MYSTIC PLANTS. 405 



reason, sacred to Kamadeva. The pollen of the 

 flowers is most profuse, and has a faint peculiar 

 odour. It is collected, and sold at the bazaars, 

 being scattered over the bride at marriage cere- 

 monies. This custom seems partly to prevail on 

 account of the odour, and partly on account of its 

 mystic relationship to the god of love. Attar of 

 Keora flowers and Keora water are favourite Indian 

 perfumes. 



The brilliant asoca (Saraca Indica), with its 

 large clusters of orange-red flowers, is dedicated 

 to Siva, to whom also other and mostly yellow 

 flowers are offered, such as the " chandra malika " 

 {Chrysanthemum Indicum), the cadamba, already 

 alluded to, and the bakula, as well as the superb 

 crimson flowers of the bandhuca (Ixora bandhucd), 

 and the fragrant jasmines {Jasminum sambac and 

 Jasminum undulatum), the gunda {Gardenia floridd), 

 oleander {Nerium odorum), and some others. It can 

 be readily imagined that flowers, remarkable for their 

 beauty, bright colouring, or fragrance, would present 

 themselves to the minds of an oriental people as 

 fitting tributes to be laid on the shrines of their 

 gods. Such as do not conform to these features 

 are usually connected in some manner with the his- 

 tory of the mythical being to whom they are sacred, 

 or are supposed to retain in their flowers, fruits, or 

 leaves, some mystical resemblance to well-known 



