Nishagandhi – Queen of the Night

Disclaimer: A friend tells me this flower is Kalyana Saugandhikam (garland lily) and not Nishagandhi. 

Finally one of my Nishagandhis has bloomed. Here’s the picture. 

I have four pots of this plant which is quite exotic as its very name implies. Belonging to the Cactaceae family, this flower goes by different names. The Indian name ‘Nishagandhi’ comes from two Sanskrit words: nisha = night & gandh: fragrance. This flower blooms in the night and wilts as dawn breaks. I took the above pic just before sunrise this morning.

I have waited for nearly half a year now for this blossoming. It’s not easy to get these flowers which have a divine touch. It is known as Brahma Kamala, Bethlehem Lily, and the flower of healing. The Chinese consider the Nishagandhi flower to be lucky. I consider it as cosmic flower.

The Nishagandhi has many medicinal properties. Ayurveda uses it for treating diabetes, breathing disorders, throat infections, digestive problems, and so on. Of course, I don’t intend to use it for medicine. I keep it for its sheer splendour, its heavenliness, its magic.

I have been keeping all the four pots just outside our bedroom. Its very fragrance, which emerges in the night, is supposed to have a calming effect on the nervous system, aiding relaxation and potentially improving sleep quality.

Like all good things, the Nishagandhi flower is short-lived. Just one night. That is the tragedy. And the plants aren’t at all generous. They produce flowers very rarely. Once a year, I’m told. I shall wait for the next bloom. After all heavenly things can’t be too common. 

Here's another pic of the flower from a medical website. This one looks absolutely stunning. I'm waiting for one such inflorescence. 

Related Post: Waiting for my champak to bloom