Biological Forum – An International Journal 7(1): 26-29(2015)

ISSN No. (Print): 0975-1130

ISSN No. (Online): 2249-3239

Holy plants and flowers in people beliefs

Parvaneh Adelazadeh and Kamran Pashaei Fakhri
Department of Persian Literature,
Tabriz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, IRAN
(Corresponding author: Parvaneh Adelazadeh)
(Received 14 November, 2014, Accepted 15 December, 2014)
(Published by Research Trend, Website: [Link])
ABSTRACT: In the ancient times when human being did not have the modern human’s scientific
subjectivity and he could not perceive the reasons for effect of the plants, he considered them
possessing holy and supernatural forces like other phenomena. Construction of gardens and planting of
flowers and plants in all over the world indicate the holiness of the plants. In the past, plants especially trees
were symbol of life, eternity, fertility and virtue and they were respected. The holiness of the plants and the
trees in ancient world and particularly in ancient Iran had caused to consider the plants as the first ancestor
of human. And because of this we can refer to “Mashi” and “Mashianeh” as holy plants which human has
been descended from them. Sometimes in legends, the person’s life is associated with a tree and withering
and destruction of the tree is linked with death. According to the legends The Big and Evergreen tree with the
fruits of eternity waters all trees. In mythologies tree was expressed green, flourishing and delicate that its
fruit was eternity and life lasting that was existence of other trees. In this article, it is tried to investigate some
mythical and holy flowers and plants and related beliefs among different nations and religions.
Key words: Tree, flower, myths, world, belief
tree. For this reason, in the ancient myths tree was a
INTRODUCTION
spiritual and exalted creature that grew in the sky and
Our ancestors ate plants and gradually they recognized rooted on the earth. The old ziggurats, Babylon Tower,
that some of the trees and flowers have thorn and they the temples minarets and Noel Palace are all the
are venomous and some others have healing property. symbols of the cosmic tree”(Hilinse,2004:460-461).
Some of them could be eaten and others were fetal with The beliefs on the trees and plants are related to
side effects. By progress of the human beliefs about animus. “The belief in the human life continuation in
gods and goddesses and souls the happiness and misery the plant causes to plant a tree on a tomb and it is
of the mankind was related to the plants although the probable that planting of trees in the cemeteries is
plants were fetal, tranquiller and relieving so they were rooted in this belief” (ibid).
powerful”(Warner, 2007:566).
A. Madonna lily
Since the past, human beings have lived besides trees
Madonna lily by the scientific name of lilium
and the trees were shelter, fuel, agriculture tools and
candidium is the flower that has been mentioned in the
lumber for house so that they built their weapons from
myths. This name depicts the importance of this flower
the tree and the leaves and fruits and the seeds of the
in the late periods and it is symbol of Virgin Merriam.
trees were inspirations for spiritual growth( Dadvar &
Before birth of Jesus Madonna lily was respected. In
Mansouri, 2006:5). The symbolic meaning of tree in the
the primitive civilizations Madonnalily was symbol of
past and even in the present has combined with humans
mother and fruitfulness. It can be found the references
culture and life” (Bahar, 1997:43).
to this symbol in the Sumerian, Babylonian and
“The importance of some trees is rooted in the
Egyptian myths. The Greeks and Romans put the ring
relationship with mankind and event such as sleeping
of Madonna lily and maze- as the symbol of virginity
under the tree. So trees were holy and they granted the
and fertility - on the head of the brides. According to a
people requests”( Rangchi,1993:33).
Jewish legend after leaving the paradise, Eve knew that
In Zoroastrian myths the plant was the fourth thing that
she is pregnant and she cried and a Madonna lily grew
was created in the world.
on the earth by her tears. Madonna lily has been
“It was believed that human being feeds from the fruit
refereed several times in the Old Testament. In the
of the tree and uses its leaves and seeds. In Neolithic
“Sonnets of Solomon” the white and red lilies are seen.
period the expansion of agriculture and human
Even in that period it was symbol of power against evil.
settlement influenced the relationship between man and
 Adelazadeh and Fakhri 27
The holy concepts of this flower led to use it for witch This flower represents anima of the world, creation and
crafting and talisman. It was one of the flowers that nobility in Iran and India myths”(Dadvar, 2006:271).
used in the saint Juana ceremony as a protecting “According to Mahayana, Buddhism everything in the
talisman. This ceremony was held in London. world has created from lotus”(ibid:211).
According to an ancient belief if a man squashed a “Lotus was a holy plant for Indians and it was origin of
Madonna lily his wife and daughters chastity was water and life”(ibid:212).
endangered. The white lily is symbol of chastity and “Eight petals of lotus were symbol of eight existences
