Thelotus is an iconic flower, originating in Southern Asia, which has claimed aplace as a prominent symbol in ancient history, remaining as such today. It isthrough a combination of religious and symbolic connotations, nutritional andmedicinal applications, and sheer aesthetics and laudability in its naturallife cycle that have facilitated the lotus’s significance. While there are manyspecies of lotus flowers across Asia, the Hindus’ Sacred Lotus isscientifically known as theNelumbonucifera.
This perennial flowergrows in the muddy waters of shallow pools throughout Asia. It possesses aunique nanostructure of its leaves which provides an uncanny self-cleaningability, allowing the flowers to emerge from the mud without tarnish. Thisnatural trait has facilitated symbolic reference towards the flower; rising outof the mud, untouched by the filth, resonated with ancient thinkers,philosophers, and religious peoples. Furthermore, beyond its life cycle, thelotus holds many unique properties which benefit human nutrition and health.Studies have found that this ancient plant, consumed throughout Asia, is highlynutritious and retains a number of medicinal properties from gastrointestinalregulation to bad breath remedy to insomnia reduction. The relevance to healthand wellness worked well with the divine reference in ancientVedicscripture,where the lotus gained connections to the gods, to build the foundations of anicon.
Lotus Flower Candle Holder on Betel Leaf (Paan Patta)
Evenas far back as the holyshrutitexts of theRigveda,thelotus finds its home in Hinduism’s spiritual origins. One translation oftheRigvedaexpresses the first mention of the lotus in theform of a metaphor. The verse seems to describe a good wish for an unproblematicdelivery of a child. One interpretation is that the metaphor of the windruffling the lotuses evokes auspiciousness in regard to the delivery. The lotusalso appears in connection to the birth of Agni in theRigvedahymnXVI. There Agni is recognized as one of the two most worshipped gods of thescripture alongside Indra, the God of Thunder. This initial reference to birth anddivinity can be seen as a starting point for the symbolism of the lotus inlater literature and practice. Although its presence in the sacred textelevates it to a status of divinity, its connection with the gods does not endwith Agni and theRigveda; rather it appears again and againthroughout Hinduscripture.
Lakshmiis the consort of Vishnu, one of the most renowned gods in the Hindu pantheon,and she appears in each of Vishnu’s reincarnations as his wife, should he haveone. She is seen by the followers of Vishnu as the “mother of the world”, andmaintains a close connection with the lotus, having her abode within theflowers themselves (Mahabharata LXVI). TheHindus Encyclopedia ofHinduismdetails the story of her birth: from the great churning ofthe sea, Lakshmi was brought forth inhabiting the lotus and was “…covered inornaments and bearing every auspicious sign…” She held lotus flowers in eachhand and was called the Goddess Padma, meaningLotus.
Goddess Dhana Lakshmi Seated on Lotus in Pond
Lakshmi holds many namesand many titles, just as the sacred flower does; she is the goddess of wealth,auspiciousness, fortune, and luck. The auspiciousness of the lotus may be due inpart to the connection between the flower and the great goddess of luck.Indeed, followers of Vaisnavism, one of the main sects of Hinduism, holdLakshmi in high regard, believing she is the very power of Vishnu to govern andprotect the universe (Encyclopedia of Asian History1988). As thegoddess of the Lotus, this symbol becomes specifically significant to theVaisnavas, although its significance is by no means confined tothem.
Beyondthe auspiciousness and fortune of the lotus in its connection to Lakshmi, thecreator god Brahma ties in early references of the lotus to the concept ofrebirth. Though there are many stories regarding the origins or birth ofBrahma, one depicts the god being born on a lotus flower from the navel ofVishnu, the great unifying principle. In fact, it is common for Hindu gods andgoddesses to be depicted sitting on a lotus throne, as a gesture of divinity,purity, and power. Even beyond its connection to the creator god, the lotusis one of Vishnu’s four attributes, standing as a symbol of creation.Furthermore, the sacred plant and deity, Soma, is believed, by some, to be theSacred Lotus (MacDonald 150-152). Referenced in theRigveda, Somais deified, worshipped, and even expressed as offering immortality. Thereare numerous theories on the true identity of Soma and the Lotus would indeedbe a likely candidate with its medicinal properties and previously establishedconnection to the divine.
