I am delighted to share my friend Brig. Chowdhry’s wonderful experience which I feel is nothing less than a miracle and as said by Einstein ~ “There are two ways to live: you can live as if nothing is a miracle; you can live as if everything is a miracle”. On my request the Brig. asked me to go ahead and spread the happiness with all my blogger friends. In his own words –
“It was 16 Aug 12, a day before the Amavasya*, as I got out into the garden early morning, the air was charged with tremendous energy and I could feel that something very special was going to happen that day. One had potted, very reluctantly a cacti looking plant that Amole, the Gardener, brought some six months or so ago, saying that it was lying around nearby, evidently thrown and discarded by someone. He said it was quite a unique plant and bloomed just once a year and that too only at night.
I hadn’t quite taken to the plant initially but as time went by I did make a connection with this plant and it started responding beautifully. The first indicator is generally the leaves and they really started glistening. And then something quite unusual happened. It was from the edge of two leaves that a branch each emanated culminating in an elongated bud.
To cut the story short, the miracle took place within a period of an hour. You can see the buds at 8 pm and then the flowers in their full glory at 9 pm. The experience was so overpowering that it left you totally mesmerized. In short the time interval between the bud stage and the full blown bloom was just an hour. Mind you it could have happened in a matter of just a few minutes for I had come inside the house, not being able to handle the very empowering energy prevailing. It was a gardener’s thrill of a life time.
Only God could have created such a beauty and I am also told it is very lucky to be able to witness the bloom. For one, you have to make a special effort to watch the flower bloom since it occurs only at night and then, very sadly the whole thing is over by the morning the flowers totally fold-up recalling Edna St. Vincent Millay famous saying:-
“My candle burns at both ends, it will not last the night.
But ah my friends and oh my foes, it gives a lovely light”
Cheers and thanks 🙂
Excerpts from Wikipedia:
1. * Amavasya means Moonless night when there is a natural upsurge of energies in the human body on these days. As a result, in the tradition, Amavasya (New Moon) and Poornima (Full Moon) days are held as special days for the spiritual seeker.
2. Brahma Kamal is the mythical white lotus that has dominated the imagination of mythological experts from generations. The Brahma Kamal is supposed to grow in the highest parts of the Himalayas and that holds true even today. This flower indeed grows in the Himalayan forests.
The fact that the above event happened in Pune located in the plains is by itself unique 🙂
Love this flower. My mom’s name was Kamal, so this is dear to my heart. 💕
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I am touched by your sentiments of your dear Mom name is the same. Thank you for sharing your feelings and gracing my blog 🙏
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You have a great blog. Would you like to share your story on “What You Blog About”
what motivated you to start this blog ?
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Visited your site and I must say you have very interesting blog. When I resume blogging I will surely attempt to write a suitable article.
Thanks.
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Are you taking a little break from blogging ? You may read some of the stories on ” What You Blog About” for inspiration. Happy Blogging !
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Hi I’ve not been blogging for quite some time. So let’s see I might start once again. I’ll surely visit your blog. Thanks.
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Thank you so much! Feel free to email me when you would to share your story or you may fill out the form to submit your story on http://www.whatyoublogabout.com/contact
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Very nice Dilip!
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Gracious of you Rashmi. Have a lovely weekend. 🌷
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“Brahmakamal” it is in Mumbai that I have learnt this name..!! Back in Dibrugarh, Assam my native place this is a common flower known as Raat Rani or Night Queen as it blooms in the night. People in my native place do give importance to this flower because of its beauty and uniqueness of blooming in the night just for a few hours before sunrise. Once at a time 25 buds bloomed together. It has a strong fragrance and with 25 blooming at the same time you are sure to feel nauseous. But the sight is something to be enjoyed. So pristine… pure and magical. Nature..at its best..!!! This flower will sure energise you and make fall in love with nature.
Right now in Mumbai I’ve got one bud getting ready to bloom in a few days time. I am all excited. The happiness that this plant has given me by blooming is in itself a blessing from Mothe Nature.
