Kadamba

Kadamba, “the kadamba tree”

Grammar: masculine noun, the name of the tree; also neuter for its flower. Another name for it in the text is nīpa.

Meaning: a large tree with round, fragrant flower-heads that bloom in the rainy season; also its flower.

In the scriptures: in the month of Āśvayuja, when the lotus was born from the navel of Jagannātha, the other devatās too brought forth their own flowers and plants. From the tip of the hand of Kāmadeva arose the beautiful kadamba, and he loves that flower greatly (Vāmana Purāṇa, Chapter 18). When Bhagavān Vishṇu sleeps on the bed of Śesha in Āshāḍha and the devas sink into sleep one after another, Manmatha sleeps on trayodaśī on a bed of kadamba flowers (Vāmana Purāṇa, Chapter 17).

In the year-long Kālāshṭamī vrata to Bhagavān Śiva, the Māgha step is this: bathe with water in which darbha grass has been placed, worship with kastūrī, offer dhūpa of the bark of the kadamba tree and naivedya of sesame rice, and give the naivedya to a brāhmaṇa with gold and pāyasānna as dakshiṇā, saying, “May Umākānta Mahādeva be pleased!” (Vāmana Purāṇa, Chapter 17).

The Vāmana Purāṇa uses the tree in these places as well:

  • Dākshāyaṇī, describing the rains to Śiva, says that in the gusts of wind the kadamba, sarja, arjuna and ketakī trees drop their flowers, and that the kadamba trees are full of buds (Vāmana Purāṇa, Chapter 1).
  • When spring came to Badarikāśrama, the nīpa (kadamba) trees beside the flowering karṇikāra gardens shone like servants who have received honour from their master (Vāmana Purāṇa, Chapter 6).
  • Surrounded by the devas and the bhūtagaṇas, Girīśa, his great mass of loosened jaṭā floating in the wind, shone like a great tree touching the sky amid sarja and kadamba trees (Vāmana Purāṇa, Chapter 26).
  • Among the trees of the mountain Trikūṭa is the kadamba, named twice in the list under two names, with the punnāga, bilva, mango, sandal and many others (Vāmana Purāṇa, Chapter 58).

Related terms: Nīpa · Kāmadeva · Sarja · Arjuna · Ketakī · Kālāshṭamī

Sources

  • Vāmana Purāṇa, Chapters 1, 6, 17, 18, 26, 58