Thread by @DefiledGod

--Small thread on "forbidden flowers for Lord Vishnu--

Every devata has flowers that he/she likes and dislikes. Difference between other gods and Vishnu is simply that the Lord is the Supreme Being, and there is in reality, no flower he dislikes or won't accept.+

#Hinduism

Acceptance or rejection by the Lord is determined by intent. He will accept a thorn if offered in devotion, or when proper flowers are not available. He will not accept even thulasi if offered without devotion.+

#Hinduism #Puja

Azhwars confirm this fact. You can read an article on offerings of flowers here -+

anudinam.org/2011/12/01/the…பூளைப்-பூ-and-thorny-flowers/

#Hinduism #SanatanaDharma #Puja

That being the case, how to explain this Vishnu dharmottara shloka:

NArkam nonmattakam kAnchim tathaiva girikarnikAm |
Nakantha-kAtikA-pushpam achyutA yA nivedayeth || kautajam ShAlmali pushpam shairisham cha janardhane | Niveditam bhayam shokam nihsvatAm cha prayacchati ||+

The shloka describes various flowers that should never be offered to Vishnu, otherwise it will lead to fear, sorrow and loss or poverty. So is the Lord some insecure god who punishes those who offer wrong flowers? Not so. Here is the explanation+

#Hinduism #Puja #SanatanaDharma

Answer is, Lord can and will accept even those. But that shloka is addressing our conscience. Consider the two names of the Lord referred here. One is "Achyuta" - meaning, he never lets his devotee slip. He became charioteer of Arjuna only to ensure latter won etc+

#Hinduism

For such a Lord who exists at our beck and call and loves us so much, would it occur to us to ignore fragrant flowers and offer Arka which has limited fragrance and is dull? Or Dhatura, which is actually poisonous? And the other flowers which have similar flaws?

#Hinduism

Would we not prioritize better flowers first to satisfy he who says he would not let his devotees slip (Achyuta)? So while he would accept even mud or thorn from us happily, we shouldn't offer him these flowers unless no other flower is available.+

#Hinduism #SanatanaDharma

The next set of flowers are described with the second name "janArdhana". The name indicates he is the destroyer of Asuras or our own karmas. That indicates also, that he is the means to end our suffering.+

#Hinduism #SanatanaDharma #Sanatani

To such a Lord who ends everyone's sufferings, can we offer flowers like Kautaja, Shalmali etc which are used for curing dysentery, fevers etc in Ayurveda? As these flowers have medicinal uses, it is inappropriate to offer them to the Supreme Medicine himself, janArdhana+

#Vedas

Thus, the reasoning has been explained. Now, the offering of these flowers indeed will rest in fear (bhayam), sorrow (shokam) and loss (nihsvatA).+

#Hinduism #SanatanaDharma #Hindus #puja

Because the devotee who sees the tenderness of the Lord will get a fear (bhayam) that the tender body of the Lord will be affected by the poison of dhAtura, sorrow (shokam) that he offered such a dull looking or limitedly fragrant Arka flower to such a bhagavAn+

#Hinduism

You would also feel fear and sorrow by offering medicinal flowers as it may imply you are considering him a means to an end, just as you consider the flower a means to an end (curing diseases), and the devotion is not selfless+

#Hinduism #Puja #SanatanaDharma

"niHsvatA" - lack of ownership or poverty. Thus, it would lead to being deprived of the wealth that is the feeling of delight at having performed your services in a correct manner that would please the Lord. He may be pleased regardless, but you wouldn't feel any pleasure!+

That is why the shloka warns beforehand, carefully choose what you want to offer. Other gods have a reason or story for likes or dislikes of certain flowers. But in the case of the Lord, you are the one affected by whatever you offer, he happily accepts everything.//

#Hinduism