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Hi Mainu ! I am Chitra from Pune ! This year I had nearly 25-28 Brahmakamals blooming over four months ! So much joy it brought to all of us !
If I am not wrong…Brahmakamal and Raat ki rani or Night Queen are completely different flowers…Brahmakamal is a bryophyllum with cactus like leaves while Raat rani is a big shrub like hibiscus !
Mr Dilip Naidu, please throw light on this 🙂 Thank you.
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Hi Chitra thanks for your valuable inputs. I very much agree with your clarification (with botanical names) and acknowledge your expertise. I thank you and have replied Mainu above accordingly.
With kind regards and best of cheer have a great 2016 🙂
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Thank you Mainu and welcome to my blog. 25 blooms together is something truly amazing. I have never seen a wonderful phenomenon.
But please note Raat ki Rani is a different specie altogether and it does have a strong fragrance.
Brahmalamal has a mild yet exotic fragrance and each bloom is much larger than the Raat ki rani flower.
Yet I am curious to learn more about the blooms which you have witnessed. Another blogger friend Chitra has has very graciously shared her views on your question.
Cheers 🙂
With kindest regards!
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Thank you so much for sharing this. I have never seen Brahmakamal before, and this post of your experience is so well done.
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I am so delighted to know that you enjoyed the grandeur of the Brahmakamal. Thanks and regards.
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Pleasure all mine.
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💐 For you!
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BUONA DOMENICA 🙂
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Grazie Simona avete una settimana incantevole 🙂
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Like the Brahma Kamal our relationship has blossomed.
By your follow, my list of follows has come to 111.
And you are the 111.
Lucky You!
Shiva
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Wow is that so? lucky indeed I am 🙂
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Hi,
I have been on various trekking expeditions in the Himalayas and have seen Brahma Kamal at various places including Valley of Flowers. It is not the same as the one we have here in JVT. What we have here is a cactus, Epiphyllum Oxypetalum (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epiphyllum_oxypetalum). This cactus blooms at Bangalore, Nasik and many other places. It is a nightblooming cereus. The interesting part is that this plant can grow from a single plucked leaf. My mother-in-law brought a leaf from Nasik and we have a plant now 🙂 though no flower yet 😦 In any case, it will be a wonderful experience to see it bloom.
If you google for Brahma Kamal, you will get pictures of 2 different varieties of flowers including the one here. The other one is the Himalayan BrahmaKamal found all over the mountains at an altitude of above 4500 m. It is Saussurea Obvallata (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saussurea_obvallata). Here is the Brahma Kamal stamp – http://www.nainitaltourism.com/Flora/brahma-kamal-stamp.JPG .
Himalayan Brahma Kamal
Amol
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Hi Amol. Many thanks for adding valuable insights on the Brahma Kamal and for the beautiful images. Your information adds some interesting information for me and for all our blogger friends.
Thank you my friend and with regards,
Dilip
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It bloomed at our house today @20.00 to 21.00
Feeling blessed. Just @ month back I was thinking to remove this plant from my garden thinking it some long growing type of cactus but don’t know how I didn’t did it.
Truely gods flowers.
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How beautiful to know that you were blessed by the brahma kamal . And thanks so much for sharing your good news.
Thanks and regards 🙂
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An incredible gift to the beholder.
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Yes it is dear friend! Namaste.
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Yesterday night around 8.45 it bloomed in our house .we are from dakshina kannada Karnataka
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Hello Malini I am so delighted to know you witnessed the bloom of the Brahmakamal! Indeed you are blessed.
Its very kind of you to share this phenomenon with me and my readers 🙂
Take care and have a lovely weekend 🙂
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Just sighted this post and thanks for the valuable inputs on brahma kamal from the post as well as from the exchanges here….will try to plant one in my garden and send pics if successful in nurturing it and fortunate enough to witness the nocturnal blooming…best wishes…Raj .
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A warm welcome to you Raj. I am thrilled read your response and connect with the aura of the Brahma Kamals. I am sure your are in for a wonderful experience in growing this exotic plant.
Sending many good wishes your way!
