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shephAlI is a kind of small sweet jasmine smelling flower (Nyctanthes arbortristis) growing in the Bengal region and which have spread white petals on an orange stalk. They flower at night, and I fondly remember collecting them in the morning (they are offerred to the gods). Since the flowers wither by day, it is sometimes called tree of sorrow. See http://bdshots.com/v/Bangladesh/flowers/ for some pictures. It gives us a yellow dye, and it is the state flower of West Bengal, India (and probably also of Kanchanaburi Province in Thailand).
Though some internet sites claim it is a muslim name, it is actually a Bengali name. The common Bengali names are often used by people of all religions, though I know of only Hindus using this name. I know it (or actually shephAlikA) is used in Sanskrit texts, but it's origin is obscure, and I haven't checked to see if a Persian/Arabic origin is possible. Traditionally, in Sanskrit, one derives it as a compound of shephas and alI. The first of these means the male egg sac and may be related to the root shvi/shU, to swell/grow (as in child growing in womb). The second element means a black bee and is derived from ala, sting, which itself may be related to the root al, to adorn.
Though some internet sites claim it is a muslim name, it is actually a Bengali name. The common Bengali names are often used by people of all religions, though I know of only Hindus using this name. I know it (or actually shephAlikA) is used in Sanskrit texts, but it's origin is obscure, and I haven't checked to see if a Persian/Arabic origin is possible. Traditionally, in Sanskrit, one derives it as a compound of shephas and alI. The first of these means the male egg sac and may be related to the root shvi/shU, to swell/grow (as in child growing in womb). The second element means a black bee and is derived from ala, sting, which itself may be related to the root al, to adorn.
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