The Lotus or the Water Lily is an aquatic plant with broad floating
green leaves and bright fragrant flowers that grow only in shallow waters.
Based on the color of its flower, it is divided into two types, the
red lotus flower and the white lotus flower. The beautiful flowers float and have
many petals overlapping in a symmetrical pattern. Lotuses, prized for their serene beauty, are delightful to
behold as their blossoms open on the surface of a pond.
Mythology
and Symbolism of the Lotus Flower
In India the sacred
lotus is legendary and much folklore and religious mythology is woven around it.
Rich in meaning and metaphor, the Lotus symbolises divinity,
fertility, wealth, knowledge and not to forget enlightenment.
It
is associated with the goddess of wealth Maha Lakshmi, who brings
prosperity, purity, chastity and generosity. She is the embodyment
beauty, grace and charm. She sits on a fully blossomed lotus flower,
symbolizing purity, beauty and everything that is good.
Understanding
the subtle importance of the Lotus
Lending
to its uniqueness, the flower grows in murky waters and rises on a
long stalk above the surface to bloom glorious. Untouched by the
impurity, lotus symbolizes the purity of heart and mind. It also symbolizes
the the last and final lotus - Charan Kamal or lotus feet of the
Almighty. Since the seeds have been found to
last for thousands of years and still perfect for re-germination, it
is a symbol of strong vital force that could withstand extremely
adverse conditions. The lotus flower thus represents long life,
health, honor and good luck. Especially in Buddhism, where this flower
is valued very highly. It was this depth of thought that made
the founding fathers of modern India enshrine the lotus in the
Constitution as the National Flower.
Other uses
of the Lotus Flower
The
seed, the leaf and the stem are edible and also can be used as a
medicine.
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