Abstract
India is a biodiversity rich country as well as mosaic of cultural traditions. Plant invasion has been demonstrated by biodiversity studies in India. Mankind had always determined the status of plant, whether indigenous or exotic and developed with them abstract relationships. The present author revealed a role of 26 exotic plant species in the development plant iconography and simultaneous forces of plant invasion in India even during pre-Columbian period. India being rich in ancient literary sources in the form of Vedas, Puranas, epics, caves, temples, Sanskrit writings etc. and replete with plant references, afforded numerous sources of plant iconography. It is an outstanding resource for research on plant history and diversity. However, study of plant iconography demands a wide collaboration with researchers of different subjects or disciplines. At the same, plant invasion hand-in-hand plant iconography are discussed pertinently in Indian context, a hitherto virgin area of research.
Highlights
Different views have been expressed on the scope and content of iconography
Exotic plant species are especially selected to divulge plant invasion in ancient past on Indian territory. Their nativity or biogeographical affiliations have been supported by providing the relevant literary sources. This communication is aimed at how plant-iconography favoured plant introduction, acclimatization and appropriation of exotic species by the Indians in ancient past
Iconographic Features: (i) Leaves are used in religious worships by Hindus e.g. Mangalagauri, Haritalika, Ganesh Puja, Ghata-Mahalakshmi, etc. (ii) It is mentioned in ancient Sanskrit scripts viz., Amarkosha, Kamasutra, Matsyapurana, etc. (iii) Flower is depicted in heddress of Lord Shiva at the temple on stone sculpture (10-11th century) viz., Uma Maheshwara, Nalambas, Hemavati Anantpur district (Andhra Pradesh, India). (Saikia and Nath, 2003; Ghate, 1998; D’Rozaria et al, 1999; Khare et al, 2020)
Summary
Different views have been expressed on the scope and content of iconography. It is the science of identification, description, classification, and interpretation of symbols, themes and subject matter in the visual arts. The present is an attempt to study iconography exclusively to exotic plant species in India. Iconographic Features: (i) Puranas describe its flowers to worship Lord Shiva. (iii) Goddess Durga performed penance and worshipped lord Shiva under Vaagai (Shirish) tree to gain energy to fight Mahasasura.
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