The Hibiscus, known as Japa in
Sanskrit and Chempakar in Malayalam, glows like a living flame — its crimson
petals symbolizing energy, purity, and divine power. This radiant flower has occupied
a sacred space in Indian tradition, history, and literature for centuries.
Sacred and Symbolic Flower
In Indian spiritual thought, the deep
red hibiscus represents shakti — the feminine cosmic energy that sustains
creation. It is the chosen flower of Goddess Kali and Lord Ganesha, both
deities embodying strength and transformation. The red bloom signifies blood,
life, and the fire of devotion, uniting worship and vitality in one form.
In Bengali devotional poetry, the
hibiscus or Jaba phool is inseparable from the imagery of Kali Ma. Poets like Ramprasad
Sen and Kamalakanta Bhattacharya often describe Kali’s garland of hibiscus
flowers as blazing with divine energy — a symbol of love that transcends fear.
The flower becomes a poetic metaphor for intensity of faith, for surrendering
one’s ego into the goddess’s all-consuming power.
In Regional and Classical
Literature
In Odia and Assamese devotional
songs, the hibiscus stands for the offering of one’s heart — red, open, and
sincere — to the divine. Its association with purity and strength appears in
local bhakti poetry where devotees express love and surrender through floral
imagery.
In South Indian tradition, the Sevvarali
or Chempakar is sacred to Lord Ganesha. Tamil hymns like Vinayagar Agaval and
various Thevaram verses mention offerings of hibiscus to invoke the god’s
blessings for courage and wisdom. The flower’s bold colour and firm petals
symbolize steadfastness and determination — qualities that mirror Ganesha’s own
nature.
In folk songs and women’s verses
across regions, the hibiscus appears as a symbol of feminine beauty and inner
power — soft yet strong, ornamental yet meaningful.
Hibiscus in the History of India
Beyond literature and devotion,
the hibiscus holds a notable place in India’s cultural and medicinal history.
Ancient Ayurvedic texts like the Charaka Samhita mention Japa pushpa for its
healing properties — used in hair oils, skin tonics, and herbal preparations.
The flower was cultivated in temple gardens and palace courtyards for its ritual
importance and natural dye, its red pigment once used in religious markings and
traditional textiles.
During the medieval and colonial
periods, the hibiscus featured in Indian art and temple sculpture, symbolizing
divine femininity and auspiciousness. It was also part of folk medicine and
village rituals, where garlands of hibiscus were used in protective rites and
seasonal festivals. Even today, from Bengal’s Kali Puja to Kerala’s Ganapati
Homam, the flower continues to bridge India’s ancient spirituality with its
living cultural practices.
A Flower of Fierce Devotion
Across centuries, the hibiscus has
remained a flower of fire and faith — representing strength, sacrifice, and
undying devotion. In the tapestry of Indian regional literature, it stands as a
living emblem of beauty with purpose — radiant like passion, sacred like love,
and eternal like the spirit of India itself.
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