A Flower To Auroville Mother-15 Poem by Indira Renganathan

Thazhampoo (Ketaki, Screwpine, Pandanus odorifer)

Your speculated fall was not a fall
But a legacy with lassies' plaited elegance
*Albeit punished by Shiva huge and all
For a disputed lie on Brahmma's impatience

Perhaps gravitating props made you root strong
For our usage your nature fragrant aplenty
Darling flower, while 'thorny-dusty' is no wrong
Aromatic ultra figure yours is an ivory warranty

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Note: *Why Thazhampoo not used in Siva worship:

Siva Purana Episode:

Once it was decided that Brahma would go up (towards the sky)and try to find the head of this pillar of Light (Shiva)and
Vishnu would go down (under the earth)to find the foot of Shiva. Brahma then assumed the form of a swan and began his journey into the sky.
Vishnu on the other hand, assumed the form of Varaha (wild boar)and bored through the earth to descend into the very depths of the world.
The two of them went thus on their quest for thousands of years and even still could find no end to the pillar of light (as light has no limit) .
After proceeding in their quest for so long, the two of them got tired.

Vishnu decided to end his search (becoming humbled)and proceed back to the earth. At the same time, Brahma saw a Ketaki
(fragrant screw pine - Pandanus Sativa, kewra in hindi and thazhampu in tamil)flower slowly wafting downwards from the sky.
He stopped the flower on its way down and asked it where it was coming from. On being questioned by the creator,
the flower replied that it had been placed at the top of the pillar of fire as an offering by a devotee and had fallen from there.
Unable to find the head of the pillar, Brahma decided to end his search and instead use the ketaki flower as evidence of him having reached the head.

Both Brahma and Vishnu came back to the earth in the end and when asked, Vishnu replied truthfully that he had been unable
to find the feet of the fiery pillar even after a very long search going to the very ends of the universe.
Brahma on the other hand (to prove his superiority over Vishnu)lied by saying that he had in fact reached the head of the pillar of fire
and that he had brought the ketaki flower from the top as proof of having reached there. This false claim angered Shiva and
he revealed his true form and then cursed Brahma that he would have no temple dedicated to his worship as he was undeserving
(as a result of his falsity)and he also cursed the ketaki flower that henceforth she shall not be used in the worship of Shiva
(as she had given false testimony when questioned) .