Dilip
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Hey guyz i am vani frm karnatak its very amazing 2 say tat 2dy on 23 sep 2014 before mahavili amavasa in our garden there is a bud of 9 brahma kamala. . Its very amazing nd i’m 2. . . . Exited. . Is any pooja shd b made
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Hi there Vani. Congratulations
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Hey guyz i am vani frm karnatak its very amazing 2 say tat 2dy on 23 sep 2014 before mahavili amavasa in our garden there is a bud of 9 brahma kamala. . Its very amazing nd i’m 2. . . . Exited
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We have a plant like this here at home, but I’m not sure if it’s the same plant. It’s called Queen of the Nile.
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Wow a flower named Queen of the Nile I am thrilled to know that.
Thank you!
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I’m also interested to plant the brahma kamalam in my home. Please let me tell the availability of the plant. I’m from Hyderabad.
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Hi Krishna now nurseries are keeping these plants for sale. I am sure Hyderabad too has it. Best luck.
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am feeling fortunate too..because the first Brahmakamal or the Orchid Cactus bloomed in my garden tonight ! what a beauty ! am in Pune too !
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Oh wow that’s wonderful! May you be blessed with this beautiful flowers good tidings.
Regards 🙂
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I M LIVING IN MUMBAI, PLEASE PROVIDE ADDRESS IF YOU KNOW WHERE CAN I GET BRAHMA KAMAL PLANT, my email – yogesh_jasoliya@yahoo.co.in
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hi yogesh i myself do not have a plant but it seems many nurseries now have this plant.
best of luck.
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We bought a house 5 months ago and it had this depressed-looking plant as a center piece on our pool deck that I said we should pull out and plant something better. Good thing we procrastinated on that! On May 30th it gave us a BIG surprise and bloomed this incredible flower! Then 2 weeks ago another, last night another & tonight (July 10th) we are expecting triplets!!! I live in Fort Myers, Florida and am going to buy spray acrylic to preserve them. We have 1 more bud that will go soon. The smell is INCREDIBLE and I’ve never smelt anything like it!
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Oh I am thrilled to hear about your wonderful experience. Yes indeed this flower is something special and as per folklore the Brahma Kamal is said to bring good fortune.
Thanks for your kind visit and for taking interest and sharing your own experience.
Kind regards and cheers 🙂
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What a lovely experience! I wonder if the aura escalates because the flower is so short-lived. btw, why do you still call it ‘mythical’ if it exists?
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Glad you liked the Brahma Kamal post. I think its called mythical because people from many long years ago believed that those who witness its bloom are blessed and good luck and happiness comes their way 🙂 Now as this has not been proved it becomes a myth.
Kind regards.
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There is another plant like this, a tree, that shoots its flowers parts about 20 feet around it once a year around dusk.
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Good to know that there is another annual phenomenon of beautiful flowers shooting 20 feet around. Will try to Google the name 🙂
Thanks!
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Yesterday, my wife saw our Brahma Kamal flower just growing and she called me up while I was in Office to convey a good news. This too was presented to us as Gift from my Wife’s Friend in Pune. We are super glad to see the flower but yet to bloom. I think its the stage your second pic you posted above. Just wanted to post some pics of mine here, but don’t know how.
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What a lovely thought Amar. You are most welcome to email the pictures with your comments if any to me at dilipnaidu@yahoo.com. I will be delighted to share your Brahma Kamal photos with my blogger friends.
Wishing you both wonderful blooms with loads of good luck.
Kind regards.
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Thank you for visiting my blog today. I appreciate the time you took to stop by. May your day be filled with joy and peace.
BE ENCOURAGED! BE BLESSED!
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Thank you for your good wishes. Regards.
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A very beautiful and mysterious flower, and the name speaks of divine reverence, a ray of hope from God to this world. Lovely article and pictures.
Vijay
– HalfEatenMind
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That’s a lovely response Vijay – a ray of hope means does have divine significance.
Kind regards & cheers 🙂
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It feels special to experience a miracle of life and growth 🙂
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I am happy you liked the flowers bloom! Kind regards.
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Awesome 🙂
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I am happy you liked the post 🙂
Cheers.
