Parijat flower / Harsingar plant information, benefits, growing tips

The botanical name of the Parijat flower is Nyctanthes arbor-tristis. In Hindi, it is named Harsingar. In Bengali, the flower is called Sheuli or Shefali. In Odisha, it is called Gangaseuli or Jharaasephali. As it blooms at the night, many people also call it Raat ki Rani. The plant is also known as night jasmine and coral jasmine in English. The reason is the unique flowering routine of the plant.

The Parijat flower is white in color. It has 8 petals uniformly arranged from an orange stem. It comes with a sweet and light fragrance that fills the surroundings. The fallen flowers render the beauty of the ground.

In India, the blooming time of the Parijat flower is August to November. Apart from India, the Harsingar flowering plant also grows in Nepal, Thailand, Pakistan, and Indonesia.

Story and Significance in Indian Mythology

Parijat or Harsingar flower is a divine flower that is brought to earth by Lord Krishna, according to the mythology.

Parijat plants flowers at night and sheds them in the morning. It is said that the flowers fall from the branches as the first ray of the sun comes out. This is the only flower that can be picked from the ground and offered to the god as for other flowers, you must pluck them to offer them to God. It is known as the favorite flower of God. The word Parijat means celestial. The other name of the plant Harsingar was derived as the flower is used as the ornament of God.

It is known as the flower of God. It is used in different spiritual activities The blooms of this flower signify the advent of autumn as well as the arrival of Ma Durga. It is the state flower of West Bengal as well. In Tripura, this flower is associated with the life cycle of the human being as it signifies birth and death there.

There are many mythological stories related to this plant. The most famous story among all is how it became the favorite flower of Lord Krishna. Many mythological books like Bhargava Puran, the Mahabharata, and the Vishnu Puran have references to the Parijat flower. This plant was a result of Samudra Manthan. Lord Krishna won a battle with Lord Indra and took the tree to his place. Both of his wives Satyabhama and Rukmini longed for this beautiful plant. However, the tree was planted in the backyard of Satyabhama as per her demand. Eventually, the parijat flowers fell in the backyard of Rukmini, his most loved wife. In this way, it becomes a symbol of love, purity, devotion, and loyalty in any relationship.

How To Grow Parijat Plant:

Though the common concept is that the parijat plant should grow on the ground and need lots of space, one can have this plant in the pot. For that, you need to follow a few rules.

So, here we will share the tips to grow Parijat Plant in a pot.

From Seed:

1. To grow the plant in the pot, you need at least a planter with a 16-inch diameter. For the best result; you must take an earthen pot. Make sure there are at least 3 holes at the bottom part of the planter so that the excess water will come outside of the pot.

2. The best time to plant the seeds is in spring. You can also propagate it by stem cutting.

3. Do not plant the seeds in the winter season. During that time, the seeds don’t get germinated. You must avoid planting the tree in that season as well.

4. To prepare the soil, you must take 50% of garden soil and 50% of any type of compost like organic compost or vermicompost. Now mix the soil and compost well and make sure that there is no lump left. Now fill up the pot with the mixture.

5. To plant the seeds, you need to create a separate section and put them. You need to maintain a depth of 2 cm so that the saplings come out effortlessly.

6. You need to maintain the moisture of the soil but do not overwater it.

From Cutting: 

1. The first important thing to propagating parijat or Raat ki rani flower plant, you need to select the right stem. The stem must be at least 6-8 inches long and have at least 4-5 leaves. The stem must be mature are brown in color. Avoid green and tender stems.

2. Remove the leaves from the stem and keep only 2-3 leaves along with it.

3. Now cut the end part of the stem at a 45-degree angle. It will increase the surface area of the stem so that it can absorb as many nutrients as it can.

4. Prepare a potting mix with garden soil, river sand, and cow dung manure.

5. To promote the growth of the root, you can also add root hormone at the bottom of the stem and plant it directly into the mix.

6. Water thoroughly after planting the stem.

7. Now you have to cover the pot with a plastic bag or bottle to provide the greenhouse effect.

8. Keep the plant in the shade for at least 10-12 days and check for the new growth after the duration

9. Finally, you can move it to a bigger pot when it will outgrow the present pot.

How to Care for Parijat Plant: 

1. To care for the parijat plant at home, you need to take care of the watering schedule of the plant. The reason is that water is the main factor that can damage the plant. Most of the time, over-watering can cause root rot and eventually the plant dies. Periodically deep water the plant for the best result.

2. For the flowering of the plant, you need to add well-rotted manure. Make sure you prune the plant occasionally.

3. Add organic fertilizer to the plant once a year. You can also add a handful of neem khali to protect the plant from fungal infection.

4. While growing the plant in the pot, you need to trim it frequently.

5. The plant must need at least 3 hours of morning sunlight and then you have to move it to the shade. Just avoid the harsh sunlight of the afternoon as it may damage the Raat ki rani or parijat plant.

