The lotus is an amazing flower. Not only is it a symbol of wisdom and purity, it has a range of spiritual overtones that serve as popular aids to learning.
The lotus, emerging from the water and standing above it - undrenched and unsullied - has come to be accepted as a symbol of enlightenment and purity of mind in Buddhist and Hindu thought. Not only is the lotus in bloom a pretty sight, it evokes positive thoughts in one who links it with his own journey on the spiritual path.
The image of the flower has profound connotations and can be so easily used to interpret and explain the Buddha's transcendence, the non-attachment concept of the Bhagavad Gita, and the evolution of our consciousness, the cause and effect theory of karma, and a host of other teachings.
The lotus is closely linked to the sun. It opens when the sun rises and closes when the sun sets. The eight petals of the flower could be taken to signify the eight noble paths. The white coloured lotus stands for mental purity and spiritual perfection, the red for purity of heart, love and compassion, the blue for wisdom and the pink lotus is often considered as the supreme lotus reserved for the most exalted deity.
In each one of us, the lotus can be visualised seated on the crown in a subtle form of a thousand petals opening upwards to receive divine cosmic energy. A closed lotus indicates an innate potential for enlightenment and an open blossom signifies an evolved consciousness. In paintings and sculptures, Buddha - the enlightened one - is often shown seated on a fully blossomed lotus for this reason.
The sacred lotus can be found in depictions of many Hindu gods and goddesses, too. Lakshmi, Saraswati, even Ganesh sometimes, are shown seated on the sacred lotus. Brahma the creator is depicted as seated on a fully opened lotus flower. The four faces of Brahma represent the four Vedas.
The lotus has the power to self-exist and self-regenerate and this shows the continuity of birth and rebirth. In the Statham Brahmna, the lotus is a symbol of the womb. Hence the flower is a symbol of life and fertility.
The karma principle can be explained easily with the help of the lotus. The flower signifies human life as being governed by cause and effect. Every cause produces an imprint leading to an effect that can be experienced during the doer's lifetime or in his future life.
The Buddhist mantra 'Om Mani Padme Hum' refers to the lotus. Here it signifies wisdom. In the Bhagavad Gita, non-attachment to the objects of sense perception is compared to a lotus or padma. "Any person who dedicates all his karma to the Supreme, and carries them out without clinging to the result, remains unblemished by karmas just as the lotus is untouched and undrenched by water."
(The writer is a Reiki Sensei based in Dehradun.)
FAQs
It is regarded in many different cultures as a symbol of purity, enlightenment, self-regeneration and rebirth.
What does a lotus represent in India? ›
In Hinduism, the lotus represents spiritual enlightenment, beauty, fertility, purity, prosperity and eternity. It is said that there's a lotus flower in every Hindu's heart, and that when this lotus blooms, the person achieves enlightenment. The lotus is also an important symbol in the Hindu tantric tradition.
What is the lotus mud metaphor? ›
From the Mud Grows a Lotus is a metaphor for life. A lotus flower can only grow in mud: this is it's foundation. The lotus rises unsoiled from it's murky origins into a blooming, beautiful flower.
Why is lotus chosen as the national flower of India? ›
Ans. Because of its significance in ancient traditions, religions, and mythology, the lotus was chosen as the national flower. The Bhagavad Gita uses it as a metaphor for detachment, saying that just as the lotus is unaffected by the murky waters in which it thrives, humans should rise above their earthly attachments.
What does the lotus symbolize? ›
Lotus flower meaning across cultures
Because lotuses rise from the mud without stains, they are often viewed as a symbol of purity. Since they return to the murky water each evening and open their blooms at the break of day, lotus flowers are also symbols of strength, resilience, and rebirth.
What does lotus symbolize in the poem? ›
Answer: The poet Toru Dutt presents the lotus as a symbol of perfection. The goddess of flowers resolves the dispute regarding the honor of being called the queen of flowers. The lotus is the ultimate fusion of all the best colors and attributes of the rose and the lily.
Why does Ganesha hold a lotus flower? ›
In one hand he holds a lotus, the symbol of enlightenment. In the other hand he holds a hatchet. That is, the old karma, all your sanskars, the accumulated good and bad of past deeds get cut when enlightenment comes.
What is the sacred lotus of India? ›
The sacred lotus of the Hindus is an aquatic plant (Nelumbo nucifera) with white or delicate pink flowers; the lotus of eastern North America is Nelumbo pentapetala, a similar plant with yellow blossoms (see Nelumbonaceae).
Why does lotus hold a unique position in India? ›
Lotus (NelumNational Flowerbo nucifera) is the National Flower of India. It is a sacred flower and occupies a unique position in the art and mythology of ancient India and has been an auspicious symbol of Indian culture since time immemorial.
What does the lotus mud symbolize? ›
Because the lotus grows in muddy water, it symbolizes the purity of enlightened mind arising amidst the suffering of samsara. It also represents nonattachment, as it is rooted in mud (attachment and desire) but its flowers blossom on long stalks unsullied by the mud below.
In the context of Buddhism, which has significantly influenced Chinese culture, the lotus flower represents spiritual awakening and purity of the body, speech, and mind. It is said that the lotus represents the potential for enlightenment, as it blooms from the mud but remains untouched by the impurity.
What does the lotus motif mean? ›
The lotus motif symbolizes the power of life – the union of earth, water, and sky; its open and closed petals indicate the ups and downs of life and the multiplicity of the universe.
What is the lotus flower in ancient India? ›
In Hinduism, the lotus flower is considered to be a representation of rebirth and a fresh start. The lotus flower is frequently portrayed as the womb from whence many gods and goddesses emerge. These depictions also represent several gods and goddesses seated on or near lotuses.
Why is the Lotus Temple important in India? ›
The Lotus Temple, or the Baha'i House of Worship, is a famous religious structure located in New Delhi, India that is dedicated to providing a monument for the Baha'i faith. The temple also serves as a place of meditation and worship, welcoming all faiths and practitioners equally within its unique walls.
What is the deep meaning of lotus? ›
The Lotus is a plant that belongs to the Nelumbo genus, and it has been connected with purity, rebirth and divinity. The lotus flower symbolizes rising from a dark place into beauty and rebirth, as this is precisely how a lotus flower grows.
What is the special meaning of lotus? ›
February 6, 2023. The lotus flower symbolizes purity, overcoming adversity, and rebirth.
What is the allegory of the lotus flower? ›
The lotus flower symbolizes spiritual enlightenment, purity, self-regeneration, and rebirth. Its emergence from murky waters into beauty and glory has been seen as a metaphor for human life, in which difficult times can be overcome with resilience and dedication.
What is the spiritual symbol lotus? ›
In Buddhism the lotus symbol is so significant that it's one of the Eight Auspicious Symbols of Buddhism, it appears as both solar and lunar and is associated with many Gods and Goddesses. The lotus symbolizes the human Spiritual potential of transformation to the True (Divine) Self.
