Sacred and Magico-Religious Plants of India

Contents: Foreword. Preface. Abbreviations. 1. The Hindus -- nature worshippers. 2. Plants used in religious ceremonies -- an overview of the previous work. 3. The methodology. 4. Observations. 5. Epilogue. 6. Literature cited. Appendices: i. Associated symbols of various plants. ii. Plant totems of some Indian tribes. iii. Plants representing the incarnation of the various Hindu deities. iv. Plant-abodes of bad spirits and the Hindu deities. v. Plants associated with deities. vi. Index to total number of genera and species under various divisions of plant kingdom. vii. Index to families of religious plants. viii. Index to various species under different genera. ix. Index to botanical names. x. Index to English names. xi. Index to Hindi names. xii. Index to Sanskrit names.

"The compendium brings together for the first time, complete, up-to-date information on 469 plants of sacred and magico-religious importance from the Indian perspective. Inclusion of 12 appendices and an over 57 colour photographs are the other important features of this compilation. With its comprehensive coverage of the subject, 'Sacred and Magico-Religious Plants of India' is a vital reference source for students, teachers, scientific and university libraries, institutions and individuals active in ethno-botanical research and also to all those who are nature worshippers and eager to know more about Indian mythology."