Heart-broken Parijat; Anger towards the Sun (Photo Feature)

Kathmandu: Parijat, also known as Night-blooming jasmine, scatters its beauty all night. But, falls early in the morning.

There are many scriptures and folklore relating to Parijat. According to popular folklore, Parijat was a princess, who was in a one-sided love with the sun. However, Parijat committed suicide after the sun did not accept her love.

It is believed that the flower, which bloomed from the ashes after the last rites of the princess, was coined as Parijat. Then, Parijat started avoiding the sun forever and started to fall from the branches with the rise of the Sun.

According to the Hindu scriptures, Shree Krishna brought the flower from the heaven to the earth.

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The story of the Parijat has been also explained in the Canto 3 of the Srimad Bhagavatam. The flower is also treated as a transcendental flower. Also, Parijat is regarded as the flower, with which the King of Heavens, Lord Indra, welcomed Shree Krishna after he killed Narkasur.

Then, Krishna gave the flower to Rukmani, but Satyavama became jealous. Satyavama also wanted Parijat. Krishna stole Parijat from heaven and brought it to Satyabhama to make her happy.

The scientific name of the flower is Nyctanthes arbor-tristis. The meaning of the name is the flower blooms in the night and falls in the day.

The flower is native to South Asia and South East Asia. It’s also known as the trees of sadness or the trees of sorrow.

(Glimpses of the Parijat blooming in Kathmandu)

(Photo Courtesy: Saroj Basnet)

Nepali version of the photo feature