sweetness but yellow lily symbolizes bad omen and directions that appear after creation from the depth of
ridiculous and recreation. If a person dreams Madonna primary waters and these eight directions are right,left,
lily he or she will be happy (Warner, 2007:574-575). front, back, up, down, inside and outside”(ibid:212).
In myths different lilies such as white lily, blue lily and “Lotus was important in the ancient eastern countries.
white and yellow lilies have been mentioned. The white In eighth century before Christ lotus was transferred
lily is more popular and it is related to gods of water from Egypt to Phoenicia and then to Assure and Iran
and as a result lily and cypress are symbols of liberty and in this realm it was a holy plant. Apparently, the
and gladiola and narcissus are signs of Venus flower on the hand of the kings in Metropolis was
(Egtedari,1975:2). symbol of peace and happiness. Since lotus is opened in
In David psalms, Madonna lily is a song and musical the morning and closed in the evening and it is similar
instrument that it strengths its relation with Venus. This to sun. The sun is origin of divine life and so lotus
flower was employed in architecture and it symbolized represented life and it was symbol of luminosity,
“Shush” city and lily goddess in the ancient time. In creation, fertility and life and immortality. Lotus
Old Testament (The first book of kings and second represents perfection since its leaves, flowers and fruit
book of histories) application of lily in architecture has are circular and the circle is the complete shape so it is
been referred. In religion and art it is sign of purity. symbol of perfection and extraordinary man and divine
It was said that if the lily is smoked on the 15th of Day birth. Since it appears neatly from dirty
(tenth Iranian month) the family will be safe from waters”(Safarat,2010:66-67).
poverty and drought during that year. In “In China lotus is symbol of purity, protection,
“Tohfatolmomenin” it is written that: “Lily is related to spirituality, peace, fertility and anima and also summer.
Syrian “Somana” and “Hamania” and also fabulous The Chinese people know the lotus as symbol of the
bird”(Egtedari, 1976). past, present and future since it is a flower that
blossoms and flowers one time. It represents nobility
B. Lotus
since it grows neatly out of dirty waters. In Assyrian,
In Egyptian myths lotus was symbol of new created
Phoenician civilization and also in Greek and Roman
earth that it was floating on the water and hold the
art lotus means funeral and lamenting and symbol of
secrets of the gods. In Indian mythology it was symbol
death and rebirth and resurrection and the nature
of life and anima and female organ. In Indian creation
regeneration forces and in Greek and Roman
myth the Holy Spiritwas manifested as a golden lotus in
mythologies it is sign of Aphrodite and Venus”(ibid).
an endless sea. From his naval a lotus came out that
there was lotus on it. This lotus was expanded and the D. Mandrake
mountains, hills, valleys and rivers were created from The myth of mandrake is about its claw like roots that
its petals. Lotus was symbol of Buddha and sun they were likened to human body. The Romans
(Warner, 2007:575). discovered it and called it “Anthropomorphon” and
“Semihomo”. In old botany it was described as a plant
C. Lotus for lamenting
with leaves, flowers and fruit that grew from the head
“Blue lotus is is used only in lamenting. The color of
of man with beard and a woman with long hair. Since it
lotus is sometimes symbol of lamenting”(Adelzadeh,
was assumed that it is in the form of man and woman.
2008:243).
This plant sometimes was called male mandrake and
“In the Iranians rituals lotus was symbol of light, water
sometimes female mandrake and this similarity with
and appearance that had a relationship with Venus.
human body had gender based relationship.
According to Bundehshe, lotus is flower of Anahita and
“The first reflection of this belief on the value of
“Mehr” was born from water and lotus” (Bolkhari,
mandrake was using as aexciting sensuality and
2005:9).
energizing drug referd in the Old testament. The Arabs
“Flower of lotus is equivalent of the world cycle and in
pointed to the lustful properties of this flower and they
Hinduism and Buddhism it was referred to Imago
believed that it could treat infertility. In England it was
mundi and conversion of the objects and creatures.
famous for “Apple of love” and then it was converted
Brahman was born from a lotus and he grew from its
into “Tomato of love”(Warner, 2007:575-576).
stem that passed the endless way”(Shamisa,2003:134).
 Adelazadeh and Fakhri 28
In the ancient Germany the term of “alruna” was meant the cross of Jesus, the pillars of Solomon temple, the
witch and mandrake and probably they made talisman stick of Hercules and arrows of Cupid were made of
from the root and seed of mandrake and they washed cypress (Warner, 2007:587). “In Iran in Achaemenian
and dressed them and consulted with them. Sometimes and Sassanid periods cypress was considered tree of
they hid them in the coffin or boxes. The French life” (Dadvar, 2006:100).
villagers believed that these golden talismans were in “Cypress is the evergreen tree called tree of life in
