as all effort disappears from a manifestation, it becomes very simple, with the simplicity of a flower opening, manifesting its beauty and spreading its fragrance without clamour or vehement gesture. And in this simplicity lies the greatest
power, the power which is least mixed and least gives rise to harmful reactions. The power of the vital should be mistrusted, it is a tempter on the path of the work, and there is always a risk of falling into its trap, for it gives you the taste of
immediate results; and, in our first eagerness to do the work well, we let ourselves be carried away to make use of this power. But very soon it deflects all our action from the right course and introduces a seed of illusion and death into what we
do.Simplicity, simplicity! How sweet is the purity of Thy presence!
Eternal Youth and Eternal Smile
There, there, I have kept something for you carefully; as soon as I received these flowers this morning, I thought of you: "It will be something for Mona when he comes." I kept them separately. Do you know what they mean?
This one is Eternal Youth, and that one, Eternal Smile.
These are two flowers that complete one another. Two flowers that are very essential for a complete life.
If one remains young eternally and if one can smile eternally, then one takes a great step towards transformation. When one is above the fetters of the ego and the desires, one starts smiling, and when one can keep a constant aspiration for progress,
then one remains young. Here are two sure means toEternal Youth It is a gift the Divine gives us when we unite ourselves with Him.
reach the goal. Don't waste time. Become an optimist and follow the direct path. There is no need to think.
Successful Future
Do you know what the flower which we have called "Successful Future" signifies when given to you? It signifies the hope - nay, even the promise - that you will participate in the descent of the supramental world. For that descent will be the
successful consummation of our work, a descent of which the full glory has not yet been or else the whole face of life would have been different. By slow degrees the Supramental is exerting its influence, now one part of the being and now another
feels the embrace or the touch of its divinity; but when it comes down in all its self-existent power, a supreme radical change will seize the wholenature. We are moving nearer and nearer the hour of its complete triumph. Once the world-conditions are ready the full descent will take place carrying everything before it. Its presence will be unmistakable, its force will brook no resistance,
doubts and difficulties will not torture you any longer. For the Divine will stand manifest - unveiled in its total perfection. I do not, however, mean to say that the whole world will at once feel its presence or be transformed, but I do mean that a
part of humanity will know and participate in its descent - say, this little world of ours here. From there the transfiguring grace will most effectively radiate. And, fortunately for the aspirants, that successful future will materialise for them in
spite of all the obstacles set in its way by unregenerate human nature!THE MOTHER
Successful future Full of promise and joyous surprises.
The Meaning of ColoursFlowers and colours. Colours and flowers. They always go together. The scientists have given many biological and botanical reasons to explain the colours, but there is also a spiritual reason. In yogic psychology every plane of consciousness has its
own Particular colour. Flowers with certain colours have often spiritual meanings corresponding to that plane of consciousness.Let us take the major planes and their corresponding colours:
* Physical - Bright red
* Vital - Dark red - lavender - violet or purple
* Mental - Yellow or greenish yellow
* Psychic - Pink or pale rose
* Supramental - Orange or golden yellow
* Integral - White
* Krishna's or Sri Aurobindo's Light - Light blue.
Here are some flowers which show strikingly the truth of this yogic perception. Many red flowers, for example, are connected with an aspiration in the physical. We must, however, always bear in mind that there is no fixed rule, for truth is beyond
all mental laws and formulations.Aspiration in the Physical Manifold, simple and joyful.
"What is it in a flower which makes it take and reflect a certain colour?
The scientists say that it is the composition of its atoms but I say that it is the nature of its aspiration.
THE MOTHER
Flowers where the spiritual significance is closely related to the colour.
Physical No. Spiritual Name - (Botanical Name)
I. Aspiration in the physical (Ixora coccinea 'Bandhuca')
2. Aspiration in the physical for the Divine Love (Russelia equisetiformis)
3. Connection between the Light and the physical centre (Canna)
4. Conversion of the physical (Hippeastrum) I
5. Dignity in the physical (Dahlia)
6. Generosity in the physical (Impatiens balsamina)
7. Joyous physical enthusiasm (Petunia hybrida) 8. Offering of the physical (Althaea rosea)
9. Opening of the physical to the Divine Love (Ouamoclit coccinea) 10. Physical aspiration for immortality (Celosia argentea) 11. Physical Boldness (Celosia argentea 'Cristata') 12. Physical centre (Canna)
13. Physical consciousness entirely turned towards the Divine (Tithonia rotundifolia) 14. Physical continuity (Acalypha hispida) 15. Physical curiosity (Holmskioldia sanguinea) If). Physical endurance (Zinnia) 17. Physical enthusiasm (Petunia
hybrida) 18. Physical protection (Bougainvillea) 19. Physical receptivity (Gladiolus) 20. Physical thoroughness (Verbena hybrida) 21- Power of physical expression (Antirrhinum majus) 22. Skill in physical work (Phlox drummondii) 23. Spiritual
aspiration in the physical (Russelia coccinea) 24. Transnarency in the physical (Callistephus chinensis)
Vital No. Spiritual Name - (Botanical Name)I. Aspiration for vital purity (Duranta crecta)
2. Broadening of the most material vital (Sinningia speciosa)
3. Conscious vital immortality (Gomphrena globosa)
4. Correct movement in the vital (Saintpaulia ionantha)
5. Distinction of the vital (Melia azedarach)
6. Endurance of the higher vital (Zinnia)
7. Enthusiasm in the most material vital (Petunia hybrida)
8. Enthusiasm in the higher vital (Petunia hybrida)
9. Formative faculty in the vital (Crotalaria spectabilis) 10. Intimacy with the Divine in the vital (Lagerstroemia indica) 11. Joyous enthusiasm in the most material vital (Petunia hybrida) 12. Krishna's light in the vital (Ruellia tuberosa) 13.
