மலர்மிசை ஏகினான் மாணடி சேர்ந்தார்

குறள் 3
மலர்மிசை ஏகினான் மாணடி சேர்ந்தார்
நிலமிசை நீடுவாழ் வார்

[அறத்துப்பால், பாயிரவியல், கடவுள் வாழ்த்து]

பொருள்

மலர் - பூ; தாமரை; ஒருபேரெண்; ஆயுதம்முதலியவற்றின்மேற்குமிழ்; வெண்பாவின்இறுதிச்சீர்வாய்பாடுகளுள்ஒன்று; மும்மலமுடையவர்.

மிசை - உணவு; சோறு; உயர்ச்சி; மேலிடம்; மேடு; வானம்; முன்னிடம்; ஏழனுருபு

மலர்மிசை - தாமரையிலிருப்பவனான பிரமன்

ஏகுதல்  - செல்லுதல்; போகுதல்; நடத்தல்; கழலுதல்.

ஏகினான் - சென்றான்

மாண் - மாட்சிமை; மடங்கு; மாணவன்; பிரமசாரி; குள்ளமானவர்.

அடி - பாதம்; காற்சுவடு முதல் கடவுள் பாட்டின்அடி; அடிப்பீடம்; அண்மை மரபுவழி; அளவு கீழ் மகடூஉமுன்னிலை

சேர்தல் - ஒன்றுகூடுதல்; இடைவிடாதுநினைத்தல்; கலத்தல்; சம்பந்தப்படுதல்; நட்பாதல்; இயைதல்; உரித்தாதல்; சேகரிக்கப்படுதல்; திரளுதல்; செறிதல்; கிடத்தல்; உளதாதல்; செல்லுதல்; கூடுதல்; பொருந்துதல்; புணர்தல்; பெறுதல்; சென்றடைதல்; ஒப்பாதல்; நேசித்தல்.

சேர்ந்தார் - அடைந்தார்

நிலம் - தரை; மண்; பூமி; இடம்; வயல்; பதவி; நிலத்திலுள்ளார்; எழுத்துஅசைசீர்களாகியஇசைப்பாட்டின்தானம்; விடயம்; மேன்மாடம்; கள்ளிவகை.

இசை - இசைவு; பொன் ஊதியம் ஓசை சொல் புகழ் இசைப்பாட்டு நரம்பிற்பிறக்கும்ஓசை; இனிமை ஏந்திசை தூங்கிசை, ஒழுகிசை சீர் சுரம் வண்மை திசை

நிலமிசை - இருக்கும் இடத்தில இனிமையாய் 

நீடு - நெடுங்காலம்; நிலைத்திருக்கை.

வாழ்தல் - இருத்தல்; செழித்திருத்தல்; மகிழ்தல்; சுமங்கலியாகஇருத்தல்; விதிப்படிஒழுகுதல்.

வாழ்வார் - வாழ்வார்கள்

முழுப்பொருள்
ஒருவர் வாழ்விலே மலர்மிசை (மலர்மிசை பற்றி பின்பு காண்போம்) என்பதை நோக்கி நடந்துகொண்டு (செயலாற்றினால்) மாட்சிமையை அடைந்தால் அவர் இவ்வுலகில் (இந்த பூமியிலே, நிலத்திலே) நெடுங்காலம் மகிழ்ச்சியாக வாழ்வார்.

ஒருவர் மகிழ்ச்சியுடன் நெடுங்காலம் வாழவேண்டும் என்றால் இவ்வுலகிலே  இப்பிறவியிலேயே வாழலாம் . அவர் செய்யவேண்டியது எல்லாம் மலர்மிசை வேண்டி மாட்சிமையை அடைய வேண்டும்.

மலர்மிசை என்றால் என்ன? 
1. மலர் என்றால் தாமரை மலர் என்று பொருள் . மிசை என்றால் மேலிடம். தாமரை மேல் இருக்கும் பிரமன் என்று பொருள். அதாவது கடவுள் என்ற அர்த்தத்தில் வரும்.

ஆதலால் கடவுளின் பாதத்தை நோக்கி செயலாற்றி மாட்சிமை அடைந்தால் அவர் இவ்வுலகிலேயே இன்பமாய் நெடுங்காலம் வாழ்லாம்.