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Just awesomw beauty, glad you caught it. Thanks….and yes only God could create that
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Welcome and I am so glad you liked it! With kind regards.
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Wow! Truly amazing! And such a beautiful flower 🙂
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Glad you liked 🙂 Kind regards.
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Wah wah! Loved the post. And photos say it all. Thanks a lot for sharing. 🙂
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hi Nandini … glad you liked it 🙂
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Thanks for the article – how awesome!
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Glad you liked it Lessandra!
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The”Brahm Kamal”, what i feel conveys that- ” Its not the span of life which matters but of course the quality, beauty and purpose does”.Extremely delighted being a botany student, an inspiring to mankind article. Regards, Rajesh.
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Dear Rajesh,
I am so honored by your visit and the beautiful thoughts. Thanks my friend best of luck. Warm regards.
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Hi Christy I am glad you liked it.
Regards
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So neat! That would have been amazing to watch! What a beautiful plant.
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Wow… that must be an overwhelming experience, to watch a flower bloom. I never though it was possible that such a flower existed! I recalled stating an analogy in my blog that my dream was unlike a flower that starts with a bud and gradually becomes a flower because its realization wasn’t gradual but in an instant. Boy, was I wrong haha! Such a flower exists! Thanks for sharing this. 🙂
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Hi I am delighted to read you wonderful response. I guess it matches with the energy of the amazing bloom. Thank you so much. Regards.
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I was so touched to read this Dilip. I can not express how deeply touched, to read the Brig’s words, reminding us of the words of Einstein, that we can live as if everything is a miracle. And I had never heard that quote but it hit me right in the heart, and I thought, yes, that is the way I wish to live my life. And I do to an extent, but not all the way, and not consciously. I will intend on doing this.
And I wondered, after I read this, what kind of daily miracle is Dilip going to show us, through the Brig this time? And I read on, and was so touched by the simplistic way that the Brig explained the flower opening up, and the feeling of being overwhelmed so much that he had to go inside for a moment. I felt as I read those words I could feel that overwhelming sensation. And I thought, surely, surely, I can live life more like this and if I do, what kind of person would I be to those around me? Like a breath of fresh air. For that is what Brig’s words were to me. Will you please tell him?
THank you, Dilip, for sharing this.
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Loved to read your beautiful response coming straight from the heart. Oh yes I will surely forward the link to the Brig 🙂 this lovely comment. We must spread the joy.
Thanks and kind regards.
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The Brig. Chowhury has acknowledged your thoughtful good wishes – “My good wishes to all your bloggers, particularly to the one mentioned by you in your mail”.
Kind regards to you and thanks Bethany.
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Thank you for passing that along Dilip. 🙂
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That was quite interesting. What a strange plant! So nice to see such a rare event.
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Binky my friend I am always delighted with your nice words 🙂 Thanks
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Such a glorious bloom, so delicate and lacy. Margie
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Thanks Margie I am so glad you liked the bloom 🙂
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Here’s some more info about the Brahmakamalam for those who are interested:
http://whenthelotusblooms.tumblr.com/post/9122084775/the-lotus-in-when-the-lotus-blooms-is-not-your
Regards,
Geetha
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We had a plant when we lived on the plantations in Coonoor. It is indeed a wondrous experience to witness that flower bloom!
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I can imagine what it must be. Actually I am thrilled by your visit knowing you to be a blogger par excellence. Thank you and kind regards.
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I don’t that I have ever seen a more stunning flower and the poem is perfect. This really brightens my day and leaves me in awe of our beautiful planet!
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I am so glad you liked the flower. Yes we must care for our beautiful planet. Kind regards.
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Dear Sir,
Thank you for this post about a very rare flower. I love the quote!
A few months ago, I read the book ‘When The Lotus Blooms’ by Kanchana Krishnan Ayyar and the leitmotif of this well-written book is the Brahmakamalam.
Details of the book are available here:
http://kanchibooks.com/blog/?p=1
The author mentioned in the book that Brahmakamalam plant can never be bought by anybody or anywhere and that one has to be ‘blessed’ to receive it from somebody, somewhere.
