Sacred Flora of the Jammu Division: Documentation of plants associated with Hindu Rituals in Jammu, India

Anjali Sharma; Goral Jani; Maulik Gadani

doi:10.36808/if/2025/v151i9/170929

Sacred Flora of the Jammu Division: Documentation of plants associated with Hindu Rituals in Jammu, India

Authors

Anjali Sharma Department of Botany, St. Xavier's College (Autonomous), Ahmedabad, Gujarat
Goral Jani Department of Botany, Gujarat Arts and Science College, Ahmedabad, Gujarat
Maulik Gadani Department of Botany, St. Xavier's College (Autonomous), Ahmedabad, Gujarat

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.36808/if/2025/v151i9/170929

Keywords:

Religious plants, Worship, Hinduism, Rituals, Jammu, Sacred plants.

Abstract

This study documents plant species used in Hindu rituals in the Jammu Division of Jammu and Kashmir, India—known as the “City of Temples.” Through field surveys, interviews, and literature reviews, the research identifies sacred plants, noting their religious, medicinal, and ecological significance. Most documented species were trees (45%), followed by herbs (32%) and shrubs (23%). The findings underscore the importance of conserving these culturally significant plants and preserving traditional knowledge amid growing urbanization and shifting practices.

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