ஒப்புமை

1. தாவின்றி எப்பொருளும் கண்டுணர்ந்து தாமரைப்

பூவின்மேற் சென்றான் புகழடியை (அறநெறிச். கடவுள்)

2. “மலர்மிசை எழுதரு பொருள்” (சம்பந்தர்.சிவபுரம் 5)

3. “... ஞானம்

புகலுடையோர் தம்உள்ளப் புண்டரிகத் துள்ளிருக்கும்

புராண்ர் கோயில்” (சம்பந்தர்.திருவீழிமிழலை.6)

4. “பொள்ளிலிக் காயந் தன்னுள் புண்டரீ கத்தி ருந்த

வள்ளலை” (அப்பர். திருத்துருத்தி 6)

5. “புந்தியாய்ப் புண்டரிகத் துள்ளாய் போற்றி” (அப்பர். திருவீரட் 9)

6. ”போதுகந் தேறும் புரிசடையான்” (திருமந் 632)

7. “தண்டா மரைமலரின் மேல்நடந்தாய்’ (சூளாமணி துறவு 71)

8. “தெய்வக் காமர் நளினத் தமரர்

கைதொழ நடந்தாய்” (திருக்கலம் 92)

9. “......................... நினைவொடு பதுமநன் மலரது மருவிய

சிவனது சிவபுரம் நினைபவர் செழுநில னினில்நிலை பெறுவரே (சம்பந்தர்.சிவபுரம் 1)

2. மேலும்: அஷோக் உரை

மலர்மிசை ஏகினவனை பிரமனாகக் கொண்டால், பிரமன் பதம் என்னும் பிரமநிலை அடைவதை உருவகமாகக் குறிப்பதாகக் கொள்ளலாம். அப்படிப்பட்ட பிரமநிலை, அதாவது தன்னை உணர்ந்தவரது புகழ், இந்நிலம் உள்ளளவும் நிலைத்திருக்கும் என்பதே பொருள்.

வள்ளுவர், இந்த குறளிலும் கடவுள் என்று குறியாது, “மலர்மிசை ஏகினான்” என்று சொன்னது, சிந்திக்கக்கூடியது. மலரின்கண் அமர்ந்தோன் என்றால் மனமலரின்கண் அமர்ந்தவன் எனக்கொள்வதா அல்லது பதுமத்தின் மேலமர்ந்த பிரமனை அல்லது புத்தனெனக் கொள்வதா எனக் குழம்பலாம். அல்லது உருவகமாகக் கொண்டால், யோகசாத்திரதில் சொல்லியிருப்பது போல, குண்டலியை எழுப்பி, ஆறு சக்கரங்களைக் கடந்து சஹஸ்ராகாரம் எனப்படக்கூடிய ஆயிரமிதழ்கள் கொண்ட தாமரையின்கண் காணும் ஞான நிலையைக் குறிப்பது எனக்கொள்ளலாமா?

அப்படிப்பட்ட ஞானச்செறிவினை அடைந்தவர்களது மாட்சிமை பொருந்திய அணுக்கத்தை அடைந்தால், பூமியில் நீடுழி காலம் புகழோடு வாழலாம் (பூதவுடல் அழிந்தாலும்) என்பதை கூறியிருப்பதாக கொள்ளலாம்.

3. மிசை என்றால் உயர்ச்சி என்றும் பொருள். மலர் என்பது பூ என்றும் அர்த்தம் வரும். புதுவை/புதுச்சேரி/பாண்டிச்சேரி ஆரோபிந்தோ  (Aurobindo) அன்னை (The Mother) பூவும் அவற்றின் ஆன்மீகமும் பற்றி ஒரு சிறிய புத்தகம் (Flowers and their Spiritual Significance) எழுதி இருப்பார். அதில் நாம் ஒவ்வொருவர் பூ போன்று இருக்க வேண்டும் என்பார். பூ.  அதாவது பூ போன்று திறந்த மனதுடன், வெளிப்படையாக, தாராளமாக, அன்பாக இருக்க வேண்டும். அப்படி பூ போன்ற உயர்ச்சியான மாட்சிமையை அடைந்தால் ஒருவர் இவ்வுலகிலேயே மகிழ்ச்சியாக நெடுங்காலம் வாழலாம்.

அவர் கூறியவற்றின் ஆங்கில வடிவம் இங்கே::

Life must blossom like a flower offering itself to the Divine - The Mother. 

BE LIKE A FLOWER

Be like a flower. One must try to become like a flower: open, frank, equal, generous and kind. Do you know what it means?

A flower is open to all that surrounds it: Nature, light, the rays of the sun, the wind, etc. It exerts a spontaneous influence on all that is around it. It radiates a joy and a beauty.

It is frank: it hides nothing of its beauty, and lets it flow frankly out of itself. What is within, what is in its depths, it lets it come out so that everyone can see it.

It is equal: it has no preference. Everyone can enjoy its beauty and its perfume, without rivalry. It is equal and the same for everybody. There is no difference, or anything whatsoever.

Then generous: without reserve or restriction, how it gives the mysterious beauty and the very own perfume of Nature. It sacrifices itself entirely for our pleasure, even its life it sacrifices to express this beauty and the secret of the things gathered within itself.

