why do we offer flowers to god



Offering a flower to God is more than just decoration. According to the famous prayer Mantra Pushpam, a flower is a powerful symbol that connects us to the universe linking the water here on earth to the moon and stars above.

While we usually think of flowers as things to look at or smell, ancient wisdom says they are actually connected to Sound. Just as a flower silently invites the bee to come and buzz, offering a flower is a way to invite the vibration of the Divine into our hearts.

Thanking God for Our Senses

In the logic of the Upacharas, every item we offer corresponds to a sense organ and a subtle element (Tanmatra). The ritual is essentially a way of saying, "You gave me these senses to experience the world; I use them now to experience You."

For example, Here is how some of the offering translates to gratitude for our faculties:

  • Deepam (Lamp): We light the lamp to thank God for the element of Fire and the gift of Vision. It symbolizes the removal of darkness and the ability to see the divine form.

  • Gandham (Sandalwood Paste): We apply cool sandalwood to the deity to thank God for the element of Earth and the gift of Touch (skin). It represents grounding and cooling the senses.

  • Agarbathi (Incense): We offer fragrant smoke to thank God for the element of Air and the gift of Smell. The scent travels, just as the breath of life travels within us.

  • Mantra/Chanting: We recite sacred sounds to thank God for the gift of Speech (Vak).

But where does the Flower fit in?

The Flower and the Mystery of Sound

A flower is obviously beautiful to look at (Vision) and wonderful to smell (Smell). It seems to duplicate the functions of the Lamp and the Incense. However, ancient wisdom and a beautiful ecological observation suggest the flower corresponds to the element of Space (Akasha) and the sense of Hearing.

How does a silent flower represent hearing?

To understand this, we must look at the flower not just as an object, but as part of a sacred relationship with the Bee (Bhramara). This relationship is deeply encoded in Hindu theology.

1. The Buzz as Omkara (Pranava)

The humming sound of the bee is not just noise; in Vedic thought, it is the closest natural approximation to Omkara (the sound of Om). When a bee approaches a flower, it announces its arrival with this hum. Thus, the flower is the vessel that invites the Om. By offering the flower, you are offering the physical form of the Pranava—a silent invitation for the Divine Sound to manifest.

This connection is personified in the Goddess Bhramarambika at Srisailam. Legend says She assumed the form of thousands of bees to destroy the demon Arunasura. Here, the "buzz" is not gentle; it is the aggressive, vibrating life-force (Shakti) that protects creation. When we offer a flower to the Devi, we are acknowledging Her nature as the Bhramara the vibrant, buzzing force of life i.e. omkara.

In Yoga, the Bhramari Pranayama (Bee Breath) is used to silence the mind to hear the internal Nada (sound). Shiva represents that silence which holds the sound. The flower, which sits in silence yet attracts the buzzing bee, perfectly represents the Shiva-Shakti union i.e. the stillness (Flower/Shiva) that holds the vibration (Bee/Shakti).

2. Madhava: The Lord of Honey

Lord Vishnu is often called Madhava (The Lord of Knowledge/Sweetness) or Madhu-sudana. The devotee is often described as the bee (Madhupa—the honey drinker) seeking the nectar of the Lord's lotus feet. But the reverse is also true: The Lord is the "Divine Bee" who seeks the nectar of the devotee's love. By offering the flower of our heart, we invite Madhava to come and reside within us.

Conclusion:

Coming back to flower - Biologically, the bee takes honey and leaves behind the buzz. So now flower is the owner of that buzz which was given by bee in exchange of honey. As mentioned above buzz is equated to Omkara 

Symbolically, offering a flower is like thanking God for the ability to listen that divine sound. You are offering the "landing pad" for the Omkara. You are saying, "Lord, let my heart be the flower that captures Your divine sound."

The Cosmic Philosophy

This connection between flowers, space, and sound is most clearly preserved in the famous Vedic hymn Mantra Pushpam, chanted at the conclusion of many prayers.

The hymn begins with the verse:

Yo'pam pushpam veda, pushpavan prajavan pashuman bhavati.

("He who knows the Flower of the Waters becomes endowed with the flower, progeny, and cattle.")

But what is this "Flower of the Waters"? The hymn answers:

Chandrama va Apam Pushpam.

("The Moon is the Flower of the Waters.")

The Philosophy of Space and Sound:

In this cosmic vision, the Vedas are using the "Flower" as a metaphor for celestial bodies (like the Moon) floating in the "waters" of infinite Space (Akasha). In Vedanta, the essential quality of Space (Akasha) is Sound (Shabda). Space is the medium through which sound travels. Therefore, the "Cosmic Flower" (Moon) is the visible manifestation floating in the realm of Sound.

When we recite Mantra Pushpam, we hold a handful of flowers. This is a powerful ritual act: we are physically holding the symbol of the cosmos (the Flower/Moon) while chanting the Truth (Sound/Mantra). We fuse the Sound (Mantra) with the Form (Flower), reaffirming that the flower is the anchor for the divine vibration.

Aesthetics and "Soft Fascination"

Beyond the metaphysics, there is a practical psychological reason for flowers in worship.

Flowers provide what psychologists call "soft fascination." In our daily lives, our attention is hard and focused (work, screens, traffic). This causes cognitive fatigue. The complex geometry, vibrant colors, and delicate scent of a flower capture our attention effortlessly, without draining us.

This improves our Sattva (purity/clarity) and mood. By fixing our eyes on the beauty of the flower, our mind quiets down. It is in this quiet state induced by the flower that we can actually concentrate on God and hear the silence within.

How to Perform Pushpanjali (Offering of Flowers)

Knowing this deep significance changes how we perform the ritual. It is no longer just "dropping a petal."

As you offer the flower, hold this thought in your mind:

"O Lord, just as this flower opens itself to receive the bee, I open my heart to receive Your name. I offer this flower in gratitude for my ears, which allow me to hear the ultimate truth, sacred Mantras and the music of life. Let my listening be as sweet as honey."

Conclusion

Next time you pick up a flower for your morning prayers, remember the bee and the moon. Remember that you are holding a vessel of silence that is waiting for the sound of the Divine. By offering it, you are not just decorating hod,you are tuning your senses to the frequency of Gratitude.

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