Birds and Plants Mentioned in Vaishnava
Literature
Birds
Chakora
Alectoris graeca, a Himalayan partridge,
the lover of the moon, said to feed on the rays of the moon.
Chakravaka
Casarca ferruginea, a variety of duck,
also called chakava (surkhab).
Legend relates that pairs of these
birds are souls of two sinning lovers,
who are said to sleep apart at
night, and call endlessly to one another,
"Chakava, may I come to you?",
"No, Chakavi".
Chataka
Cuculus melanoleucas, a type of
swallow said to drink only drops of rain as they fall from the clouds.
Hamsa
Phoenicopterus ruber, the flamingo,
and also the goose, Acer indicus.
Khanjana
Motacilla maderaspatensis, the wagtail,
symbol of restlessness, and also of the eyes of the beloved.
Koel
Eudynamis scolopaceus, a dark bird,
commonly found in mangoe gardens during the large trees' flowering and
fruiting times. Its cry is kuhu, kuhu, kuhu, rising in pitch with each
successive call, and its panchama-note is the dominant of nature's chorus.
Koonja
Anthropoides virgo, the demoiselle
crane.
Krauncha
Numenius arquata, the curlew.
Nilakantha
Coracias benghalensis, roller or
blue jay, sacred to Sri Vishnu.
Papiha
Hierococcyx varius, the hawk-cuckoo
or the brain-fever bird. Its cry is, "Pi kahan", which sounds like 'Where
is my love?'
Parrot
Psittacula eupatria, a pet bird said
to overhear conversattions of lovers,
and to repeat it in awkward circumstances.
Peacock
Pavo cristatus, the male is said to
be lover of the clouds and delights in
rain.
Saras
Antigone antigone, a slate colored
crane, said to pair for life, and hence a symbol of devoted love.
The
Trees, Shrubs and Climbers
Aguru
Aquilaia agallocha, a large evergreen
tree with fragrand wood.
Amaltas
Cassia fistula, a small hardy tree
with pendulous racemes of large bright yellow flowers in April and May.
Arjuna
Terminali arjuna, a large, shady
tree.
Ashoka
Saraca indica, a herald of spring,
has scarlet or crimson bunches of
flowers in early March. It is said
to flower upon being touched by a
beautiful woman's feet.
Atimukta
Jasminum sp.
Bandhuka
Pentapetes phoenicia (or Lucas
linifolia)
Betel
Piper betel, a climber, leaves
used for chewing.
Bimba
Momordica coccinia, a climber with
bright red fruit.
Champaka
Michelia champaka, a large tree, commonly
grown in temples, with
fragrant, light yellow flowers.
A type of jasmine.
Chameli
Jasminium sambac, Arabian jasmine.
Devadaru
Cedrus deodara, Himalayan cedar.
Gandharaja
Gardenia florida, a shrub with
highly fragrant white flowers.
Gunja
Abrus precatorius, seeds used as
weights by jewellers.
Gul Mohar
Delonix regia, an umbrella tree with
pinnate feathery leaves. It bears scarlet flowers in May.
Honey Apple
Aegle marmelos, a large, round
fruit also known as Bengal quince.
Jasmine
Several varieties are mentioned,
including chameli, champaka, malati and kunda.
Jujube
Zizyphus jujuba, small round fruits
that are favorites of boys.
Kachnar
Bauhinia variegata, a medium sized
ornamental tree with drooping
branches. It produces a rich harvest
of mauve and white blossoms, that
resemble orchid flowers, in February-March.
Kadamba
Anthocephalus indicus, has ball like
flowers in the rainy season. One of
Krishna's favorites.
Kandali
Aneilema nudiflorum, an annual herb
with blue purple flowers in the rainy season.
Karnikara
Pterosper mum acerifolium, a large
tree with broad leaves.
Kasa
Saccharum spontaneum, a tall grass.
Kesara
Crocus sativa, safflower, a herald
of spring.
