Offering Flowers

Tales of the Velvet Rock : VIII

 

 

 

 

In the worship of rock idols, the Hindu priest makes an offering of flowers while reciting the mantras. Parts of the ritual relate to the life of plants and it is not too difficult to see how this is so. Hence the Hindu view of the human body, is in some ways but not solely, referenced from the life cycle of plants. The related theology refers to the process of reincarnation and how elements of our human life today are borrowed from plants, especially as it relates to sexual reproduction.

 

A plant, any plant, is a hermaphrodite. The flowers contain a stamen and an ovary. In pollination, the pollen from the stamen is transfered to the ovary in a process of self-pollination. However, self-pollination, over a long period, weakens the plant and it soon dies.  

 

Ideally the plant borrows the pollen from another of the same species. This ensures a greater continuity of its life. In the species Cannabis Sativa,  it is observed to only pollinate itself and not rely on another source. This produces a powerful halucinogic resin in its leaves that produces a ' high ' when smoked by individuals. 

 

Beyond the practices in the temples, we also come to offer flowers at the first date, weddings, birthdays and anniversaries. We do it in some belief that such has been the practice handed down to us. In the modernization of societies, we sometimes avoid the stereotypes to create an offer in other forms. Whether this is compatible with our bodily needs is something we may need to look at.

 

In much the same way, man has come to substitute for many such practices which are viewed as old fashioned and is in some way repetitive and boring. We dismiss such practices but return to them at a later day with a new found understanding. In relation to our recent habits, today may well be such a day.