Eachof the factors mentioned has played a role in the Sacred Lotus becoming anicon of Hinduism. The flower’s natural life cycle and biological propertiesmake it both admirable and valuable. Its presence in the Vedas and itsconnection to popular deities, including its potential identity as a deity(i.e. Soma), make it sacred and spiritual; these aspects, and more, haveelevated the wildflower of Asia to an icon of the Hindu faith. And yet, beyondits religious connotations, the sacred symbol of the lotus has spread, with theHindu tradition, into the very culture ofIndia.
6" Vaishnava Symbols (Pair) | Conch and Chakra | Brass Statue | Handmade | Made In India
InIndian art and architecture, there are 8 symbols of auspiciousness. Among otherkey symbols like the conch shell (sankha) and the wheel(chakra),the lotus (padma) is incorporated into Indian art, bearing powerfulsymbolism in regard to divinity, purity, and auspiciousness. Throughoutnumerous temples and shrines erected to worship various gods such as Siva andSurya are stone carvings, motifs, and statues accents by the image of thelotus. Beyond the presence of lotus imagery, there is a further, subtle connectionbetween Hindu architecture and the lotus in the very structure of Hindutemples. Rising up in tiered domes, or buds, the temples are said to resembleMount Meru, a sacred cosmic center in Indian religions (Gupta 30). The mountainitself holds an extensive symbolic reference to the cosmic lotus, standing as the point of origins of creation and divinity. The intertwining of lotus imageryand symbolism into such a vast range of concepts as mountains to temples tohealth to the divine creates a picture of the depth of the symbol’s place inHinduism.
Asthe powerful symbolism of the lotus transcends the centuries, it ultimatelyfinds its place in the modern day as an icon for businesses, a symbol of peaceor tranquility, a reference to Indian religion, and more contemporarily so, asan image of a movement sweeping Indian politics. For the Hindu population,standing behind a banner bearing the Sacred Lotus of India, a central icon inthe ancient tradition, may mean standing behindHindutva, or Hindunational identity, embodied in the sacred meaning of the lotus. This connectionbetween the divine flower and the national identity of India reveals just howdeep the roots of the lotus symbol are. The lotus held the title of national flower for its sacred symbolism, accordingto the Government of India. The connection between the Indian subcontinent andthe lotus, beyond any single faith, expresses the significance of the flowereven beyond its place as a religiousicon.
Secrets of the Lotus (Studies in Buddhist Meditation)
Tothis day, the lotus stands as a symbol related not only to Hinduism but alsoto numerous other religions, historical and modern alike. The lotus appearshistorically in ancient Egyptian religion where it held connections to birth,including that of the sun god, Ra, and was used as an apparent hallucinogen.Buddhists adopted symbolic meanings of the lotus very similar to the Hindus,viewing it as a representation of one’s personal journey through the muddywaters ofsamsaratowards blossoming, pure and perfect, into Nirvana.The lotus is also representative of enlightenment through the idea that thosewho have attained it will rise above the world as a lotus rises above themuck and filth. Jains also view the lotus as a sacred symbol of purity andpower. Within the tradition are 14 auspicious dreams and eight auspiciousmarks, the lotus claiming a place in both lists. The Jains also maintain theportrayal of their founders (tirthankaras) as seated or standing onlotus blossoms, as seen in Hinduism with respect to their gods. As the religionsof India spread across the globe, the iconic image of the lotus continued todiversify and grow, maintaining its significance while transforming with thetimes. FromRigvedato Indian Politics, the sacred flowerof Hinduism has certainly left its mark on history and continues to do sotoday.
