Plant Myths and Traditions in India

From the Jacket: Trees and plants play an important part in the myths and customs of India. Many are considered holy, often for reasons that are lost in the mists of antiquity - they are associated and identified with gods, planets, months, etc. - certain plants are used as protection against witchcraft and the evil eye - some plants bring luck and are offered in the temples - and others play an important part in other religious rites. These tradition and myths form an important aspect of the Indian's mental background and Dr. Gupta, has performed a most useful service in bringing together all those are known on these subjects from the older Indian Literature to modern research.

The author discusses the forty-five most important trees and plants and describes the myths and customs connected with each. Specimens of Indian sculpture illustrating the various myths are reproduced on numerous plates.

About the Author:

Dr. Gupta is an established writer on Hindu mythology. She has published a large number of books, Vishnu and His Incarnations; Legends around Shiva; Surya the Sun God; Karttikeya, the Son of Shiva; From Daityas to Devatas in Hindu Mythology; and a comprehensive volume on Festivals , Fairs and Fasts of India. Her most recent book Plants in Indian Temple Arts is a survey of Plants sculptured on Hindu, Buddhist, and Jaina temples. A Botanist by profession Dr. Gupta did her Ph.D. in Botany from the University of Delhi and another Ph.D. from the Faculty of Oriental Archaeology, Martin Luther University, Wittenberg, Halle, Germany.

Contents:

Foreword
Acknowledgement
List of Illustration
Months of the Vikram Samvat and the Corresponding Months of the Solar Calendar
Introduction

1.  Acacia catechu, Willd, Khadira
2.  Aegle Marmleos, Correa ex Roxb., Bilva
3.  Anthocephalus cadamba, Miq, Kadamba
4.  Arundo donax Linn. Nalaka
5.  Bombax ceriba, Linn. Salmali
6.  Butea monosperma, (Lam.) Kuntze, Plaksha
7.  Cocculus cordifolius, (Willd.) Miers ex Hook. F. & Thoms, Gaduchi
8.  Cocos nucifera, Linn., Narikel
9.  Cynodon dectylon, Pers. Durva ghas
10. Desmostachya bipinnata, Stapf., Kusa ghas
11. Diospyros peregrina, (Gaertn.) Gurke, Tinduka
12. Elaeocapus sphaericus, (Gaertn.) K. Schum, Rudraksha
13. Emblica officinalis, (Gaertn.) Amalak
14. Erythrina variegata, Linn., Mandara
15. Euphorbia neriifolia, Linn ., Manasasij
16. Ficus religiosa Linn., Aswattha
17. Ficus benghalensis, Linn., Nyagrodha
18. Ficus krishnae C. D. C., Krishna's cup
19. Ficus golmerata, Roxb., Udumbara
20. Hiptage benghalensis, Kurz, Madhavi lata
21. Imperata arundinaceae, Cyr., Munja ghas
22. Ischanemum augustifolium, Hack., Sabai
23. Mangifera indica, Linn., Amra
24. Monstera deliciosa, Liebm., Amarphal
25. Musa paradisiacal, Linn., Kadali
26. Nelumbo nucifera, Gaertn. Pundarika
27. Nicotiana tabaccum, Linn., Tambaku
28. Nyctanthes arbor-tristis, Linn., Parijata
29. Ocimum sanctum, Linn., Tulasi
30. Oryza sativa, Linn., Dhanya, Rice
31. Pandanus odoratissimus, Linn. F., Ketaki
32. Prosopis ceneraria, Druce, Sami
33. Piper betle, Linn., Tambula, Paan
34. Putranjiva roxburghii, Wall., Jivaka
35. Saraca asoca, (Roxb.) De Wilde, Asoka
36. Sarcostemma acidum, Voigt, Soma
37. Sesamum indicum, Linn., Tila, Sesame
38. Shorea eobusta, Gaertn. f. Sala
39. Tamarindus indica, Linn., Tintrini
40. Terminalia Arjuna, (Roxb.) Wight & Arn., Arjuna
41. Terminalia bellirica, Roxb., Vibhitika
42. Terminalia alata, Heyne ex Roth., Saja
43. Typha elephantine, Roxb., non Grah., Eraka
44. Vigna mungo, (Linn.) Hepper, Masha, Urad
45. Zizyphus mauritiana, Lam., vadari

Appendix 1
       List of Plants Mentioned
Appendix 2
       Glossary of Mythological and Historical
       Names and Religious Sects

Bibliography
Index