August 3, 2013: Flowers are considered holy and offered to the deities. In Hinduism, you can find various flowers that are offered to Gods and Goddesses. For example, pink lotus is offered to Goddess Lakshmi and white lotus on the other hand is a favourite flower of Goddess Saraswati.

Similarly, yellow coloured flowers are loved by Lord Vishnu, red flowers by Lord Hanuman, and white flowers by Lord Shiva etc. So, God is worshiped with different Indian pooja flowers

. There are many Indian pooja flowers that can be used for offering prayers. For example, jasmine, marigold, red hibiscus are few Indian pooja flowers that are offered to Gods and impress them. Few of the flowers like marigold and red hibiscus are offered to more than one Gods. Red hibiscus for example is loved by Maa Kali and Lord Hanuman. Marigold on the other side is offered to both Lord Vishnu and Ganesha as they both love yellow colour.

Similarly, lotus is offered to Goddess Lakshmi and Saraswati. It is also a flower loved by Lord Brahma. In iconography, Lord Vishnu, Goddess Lakshmi, Lord Brahma and Goddess Saraswati are portrayed on pink and white lotuses respectively. If you take a closer look at the Lord Vishnu idol, you can see Padmanabha (a lotus is seen coming out from His navel on which Lord Brahma is seated).

Take a look at the Indian pooja flowers that can be offered to deities.
Indian Pooja Flowers:

Crown Flower: This wild flower is offered to Lord Shiva. Also known as akanda, the white and purple poisonous is an Indian pooja flower offered to impress Lord Shiva.

Red Hibiscus: This Indian pooja flower is offered to Lord Hanuman, Maa Durga and Maa Kali.

Jasmine: Lord Vishnu is often worshiped by offering the aromatic, white jasmine flowers. He also loves marigold and any other yellow coloured flower.

Indian Magnolia: Goddess Saraswati who is always clad in white, is considered as a symbol of purity and peace of mind. It is said Goddess Saraswati loves white and yellow coloured flower. Indian magnolia and marigold are yellow flowers that are offered to impress the Goddess of Wisdom and Knowledge.

Marigold: The saffron yellow flower is offered to Lord Ganesha. In few places, you can also see this Indian pooja flower being offered to Lord Vishnu.

Nerium Oleander: Red Indian pooja flowers like red hibiscus, nerium oleander and red rose are offered to Goddess Durga.

Purple Orchid: Lord Shiva is also worshiped with this Indian pooja flower. The purple orchid can be offered with milk to the shivling of Lord Shiva.

Lotus: The pink lotus is offered to Goddess Lakshmi and the white lotus on the other hand is offered to Goddess Saraswati.

Source: Boldsky, DT. August 3, 2013.