And then, kind: it has such a tenderness, it is so sweet, so close to us, so loving. Its presence fills us with joy. It is always cheerful and happy.

Happy is he who can exchange his qualities with the real qualities of the flowers. Try to cultivate in yourself their refined qualities.

THE MOTHER

Soul of a Flower

Have you ever gone into a garden early in the morning? The flowers are facing the sun, awaiting its advent. Have you felt the mighty aspiration that surges all around for the coming light?

Have you watched a bud, completely closed, and how slowly, miraculously, the petals open, one by one? Whence came this force, this energy, this pulsating life?

Have you seen the earth after it has received a few drops of rain. Multi-coloured little hands come out from the earth in a gesture of thanks giving? They are the fairy-lilies named 'Prayer' by the Mother. We can palpably feel the vibration of gratitude and we look in joy at this spontaneous and beautiful response of Nature. Nature, so receptive, so open to the Grace! If only we could be likewise....

And then we wonder: What is it that gives to a flower and so often to a child, its beauty, its sweetness, its feeling of a happy self-giving? It is the presence of the Divine in the flowers, in Nature. It is what we call the 'Psychic Presence'. And love. Love of flowers can help us to find our own psychic being, the Divine within us.

The unselfish movement, uncalculating, is one of the most beautiful forms of psychic consciousness in the world. But the higher one rises in the scale of mental activity, the rarer it becomes. Per with intelligence come all the skill and cleverness,

and corruption, calculation. For instance, when a rose blossoms it does so spontaneously, for the joy of being beautiful, smelling sweet, expressing all its joy of living, and it does not calculate, it has nothing to gain out of it: it does so spontaneously, in the joy of being and living. Take a human being, well, apart from a very few exceptions, the moment his mind is active he tries to get some advantage out of his beauty and cleverness; he wants it to bring him something, either men's admiration or even much more sordid gains yet. Consequently, from the psychic point of view, the rose is better than human beings.

Only, if you climb a rung higher and consciously do what the rose does unconsciously, then it is much more beautiful. But it must be the same thing: a spontaneous flowering of beauty, uncalculating, simply for the joy of being. Little children have this at times (at times, not always). Unfortunately, under the influence of their parents and the environment, they learn to be calculating when yet very young.

But this kind of wish to gain by what one has or does is truly one of the ugliest things in the world. And it is one of the most widespread and it has become so widespread, that it is almost spontaneous in man. Nothing can turn its back on the divine love more totally than that, that wish to calculate and profit.

Do flowers love?

This is their form of love, this blossoming. Certainly, when one sees a rose opening to the sun, it is like a need to give its beauty. Only, for us, it is almost unintelligible, for they do not think about what they do. A human being always

associates with everything he does this ability to see himself doing it, that is, to think about himself, think of himself doing it. Man knows that he is doing something. Animals don't think. It is not at all the same form of love. And flowers, so to speak, are not conscious: it is a spontaneous movement, not a consciousness that is conscious of itself, not at all. But it is a great Force which acts through all that, the great universal Consciousness and the great Force of universal love which makes all things blossom in beauty.

Is there a sense of beauty in flowers?

Directly there is organic life, the vital element comes in, and it is this vital element which gives to flowers the sense of beauty. It is not perhaps individualised in the sense we understand it, but it is a sense of the species and the species

always tries to realise it. I have noticed a first rudiment of the psychic presence and vibration in vegetable life, and truly this blossoming one calls a flower is the first manifestation of the psychic presence. The psychic is individualised only

in man, but it was there before him; but it is not the same kind of individualisation as in man, it is more fluid: it manifests as force, as consciousness rather than as individuality. Take the rose, for example; its great perfection of form, colour, scent expresses an aspiration and a psychic giving. Look at a rose opening in the morning at the first touch of the sun, it is a magnificent self-giving in aspiration.

What is this psychic prayer that flowers represent?

The psychic, when it manifests in a plant, in the form of a flower, is in the form of a wordless prayer; it is the elan of the plant towards the Divine.

You have written: "Love of flowers is a valuable help for finding and uniting with the psychic. Could you explain this more in detail?

Since flowers are the manifestation of the psychic in the vegetal kingdom, love of flowers would mean that one is drawn by the psychic vibration and consequently by the psychic in one's own self.

When you are receptive to the psychic vibration, that puts you in a more intimate contact with the psychic in your own self. Perhaps the beauty of flowers too is a means used by Nature to awaken in human beings the attraction for the psychic.

How can one enter into psychic contact with flowers?

When one is in conscious contact with one's own psychic, one becomes aware of an impersonal psychic behind the whole creation and then, through this, one can enter into contact with flowers and know the psychic prayer they represent.

Mother, when flowers are brought to you, how do you give them a significance?

To the flowers? But it's in the same way, by entering into contact with the nature of the flower, its inner truth. Then one knows what it represents.