Ketaki
Pandanus odoratissimus, screw pine,
a highly fragrant plant with spiny,
sword-like, pointed leaves.
Kimsuka
Butea frondosa, a tree with beautiful
crimson flowers, a herald of spring.
Kovidara
Bauhinia purpurea, a small tree
bearing pink flowers in November.
Kumda
Nymphaea esculenta, a water lily with
white flowers that open at night, and close during the day.
Kunda
Jasminium pubescens, a jasmine.
Kurabaka
Lawsonia alba, mehende, crushed leaves
used to make the dye for
painting decorations on brides'
palms.
Kutaja
Wrightia zeylanica, a small tree
with white flowers.
Lavagna Vine
Limonia scandens, a vine whose appearance
indicates the beginning of
spring.
Lodhra
Symplocos racemosa, pollen used
as a face powder in ancient India.
Lotus and Water Lily
Many varieties are mentioned. Aravinda
and kamala are day-flowering.Kubalaya and kumudini flower at night.Common
Lotus, Nelumbium speciosumUtpala, Nymphaea coerulea, the blue water lily.
Madhavi
Hiptage madhablota, a scadent, shrubby
climber, herald of spring, and
lover of the mango tree.
Mahua
Bassia latifolia, a common shade tree
in central India. An alcoholic
beverage of the same name is distilled
from its flowers.
Malati
Jasminum grandiflorum, a twining
shrub with fragrant white flowers.
Mandara
Erythrina Indica, a small tree that
has red flowers during March, when it has no leaves.
Mango
Mangifera indica, tender shoots and
herald of spring. Flowers in early
March in North India. Called chuta
in Sanskrit
Naga Kesara
Mesua ferrea,a forest tree of Eastern
India with flowers that are mostly
white, but with yellow inside.
Narikela
Cocos nucifera, the coconut palm.
Navamallika
Jasminium arboriscens, a shrubby
jasmine.
Nim
Azadirachta indica, a shady tree
that flowers in March-April.
Padam
Prunus cerasioides, wild cherry found
in the temperate regions of the
Himalayas, at altitudes from 3,000'
to 6,000'.
Parijataka
Nyctanthes arbortristis, drops
its flowers in the early morning.
Patala
Bignonia suaveolens, trumpet flower,
herald of spring.
Pipal
Ficus religiosa, a large tree with
glossy, dark green, poplar-like leaves.
Pital
An unidentified yellow flower.
Plantain
Musa paradisiaca, smooth, straight
stem, symbol of female beauty.
Priyangu
Panicum italicum, a shrub that
flowers in August.
Punnaga
Calophyllum inophyllum, a tree with
glabrous leaves, and fragrant white flowers.
Sala
Shorea robusta, a tall timber tree,
associated with the birth of Buddha.
Sarja in Sanskrit.
Saptachchhada
Alstonia scholaris, a handsome
tree.
Sandal
Santalum album, a small evergreen tree
growing in Bangalore, with
fragrant heart wood. Sandal paste
(finely ground sandalwood and water) has a cooling effect when applied
to the skin, and is used in summer for cooling the body.
Sarja
see Sala.
Sarson
Brassica campestris, an oilseed
plant with golden yellow flowers.
Semal
Bombax malabaricum, silk cotton
tree.
Salmali
Salmalia malabarica, silk cotton tree
with beautiful cup-like red flowers in early March.
Sirisha
Albizzia lebeck, fragrant flowers
in the beginning of the rainy season.
Sisam
Dalbergia sissoo, a deciduous tree
with hard wood, principally found in
sub-Himalayan areas of North India.
Tala
Borassus flabelliformis, palmyra, round
purple fruits, symbol of female
charm.
Tamala
Garcinia xanthochymus or Cinnamomum
tamala, straight stem, dark
fragrant leaves, symbol of Krishna.
Vakula
Mimusops elengi, a dwarf tree, bears
highly fragrant flowers during the
rains.
Yuthika
Jasminium auriculatum, a jasmine
with fragrant white flowers tinged with purple.