Reasons for Parijat Plant, not Flowering:

There are mainly three reasons for which the plant may not bloom flowers. The first reason is too much sunlight. It required only morning sunlight. If the plant you have receives sunlight all day long, you need to move it as soon as possible. You need to keep the plant in a shady place for the rest of the day.

The second reason for not flowering the parijat plant is the lack of fertilization. It is a big tree and needs adequate fertilizer to grow flowers and leaves. Before the flowering season of Parijat, you have to add the compost so that it will get all the nutrients for the flowers.

The third reason is the mistake in the watering routine. You need to avoid standing water as much as possible. Over-watering can cause root rot and it may not have flowered for that.

Parijat Flower as Delicacy:

The parijat flower is not only used in spiritual and decorative activities, it is used in the cuisine as well.

In Assam, it is considered a flower with lots of health benefits. The flowers are bitter in the taste but great for the digestive system and intestinal health.

It is also used in fish curries to make the dish more flavourful. The delicate flowers need to be picked from the ground and wash carefully so that there will be no damage and the fragrance stays intact.

The medicinal value of the flower is immense, especially for the gut. It can be boiled with rice and consumed to get immunity from seasonal diseases. The flowers are also used as an appetizer as they can help in constipation.

Medicinal Value of Parijat:

Parijat plant is very useful. From roots to leaves, almost every part of the plant comes with health benefits. It can reduce the symptoms of diabetes by increasing the function of insulin. For that reason, many people include it in their diabetic diet.

Leaves of Parijat:
The Parijat leaves are used to treat different types of fevers along with cough, arthritis, and worm infestation. The juice of the leaves is used as a tonic. You can boil the leaves in water along with other ayurvedic ingredients to prepare a decoction for arthritis, worm infestation, and constipation.

Flowers of Parijat:
Parijat flowers are very good for the digestive system. For any gastric problems or respiratory problems, you can use this flower to get quick relief.

The stem of Parijat: The powder made by the stem of the parijat flower is used to treat joint pain and malaria.

Health Benefits of Parijat: 

The plant of Parijat comes with so many medicinal values that it has been used in Ayurveda for many years. It has become a subject of research due to the different health benefits associated with it. From reducing inflammation to controlling fever, let’s take a look at the numerous health benefits of the Parijat tree.

Use to treat fever:
Parijat is anti-pyretic in nature. There are many types of fevers like dengue, malaria, and chikungunya that can be treated with the leaves of the Parijat. The bark and leaf of this plant are used to ameliorate fever quickly. If the platelet count goes down in dengue and chikungunya; the juice of the leaves helps to increase itIt also can restrict the bacterial growth to avoid fever.

Use to treat arthritis, knee pain, and sciatica:
The pain in arthritis and sciatica is unbearable. The leaves and flowers of the parijat flower have anti-inflammatory properties. The essential oil of parijat is used to treat knee pain due to arthritis.

Use to Treat Dry Cough:
For constant irritation and dry cough, the tea made from parijat flower and leaves is very useful. The flower and leaves are used to treat cough, cold, and conditions like bronchitis. As per the research, it has been proven that the ethanol extract from parijat leaves is an excellent remedy for bronchitis as well as asthma.

Use as Antiviral, Antibacterial, and Anti-allergic:
The oil of parijat is a wonderful remedy for allergies, viral and bacterial infections. The oil has the property to stop the growth of germs like E.coli, fungal infection, and staph infection. It is good for the skin as well because it helps to get rid of fungal infections.

Use as Immunity Booster:
The flower and leaf of the parijat tree have immunostimulatory properties as it has ethanol in them. You can drink water boiled with leaves and flowers every day to boost your immunity.

To Control Diabetes:
Parijat is known for its capability to control diabetes. As per the previous study, the parijat extract has the potential to have anti-diabetes properties.

To Nourish the Hair:
To control dandruff and hair lice; the decoction of parijat seeds is very useful. A hair tonic prepared by the parijat flower is used to control hair fall and strengthen the hair. Along with that, it also helps to stop hair greying and other scalp-related problems.

Use to treat malaria:
As per the study, it has been found that the leaves of the parijat plant are used to treat malaria. The extract from the leaves alleviates the fever caused by malaria germs and also helps to reduce the parasite concentration in the body. It is also a great remedy to reduce inflammation due to malaria.

Use to Cure Different Health Conditions:
Apart from the above-mentioned factors; the parijat is also helpful for many problems like constipation, anxiety, skin problems, menstrual cramp, hyperacidity, and worm infestation.

Other Uses of Parijat Flowers:

Apart from the health benefits, the stems of the parijat flower are also used in dying. The beautiful orange hue is used to color cotton and silk fabric organically. The flowers are also used to roll the incense sticks or agarbatti. The fragrance of the flower is used to make perfume as well.

For breakout and acne on the skin, the flower is used as a face pack. It gives an instant glow on the face and reduces the problem of acne.

Conclusion: 

Harsingar or Parijat is a beautiful plant. The fragrance of the flower will fill the whole household with a divine aroma. Moreover, it comes with so many health benefits as well. You can also gift parijat flower plants to your loved ones as well. Hope this article will give you complete information regarding the plant.