Life energy in the vital (Chrysanthemum morifolium) 14. Light in the vital (Oestrum purpureum) 15. Opening of the material vital to the light (Thunbergia crecta) 16. Power of vital expression (Antirrhinum majus) 17. Radha's consciousness in the vital
(Clitoria ternatea) In. Renunciation of vital desires (Angelonia grandiflora) I9. Seeking the light in the lower vital (Iochroma cyaneum) 20. Silence in the vital (Achimenes grandiflora) 21. Skill in vital work (Phlox drummondii) 22. Supramentalised
vital transparency (Callistephus chinensis) 23. Transparency of the emotive vital (Callistephus chinensis) 24. Vital aspiration for immortality (Celosia argentea) 25. Vital attachment for the divine (Spathoglottis plicata) 26. Vital consecration
(Heliotropium peruvianum) 27. The vital governed by the presence (Setcreasea purpurea)Vital sensitivity Is excessive if not controlled.
28. Vital courage (Solanum trilobatum) 29. Vital endurance (Zinnia) 30. Vital enthusiasm (Petunia hybrida) 31. Vital immortality (Gomphrena globosa) 32. Vital Joy in matter (Nierembergia caerulea) 33. Vital protection (Bougainvillea) 34. Vital
receptivity (Gladiolus) 35. Vital thoroughness (Verbena hybrida) 36. Vital transparency (Callistephus chinensis)Mental
No. Spiritual Name - (Botanical Name)
1. Birth of true mental sincerity (Melampodium)
2. First mental awakening in matter (Tribulus terrestris)
3. Mental aspiration (Ixora lutea)
4. Mental attachment for the Divine (Dendrobium moschatum)
5. Mental balance (Begonia)
6. Mental boldness (Celosia argentea 'Cristata')
7. Mental cheerfulness (Gaillardia pulchella 'Picta')
8. Mental curiosity (Holmskioldia sanguinea)
9. Mental endurance (Zinnia) 10. Mental goodwill (Mussaenda luteola) 11. Mental gratitude (Ipomoea tuberosa) 12. Mental honesty (Tristellateia australis) 13. Mental love for the Divine (Rosa) 14. Mental love under the psychic influence (Rosa)
15. Mental opening (Barleria prionitis) 16. Mental plasticity (Tagetes erecta) 17. Mental prayer (Zephyranthes sulphurea) 18. Mental promise (Abutilon) 19. Mental receptivity (Gladiolus) 20. Mental simplicity (Thymophylla tenuiloba) 21. Mental
sincerity (Solidago) 22. Mental spirit of imitation (Loranthus) 23. Mental suggestions of organization (Aglaia odorata) 24. Mental tapasya (Datura)25. Mental trust in the Divine (Asystasia coromandeliana) 26. Mental voice (Gmelina) 27. Perfect mental balance (Begonia) 28. Power of mental expression (Antirrhinum majus)
Mental Sincerity The essential condition for integral honesty.
Psychic No. Spiritual Name - (Botanical Name)I. First emergence of the psychic in matter (Jalropha multifida)
2. Intimacy with the Divine in the psychic (Lagerstroemia indica)
3. Joyous psychic enthusiasm (Petunia hybrida)
4. Perfect psychic balance (Begonia)
5. Power of psychic expression (Antirrhinum majus)
6. Power of the psychic consciousness (Hibiscus)
7. Psychic aspiration (Ixora chinensis 'Rosea')
8. Psychic balance (Begonia)
9. Psychic centre (Canna) 10. Psychic endurance (Zinnia) 11. Psychic enthusiasm (Petunia hybrida) 12. Psychic generosity (Impatiens balsamina) 13. Psychic influence in the emotions (Beloperone oblongata) 14. Psychic light in the physical movements
(Pentas lanceolata)15. Psychic light in the subconscient (Crossandra) 16. Psychic offering (Althaea rosea) 17. Psychic power in existence (Hibiscus) 18. Psychic prayer (Habranthus robustus) 19. Psychic Protection (Bougainvillea) 20. Psychic receptivity (Gladiolus) 21.