Each flower has its special significance, hasn't it?

Not as we understand it mentally. There is a mental projection when one gives a precise meaning to a flower. It may answer, vibrate to the touch of this projection, accept the meaning, but a flower has no equivalent of the mental consciousness. In the vegetable kingdom there is a beginning of the psychic, but there is no beginning of the mental consciousness. In animals it is different; mental life begins to form and for them things have a meaning. But in flowers it is rather like the movement of a little baby - it is neither a sensation nor a feeling, but something of both; it is a spontaneous movement, a very special vibration. So, if one is in contact with it, if one feels it, one gets an impression which may be translated by a thought. That is how I have given a meaning to flowers and plants - there is a kind of identification with the vibration, a perception of the quality it represents and, little by little, through a kind of approximation (sometimes this comes suddenly, occasionally it takes time), there is a coming together of these vibrations

(which are of a vital-emotional order) and the vibration of the mental thought, and if there is a sufficient harmony, one has a direct perception of what the plant may signify.

In some countries (particularly here) certain plants are used as the media for worship, offering, devotion. Certain plants are given on special occasions. And I have often seen that this identification was quite in keeping with the nature of the

plant, because spontaneously, without knowing anything, I happened to give the same meaning as that given in religious ceremonies. The vibration was really there in the flower itself.... Did it come from the use that had been made of it or did it

come from very far, from somewhere deep down. From a beginning of the psychic life? It would be difficult to say.

If our flower-offering depends on our state of consciousness, does it help us to learn the significances of flowers even if it is purely mental to begin with?

Yes, surely.

Have flowers a power in the occult world?

Yes, they have an occult power; they can even transmit a message if one knows how to charge them with it.

Can the flowers transmit other messages apart from the significances you have given

It is not impossible but the person who sends the message must have a great power of formation.

Is the power of formation purely occult or can a mental or vital power of formation also transmit messages?

The mental power of formation can certainly transmit messages. But for these messages to be received and understood, the person to whom they are sent must himself be very receptive mentally and particularly attentive.

When we offer flowers, with what attitude should we offer them? Does it matter if we do not know the significance?

This depends completely on the person who gives the flowers and on his state of consciousness. The same answer may be given to both the questions. According to the degree of consciousness of people what they do has a deep significance.

Do flowers retain the force always, even when they decay?

Decay? No, my child; when they dry up, yes. Decayed flowers are just nothing. A decomposition takes place, so the thing disappears. Perhaps it brings energy to the soil, that's quite possible; but still, when it decays it is good only to make manure

to grow other flowers. But if it dries up, it is preserved, it can remain for quite a long time.

Sweet Mother, what should we do with the flowers which you give us every day?

Flowers? You ought to keep them as long as they are fresh, and when they are no longer so, you must collect them and give them to the gardener (any gardener you know), so that he can put them in the earth to produce other flowers. Yes, one must give back to the earth what it has given us, for otherwise it will become poor.

THE MOTHER

Silent Language of Flowers

I can transmit a state of consciousness more easily to a flower than to a man: it is very receptive, though it does not know how to formulate its experience to itself because it lacks a mind. But the pure psychic consciousness is instinctive to it. When, therefore, you offer flowers to me their condition is almost always an index to yours. There are persons who never succeed in bringing a fresh flower to me - even if the flower is fresh it becomes limp in their hands. Others, however, always bring fresh flowers and even revitalise drooping ones. If your aspiration is strong your flower-offerings will be fresh. And if you are receptive you will be also very easily able to absorb the message I put in the flowers I give you. When I give them, I give you states of consciousness; the flowers are the mediums and it all depends on your receptivity whether they are effective or not.

***

When I give flowers, it is as an answer to the aspiration coming from the very depths of your being. It is a need or an aspiration, it depends upon the person. It may fill a void or else give you the impetus to progress, or it may help you find the inner harmony in order to establish peace.

Flowers are extremely receptive. All the flowers to which I have given a significance receive exactly the force I put into them and transmit it. People don't always receive it because most of the time they are less receptive than the flowers, and, they waste the force that has been put in it through their unconsciousness and lack of receptivity. But the force is there, and the flower receives it wonderfully.

I knew this a very long time ago. Fifty years ago.... There was that occultist who later gave me lessons in occultism for two years. His wife was a wonderful clairvoyant and had an absolutely remarkable capacity - precisely - of transmitting forces.

They lived in Tlemcen. I was in Paris. I used to correspond with them. I had not yet met them at all. And then, an a day, she sent me in a letter petals of the pomegranate flower, "Divine's Love". At that time I had not given the meaning to the flower. She sent me petals of pomegranate flowers telling me that these petals were bringing me her protection and force.