the house of fairy called “main de gloire” or Arabic. It is belived everywhere is cypress there is
“magloire”. In other countries this talisman was like a snake” (ibid:101).
ghost in the shape of a giant and sometimes it was seen “Cypress is related to sun and it is an evergreen tree
as a semi human and semi chick. If this fairy was fed symbolizes spring. But some group considers it related
and respected it was used for prediction and if the to moon. It symbolizes pleasure and positive aspect f of
owner did not pay attention to it he died. This plant was life. Thus in all holy places in Iran cypress is seen”
believed that opens the locks. Also, it was believed that (Abdullahiyan,1999: 57-61).
the leaves of mandrake shine at night and if a person “Zoroastrians believed that cypress is tree of sun and
wanted to pick up them they fly into the sky and the sunrise. It is an evergreen tree that stands against
Arabs call it “the candle of Satan”(ibid:576-577). darkness and coldness. It is symbol of shining sun,
Probably due to the magical and wonderful properties energetic and sign of immortality, liberty and resistant
of mandrake it was called symbol of threat. “In against dreadful forces. The Zoroastrians decorated
mythology after death of Kumarth some water was cypress in the birth of Zoroaster and offered it gifts and
poured on the earth then two plants called Mashi and promised to plant another cypress next year. So, cypress
Mashianeh grew. According to the legend this plant has been seen in the Iranian gardens from the past.
grew from sperm of innocent man. Mandrake was resin After progress of Christianity in the Europe the
of a plant that the witches were aware of its properties followers of Zoroaster followed this tradition and now
and they calmed down the tyrant men and women. For they plant and decorated the cypress and pine tree”
this reason, in the courts of kings particularly Fatalishah (Safarat,2010: 63-64).
and Naserrdinshah the women used mandrake to attract
G. Fig
their husbands. The magical properties of this plant
Fig is symbolical and mythical tree. The leaf of fig is
were known in China, India and Arabic countries and
sign of Buddha and it is holy for Behrman and
the women used it for attraction of their husbands
Zoroaster followers. Several types of fig were
(Rangchi, 2007:796-797). It is said that mandrake is a
worshipped by the ancient Egyptians. The leaves of
plant that its leaves are opened in front of the sun”
Egyptian fig tree called Ficus sxcamorus were used in
(Adelzadeh, 2008:20).
the past. The South East Asians believe that the fairies
E. Tree of life and angles live on the leaves of fig tree” (Abdullahiyan,
In the Scandinavian mythology the universe is 1999: 258).
represented as a tree. In this myth yggdrasil is a cosmic Fig was manifestation of eternality in China, it was
tree but this concept can be found in other myths. symbol of religiosity in Egypt and it symbolized
According to mythologies this tree brings a fruit that synagogue that recognized Jesus and as a result it was
the gods feed from it in order to assure their mortality. left without fruit. While, some believe that it is sign of
The paradise fills with tree of life. In some religions the abundance, blessing and religiosity.
tree of life represents god, human and world (Warner, In Islamic mysticism fig is rented to olive tree. There is
2007:588). “In Mesopotamia mythology “tree of life” a verse on this tree in Quran (Al-Tin:1). In Quran
was considered as combination of different plants that interpretation texts fig is introduced as a heavenly fruit
was holy because of long life, beauty and fruitfulness, and sign of Mosques of Damascus and Masjid Alagsa.
such as cedar that its wood is expensive and palm tree There are old fig trees in front of the Islamic shrines
that produces dates or grapes and pomegranate trees. and tombs of the mystics that depict holiness of the
The tree of life was symbol of holy and fearful force place. “If the fig tree is destructed or its fruit is defected
that for picking up its fruit as an elixir of long life it it is sign of pain and disasters. In Noah storm all trees
was necessary to fight with the demons. Everybody were destructed except fig tree (Yahagi, 2007:168-169).
who won this fight promoted to exalted position and the The first plant is mentioned in the Old Testament is fig
person became immortal” (Dadvar, 2006:99). and it has been mentioned 57 times. It is believed that
fig tree is one of the trees that Judah strangled him of
F. Cypress
that so it is bad omen tree. Fig was symbol of fertility
Cypress was tree of shrines and symbol of death and
and creation for Romans” (Warner, 2007:569).
resurrection. The Greek and Romans considered it
related to underground world forces. It is narrated that
 Adelazadeh and Fakhri 29

H. Apple ACKNOWLEDGMENT
“Cutting of apple tree causes to misfortune since it is
Present article is summarized from Research Project
symbol of immortality, youth and eternal pleasure after
supported by Tabriz Branch –Islamic Azad University.
death. The Scandinavian gods were young due to eating
Authors are thankful to their financial supports.
of Idun golden apples. She was the goddess of youth
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