Psychic soaring of nature (Rose canina) 22. Psychic thoroughness (Verbena hybrida) 23. Psychic transparency (Callistephus chinensis) 24. Psychic work (Cassia javanica) 25. Psycho-physical generosity (Impatiens balsamina) 26. Skill in psychic work
(Phlox drummondii)Psychic Balance Under the psychic influence all activity becomes balanced.
Supramental Immortality upon earth This remains to be realised.
Supramental No. Spiritual Name - (Botanical Name)
I. The body-consciousness undergoing the supranlental transformation (Helianthus)
2. Consciousness turned towards the supranlental light (Helianthus)
3. Future supramental centre (Canna)
4. Matter prepares itself to receive the supramental (Erythrina indica 'Parcellii')
5. Matter under the supramental guidance (Hamelia patens)
6. Power of the supramental consciousness (Hibiscus)
7. Success in supramental work (Cochlospernlum religiosa)
8. Supramental attachment for the Divine (Rosa 'Father's day')
9. Supramental beauty in the physical (Hibiscus) 10. Supramental bird (Strelitzia regina) 11. Supramental immortality (Gomphrena globosa) 12. Supramental influence (Doxantha unguis-cati) 13. .Supramental influence in the subconscient (Crossandra) 14.
Supranlental rain (Pyrostegia venusta) 15. Supranlental sun (Anthocephalus indicus) 16. Supramentalized endurance (Zinnia) 17. Supranlentalized life energy (Chrysanthemum morifolium) 18. Supramentalized mental dignity (Dahlia) 19. Supralnentalized
plasticity (Tagetes erecta) 21). Supranlentalized psychological perfection (Michelia champaca) 21. Supramentalized receptivity (Gladiolus)
Integral No. Spiritual Name - (Botanical Name)I. Aspiration for integral immortality (Aerva javanica)
2. Balanced use of the integral power (Sinningia speciosa)
3. Integral attachment for the Divine (Spathoglottis plicata)
4. Integral conversion (Hippeastrum)
5. Integral courage (Calotropis procera 'Alba')
6. Integral endurance (Zinnia)
7. Integral enthusiasm (Petunia hybrida)
8. Integral even basis in the physical (Clerodendrum fragrans)
9. Integral gratitude (Operculina turpethum) 10. Integral harmony (Antigonon leptopus 'Album') 11. Integral immortality (Gomphrena globosa) 12. Integral intimacy with the Divine (Lagerstroemia indica) 13. Integral mental purity (Tabernaemontana
coronaria) 14. Integral offering (Althaea rosea) 15. Integral offering of the vital (Althaea rosea) 16. Integral opening of the being towards the Divine (Barleria cristata) 17. Integral opening to the light (Thunbergia erecta) 18. Integral
organisation (Pseuderanthemum) 19. Integral prayer (Zephyranthes Candida) I 20. Integral progress (Catharanthus roseus) 21. Integral psychological perfection (Plumeria obtusa) 22. Integral purity (Jasminum) 23. Integral receptivity (Gladiolus) 24.
Integral renunciation of the vital desires (Angelonia grandiflora)25. Integral revelation (Costus Sp.) 26. Integral silence (Passiflora foetida) 27. Integral simplicity (Vittadinia) 28. Integral solace (Mirabilis jalapa) 29. Integral tapasya (Datura) 30. Integral thoroughness (Verbena hybrids) 31. Integral
transparency (Callistephus chinensis) 32. Integral trust in the Divine (Asystasia coromandeliana) 33. Integral wealth of Mahalakshmi (Nymphaea) 34. Integral wisdom (Albizia lel@beck) 35. Joy of integral faithfulness (Portlandia grandiflora) 36. Joy
of integral peace (Crinum) 37. Joyous integral enthusiasm (Petunia hybrida) 38. Peace of integral faithfulness (Portlandia grandiflora)Integral Offering The surest road to realisation.
39. Power of integral purity (Hibiscus) 40. Skill of integral work (Phlox drummondii)
41. Striving towards integral wisdom (Calliandra hematocephala)
42. Unconditional integral offering (Ipomoea tricolor 'pearly gates')
Fragrant Flowers
Quiet and alone in a garden! A sweet fragrance fills your being. You are drawn to it and, like a child's gentle hands, it guides you to its source. And you find yourself standing before a creeper of pure white jasmines.
Or you are drawn to a column of gold, streaming with flowers. It is the Indian Laburnum, in full bloom of its 'Imagination' flowers. Perhaps, a golden light was descending upon earth and these trees by their aspiration have drawn it, like a magnet,
to themselves. And they are completely illumined. Now they scatter their splendour of light and the fragrance all around.Colour, form and fragrance are the three inherent attributes of a flower. Of these, fragrance is the generous self-giving of flowers.
Do the strong-scented flowers represent a more ardent psychic prayer than the unscented ones?
Their nature gives itself more generously and more integrally.
Is there a relation between the perfume of a flower and its significance?
Certainly there should be one, but so far I have not studied it.
How can one begin to study this relation? What is the first step?