Now, at that time I used to wear my watch on a chain. Wrist-watches were not known then or there were very few. And there was also a small eighteenth century magnifying glass... it was quite small, as large as this (gesture).... And it had two lenses, you see, like' all reading-glasses; there were two lenses mounted on a small golden frame, and it was hanging from my chain. Now, between the two glasses I put these petals and I used to carry this about with me always because I wanted to keep it with me; you see, I trusted this lady and knew she had power. I wanted to keep this with me, and I always felt a kind of energy, warmth, confidence, force which came from that thing.... I did not think about it, you see, but I felt it like that.

And then, one day, suddenly I felt quite depleted, as though a support that was there had gone. Something very unpleasant. I said, "It is strange; what has happened? Nothing really unpleasant has happened to me. Why do I feel like this, so empty, emptied of energy?" And in the evening, when I took off my watch and chain, I noticed that one of the small glasses had come off and all the petals were gone. There was not one petal left. Then I really knew that they carried a considerable charge of power, for I had felt the difference without even knowing the reason. I didn't know the reason and yet it had made a considerable difference. So it was after this that I saw how one could use flowers by charging them with forces. They are extremely receptive.


THE MOTHER

The Significance of flowers (this part might have some repetition)

Sweet Mother, how do you give significance to a flower?
By entering into contact with it and giving a more or less precise meaning to what I feel… by entering into contact with the nature of the flower, its inner truth; then one knows what it represents.

Each flower has its special significance, hasn't it?
Not as we understand it mentally. There is a mental projection when one gives a precise meaning to a flower. It may answer, vibrate to the touch of this projection, accept the meaning, but a flower has no equivalent of the mental consciousness. In the vegetable kingdom there is a beginning of the psychic, but there is no beginning of the mental consciousness. In animals it is different; mental life begins to form and for them things have a meaning. But in flowers it is rather like the movement of a little baby - it is neither a sensation nor a feeling, but something of both; it is a spontaneous movement, a very special vibration. So, if one is in contact with it, if one feels it, one gets an impression which may be translated by a thought. That is how I have given a meaning to flowers and plants - there is a kind of identification with the vibration, a perception of the quality it represents and, little by little, through a kind of approximation (sometimes this comes suddenly, occasionally it takes time), there is a coming together of these vibrations(which are of a vital-emotional order) and the vibration of the mental thought, and if there is a sufficient harmony, one has a direct perception of what the plant may signify.
In some countries (particularly here) certain plants are used as the media for worship, offering, devotion. Certain plants are given on special occasions. And I have often seen that this identification was quite in keeping with the nature of the plant, because spontaneously, without knowing anything, I happened to give the same meaning as that given in religious ceremonies. The vibration was really there in the flower itself.... Did it come from the use that had been made of it or did it come from very far, from somewhere deep down. From a beginning of the psychic life? It would be difficult to say.

Have flowers a power in the occult world?
Yes, they have an occult power; they can even transmit a message if one knows how to charge them with it.

Can the flowers transmit other messages apart from the significances you have given?
It is not impossible but the person who sends the message must have a great power of formation.

Is the power of formation purely occult or can a mental or vital power of formation also transmit messages?
The mental power of formation can certainly transmit messages. But for these messages to be received and understood, the person to whom they are sent must himself be very receptive mentally and particularly attentive.

When we offer flowers, with what attitude should we offer them? Does it matter if we do not know the significance?
This depends completely on the person who gives the flowers and on his state of consciousness. The same answer may be given to both the questions. According to the degree of consciousness of people what they do has a deep significance.

If our flower-offering depends on our state of consciousness, does it help us to learn the significances of flowers even if it is purely mental to begin with?

Yes, surely.

THE MOTHER

Flowers on the Samadhi

Concerning the flowers on the Samadhi, does Sri Aurobindo transmit a special message through them, apart from their significance?

I do not think so-that would depend on different cases. It would be rather that he would receive messages if people put them into the flowers. That is quite possible. It may happen that if people put flowers with an intention or a precise prayer, Sri Aurobindo receives the message and answers it and that one receives his answer if one is sufficiently sensitive.

The Offering of Roses

Why do u generally give red roses to men and light-coloured roses to women and different colours to the little boys and girls?
It is because red roses give an impression of force and light-coloured roses an impression of charm and sweetness.

May I ask you with what intention you give me one red rose and one light-coloured one?
The human being transforms all its passions into love for the Divine and the Divine replies with his ineffable love.

The fragrance of flowers

Is there a relation between the perfume of a flower and its significance?
Certainly there should be one but so far I have not studied it.

How can one begin to study this relation? What is the first step?
Study and experience. You take a flower with a strong and definitive perfume. You breathe in the perfume, trying to find what thought or image it evokes. If you find something, you compare it with the significance given to the flower.
It is a long and detailed work. After some hundreds of experiences one may arrive at a conclusion.

