Монограмма слева внизу

The painting "The Fiery Flower", included in the series "His Country", is based on the comparison between the fiery flower in the Russian fairy tales and the Himalayan legend about the black aconite flower. Black aconite is a plant known from ancient times among many peoples. Its name came from the Greek town of Acona, near which there was the entrance to the underworld of Aid. This plant helps to heal many severe ailments and is still considered as one of the main remedies for all sores in Tibet and India medicine. From the diary of E.I. Roerich, it follows that as early as in 1924, the family, including the younger son of the artist – S.N. Roerich, was involved in "applying efforts to healing through plants". (July 13, 1924).

In February 1924, the Roerichs visited Sandahpa and Falut – the peaks from which Kanchenjunga and Everest are especially well seen. Guides told them the legend of the black aconite, and probably it is there the artist had the idea to paint the picture "The Fiery Flower", using the view of Everest from Falut; after all, according to legend, it is there that this miraculous plant grows.

In the picture "The Fiery Flower", we see a mountaineer rushing towards a treasure that glows among the stones – the aconite.
"Go to this mountain on a certain night; when this night comes, the longest and the darkest one, and prepare yourself with a prayer. Follow the path that leads to the Mount, but do not ask the way. Only follow the Guide, who will propose himself and meet you on the route. But you will not know him. The Guide will lead you to the Mount, when everything is silent. You need neither a sword nor other material weapons. When you find the Mount, the first miracle will be a furious wind that will shake the Mount and split rocks into pieces. You will also be met by lions and dragons, and other terrible animals; but do not be afraid of any of them. Be resilient and do not think that you will not return, for the Guide will not allow any evil to happen to you. As for the treasure, it is not yet found, but it is very close. After the wind, an earthquake will begin that will destroy everything that the wind left untouched. But be sure that you will not fall. After the earthquake, there will be a fire which will swallow the earth's inside and reveal the treasure. Then, closer to dawn, there will come a great silence; you will see that the morning star has risen, and the dawn will begin and you will see the great treasure.... The main and the most perfect one – the invigorant elixir."

N. Roerich. Urusvati.