Study and experience. You take a flower with a strong and definite perfume. You breathe in this perfume, trying to find what thought or image it evokes. If you find something, you compare it with the significance given to the flower. It is a long and
detailed work After some hundreds of experiences one may arrive at a conclusion.When animality will drop off, then absolute necessity of food also will drop off. And there will probably be a transition when one will have less and less purely material food.
For example, when you smell flowers it is nourishing. I have seen it, you nourish yourself in a more subtle way.
THE MOTHER
Correct self-evaluation Simple and modest, does not try to push itself forward.
Some fragrant flowers.No. Spiritual Name Common Name Common Name (West) Botanical Name
(India)
1. Air ! Raat ki rani ! Night queen ! Cestrum nocturnum
2. Alchemy ! Spider Lily ! Hymenocallis
3. Aspiration ! Parijata ! Night jasmine ! Nyctanthes arbor-tristis
4. Clear mind ! Climbing Ylang-ylang ! Artabotrys odoratissimus
5. Correct self-evaluation ! Yellow jasmine ! Jasminum prumila
6. Divine smile ! Champaka ! Yellow champa ! Michelia champaca 'Alba'
7. Energy turned towards the Divine ! Mehndi ! Hennah ! Lawsonia inermis
8. Entire self-giving ! Moon flower ! Calonyction aculeatum
9. Faithfulness ! Madhumalti ! Rangoon creeper ! Quisqualis indica
10. Humility before the Divine in the physical nature ! Pavetta thomsonii
11. Integral purity ! Mogra ! Jasmine ! Jasminum 12. Joy of integral faithfulness ! White horse flower ! Portlandia grandiflora 13. Miracle ! Alli ! Iron wood tree ! Memecylon edule 14. Modesty ! Sweet violet ! Viola odorata 15. New birth ! Sweet
marjoram ! Oreganum majorana 16. Patience ! Bokul ! Spanish cherry ! Mimusops elengi 17. Peace in the cells ! Ixora parviflora 18. Peace in the physical ! Sultana champa ! Alexandrian laurel ! Calophyllum inophyllum 19. Peace in the vital ! Kamini !
Orange jasmine ! Murraya paniculata 20. Prosperity ! Nagalingam ! Canonball tree ! Couroupita guianensis 21. Psychological perfection ! Chameli ! Temple tree ! Plumeria 22. Radiating purity ! Gandharaj ! Cape jasmine ! Gardenia jasminoides 23.
Satchidananda ! Dulaba champa ! Ginger lily ! Hedychium 24. Service ! Iyavakai ! Copper pod ! Peltaphorum pterocarpum 25. Silence ! Kaurav Pandav ! Blue crown passion flower ! Passiflora caerulea 26. Spiritual atmosphere ! Neem ! Margosa !
Azadirachta indica 27. Spiritual perfume ! Kewada ! Screw pine ! Pandanus tectorius 28. Spiritual success ! Madhavilata ! Hiptage benghalensis 29. Straightforwardness Rukmini Torch tree Imra arborea30. Supramentalized psychological perfection ! Champak ! Golden champa ! Michelia champaca
31. Surrender ! Gulab ! Country rose ! Rosa
32. Sweetness of thought exclusively turned towards the Divine ! Kaner ! Oleander ! Nerium odorum
33. The New Creation ! Tuberose ! Polianthes tuberosa 34. Transformation ! Akash neem ! Indian cork tree ! Millingtonia hortensis 35. Wealth ! Water lily ! Nymphaea
Satchidananda
Strong and pure, it stands erect with its creative power.
Silence The ideal condition for progress.
Joy of integral Faithfulness That link of love which makes all faithfulness so easy.
Purity True purity gives a lovely fragrance.
"Flowers leave some of their fragrance in the hand that bestows them. Chinese Proverb
A Child's AspirationWhat should a child aspire for? Here is its aspiration in the language of flowers.
If thou wouldst attain to thy highest, go look upon a flower; what that does will-lessly, that do thou willingly.
Friedrich von Schiller
Eternal Youth It is a gift the Divine gives us when we unite ourselves with Him.
A child's aspiration expressed through flowers.
What I aspire to have in my Heart No. Spiritual Name Common Name Common Name Botanical Name
(India) (West)
I' Faith Hibiscus alto-variegate
2. Simple sincerity Aster Aster amellus
3. Integral simplicity Creeping Daisy Vittadinia
4. Humility Drop seed Sporobolus capillaris
5. Gratitude Ipomoea carnea 6. Thirst for perfection Shrimp plant Beloperone guttata
7. Trust in the Divine Asystasia coromandeliana
8. Eternal youth Hibiscus miniatus
9. Integral immortality Globe amaranth Gomphrena globosa 10. Certitude of victory Lily thorn Catesbaea spinosa 11. Successful future Blanket flower Gaillardia pulchella 'Lorenziana'
Cheerfulness A joyous smile of Nature.What I aspire to have in my Nature
No. Spiritual Name Common Name Common Name Botanical Name
(India) (West)
I. Cheerfulness ! Gaillardia pulchella 'Picta'
2. Happy heart ! Lemonia ! Ravenia spectabilis
3. Enthusiasm ! Petunia ! Petunia hybrida
4. Generosity ! Balsam ! Impatiens balsamina
5. Frankness ! Transvael Daisy ! Gerbera jamesonii
6. Straightforwardness ! Rukmini ! Torch tree ! Ixora arborea
7. Unselfishness ! Harold's trumpet ! Beaumontia jerdoniana
8. Mental honesty ! Tristellateia australis
9. Absolute truthfulness ! Chalice wine ! Solandra hartwegii 10. Refinement of habits ! Konamaram ! Madre ! Gliricidia sepium 11. Dignity ! Dahlia 12. Nobility ! Dahlia 13. Aspiration for the right attitude ! Glory bower ! Clerodendrum speciosum 14.
