Today's Image

Cactus blossom near Shimla, India

Posted by

Swami Krishnananda

and

July 15, 2019

Tall century plant with plate-like multiple-blossom flowers on a scrubby hillside. — View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Swami Krishnananda captured the images on this page in July 2019, near Shimla, India. He wrote to EarthSky: “Yesterday, on my daily walk, I saw this cactus blooming from far away, and decided to go near to enjoy its beauty. I had to climb hard up a hill to reach it. As the photos will show, it was worth the adventure.”

Tall plant with yellow blossoms against dark hilly background. — View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Swami Krishnananda commented: “There are three different varieties of cacti in this region near Shimla. This one takes several months to bloom fully, starting with the long shoot.”

Thin branches with big yellow blossoms. — View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Close-up of cactus blossoms.

2 yellow flowers against a dark background. — View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Closer still.

Yellow blossoms and a tiny red bird. — View at EarthSky Community Photos. | “Here we see a crimson sunbird feeding on the nectar,” Swami Krishnananda wrote.

Yellow blossoms and three bees. — View at EarthSky Community Photos. | He wrote: “And these bees were feeding on the nectar, too. Once the blossom is over and wilted, the cactus seems to have fulfilled its life’s purpose and dies. The same thing is said to happen to us human beings. Once God’s purpose of blossoming the Sahasrar Chakra is done, the body perishes within a week or so. Jai Guru!”

Bottom line: A photo essay of a walk up a hillside near Shimla, India, closer and closer to a cactus blossom, with thoughts on impermanence.

More from Swami Krishnananda: Birds and birds

Bluesky Facebook Threads Buffer

Posted

July 15, 2019

in

Today's Image

Swami Krishnananda

View Articles

About the Author:

Swami Krishnananda is a monk at Yogoda Satsanga Sakha Math ashram in Ranchi, India.

Diwali 2020 shone in this ashram, despite Covid-19

November 16, 2020

November butterflies!

November 14, 2020

Happy Buddha Purnima on May 7

May 7, 2020

Dharti Ma – A Tribute to Earth

April 25, 2020