Birds and Plants Mentioned in Vaishnava Literature

The Birds

Chakora
Alectoris graeca, a Himalayan partridge, the lover of the moon, said to feed on the rays of the moon.

Chakravaka
Casarca ferruginea, a variety of duck, also called chakava (surkhab). Legend relates that pairs of these birds are souls of two sinning lovers, who are said to sleep apart at night, and call endlessly to one another, "Chakava, may I come to you?", "No, Chakavi".

Chataka
Cuculus melanoleucas, a type of swallow said to drink only drops of rain as they fall from the clouds.

Hamsa
Phoenicopterus ruber, the flamingo, and also the goose, Acer indicus.

Khanjana
Motacilla maderaspatensis, the wagtail, symbol of restlessness, and also of the eyes of the beloved.

Koel
Eudynamis scolopaceus, a dark bird, commonly found in mangoe gardens during the large trees' flowering and fruiting times. Its cry is kuhu, kuhu, kuhu, rising in pitch with each successive call, and its panchama-note is the dominant of nature's chorus.

Koonja
Anthropoides virgo, the demoiselle crane.

Krauncha
Numenius arquata, the curlew.

Nilakantha
Coracias benghalensis, roller or blue jay, sacred to Sri Vishnu.

Papiha
Hierococcyx varius, the hawk-cuckoo or the brain-fever bird. Its cry is, "Pi kahan", which sounds like 'Where is my love?'

Parrot
Psittacula eupatria, a pet bird said to overhear conversattions of lovers, and to repeat it in awkward circumstances.

Peacock
Pavo cristatus, the male is said to be lover of the clouds and delights in rain.

Saras
Antigone antigone, a slate colored crane, said to pair for life, and hence a symbol of devoted love.

The Trees, Shrubs and Climbers

Aguru
Aquilaia agallocha, a large evergreen tree with fragrand wood.

Amaltas
Cassia fistula, a small hardy tree with pendulous racemes of large bright yellow flowers in April and May.

Arjuna
Terminali arjuna, a large, shady tree.

Ashoka
Saraca indica, a herald of spring, has scarlet or crimson bunches of flowers in early March. It is said to flower upon being touched by a beautiful woman's feet.

Atimukta
Jasminum sp.

Bandhuka
Pentapetes phoenicia (or Lucas linifolia)

Betel
Piper betel, a climber, leaves used for chewing.

Bimba
Momordica coccinia, a climber with bright red fruit.

Champaka
Michelia champaka, a large tree, commonly grown in temples, with fragrant, light yellow flowers. Similar to a magnolia.

Chameli
Jasminium sambac, Arabian jasmine.

Devadaru
Cedrus deodara, Himalayan cedar.

Gandharaja
Gardenia florida, a shrub with highly fragrant white flowers.

Gunja
Abrus precatorius, seeds used as weights by jewellers.

Gul Mohar
Delonix regia, an umbrella tree with pinnate feathery leaves. It bears scarlet flowers in May.

Honey Apple
Aegle marmelos, a large, round fruit also known as Bengal quince.

Jasmine
several varieties are mentioned, including chameli, champaka, malati and kunda.

Jujube
Zizyphus jujuba, small round fruits that are favorites of boys.

Kachnar
Bauhinia variegata, a medium sized ornamental tree with drooping branches. It produces a rich harvest of mauve and white blossoms, that resemble orchid flowers, in February-March.

Kadamba
Anthocephalus indicus, has ball like flowers in the rainy season. One of Krishna's favorites.

Kandali
Aneilema nudiflorum, an annual herb with blue purple flowers in the rainy season.

Karnikara
Pterosper mum acerifolium, a large tree with broad leaves.

Kasa
Saccharum spontaneum, a tall grass.

Kesara
Crocus sativa, safflower, a herald of spring.

Ketaki
Pandanus odoratissimus, screw pine, a highly fragrant plant with spiny, sword-like, pointed leaves.

Kimsuka
Butea frondosa, a tree with beautiful crimson flowers, a herald of spring.

Kovidara
Bauhinia purpurea, a small tree bearing pink flowers in November.

Kumda
Nymphaea esculenta, a water lily with white flowers that open at night, and close during the day.

Kunda
Jasminium pubescens, a jasmine.

Kurabaka
Lawsonia alba, mehende, crushed leaves used to make the dye for painting decorations on brides' palms.

Kutaja
Wrightia zeylanica, a small tree with white flowers.

Lavagna Vine
Limonia scandens, a vine whose appearance indicates the beginning of spring.

Lodhra
Symplocos racemosa, pollen used as a face powder in ancient India.

Lotus and Water Lily
Many varieties are mentioned. Aravinda and kamala are day-flowering. Kubalaya and kumudini flower at night.
Common Lotus, Nelumbium speciosum
Utpala, Nymphaea coerulea, the blue water lily.

Madhavi
Hiptage madhablota, a scadent, shrubby climber, herald of spring, and lover of the mango tree.

Mahua
Bassia latifolia, a common shade tree in central India. An alcoholic beverage of the same name is distilled from its flowers.

Malati
Jasminum grandiflorum, a twining shrub with fragrant white flowers.

Mandara
Erythrina Indica, a small tree that has red flowers during March, when it has no leaves.

Mango
Mangifera indica, tender shoots and herald of spring. Flowers in early March in North India. Called chuta in Sanskrit

Naga Kesara
Mesua ferrea,a forest tree of Eastern India with flowers that are mostly white, but with yellow inside.

Narikela
Cocos nucifera, the coconut palm.

Navamallika
Jasminium arboriscens, a shrubby jasmine.

Nim
Azadirachta indica, a shady tree that flowers in March-April.

Padam
Prunus cerasioides, wild cherry found in the temperate regions of the Himalayas, at altitudes from 3,000' to 6,000'.

Parijataka
Nyctanthes arbortristis, drops its flowers in the early morning.

Patala
Bignonia suaveolens, trumpet flower, herald of spring.

Pipal
Ficus religiosa, a large tree with glossy, dark green, poplar-like leaves.

Pital
An unidentified yellow flower.

Plantain
Musa paradisiaca, smooth, straight stem, symbol of female beauty.

Priyangu
Panicum italicum, a shrub that flowers in August.

Punnaga
Calophyllum inophyllum, a tree with glabrous leaves, and fragrant white flowers.

Sala
Shorea robusta, a tall timber tree, associated with the birth of Buddha. Sarja in Sanskrit.

Saptachchhada
Alstonia scholaris, a handsome tree.

Sandal
Santalum album, a small evergreen tree growing in Bangalore, with fragrant heart wood. Sandal paste (finely ground sandalwood and water) has a cooling effect when applied to the skin, and is used in summer for cooling the body.

Sarja
see Sala.

Sarson
Brassica campestris, an oilseed plant with golden yellow flowers.

Semal
Bombax malabaricum, silk cotton tree.

Salmali
Salmalia malabarica, silk cotton tree with beautiful cup-like red flowers in early March.

Sirisha
Albizzia lebeck, fragrant flowers in the beginning of the rainy season.

Sisam
Dalbergia sissoo, a deciduous tree with hard wood, principally found in sub-Himalayan areas of North India.

Tala
Borassus flabelliformis, palmyra, round purple fruits, symbol of female charm.

Tamala
Garcinia xanthochymus or Cinnamomum tamala, straight stem, dark fragrant leaves, symbol of Krishna.

Vakula
Mimusops elengi, a dwarf tree, bears highly fragrant flowers during the rains.

Yuthika
Jasminium auriculatum, a jasmine with fragrant white flowers tinged with purple.