--> Skip to main content


Importance Of Tumbe Flower And Plant in Hindu Religion - Tumba Poo

Tumbe is a small, non-ornamental plant with white flowers. In Hindu religion, the plant is associated with worship of Mahadev Shiva. The flower of Tumbe plant is white in color and minute in size. The small attractive flower is held in great reverence as being dear to Shiva. Shiva is the great physician and the belief is perhaps based on the extraordinary medicinal uses of Tumbe. The flower is known as Tumba Poo in Malayalam.

White is also the color associated with moon good or chandra, the god of herbs and medicinal plants. Chandra resides on the matted locks of Shiva.

Growing Tumbe in house helps in having a disease free and healthy body. It is also believed that houses that have Tumbe flower will be protected by Shiva Ganas. 

Leaves, flowers and roots of Tumbe provide a good remedy for a number of diseases. It is abundantly found in Shimoga district in Karnataka and has been a source of many medicines for the tribes of the region from ages.

The juice from the leaves of the plant is used to cure fever and also an insecticide, besides being effective against cold and cough. An extract of flowers is found to be very useful in the treatment of cold, particularly when the concoction is made with the addition of turmeric powder. This concoction also dried to make a paste, which is applied to the skin to cure many disorders including allergy.

Allergic eruptions on skin, psoriasis, scabies and the like can also be treated effectively with the juice extracted out of the leaves. Other ailments in the cure of which the plant extract is useful are – headache, disorders of digestive system, jaundice, eye elements and uterine disorders.

It is not surprising, then, that the plant with all these significant medicinal properties is held in veneration and offered to Shiva, who is regarded as Vaidyanatha.