Parijat appears in several Hindu myths. In one myth, which appears in Bhagavata Purana, the Mahabharata and the Vishnu Purana, Parijat appeared as the result of the Samudra manthan (Churning of the Milky Ocean). In another myth, Parijat was brought to earth by Krishna from Indra's garden.[4]

In Hindu mythology, there is a story involving Lord Krishna about a parijat and Krishna's two wives, Satyabhama and Rukmini. Satyabhama wanted this "Parijat" tree from the Heaven to be planted in her garden. Rukmini too, took a fancy to the flower. Krishna, wanting to keep both his wives happy, planted this tree so that the flowers fell in Rukmini’s garden while the tree remained in Satyabhama’s garden.

The tree was planted in the garden of Indra, the Lord of Heavens. Even as Krishna stole a branch of the tree, he was spotted by Indra. However, Indra desisted from placing a curse on Krishna since he was an incarnation of Vishnu. Still, Indra put forth a curse on the stolen branch that it will never bear fruit even though the flowers may bloom on the tree. Since the day the tree was planted at Barabanki (the wives' garden), it flowers but does not reproduce, because it has no seeds and the branch cannot take root. It is a yellow coloured flower that blooms in the month of August.[citation needed]. This image of Parijat from Barabanki does not correspond to that ofNyctanthes arbor-tristis and should be dropped from this page.

Not only the tree has high medicinal values in Ayurveda and is divine to Hindus, but also has its share of stories of its romantic origin. According to Hindu mythology, Parijathaka a princess was in love with sun and failed to win his heart, even after trying a lot. So she committed suicide and from her ashes raised the tree parijatha. Unable to stand the sight of her love, she blooms only during night and sheds all the flowers (resembling tears) before the sun rises or with the touch of very first sun rays. The highly fragrant flowers bloom during night spreading there essence all to the surroundings. The sight of the courtyards filled with these flowers in the morning is bliss to behold while their fragrance lifts the spirit. These are apparently only flowers that Hindus offer to god picked from the ground instead of plucking from the tree.