In the study of perfumes of which you spoke, one observes that some perfumes seem to made up of several perfumes. Must one study each sub-perfume separately?
Yes, certainly. If one wants to study this is a terribly complicated, for not only are there differences between flowers but even similar flowers must differ among themselves, which means that the study can never come to an end and one cannot reach anything final and complete.
This is, you know, the influence of the hour –day and night-the influence of the time of the year, the influence of the seasons…

Scientists explain that flowers have perfume in order to attract insects. What do u think about it?
It is men who see and find a reason for everything-but I suppose if the Supreme has any such preoccupation.


Contact with the Psychic

You have written: "Love of flowers is a valuable help for finding and uniting with the psychic. Could you explain this more in detail?
Since flowers are the manifestation of the psychic in the vegetal kingdom, love of flowers would mean that one is drawn by the psychic vibration and consequently by the psychic in one's own self.
When you are receptive to the psychic vibration, that puts you in a more intimate contact with the psychic in your own self. Perhaps the beauty of flowers too is a means used by Nature to awaken in human beings the attraction for the psychic.

What is the best way of opening ourselves to the deep influence of flowers?
To love them. If you can enter into psychic contact with them, then that would be perfect.

How can one enter into psychic contact with flowers?
When one is in conscious contact with one's own psychic, one becomes aware of an impersonal psychic behind the whole creation and then, through this, one can enter into contact with flowers and know the psychic prayer they represent.

What is this impersonal Psychic you spoke of?
By impersonal psychic I mean the psychic region which does not belong to any individual in particular-the psychic region which is the creation, as air is in the earth’s atmosphere.

What is this psychic prayer that flowers represent?
The psychic, when it manifests in a plant, in the form of a flower, is in the form of a wordless prayer; it is the élan of the plant towards the Divine.

We have flowers with such significances as ‘Greed for money’, ‘Passion’, ‘Vanity’, ‘Chatter’, etc. How do these flowers represent a psychic prayer?
These flowers offer their bad vibrations for transformation.

Do strong-scented flowers represent a more ardent psychic prayer than the unscented ones?
Their nature gives itself more generously and more integrally.

And is there the same difference among plants and trees?
No, that is like the difference among the animals; some are big some are small. But everyone is like that… in minerals, in animals, in men. Each manifests its own nature and these natures are innumerable.

Dreams, Beings and Forces

What do flowers and gardens in our dreams signify? Sometimes in dreams one sees flowers which don’t exists?
This happens undoubtedly in the subtle physical. But it may also be possible that these flowers exist physically on the earth in a place you don’t know.

What do these flowers symbolise?
These symbols are most often individual and most often different people have different significances. It may happen that certain people have written books and those who regard them adopt their symbology. But it is purely mental question. You give a certain meaning to the flower. For instance to a rose-we have a certain meaning for rose.
As we have given this meaning, in your dreams you see the same symbolism. If you could tell me one of your dreams I could explain it to you. You see, a flower must spontaneously tell you something, then that would be symbolic for you. But it may be what we have already decided.

Are there subtle beings who are in an intimate relation with flowers?
That is possible, even probable. There are children who have experienced this and related it.

Is it possible to become conscious of these beings and work in harmony with them?
Yes. It is a question of nature and capacity.

Is possible to develop this capacity and how to do it?
Certainly one can develop the capacity if one takes sufficient interest in this to put in the time and necessary effort. Naturally it will be more or less difficult according to each one’s nature.
To become conscious of one’s dreams helps to do this. A silent and still concentration helps also.

Are there forces directly hostile to the vegetal nature? Are insects a manifestation of these forces?
There do not seem to exist forces consciously and voluntarily hostile to the vegetal kingdom. Insects do harm because they feed on plants, it is in a way they serve them also; both things are there, good and bad, without any conscious will. They do good they do harm, without knowing it.

Mother, does a plant have its own individuality and does it also reincarnate after death?
This may happen but is accidental. There are trees-trees especially-which have lived long and can be the home of a conscious being, a vital being. Generally it is vital entities which take shelter in trees, or else certain beings of the vital plane which live in forests-as certain beings of the vital live in water. There are old legends like that, but are very based on facts. The plants serve as home and shelter, but the being is not created by the plant itself!

The care of Plants and Flowers

How to develop our consciousness in order to work in a better way with plants and flowers?
First you must learn to be silent, and note carefully what happens in the consciousness.

Why do plants fall ill and what can we do to help them?
When man does not meddle, the illness of plants seems to be accidental. But when man’s action has upset the life of plants, even as that of animals, of course.

There are many plants we are trying to grow here which suffer because of our climate. How can we help them to grow and blossom here?
Naturally, plants which like cold climates grow in greenhouses. Also by planting forests one could have a regulating action on the climate.
Growth of consciousness in the atmosphere will surely have an effect which is difficult to describe beforehand.