After reading the book, I happened to unearth a couple of blogs on this flower and here they are:
http://mumbai-magic.blogspot.in/2008/08/brahmakamal-in-mumbai-simply-amazing.html
http://parayilat.blogspot.in/2008/08/visit-of-queen.html
Thanks and regards,
Geetha
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Awesome response and again enriching. Checked all the links and found them super especially the quote “…it was like what Omar Khayyam said in the Rubaiyat: ‘Like dew upon the desert’s dusty face lighting an hour or two is gone”.
Thanks Geetha
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Thank you, Sir!
I think a slight correction may have to be made in the quote though: It could be “Like snow….. is gone.”
http://www.library.cornell.edu/colldev/mideast/okhym.htm
Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam ( Edward FitzGerald’s Translation)
The Worldly Hope men set their Hearts upon
Turns Ashes—or it prospers; and anon,
Like Snow upon the Desert’s dusty Face
Lighting a little Hour or two—is gone.
Regards,
Geetha
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Ya it does sound better. Thanks & regards.
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Sheer bliss… a true wonder!
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🙂 Yes Marina. Thanks
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Simply we can wow!!
i have read about this on google, here are some details:-
Mythical References To The Brahma Kamal:
The Lotus Of Brahma: The names of this magical flower can be translated to mean, ‘the lotus of Bramha’. Lord Brahma, the creator of the Universe, is always depicted as sitting on a huge lotus and holding one in his hand. Another name for Lord Brahma is Kanja or the one born out of the water. So, schools of thought say that Brahma was born from the navel of Lord Vishnu while others say that he was born from a huge white lotus that we call the Brahma Kamal.
The Life Giving Lotus: The story of the birth of Ganesha is a popular one. When Shiva attached the head of an elephant on Ganesha’ s body, he was bathed with water that was sprinkled from a Brahma Kamal. That is why this lotus is given the status of a live-restoring flower of the gods. To evaluate it in terms of modern science, this flower has many medicinal properties.
The Golden Lotus: When the Pandavas were in exile in the forests, Draupadi accompanied them. She was constantly tormented by painful memories of her insult in the Kaurava court. The hardships of a forest life also took its toll on her. One evening she saw a beautiful lotus float away in the stream. After she saw this ‘golden’ lotus bloom, she felt a strange happiness that was almost spiritual. But the lotus withered as quickly as it had bloomed. Draupadi sent her most devoted husband Bhima to look for it and on his quest for the flower he met Hanuman (Bhima’s elder brother). As a lotus is usually pink, ‘golden’ may mean a shimmering ‘white’. This story too is a reference to this mysterious flower.
Wish Fulfilling: It is long held belief that anybody who sees this rare flower blooming will have all his or her wishes fulfilled. It is not easy to watch it bloom because it blooms in the late evening and stays only for a couple of hours. Also the fact that it is supposed to bloom once in 14 years makes it a very rare sight.
He is the KING OF FLOWERS. And Brig. Chaudhary is very lucky to have this Flower in his Garden.
Regards
Vedant
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Wow what an interesting account Vedant. Very comprehensive. Thanks.
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and also this happenend in pune! what a co incidence..
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Oh yes 🙂
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thts so amazingly beautiful! do u know on my recent visit to India, there’s a same plant at my in laws place and the day we started back,the previous night I saw 3 buds blooming. It is really a rare and blessed sight!
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Wow Soumya … how luck you were to witness this amazing beauty. Thanks.
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Just one word: WOW!
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🙂
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wow!! many thnx for sharing!!
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🙂 Manish thanks for appreciating.
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wow what a beauty the flower is. 🙂
It must have been a delighful experience to witness that.
it’s amazing how quickly that bloomed. thanks for sharing the experience
it’s very unlikely I will ever witness that.
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Yes Amira it indeed is beautiful 🙂
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Thank you, for sharing us this wonderful experience, dillpnaidu.
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Glad you liked it!
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Once flower comes same plant wont give flowers any time. So pluck it cut leaves n plant again.
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Good tip will surely share your input with my friend the grower.
Kind regards.
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