MY KANIKKONNA-YOUR GOLDEN SHOWER

10th,Saturday,2010

April

5 p.m

Dear Friends,

Good Evening!

Being second saturday,today is a holiday.But I didn't do much;either creative or something fruitful.I need a pat very badly to be on my toes and cheer up!Beating the heat,I am tired.The clouds are not yet kind enough to Goans.It is too hot since a week.

Then I thought of our forthcoming festival,Vishu!Here,you can see this beautiful flower,Kanikkonna.It is known as Golden shower!The fully bloomed tree reminds us of Vishu!It blooms in late spring.Flowering is profuse,with trees being covered with yellow flora,with almost no leaf being seen!Growth of this tree is the best in full sun on well-drained soil.the flowers are of ritual importance in the Vishu festival of Kerala.In Hindi we call it,Dhanbaher or Girimaloah.It is also known as Amaltas.The Konna tree in full golden bloom is an exhilarting sight.

Flowers have been part of Kerala life life style since ages.The land of greenery is naturally home to innumerable variety of flowers.The flowers in turn invite butterflies and cute birds.Nature is at its best in spring.

Kanikkonna or Indian Laburnum[Cassia Fistula] is considered to be the flagship of the New Year-Vishu-coming to Kerala according to teh Malayalam Calender[Kollavarsham].It is also the official flower of Kerala.This golden colour flowers are the inevitable component of Vishukkani,a part of the auspicious occasion of Vishu,the New Year Day of Kerala.

Kanikkonna,the yellow flowers are the symbol of prosperity!Amma has written a poem on the origin of these flowers.It is published in Amma's second book-Smarananjali-dedicated to my Achan[Father].

There was a small cute young brahmin boy,who was an ardent devotee of Lord Krishna.He belonged to an ancestoral illam[Brahmin house].There was a Krishna Temple near his house.Everyday after having a bath,this little boy used to pray to Kannan.Till the poojas are over,he used to be in the temple praying and requesting Kannan to give darshan.One day even after the priest closed the nada[ door] of Sanctum Sanctorum,the boy was not ready to go home.He was adament not to return home without seeing his favourite God in living form. He wanted to be with Kannan.He was crying,calling out Kannan to appear before him.He waited for so long.When he was about to go home, very much disappointed,immediately''HURRAH'',the sweet music from aflute was heard. .When he turned back,he was surprised to see the enchanting lovely form of Unnikannan infront of him.He was overjoyed and wonderstruck!Beautifully decorated,with gold ornaments and a peacock feather on the crown,Kannan was playing the flute!Both of them clasped each otherin love and affection.The little boy's delight knew no bounds.The little boy folded his hands in wonder and fell at the feet of Kannan.As a token of love,Kannan removed his,aranjanam[ waist ornamnet] from which small golden bells were hanging and gifted that to the little boy.Kannan made him wear it.

On the way, his mother was waiting for him.The little one was so excited and narrated the incident to his mother and showed her the expensive gift .She could not believe him and started scolding him.He was in tears and in pain.So he removed the ornament from his waist and threw the ornament to the near by Konna tree.It got stuck among the branches and immediately the whole tree bloomed with yellow flowers in the shape of small bells.

Amma,thank you sooooooooooooooooooooooo much for telling us the story of the origin of Konnappookal.I am spellbound asmiring these wonderful yellow coloured flowers!

This is the story behind the origin of Konnapookal.
Kanikonna is the state flower of Kerala state in India.The tree was depicted on a twenty Indian rupees stamp.The tree has strong and very durable wood.

The Golden Shower is the national flower of Thailand.

In Ayurvedic medicine,Golden Shower Tree is known as aragvadha[disease killer].. Its fruitpulp is used as mild laxative,against fevers,arthrites and vatavyadhi[nervous system diseases],all kinds of rakta-pitta[bleeding such as hematemesis or hemorrahges] as well as cardiac conditions and stomach problems such as acid reflux.

Kanikkonna in full bloom indeed convey an impression of proseperity.I feel like requesting the Golden Shower Tree to be generous and bless me with the splendid yellow shower!:)

Please wake up and find out The Golden Shower Tree in your neighbourhood.

Nanda wanted to pluck the konna flowers from Kuttankulangara temple;As she was about to
pluck the flowers,she saw the board,''NJAN KANNANTE ARAMANI KINGINIYAALEE?''[Am I not the waist ornament of Kannan?'']So,she left them untouched!What a way to stop the tempting hands?:)

It's Anu signing off..........................

Everyone is getting busy to welcome the New Year!It 's on 15th for us!Tamalians will be celebrating their Puthu Varsha Piravi[New Year!] on 14th.April.

And I feel like sharing a good news with you.I will be completing my 200th post by the next one.Am i excited?No!I take this opportunity to thank each and everyone for without you I would not be reaching this milestone.Heartfelt thanks for being kind and inspiring;for taking time for reading my posts and writing comments.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY,DIANA!MANY MANY HAPPY RETURNS OF THE DAY!MAY GOD BLESS YOU!

I love you,dear!Special b'day hugs to you!

Anu loves you a lot![But there is no proof if you ask for].

Wishing you a wonderful and prosperous VISHU,

Sasneham,

Anu