Harmony ! Coral creeper ! Antigonon leptopusDetermination Knows what it wants and does it.
What I aspire to have in my Body and Vital
No. Spiritual Name Common Name Common Name Botanical Name
(India) (West)
I. Health ! Bhendi ! Portia tree ! Thespesia populnea
2. Patience ! Bokul ! Spanish cherry ! Mimusops elengi
3. Endurance ! Zinnia ! Zinnia
4. Perseverance ! Pot marigold ! Calendula officinalis
5. Control ! Billbergia Sp.
6. Will one with the Divine Will ! Rose of Sharon ! Hibiscus syriacus
7. Determination ! Kopsia fruiticosa
8. Bravery ! Amaranth ! Amaranthus bicolor
9. Boldness ! Cockscomb ! Celosia argentia 'Cristata' 10. Steadfastness ! Amrud ! Guava ! Psidium guajava 11. Fearlessness ! Solanum torvum 12. Courage ! Mudar ! Calotropis procera
ImaginationAbundant and varied, may be charming, but must not be substituted for the Truth.
What I aspire to have in my Mind No. Spiritual Name Common Name (India) Common Name (West) Botanical Name
I. Concentration ! Crown of thorns ! Euphorbia millii
2. Imagination ! Amaltas ! Golden shower tree ! Cassia fistula
3. Resolution ! Lady of the night ! Brunfelsia americana
4. Organisation ! Pseuderanthemum
5. Curiosity ! Cup-and-saucer plant ! Holmskioldia sanguinea
6. Never tell a lie ! Pereskia
7. Power of expression ! Snap dragon ! Antirrhinum majus
8. Clear mind ! Climbing Ylang-Ylang ! Artabotrys odoratissimus
9. Quiet mind ! Kanel ! Sweet scented oleander ! Nerium oleander
Service
To be at the Divine's service is the surest means of attaining realization.
What I aspire to have in my Work No. Spiritual Name Common Name (India) Common Name (West) Botanical Name
I. Thoroughness ! Perennial verbena ! Verbena hybrida
2. Regularity ! Tiger-claw plant ! Martynia annua
3. Discipline ! Basil ! Ocirnum basilicum
4. Care ! Spider plant ! Chlorophytum elatum vittatum
5. Obedience ! Chinese pink ! Dianthus chinensis
6. Collaboration ! Carnation ! Dianthus caryophyllus
7. Progress ! Sadabahar ! Vinca roseus
8. Service ! Iyavakai ! Copper pod ! Peltaphorum pterocarpum
The Roses!No book on flowers can ever be complete without them - the Roses. Poets through the ages have not ceased to sing of their beauty, their splendour, their magnificence. They have been expressions of human love in every language and country and, much
more deeply, they express 'Love for the Divine'. This is also their spiritual meaning, though the emphasis may change with variations in size, colour, shape and fragrance.Some roses and their spiritual meanings
Spiritual Name
I. Love for the Divine
2. Human passions changed into love for the Divine
3. Mental love for the Divine
4. Mental love under the psychic influence
5. Flaming love for the Divine
6. Humility in the love for the Divine
7. Balance of the nature in the love for the Divine
8. Integral love for the Divine
9. Surrender 10. Mental surrender 11. Pure spiritual surrender 12. Loving surrender
13. Detailed surrender 14. Perfect surrender
15. Supramental attachment for the Divine 16. Timidity in attachment for the Divine 17. Communion with the Divine 18. Affection for the Divine 19. Psychic soaring of nature 20. Beauty offering itself in the service of the Divine
Description
All roses in general Red roses Yellow roses
Cream or yellow roses tinged pink Orange roses
Lavender or mauve roses Bicoloured roses Solitary pure white roses Country rose, highly fragrant pink roses Yellow roses tinged orange Small white rose in full pendulous clusters
Fully double medium to large solitary pink roses except 'Surrender' and 'Perfect Surrender'
Fairy Queen roses, tiny pink roses Highly fragrant large double pink roses Small light orange roses in small clusters Small green roses
Dense erect clusters of single or double roses, all colours White roses tinged pink
Dog rose, Eglantine, clusters Of fragrant light pink single roses Salmon-coloured roses
Tile One, in His glory multitudinous, Bursting into shape and colour like a rose, Compels the great world-petals to unclose.
