Let us all be like flowers, and spread the fragrance of forgiveness, love, respect, trust, and affection, says DR PUSHPA CHATURVEDI

The human soul is to God as a flower is to the sun; it opens at its approach; it shuts when it withdraws,” said Benjamin Whichcote, a theologian and moral philosopher of the 17th century, who propagated religious tolerance. On pondering on this quote, I realised that no flower ever struggled to open to the sun. It simply turns, looks, and blooms; and then, it freely shares its sweet charm, colour and fragrance with the world. How beautiful it would be if we humans did the same. We human souls struggle to recognise God as one and in the process lose our human fragrance.

Why can’t we human souls be like blossoming flowers under the sun, know and understand, God as one, and do away with our-narrow minded conditioning of religion, race, caste, creed and  nationality?

In all religious scriptures, flowers have  spiritual significance. Flowers are used in rituals, ceremonies and as offerings to God. Flowers are, undoubtedly, one of the most beautiful sights in nature, whose fragrance is very pleasing. 

Dr Pushpa Chaturvedi

In Hinduism, the lotus is a symbol of beauty, fertility and prosperity. For Buddhists, it is a symbol of knowledge. Christianity associates lilies with Virgin Mary and the five petals of a rose are believed to represent the wounds of Christ. In Islam also flowers are part of sacred ceremonies.

Since time immemorial, flowers have been gifted as symbols of love, affection, intention, accomplishment, friendship and also to express  sympathy. In the Bhagavad Gita  (9.26 ), Lord Krishna says, “If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, a fruit or water, I will accept it.”

Flowers are used to express thoughts when words are difficult to communicate feelings. In happiness and in sorrow, flowers speak silently. Giving or receiving flowers opens the heart to the tenderness of the expression of love and compassion. Flowers also symbolise memories we hold on to. We sometimes keep  flowers preserved, dried or pressed in pages of books.

When you gift  someone flowers, it shows that you’re willing to invest in your relationship with the person, or make someone’s day, build trust and make them feel appreciated and important.

Flowers are the greatest example of feeling as they effortlessly open towards the sun, radiating pure joy, freedom  and selflessness to all around them. It’s from flowers that we get seeds, which scatter and sprout  symbolising  abundance.

Why can’t humans behave like the myriad types of flowers, who never compare or compete, but just bloom happily, wherever they are planted, without losing hope, spreading fragrance and cheer, making the ambience better and full of positive vibrations.

Painting by Dr Pushpa Chaturvedi

In this modern hi-tech fast-paced life, flowers are like stress busters. According to behavioural research conducted at Rutgers, New Jersey, nature provides us with a simple way to improve emotional health and that is with flowers.

The researchers found that the presence of flowers triggers the brain’s happy chemicals, namely dopamine, oxytocin and serotonin. These in turn trigger happy emotions, heighten feelings of satisfaction, and impact social behaviour in a positive manner, far beyond what is normally believed.

Talking about flowers, I remember I once asked my mother why she choose to name me Pushpa, such an old, outdated name (Pushp in Hindi means flower). She replied, “Your baby face radiated the freshness of a blooming flower and a bundle of hope just sent by God, and you are our most cherished flower.”

Now, after knowing the significance of flowers in our life, I am happy I was named Pushpa. I think most of us remember the famous dialogue of Rajesh Khanna in Amar Prem, a Hindi  movie. The superstar had said to the heroine, Sharmila Tagore, in the movie, “Pushpa, I hate tears.” Oh! Yes, those of you who know me will surely agree that (I) Pushpa also hates tears!

This article will be incomplete, if I don’t mention one of my favourite, famous Hindi poems, Pushp kee Abhlasha, (Longings of a Flower by Makhanlal Chaturvedi). In the poem, the flower longs that instead of it being used to decorate  girls, places, a monarch’s burial grounds and crowns of gods, the flower desires that It should be strewn on paths that would be trodden by brave soldiers on their way to sacrifice themselves for their country.

So, let us all be like flowers, and spread the fragrance of forgiveness, love, respect, trust, affection, and smiles; let us build lasting relationships, empathise with each other silently and be tolerant of each other’s faults and failures. Be ready to sacrifice your comforts for the sake of humanity, like the flowers, which when plucked from the plant and gifted, sacrifice themselves to make others happy.

(Featured Image: Painting by Dr Pushpa Chaturvedi)

Dr Pushpa Chaturvedi, a paediatrician with over 50 years’ experience, is an educationist and researcher, with over 100 research publications, mainly on social paediatrics in renowned medical journals. Ex-Professor and Head of Department of Paediatrics, MGIMS Sevagram, Wardha, she is a thinker, writer, poet, artist and a spiritual blogger with over 500 blogs to her credit. Dr Chaturvedi is also a keen traveller, music and nature lover.

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