Rabindranath Tagore at his study table. Also known as premvriksha or tree of love in Sanskrit, this tree remains closely associated with certain religious beliefs and customs. Ashok, the fifth arrow in Madana’s quiver is the most powerful of the five flower arrows, the other four being Swetapadma (white lotus), Neelpadma (blue lotus), Amramanjari (mango blossoms), and Juhi or Juthika (jasmine). Such was her fascination with the beautiful Ashok flowers, that she chose to stay in the Ashok Vana (forest of Ashok) in Lanka, instead of in Ravana’s magnificent palace. Red and yellow flowers of an Ashok tree (iStock)Kalidasa, the noted Sanskrit poet and dramatist, mentions the Ashok in many of his acclaimed works.

Source: The Telegraph May 02, 2019 21:00 UTC