Sri Aurobindo
The EtementsAmongst the flowers named by the Mother there are some which correspond to the elements - Water, Air, Fire, Ether. There are also a few like Light, Flame, Agni or Silver and Gold.
Flowers as Elements. No. Spiritual Name Common Name (India) Common Name (West) Botanical Name
I. Water ! Bridal creeper ! Parana paniculata
2. Air ! Raat-ki-Rani ! Night queen ! Cestrum nocturnum
3. Light ! Din-ka-Raja ! Queen of the Day ! Cestrum diurnum
4. Ether ! Horse-tail creeper ! Parana volubilis
5. Fire ! Krishnachura ! Peacock flower ! Poinciana pulcherrima
6. Flame! Coral hibiscus ! Hibiscus schizopetalus
7. Agni ! Hibiscus
8. Gold ! Kanchan ! St. Thomas tree ! Bauhinia tomentosa
9. Silver ! Brisbane lily ! Eurycles sylvestris
Fire Fears no obstacle.
Water Fluid, abundant and pure.
Light Airy, it radiates.
Air Light, subtle, almost invisible.
Ether Charming and ethereal, it must please.
Some striking PatternsWhen we look at the spiritual significance given to flowers by the Mother, we are struck by certain rhythms, certain patterns and structures. Interesting combinations and relations appear. Some of them may be merely the superimposition of our mind
but some may also have a deeper significance. These patterns do not always hold but still they provide some interesting insights:There are some flowers which have both, single and multiple petals. The multiple petalled flowers are often qualified as "Perfect."
There are others, large and small, which come in two distinct sizes. The smaller flower is frequently called "Detailed".
When the flowers are in several separate colours, then the multicoloured variety is described as "Manifold".
There are some flowers which grow in the wild and which we hardly notice. Or even if we see them we tend to overlook them. They have some very beautiful meanings. Among the 'wild' flowers we have 'Gratitude', 'Humility', 'Straightforwardness',
'Lightness' and the 'Touch me Not', which is 'Vital Sensitivity'.The dahlias are found in different sizes, shapes and colours, single and multipetalled. it is fascinating to observe how the meaning too changes and evolves. The smallest dahlias with a hard big centre and small single petals are 'Vanity'. The small
double or multiple petalled dahlias are called 'Pride'. The medium size dahlias are named 'Dignity' and the large dark red ones are 'Nobility'. The very large flowers in several colours, often with curved petals, signify 'Aristocracy' and finally the
very large, pure white dahlias are called 'Superhumanity'. An amazing evolution: Vanity, Pride, Dignity, Nobility, Aristoracy, Superhumanity.There are some flowers connected with the faculty of speech which make an interesting study when grouped together. They are:
* 'To know what is to be said' [Alpinia Galanza]
* 'To know how to listen' [Podranea Ricasotiana]
* 'Never tell a lie' [Peraskia]
And here are some flowers whose very names would appeal to poets and artists. In fact one flower is even called 'Poet's Ecstasy' [Wisteria]. Then you have 'Sun Drop' [Chiven Lantern Plant]
* 'Light in Fairy Land' [Air Plant]
* 'Joy in Fairy Land' [Kleinhovia Hospita]
* and 'Smile of Beauty' [Japanese Flowering Cherry]
Sometimes both the fruits and the flowers of a tree have a spiritual meaning and the relation is significant. The fruit of the 'Patience' flower is called 'Fulfillment' . The mango flower is 'Nature's hope for realisation' and the mango fruit is
'Divine Knowledge'. Grapes are 'Divine Ananda'.In the pomegranate tree, the fully double red flower is 'Divine Love', the single one layered red petalled flower 'Divine Sacrifice', the fruit is 'Divine Love spreading over the world' and the white double flower is 'Unmanifested Divine Love'.
Humility Adorable in its simplicity.
