Micro-Landscapes of the Anthropocene

The Flower of Joy : Palash

The Palash is also referred to as treasurer of the gods and symbolises the moon. Based on my understanding, this floral beauty serves a multifaceted purpose for many people across parts of South-East and South Asia. From religious significance to medicinal use, the value and importance served by this vegetation illustrate the power of the natural world. According to the Hindu religion, the trifoliate formation of the leaf is supposed to represent Lord Vishnu in the middle, Lord Brahma on the left and Lord Siva on the right. The flower connects the people to the spiritual/divine world. This symbolises how the plant or rather the Earth is a communicative object itself (Jussi Parikka, 2015). Also, the medicinal aspect of this flower places emphasis on the inherited views of nature and its relation to textuality. What do I mean by this? Well, the plant's ability to act as a remedy to heal numerous illnesses like skin disease has been recorded by the ancient doctors and spiritual healers of the past. Their capacity to cure numerous sicknesses and ways to utilise/harness their therapeutic prowess have earned it a place across various works of art, poems and literature.

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