Ketaki known as umbrella tree or Screw pine or keura in Hindi, is a shrub with fragrant flowers. The flowers of Ketaki assume special significance in Indian culture. The flowers are highly fragrant and are even used for making aromatic oils and perfumes, but they are not used as offerings to Gods. Ketaki is barred in the worship of Lord Shiva. It is not offered during pujas and worship as it is cursed by Lord Shiva. There is an interesting story mentioned in the Shiva Maha Purana that explains why Ketaki Flower is forbidden.
Once Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu got into a fight over who is supreme. To sort out the issue Lord Shiva made His first appearance in the form of Jyotirlinga or Lingodabhavamurti (a column of fire with no end or beginning) before Shri Vishnu and Lord Brahma. Lord Shiva intervened in the fight and said whoever can find out the origin or end of the Shivlingam is superior. Lord Brahma and Shri Vishnu set off to explore the beginning and end of the mighty column of light. Shri Vishnu went down in the form of a boar and Lord Brahma went up in the form of a swan. Shri Vishnu was unable to find the base and admitted defeat. He accepted that the pillar is endless. Brahma on his journey upwards came across a Ketaki flower. Brahma again went up but was unable to find the uppermost limits. So He decided to take the help of the Ketaki flower. Brahma decided to take the Ketaki flower back to Shri Vishnu to bear witness that he had reached the top of the pillar of light. Brahma said he found the Ketaki flower atop the Jyotirlinga and ketaki supported it. This lie infuriated Shiva who in rage cut Brahma’s fifth head. When he was about to kill Brahma, Shri Vishnu intervened and requested Shiva to pardon Brahma, but Brahma was cursed that He would not be worshipped by anyone on earth. Similarly, ketaki was also cursed that she would never be used in worship of Lord Shiva. 🙏🏻🙏🏻
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