Some wild flowers. No. Spiritual Name Common Name (India) Common Name (West) Botanical Name
1. Artistic taste ! Blue dawn flower ! Ipomoea acuminata 2. Courage ! Mudar ! Calotropis procera
3. Gratitude ! Ipomoea carnea 4. Humility ! Dropseed ! Sporobolus capillaris
5. Integral immortality ! Globe amaranth ! Gomphrena globosa
6. Integral simplicity ! Creeping daisy ! Vittadinia
7. Lightness ! Jerusalem thorn ! Parkinsonia aculeata
8. Logic in thoughts ! Mesquite ! Prosopis glandulosa torreyiana
9. Straightforwardness ! Rukmini ! Torch tree ! Ixora arborea
10. True worship ! Lucas aspera 11. Trust in the Divine ! Asystasia coromandeliana 12. Vital sensitivity ! Chui-mui ! Sensitive plant ! Mimosa pudica
Flowers with interesting variations of size (smaller - detailed), of single and multiple petals (perfect), of multiple colours (manifold).No. Spiritual Name Description Botanical Name
I. a) Endurance Sturdy composite flower Zinnia b) Detailed endurance Small single yellow, orange or white c) Manifold endurance Variegated or multi-coloured
2. a) Generosity Single or double flowers with delicate Impatiens
recurved petals b) Manifold Generosity Multi-coloured
3. a) Gratitude Pale pinkish-white shaded ! Iponloea b) Detailed gratitude Small white flowers
4. a) Mental purity Single white salverform flower ! Tabernaemontana coronaria b) Perfect mental purity Double fragrant white flower
5. a) The New creation Tubular waxy white flower ! Polianthes tuberosa b) The Perfect new creation Waxy 'double flower
6. a) Plasticity ! Double Compositae flowers ! Tagetes b) Detailed plasticity Dwarf varieties in all colours
7. a) Protection ! Clusters of showy bracts ! Bougainvillea
enclosing small flowers b) Manifold protection Clusters of two or more different coloured bracts
8. a) Radiating purity Single flowers ! Gardenia jasminoides b) Perfect radiating purity Waxy white double flowers
9. a) Receptivity Elegant flared or ruffled tubular flowers Gladiolus b) Manifold receptivity Multi-coloured shades -
10. a) Obedience Single rotate flower Dianthus b) Perfect obedience Double flower c) Detailed obedience Clubters of small single fragrant rotate flowers
11. a) Surrender Highly fragrant pink roses Rosa b) Perfect surrender Large double pink roses
c) Detailed surrender Tiny pink roses
12. a) Quiet mind Single white flowers Nerium oleander b) Perfect quietness in the mind Double white flowers
Flowers and their fruits both having spiritual names.
1) a) Mango flower is "Nature's hope for realisation" 4) a) Grapes are "Divine Ananda"
b) Mango fruit is "Divine Knowledge"
5) a) Pomegranate flower fully double is "Divine Love"
2) a) Bokul flower (Mimusops elengi) is "Patience" b) Pomegranate flower single with one layered petals
b) and its fruit is "Accomplishment" is "Divine sacrifice"
c) Pomegranate white flower is "Unmanifest Divine
3) a) Climbing Ylang-Vlang flower (Artabotrys odor?@ Love" tissimus) is "Clear Mind" d) Pomegranate fruit is "Divine Love spreading over
b) and its fruit is "Reason" the world".
Nature's hope for realisation Nature Knows that one day she will realise.
Divine Knowledge It is succulent, nourishing, strength-giving.
The Dahlia SeriesNo. Spiritual Name Description
1' Vanity ! Small single flowers with flat petals and hard centre, all colours.2. Pride ! Small semi-double or double flowers, all colours. 3. Dignity ! Medium to fairly large double flowers, several colours.
4. Nobility Very large, dark red flowers.
5. Aristocracy Very large flowers in several colours often variegated.
6. Superhumanity Very large pure white flowers.
The Complementary Movement
Who or what are (he demons? In India they are called the 'asuras', the brothers of the gods. They also, are the manifestations of the one Divine, but have taken upon themselves his darker aspects so that they too may be transformed. Therefore, says
Sri Aurobindo in one of his aphorisms, they are greater than even the gods.So also with flowers. Most of them have a happy, beautiful and positive meaning. There are, though, a few which have names depicting the opposite and contrary qualities. They are the negative and complementary side of the same movement in Nature.
Here are a few interesting observations: "Sharp tongue" looks like a sharp tongue. 'Boastfulness' imitates the Kadamba flower under whose tree Krishna played his magical flute. 'Gossip' has, significantly, a very bad smell!
We have flowers with such significances as 'Greed for Money', 'Passion', 'Vanity', 'Chatter', etc. How do these flowers represent a psychic prayer?
These flowers offer their bad vibrations for transformation.
Flowers with negative significances. No. Spiritual Name - (Botanical Name)
I. Boastfulness (Parka biglandulosa)
2. Gossip (Typhonium)
3. Greed for money (Ochna serrulata)
4. Passion (Spathodea campanulata)
5. Pride (Dahlia - small soul double or doubled)
6. Sharp tongue (Aphelandra tetragona)
7. Vanity (Dahlia - small, single petal with hard centre)
Gossip Dark and pointed, this flower hurls more than it charms.
Interesting Names anil UsesThe Divine, undoubtedly, has a sense of humour. But his humour, like all things, contains a deeper truth. Here we recount the names given by the Mother to the flowers of some herbs and plants we eat or use in our everyday life.
The little bitter gourd, Karela, is named 'Sweetness'. The Chilly is 'A Whipping', the Coconut flower is 'Multitude' and the Pumpkin flower is 'Abundance'. The Saumph flower is 'Light in the blood' and the Drumstick flower is 'Hygenic organization'.
The aspiration and quality of the flowers are not necessarily passed on to the fruits. Otherwise, the Coffee flower could not have been called the 'Perfect Path' or the Betelnut flower, 'Steadfast Vitality' or the Tobacco flower, 'Common Sense'.
Multitude Gives itself without stint and satisfies innumerable needs.
Steadfastness What it has chosen it keeps and does not like to change.
A whipping A little brutal, but useful sometimes.
Sweetness Adds its smiling touch to life without making a fuss.