Sweet Mother, what should we do with the flowers which you give us every day?
Flowers? You ought to keep them as long as they are fresh, and when they are no longer so, you must collect them and give them to the gardener (any gardener you know), so that he can put them in the earth to produce other flowers. Yes, one must giveback to the earth what it has given us, for otherwise it will become poor.

Can I remove the branches of shrubs which are overhanging and causing inconvenience to the inmates?
I cannot say yes or no, as all depends on the way it has to be done. It is not only the welfare of the inmates that must be taken into consideration but also the welfare of the shrubs.
Answers by Sri Aurobindo

Why is the flower symbolising your compassion so delicate and why does it wither away so soon?

No, the compassion does not wither with its symbol - flowers are moment's representation of things that are in themselves eternal.

What is the significance of the Mother's giving us flowers at Pranam every day?
It is meant to help the realisation of the thing the flower stands for.

Are powers mere symbols and nothing more? Can the flower symbolizing silence, for example, help in the realisation of silence?

It is when the Mother puts her force into the flower that it becomes more than a symbol. It then can become very effective if there is receptivity in the one who receives.

Flowers and their spiritual names
Tapasya - A discipline of aiming at the realisation of the Divine
Consciousness turned towards the Supramental Light - It is the athirst of Truth and will find its satisfaction only in the Truth
Plasticity - Always ready for the progress demanded. 
Progress - The reason why we are on earth
Obedience - To learn to obey is good; to obey only the Divine is better
Life Energy - Powerful and manifold, it meets all needs
Divine Love - A flower which is said to bloom even in the desert 
Psychological Perfection - There is not one psychological perfection but give, like the five petals of this flowers. We have said they are: sincerity, faith, devotion, aspiration, and surrender But as a matter of fact every time I give this flower it is not always the same psychological perfection. It is something very fluid, depending on the circumstances and the need of people
Simple Sincerity  The beginning of all progress 
Transparency - Can come only as a result of perfect sincerity 
Faith - You flame up and triumph 
Trust in the Divine - Very indispensable for the impulsive vital 
Devotion - Modest and fragrant, it gives itself without seeking for anything it return
Gratitude - It is you who open all the closed doors and let the Grace which saves penetrate deeply
Courage - Bold, it faces all dangers
Aspiration - Innumerable and obstinate, repeating itself untiringly 
Endurance - Going to the very end of the effort without fatigue or relaxing
Perseverance - The decision to go to the very end
Faithfulness - We can count on you. You never fail us when we need you.
Surrender - To will what the Divine wills is the supreme wisdom
Victory - Will triumph over all obstacles

பெளத்தம்.

ஜம்புலிங்கம் தனது முப்பது ஆண்டுகாலப் பௌத்த ஆய்வின் தொகுப்பாகச் சோழநாட்டில் பௌத்தம் என்ற நூலை எழுதியுள்ளார்.  இந்நூலில் கீழ்கண்டவாறு வருவதாக எழுத்தாளர் எஸ்.ராமகிருஷ்ணன் சொல்கிறார் (சிலைகள் சொல்லும் உண்மை - கட்டுரை). 

புத்தரைக் கடவுளாக ஏற்றுக் கொண்டு பாதபீடிகையை வணங்க வழிகாட்டியது மகாயான பௌத்தம். இதன் சாட்சியமாகவே திருக்குறளில் கடவுளின் வடிவமாகத் திருவடி குறிப்பிடப்படுகிறது என்கிறார் ஜம்புலிங்கம். அது போலவே புத்தர் பிறந்தவுடன் அவரது பாதங்கள் நிலத்தில் படவில்லை. தாமரை மலர்கள் தோன்றி பாதங்களைத் தாங்கிக் கொண்டன. அதன் அடையாளமாகவே மலர் மிசை ஏகினான் என்கிறார் வள்ளுவர் என்றும் சொல்கிறர் ஜம்புலிங்கம்

பரிமேலழகர் உரை

மலர்மிசை ஏகினான் மாண்அடி சேர்ந்தார் - மலரின் கண்ணே சென்றவனது மாட்சிமைப்பட்ட அடிகளைச் சேர்ந்தார்; நிலமிசை நீடுவாழ்வார் - எல்லா உலகிற்கும் மேலாய வீட்டு உலகின்கண் அழிவின்றி வாழ்வார். (அன்பான் நினைவாரது உள்ளக் கமலத்தின்கண் அவர் நினைந்த வடிவோடு விரைந்து சேறலின் 'ஏகினான்' என இறந்த காலத்தால் கூறினார்; என்னை? "வாராக் காலத்தும் நிகழும் காலத்தும் ஓராங்கு வரூஉம் வினைச் சொற் கிளவி இறந்த காலத்துக் குறிப்பொடு கிளத்தல் விரைந்த பொருள் என்மனார் புலவர்" (தொல், சொல், வினை, 44) என்பது ஓத்தாகலின். இதனைப் 'பூமேல் நடந்தான்' என்பதோர் பெயர்பற்றிப் பிறிதோர் கடவுட்கு ஏற்றுவாரும் உளர். சேர்தல் - இடைவிடாது நினைத்தல்).

