Poisonous still lovable

by Hem Bhandari
(Mumbai, India)

There are few things,which we know for sure ,are harmful,dangerous,troublesome yet they are liked as despite all these odds,they have certain features,which attract human beings.

One such substance is"Dadura Stramonium".In English there are few common names for it such as"Thorn Apple",

"Devil's trumlet".American's know it as"Jimson Weed" or

"Jamestown Weed". In Hindi it is known as
"Dhatura".

It is simply a wild growth,with hardly any utility but still it has the history,which probably has offered it the significance,it enjoys.


"Datura Stramonium" is a green colour thorny ball shaped fruit.The large size trumpet shaped flowers are usually white but special variety plants do have Pink colour flowers too,which make them too attractive.

History:

Datra Stramonium was used as a mystical sacrament in both possible places of origin,North America & South Asia. In Hinduism,Lord Shiva was known to smoke cannabis and Datura.Peopledevotees still provide the small green fruits of Dhatura during festivals and special days as offerings in Shiva temples.

Although lay devotees smoke cannabis as a devotional practice during religious festivals like"Shivaratri",they do not smoke Dhatura,whose effect can be unpredictable and sometimes fatal.


Native Americans in North America,such as "Alonguin" and "Luisario" have used this plant in their sacred ceremonies.In U.S this plant is called "Jamestown Weed",it got this name from the town Jamestown, Virginia,where British solders were drugged with it while attempting the suppress Bacon's Rebellion.They spent eleven days generally appearing to have gone insane.

Presenting few photographs of this plant and its conventionally white flowers and special variety of lovely pink flowers,from my album.These pictures are shot while my walks in forests.


Having a look at them,one really tends to forget their poison and loves them.

Best Wishes