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Thursday, March 3, 2011

Clitoria ternatea

Clitoria ternatea was one of the many flowers my father taught me to love. Even if I could not appreciate its stark lines, the vivid blue colouring made the flower quite unforgettable. "It is used in the worship of Lord Shiva", my father often told me, "because that is the colour of Shiva's throat".


I few months back, I found a dried pod, and planted the seeds. It germinated and grew, but remained unidentified, till it threw out a flower yesterday.

Yesterday was also Shivratri, the day when Shiva is customarily worshiped.

Perhaps those you love do watch over you.
_____
A drabble is a story told in exactly 100 words.

14 comments:

  1. DanetteMarch 3, 2011 at 7:54 PM

    That is a beautiful flower and a beautiful picture! I lovely start to the day!!

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  2. Debra She Who SeeksMarch 3, 2011 at 8:15 PM

    Gorgeous! And a very appropriate name too.

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  3. AnonymousMarch 3, 2011 at 9:15 PM

    Rayna - Thanks for sharing such a lovely story and flower. You never do know what seeds will develop into, literally and metaphorically, and there is nothing to say that loved ones do not watch over us...

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  4. Alex J. CavanaughMarch 3, 2011 at 11:22 PM

    That's not just coincidence!

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  5. PaulamiMarch 3, 2011 at 11:38 PM

    the flower is no doubt lucky for you :) don't we all a blessing hand over us? all the best to you

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  6. LTMMarch 4, 2011 at 2:04 AM

    That's a beautiful flower, and interesting name... *snort*

    OK, I'm 12. ;p

    I think those we love do watch over us. I love the idea of them being in the trees~ :o) <3

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  7. Dorte HMarch 4, 2011 at 2:20 AM

    So beautiful, and I love the intense, blue colour.

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  8. Jemi FraserMarch 4, 2011 at 4:08 AM

    Beautiful! I got a chill when I read about the day the flower opened! :)

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  9. Amber T. SmithMarch 4, 2011 at 4:23 AM

    Beautiful! Both the flower, and the story. :)

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  10. Jane Kennedy SuttonMarch 4, 2011 at 4:28 AM

    What a coincidence (or was it):) It’s a beautiful color.

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  11. Deb and BarbaraMarch 4, 2011 at 5:42 AM

    This flower is absolutely exquisite. I love how it found you.
    B

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  12. Anuradha ShankarMarch 4, 2011 at 9:21 AM

    I didnt know the botanical name of this flower, we call it 'shanka pushpam' since its shaped like a conch. thats why i liked the flower too! it was only after i got married that i learnt that its used for Shiva worship

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  13. L. Diane WolfeMarch 5, 2011 at 12:16 AM

    That's a gorgeous flower! And with so much meaning.

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  14. NatashaMarch 7, 2011 at 6:36 PM

    @ Danette - thank you. I love the deep blue.

    @ Debra - it is, isn't it? And VERY appropriate for a god who is represented as a phallus.

    @ Margot - I think so too. After all, why should we presume people pass on when they pass away?

    @ Alex - it isn't, is it?

    @ P@ul@mi - thank you. Yes, to me it was a blessing.

    @ Leigh- the name is descriptive, isn't it?
    Trees? Thats' what Hindus beleive- seriously.

    @ Dorte - it is a beautiful blue, isn't it?

    @ Jemi - I couldn't belive it myself- almsot spooky.

    @ Tara- thank you.

    @ Jane - I am sure it was not. Can't be.

    @ Barbara - the flower did find me, didn't it?

    @ Anu - It seems to be called variations of shell flower in Tamil, Malayalam, Konkini and Kannada that I have been able to find otu in the last few days.

    @ Diane - it is full of meaning, isn't it?

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