மணக்குடவர் உரை
மலரின்மேல் நடந்தானது மாட்சிமைப்பட்ட திருவடியைச் சேர்ந்தவரன்றே, நிலத்தின்மேல் நெடுங்காலம் வாழ்வார். 'நிலம்' என்று பொதுப்படக் கூறியவதனான் இவ்வுலகின் கண்ணும் மேலுலகின்கண்ணுமென்று கொள்ளப்படும். தொழுதாற் பயனென்னையென்றாற்கு, போகநுகர்தலும் வீடுபெறலுமென்று கூறுவார் முற்படப் போகநுகர்வாரென்று கூறினர்.

மு.வரதராசனார் உரை
அன்பரின் அகமாகிய மலரில் வீற்றிருக்கும் கடவுளின் சிறந்த திருவடிகளை பொருந்தி நினைக்கின்றவர், இன்ப உலகில் நிலைத்து வாழ்வார்.

சாலமன் பாப்பையா உரை
மனமாகிய மலர்மீது சென்று இருப்பவனாகிய கடவுளின் சிறந்த திருவடிகளை எப்போதும் நினைப்பவர் இப்பூமியில் நெடுங்காலம் வாழ்வர்.

குறளும் பொருளும் - பா.ராகவன் உரை

மனச்சாட்சிக்குப் பணிந்தால் வாழ்வு சிறக்கும்.

மேலும் : திருத்தும் பொன் சரவணன்
மலர்மிசை ஏகினான்' என்ற தொடருக்கு 'பரந்த மேலிடமாகிய அண்டவெளியினைக் கடந்துநிற்பவன்' என்பதே பொருள் ஆகும். 'மலர்தல்' என்ற வினைச்சொல்லுக்கு 'விரிதல்,பரவுதல்' என்று பொருள். 'மிசை' என்னும் சொல்லுக்கு 'மேலிடம்' என்றும் பொருள் ஆகும். வினைத்தொகை ஆகிய 'மலர்மிசை' என்பது 'மலர்ந்த மிசை' என்று விரியும். இதற்கு 'பரந்த மேலிடம்' என்று பொருள். இது அண்டவெளியினைக் குறிக்கும். 'மலர்தலை' என்பது பரந்த இடத்தையும், 'மலர்தலை உலகம்' என்பது பரந்த பூவுலகினையும் குறிப்பதைப் போல 'மலர்மிசை' என்பது அண்டவெளியினைக் குறிப்பதாகக் கொள்வதே பொருத்தமாகும். 'ஏகுதல்' என்னும் சொல்லுக்கு இங்கே 'கடத்தல்' என்னும் பொருளே பொருத்தமாகும்.

நிறுவுதல்:
இறைவனின் இருப்புநிலையினை உணர்த்த வந்த குறள் இது. அடிமுடி அறிய ஒண்ணாத அமலன் என்று இறைவனைப் பற்றி ஆகமங்களும் புராணங்களும் பக்தி இலக்கியங்களும் கூறுகின்றன. இறைவன் எங்கே இருக்கிறான்? அவனது முடியும்(தலை) அடியும் எங்கே உள்ளன? என்றெல்லாம் பல ஆய்வுகள் நிகழ்த்தப்பட்டு பல கதைகளும் கூறப்பட்டுள்ளன. உண்மை நிலை தான் என்ன? இக் கேள்வியின் ஒரு பாதிக்கு விடையிறுப்பதாக இக்குறள் இருக்கிறது.

பூமிப்பந்தின் மேல் வாழும் நமக்கு மேலே பரந்து விரிந்து இருப்பது எது? அண்டவெளி தானே. இந்த அண்டவெளியினையும் கடந்து நிற்பவன் இறைவன் என்று வள்ளுவர் அவனது இருப்புநிலையினைக் கூறுகிறார். வள்ளுவர் கூறும் இறைவன் பற்றிய வேறு பல செய்திகளை மற்றொரு கட்டுரையில் காணலாம்.

சரியான பொருள்:
'பரந்த மேலிடமாகிய வெளியினைக் கடந்துநிற்கும் இறைவனின் மாட்சிமை பெற்ற திருவடிகளை அடைந்தவர்கள் பூவுலகில் நெடுங்காலம் நிலைத்து வாழ்வர்.'