Flowers and plants we use in our daily lives in various forms - vegetables, fruits, roots, seeds, leaves, bark, wood etc.No. Common Name (India) Common Name (West) Spiritual Name Botanical Name
I. Karela ! Bitter gourd ! Sweetness ! Momordica charantia
2. Brinjal ! Egg-plant ! Fearlessness in the vital ! Solanum melongena
3. Kurmara ! Pumpkin ! Abundance ! Cucurbita maxima
4. Sahijan ! Drum stick ! Hygenic organisation ! Moringa oleifera
5. Mirchi ! Chilly ! A whipping ! Capsicum annuum
6. Bok ! Beginning of Realisation ! Sesbania grandiflora
7. Nimbu ! Lemon ! Chastity ! Citrus lemonia
8. Nariyal ! Coconut ! Multitude ! Cocas nucifera
9. Bijora ! Grape fruit ! Continence ! Citrus grandis 10. Amrud ! Guava ! Steadfastness ! Psidium guajava 11. Bael ! Devotional attitude ! Aegle marmelos 12. Jamun ! Rose apple ! Mastery ! Syzygium jambos 13. Kamarakh ! Carambola ! Organised teamwork
! Averrhoa carambola 14. Japanese cherry ! Smile of beauty ! Prunus serrulata 15. ! Singapore cherry ! Primitive succulece ! Muntingia calabura 16. Dhaniya ! Coriander ! Delicacy ! Coriandrum sativum 17. Neem ! Margosa ! Spiritual atmosphere !
Ajadirachta indica 18. Mahaneem ! Persian lilac ! Distinction of the vital ! Melia azederach19. Mehndi ! Hennah ! Energy turned towards the Divine! Lawsonia inermis
20. ! Lemon grass ! Help ! Cymbopogon 21. Tambakhoo ! Tobacco ! Common sense ! Nicotiana alata "grandiflora" 22. Haldi ! Turmeric ! Peace ! Curcuma 23. Badam ! Almond ! Smile of Nature ! Prunus communis 24. Ilaichi ! Cardamom ! To know what is to be
said ! Alpinia galanga 25. Supari ! Betel nut ! Steadfast vitality ! Areca catechu 26. Saumph ! Fennel ! Light in the blood ! Foeniculum vulgare 27. Coffee ! Coffee ! The perfect path ! Coffea species 28. Til ! Sesame ! Conciliation ! Sesamum indicum
29. ! Poppy ! Spontaneous joy of nature ! Papaver rhoeas 30. ! Teak ! Renunciation of desires ! Tectona grandis 31. ! Eucalyptus ! Abolition of the ego ! Eucalyptus 32. Rui ! Cotton (yellow or white with red centre) ! Material abundance ! Gossypium
33. ! Silk cotton ! Success in the most material vital ! Gossypium arboreum 34. ! Yellow silk cotton ! Success in supramental works ! Cochlospermum religiosa 35. ! Red silk cotton ! Solid steadfastness in the material consciousness ! Bombax
malabaricum 36. ! White silk cotton ! Material enterprises ! Ceiba pentanbraClock of Nature
Life moves in a cycle. Nature too, but in her more precise orderly way. There are flowers which bloom only once at fixed times of the year, and there are others which blossom only at particular times of the day - the flower-clocks and
flower-calendars of Nature.There is obviously an occult significance behind these phenomena - things which cannot be easily explained or categorised. In the flower-clock, especially, there can be a great variation in time, due to the weather, the place, the condition of the
plant and, as we shall see later, even the gardener.Mother, certain flowers come in a particular season; does this mean that during that season a greater force is at work?
If one is quite attentive, one will see that in different seasons one flower is replaced by another with a similar or close significance, and you can go all round the year in this way - if you know how to make use of things! There are also permanent
things which are always there.- But flowers, for exampole, like the "transformation" flowers, have a season, quite a long one, but still a season. The "realisation" flower has a fairly long season, but it doesn't come at the same time as the
"transformation" flower.... They... how shall I put it?... overlap. One begins before the other finishes. But the seasons when they come abundantly are not the same, and all flowers are like that. Yes, it is arranged. This answers your question,
doesn't it? These are shades in the meaning and it is possible that some seasons are more favourable; one may lay greater stress on one movement than on another.THE MOTHER
Flowers in the Clock of Nature.
No. Spiritual Name Common Name Common Name Botanical Name
(India) (West)
12.00 midnight to 2.00 a.m.
I. Complexity of the centres Canna Canna 2. Friendship with the Divine Indian Shot Canna indica
2.00 a.m. to 4.00 a.m.
3. Divine Grace Gul-i-Ajaib Changeable Rose Hibiscus mutabilis
4. Service Iyavakai Copper-pod Peltaphorum pterocarpum
4.00 a.m. to 6.00 a.m.
5. Realisation Gul Mohur Flamboyant Delonix regia
6. Quiet mind Kanel Sweet scented oleander Nerium oleander
7. Opening of the material vital Thunbergia erecta
to the light