Chapter 202 - Different flowers used in Worship (puṣpa-adhyāya)

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Fire-god said:

1-2. Lord Hari gets pleased with flowers [puṣpa], perfumes [gandha], incense [dhūpa], lamps [dīpa] and offerings [naivedya]. I shall describe you flowers [puṣpa] which are fit and unfit for the god. Mālatī is the excellent flower. Tamāla (flower) confers enjoyment and emancipation. Mallikā (jasmine) destroys all sins. (The flower) yūthikā gets the world. of Viṣṇu.

3. Atimukta will also get the same fruit. The pāṭalā (flower) conveys one to the world of Viṣṇu. One gets the world of Viṣṇu with the karaVīra (flowers). One becomes fortunate with japā (flowers).

4. One would reach the world of Viṣṇu with the pāvantī, kubjaka and tagara (flowers). (One would reach) the world of Viṣṇu with the karṇikāra. There would be destruction of sin with kuruṇṭha.

5-6. One will have an excellent position with lotuses, ketakī and jasmine. One would reach the world of Hari with bāṇa flowers, barbara and kṛṣṇā. Similar result would be got by aśoka, tilaka and aṭarūṣabhava. The leaves of bilva would confer liberation. One will have the supreme position with the leaves of śamī.

7-11. One would reach the world of Viṣṇu with the bhṛṅgarāja. One would have same fruits with the leaves of tamāla. The black and white basil, white lotus, blue lotuses, lotus, red lotus are meritorious. Lord Hari (gets pleased) with a garland of hundred lotuses. One would get enjoyment and emancipation and destruction of sin with nīpa, arjuna, kadamba, vakula, fragrant kiṃśuka, munipuṣpa, gokarṇa, nāgakarṇa, sandhyā flower, bilva, rañjanī, ketakī, kūṣmāṇḍa, timira, kuśa, kāśa, śara, dyūta etc., maruvaka leaves and other fragrant (leaves and flowers). The god would get pleased with all (that is offered) with devotion. A flower is more meritorious than a lakh of gold and a garland, more than a crore times.

12-15. It would be three times more meritorious with the forest flowers than with the flowers from one’s own garden or another’s garden. One should not worship lord Viṣṇu with withered or broken (flowers) or (flowers) having more than the usual parts. (One would reach) hell (by worshipping) with kāñcanāra, unmatta, girikarṇikā, kuṭaja śālmalīyā and śirīṣa. Lord Hari (is pleased) with sugandha, brahma, lotuses and blue lotuses. Lord Hara is worshipped with arka mandāra (and) ḍhustūra flowers. One should not offer Kuṭaja, karkaṭī flowers and ketakī for Śiva. (One should not use) kūṣmāṇḍa, nimba and wild flowers without fragrance (in worship).

16-18. One would get enjoyment and emancipation by worshipping gods with the eight flowers of gestures such as non-violence, conquest of senses, forbearance, knowledge, compassion and learning. Non-violence is the first flower. (The second) flower is the control of senses. Compassion for the beings is (said to be) all flowers. The flower of tranquility excells. Quietitude [Quietude?] is a flower and penance is a flower. Meditation is the seventh flower. Truth is the eighth flower. Lord Keśava is pleased with these flowers.

19-23. When lord Hari is worshipped with these flowers, he certainly gets pleased. O Excellent among men! There are other external flowers. When lord Viṣṇu is worshipped with devotion together with compassion, he gets pleased. Water is the flower for Varuṇa. Ghee, milk and curd (are the flowers) for Soma. Food etc. (are the flowers) for Prajāpati (Brahmā) and incense and lamp for Fire (god). The fifth flower is the fruits and flowers of the forest. The kuśa, roots etc. are the flowers of the earth. Fragrant sandal is that of the Wind (god). Earnestness is the flower for lord Viṣṇu. These are always the eight flowers. The seat, the form, the five limbs (such as the heart etc.) and Viṣṇu are the eight flowers. (Worship should be made with the names) Vāsudeva and others for Viṣṇu and Īśāna and others for Śiva.