Brahma Kamal- The Divine Earthly Blossom

The Brahma Kamal is popularly known as “The Lotus Of The Gods”.

Below is the breathing taking image of the flower:

Photo courtesy:

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/travelogues/82466-photolog-valley-flowers-hemkund-sahib-2.html

The Brahma Kamal is the state flower of Uttarakhand. Botanical name is Saussurea obvallata. Belongs to the flowering species of Sunflower family(Asteraceae).

It grows among the rocks and slopes, meadows at an altitude as high as 3000-4600meters. Does not grow in plains.

The flower is named after Brahma the creator. (ref:Wikipedia)

The flower head is purple and is enclosed by layers of greenish yellow papery boat shaped tracts.

Here have a close look at the flower:

                                          

Photo courtesy:

Mantrana @ http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Asia/India/State_of_Uttar_Pradesh/Things_To_Do-State_of_Uttar_Pradesh-BR-2.html

These tracts create a warm space due to which this plant blossoms even in the icy cold weather. They aid in thermoregulation and minimize damage caused due to frost. Also prevent damage due to the high intensity ultra-violet rays emanating from the high altitude sunlight.

It is native to Himalayas, North Burma, South west China. In the Himalayan mountain ranges it is found in Panchkedar, Sahstratal, Nandikund, Kedarnath, Satopant and the magnificient valley of flowers(Bhyundar Valley).

These rare flowers found only on the higher altitudes is also refered to as
“The King Of Himalayan Flowers.”

The Brahma kamal plant blossoms during monsoons(July-August).It blooms at mid-night and shrinks at dawn. Here is a picture of how it looks:

                                                

Religious importance:

Because these flowers are available at higher altitudes(generally the snow capped mountain peaks of Himalayas are believed to be the abode of Gods)and blossom even in the cold frost weather, the tracts are like petal of Lotus(Lotus symbolizes purity and enlightenment amid ignorance) these are considered to be sacred and are offered to the deities in and around areas where these are available.

During the “Nanda Ashtami” festival the flowers are offered in shrines and dispersed as Prasad.

Fragrance:

Contrary to the popular belief, these flowers smell awful. Though it is smelly there is a firm which manufactures incense sticks from these flowers. It claims the fragrance of the incense sticks induces Yogic Nidra in a short time. Wonder how they smell.

Here is the hyperlink: www.fragona.com/incense.html

Medicinal Importance:

The people of the Bhotiya community use the flowers for treating boils, cuts and wounds.

The medicine is prepared in the following manner:

100ml of decoction of dried leaves is mixed with half table spoon of salt and applied to the infected areas(3X 20ml)

Ref:

http://www.ethnobotanyjournal.org/vol8/i1547-3465-08-233.pdf

The herb is also used in Tibetan medicine locally known as “Sah-du Goh-Ghoo”. Used for treatment of paralysis of limbs and cerebral ischemia(condition where there is insufficient blood supply to the brain to meet metabolic demand).

                                               

Brahma Kamal on the verge of extinction: Facts

This rare plant is on the verge of extinction. The foremost reason is the well known fact of climatic changes due to global warming.. According to eminent biologist and environmentalist Dr.Uday Gaur a biology lecturer at Gorakhori Govt College near Nainbagh in district Tehri Garhwal, that due to global warming the plant is shifting to higher altitudes and within few years it will have no place to go as it nears the snowline which is covered with snow all year round.

Excessive trekking activities due to which the trekkers pull the plant for preserving it for recreational and research purposes.

The various religious beliefs rampant in the area also add to the woes of this vanishing  rare breed. People who pluck these flowers often uproot the entire bunch leaving no seeds behind for propagation.

Postal Stamp in honor of  Bramha Kamal:
A postal stamp was issued in the year 1982 by the Indian Postal Department to  commemorate this flower.
Here is the image of the stamp:

           

                                                 
Wide spread mis-interpretation of Brahma kamal:

People often misinterpret Brahma kamal with the cactus species flowering plant “Queen of The Night ” whose botanical name is “Epiphyllum oxypetalum”.

Also known as Gul-e-Bakawali ,Duthchman’s pipe.

Here is the pic : This is the Night blooming Cereus.