The fragrant oil of an Indian plant, Nardostachys jatamansi, which grows with a 'spike.' The Arabic, name sunbul hindi, Indian spike, preserves the same idea. The perfume when pure was very valuable (Joh 12:3).
About the meaning of the Gr. epithet pistik
While Jesus was in Bethany sitting at the table in the home of Simon the leper, a woman arrived with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume made from pure nard. She broke open the jar and poured the perfume on his head.
Mary took a litron of very expensive perfume made of pure nard and anointed Jesus' feet. She wiped his feet with her hair, and the house became filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
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