Why Ketaki Flower Is Not Offered To Lord Shiva?

In the worship of Mahadev, Shiva devotees offer many things, including cannabis and dhatura. But there may be one flower that isn't provided to Lord Shiva, and this is the Ketaki flower. There is a story in the Shiva Purana, how Mahadev banned Ketaki from his worship and cursed it. In Hinduism, the Ketaki flower (Pandanus) is known for its beauty and fragrance, but it is considered forbidden in the worship of Lord Shiva. There is a famous Puranic story behind this, which is related to the Shiva Purana.

In the month of Sawan, Shiva devotees worship Lord Shiva in many ways to please him and offer many flowers, including rose, champa, and lotus. But there is one flower that is not offered to Lord Shiva, and that flower is the Ketaki flower. In the scriptures, the use of Ketaki flower is prohibited in all types of worship of Lord Shiva. The reason why it is forbidden to offer Ketaki flowers on the Shivling is a curse. Let us know why Ketaki flower is not offered to Lord Shiva and what curse Ketaki has got...

Story of Ketaki Flowers and Lord Shiva

There is a mythological story in the Shiva Purana about why Ketaki flowers are not offered to Lord Shiva. According to the Shiva Purana, once there was a dispute between Brahmadev and Vishnudev about who was the best. The dispute grew so much that when there was no solution to it, Lord Shiva had to intervene. Then Lord Shiva created a Jyotirlinga and said that whoever finds the beginning and end of this Jyotirlinga will be called the best.

In such a situation, Lord Vishnu started moving in the upward direction of the Jyotirlinga, and Brahmadev started going downwards to find the beginning of the Jyotirlinga. Brahmadev and Vishnudev tried a lot to find the beginning and end of the Shivlinga. After searching a lot, when Lord Vishnu could not find the end of the Jyotirlinga, he stopped his journey and admitted in front of Mahadev that he could not find the end of the Jyotirlinga.

Brahmaji also got tired of searching for the beginning of the Jyotirlinga, and then he found a Ketaki flower on the way. Brahmaji coaxed the Ketaki flower to lie in front of Lord Shiva. After this, the Ketaki flower and Brahmaji reached the front of Lord Shiva. Brahmaji told Lord Shiva that he had discovered the origin of Jyotirlinga and also presented a Ketaki flower as evidence.

Ketaki Flower Got Cursed By Mahadev

Lord Shiva knew that Brahmadev was lying. This made Lord Shiva angry, and he cut off the fifth head of Brahmaji. Since then, Brahmadev became four-faced from Panchmukhi. He also cursed the Ketaki flower that from today onwards, you are forbidden from worshipping me. Since then, the Ketaki flower is not offered in the worship of Mahadev. Offering Ketaki flowers in any kind of worship of Lord Shiva is considered a sin. Therefore, one should always keep in mind that whenever you are worshipping Mahadev in Sawan or anytime, do not offer Ketaki flowers.

Conclusion

Ketaki flowers can usually be offered to other deities such as Bhagavati Devi, Ganesha (in some regions), or local village deities, but not to Lord Shiva. Why does the prohibition of Ketaki continue? Talk to astrologers to know more about the ketaki flower.