All rituals for Hindus begin and end with flowers. Our temples (especially in India) have a Sthala Vriksha or Sacred temple tree. Huge trees like the Banyan and the Pipal are commonly honored in temple precincts. Fragrant flowers like Jasmine and Chrysanthemum are also temple ‘trees’ in some places. The common flowers used in rituals and prayers are the Jasmine varieties. Wearing of flower in the hair is part of the Indian culture. Fragrant flowers like the Jasmine Chrysanthemum, Champaka, Sampangi are favourite among woman. The rose, another favourite flower was introduced to India in the later days by the Muslim invaders. Not only flowers but some shoots and even grasses are used in rituals and for prayers and thus are to be grown in the temple garden.
Here are two lists of plants that a traditional temple should have in its garden:
List #1
Nerium oderum
Jasminus samboo
Calotropis gigantea
Hibiscus rosa sinensis
Ocimum sanctum
Vitex negundo
Xanthium strumarium
Solanum melonginum
Chrysanthemum sp
Lecus aspera
Viviveria zizanoides
Terminalia arjuna
Ocimum basilicum
Sesamum indicum
Jasminum grandiflorum
Thevetia nerifolia
Paparis cylanica
Cassia angustifolia
Piper betel
Nilumbium speciosum
Veronia sinneria
Aegle marmelos
Cassia fistula
Mirabilis jalapa
Michelia champaca
Delonicus pregia
Calophyllum inophyllum
Anthocephalas cadambu
Ficus racemosa (globerata)
Nyctanthes arbor tritis
Pithecolobium saman
Crataeva religiosa
Morinda tinctoria
Feronia elephantum
Phyllanthus emblica
Eugenia jambolana
Zizyphus jujuba
Artocarpus integrifolia
Citrus aurantifolia
Citrus medica
Punica grantum
Musa paradisiaca
Ficus bengalensis
Ficus religiosa
Pithecolobium saman
Azadirachta indica
Mangifera indica
List #2
1. Citron (Citrus medica L.)
2. Beli/Bilvam T. (Aegle marmelos L.)
3. Woodapple E. Vilvampalam T. (Limonia acidimus L.)
4. Nelli T. (Emblica officinalis L.)
5. Marimangai T. (Spondia pinnata L.)
6. Atthi T. (Ficus carica L.)
7. Pomegranate E. Madalankai T. (Punica granatum L.)
8. Illuppai T. (Madhuca longifolia L.)
9. Murungai T. (Moringa oleifera)
10. Camphor tree E. ( Cinnamomum camphora L.)
11. Cannonball tree E. Sivalingam, Nagalingam T. (Couroupita guianensis) L.)
12. Kamuku,Pakku T. (Areca catechu L.)
13. Cinnamon E. Karuva, Kurunthu T. (Cinnamomum zeylanicum L.)
14. Tiruvatthi T. (Bauhinia tomentosa L.)
15. Orchid tree E. (Bauhinia variegata L.)
14. Cotton tree E. ( Gossampininus malabaricum L.)
15. Konrai T. Laburnum E. (Cassia fistula L.)
16. Mullumurukku T. (Erythrina indica, Erythrina variegata L.)
17. Tabebuia rosea L.
18. Bo tree E. Arasa maram T. (Ficus religiosa L.)
19. Manchavarna T. (Morinda tinctoria L.)
20. Asokam T. (Saraca indica L.)
21. Kachadai T. (Careya coccinea L.)
22. Lemon-scented Verbena E. (Aloysia triphylla L.)
23. Agatthi T. (Sesbania grandiflora L.) (we planted it in 2015, for cow feed, gift from Balarama family)
24. Chincona E. (Chinoa sp. L.)
25. Parijatham (Nyctanthes arbortristis)
26. Erruku sacred to Ganesha and Hanuman is (Calotropis procera and C gigantea)
27. True Indigo (Indigofera tinctoria)
28. Bakula (Mimusops elengi)
29. Henna (Lawsonia inermis)
30. Jasmine (Jasminum grandiflorum)
31. (Jasminus samboo)
32. Fragrant screwpine (Pandanus odoratissimis)
33. Aloeswood (Aquilaria agallocha)
34. Kadamba (Anthocephalus cadamba)
In the Sangam period of Tamil Nadu, Murugan of the Tirupparankundram hill of Madurai was referred to as a centre of nature worship. He was in the form of a spear under a Kadamba tree.[7]. Vellaikadambu (Tamil
35. Parijatham (Nyctanthes arbortristis)