VALMIKI : OBSERVER OF NATURE

[Col Bimal Sarkar]

Dear Friend,

                       Valmiki mentioned about Ketak or Ketaki in his Ramayan.It is known as SCREW-PINE in English.Scientifically it is known as Pandanus odoratissimus.Chakravarti S Venkatesh gives some interesting input about the plant.

     "I t appears that the ancient Hindus,like the Babylonians,had some inkling of the presence of sex in plants.For example,the male plants of the Screwpine were called Ketaki viphala or Dhulipushpika,the female as Svarna Ketaki,and the male and female together as Ketakidvayam meaning a pair of Ketakis."

 Attaching an image of KETAKI.

 

Regards
Col (Retd) Bimal Sarkar
Mobile: 9434194942

[mchunkat]

Dear All,
As usual things are a bit more complicated. This is what I found on
the net.

-------
Short Communication
Collection, characterization and olfactory evaluation of Pandanus
species in Southern India
Rahul L. Zanana1 and Altafhusain B. Nadafa1 c1
a1 Department of Botany, University of Pune, Pune 411007, India
Abstract
A detailed survey along the coastal regions of Southern India revealed
the occurrence of seven Pandanus species, viz. P. kaida Kurz., P.
odorifer (Forssk.) Kuntz., P. canaranus Warb., P. furcatus Roxb., P.
thwaitesii Mart., P. foetidus Roxb and a new species P. palakkadensis
Nadaf, Zanan & Wakte. The fragrance of staminate inflorescences of
these species was compared with the fragrance of commercial staminate
inflorescences of P. odorifer. P. thwaitesii, P. kaida and P.
palakkadensis recorded comparable fragrance with that of P. odorifer.
The study reveals the fragrance potential of these species, which
could be exploited commercially for extraction of essential oil.
(Received February 24 2011)
(Accepted May 04 2011)
-----------
Could somebody throw more light on this.. Thanks.
Mohan Chunkath

>  Ketak.jpg
> 124KViewDownload

[Ushadi micromini]

what are/is the indian name besides ketaki.... that colonel sarkar
gave us...
i want to know beyond that...like local names?
any body?
usha di
=======

[formp...@yahoo.com]

In Marathi other name Kevada. It is famous for the cobra residing in the thicket of plant growth.
The inflorescence made up of small/miniature flowers. (Compound receme?)
It is covered by yellow colour bract(??), which actually has great fragrance.
This bract is offered to Lord Ganesha. Sold in Mumbai market at the rate of rs 40 to 100 per bract in Ganesh festivel.
Kevada attar (permume) is very famous.
Pandanus is a typical example of multiple root cap.
In Thane on Godbandar road in my child hood acers and acres of land had pandanus plants as this is a marshy area. Now hardly some 50 to 100 plants are seen on road side, as entire area is under costruction (distruction) stage.
Madhuri
Sent from BlackBerry® on Airtel

[Madhuri Pejaver]

forgot to mention something nonbotany but related to ketaki.
A typical fair colour of body skin is called 'Ketakivarna'.
thank you
madhuri

--- On Thu, 21/7/11, formp...@yahoo.com <formp...@yahoo.com> wrote:

[Anand Kumar Bhatt]

Ketaki is kevada. The flower is used for distilling kevda water which is a substitute of Rose water. 

I saw a large number growing wild in coastal area of Orissa. 

ak

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[Na Bha]

Is it true that snakes are found near Ketaki?

[ushadi Micromini]

Yes, usha di

[Anand Kumar Bhatt]

You  got your reply. Though I for one do not believe it. There is a Hindi couplet the last line of which is:

चन्दन विष व्यापत नहीं / लिपटे रहत भुजंग.

It means that even though snakes entwine chandan trees (Santalum album), the tree is not poisoned. All this probably  started as snake is a cold-blooded animal. 

ak

On Thu, Jul 21, 2011 at 6:07 PM, Na Bha <nabha-...@gmx.de> wrote:

[promila chaturvedi]

I do not think that cobra or any other snakes are there, if any, for the sake of fragrance. They can be seen underneath any thickets.

Promila

[Madhuri Pejaver]

Dear Nabha ji I never claimed that snakes -cobras ( i was specific) live in 'Ketaki ban'. I said they are known for-------. THIS IS WHAT IS CALLED AS STORY TELLING I BELIEVE. In Marathi we call such stories heard from grand or great grand parents as 'Akhyayika'. These start somewhere, are spread like anything. i will not claim that they will be scientifically true. I did not claim that the cobra comes there for smell. My sentence was very simple. but one observation i will like to note here as an observer I have not seen Kevada specifically planted in many houses. When Hibiscus flowers, or Durva are likesd by Lord Ganesha people see to it that they have these plants planted in their gardens. But Kevda is not planted that way. I have seen it always in wild. When you ask old timers why so? What answers i get is The cobra resides in Ketaki ban. So let it not be near the house!!!! I just passed on the knowledge. Some one can do scientific research to find out the truth. In Thane I am residing for more than 50 years and have seen kevda plant only in one house. For that matter even in Karnataka old houses also I have not seen the Kevada plant Cheers Madhuri  --- On Fri, 22/7/11, Anand Kumar Bhatt <anand...@gmail.com> wrote:

[Satish Phadke]

I agree with Madhuri ji
We have been listening to such stories since childhood. Lately came to know from nature enthusiasts that it is not true. But as said by her some research is necessary.
Satish

[mani nair]

It is also believed that snakes reside under Parijata tree (Harshinghar) and Pagoda tree (Plumeria Rubra) and my mother once removed the  Pagoda tree only for the fear of cobras !!  

Mani Nair.