Q: What is a lotus flower?
A: This unique flower
grows in muddy waters
and rises on a long stalk
above the surface to
bloom glorious.
Untouched by its surrounding impurities, a lotus symbolizes
purity of heart and mind. Since the seeds have been found
to last for thousands of years and are still perfect for
re-germination, it is a symbol of strong vital force that could
withstand extremely adverse conditions.
It also has unusual flowering habits; its flowers ‘wake up’
(open) at dawn and go to sleep (close) at about 2pm. Some
lotuses are even known to open up at night and close
during the day, ignoring the normal sunlight hours favoured
by the majority of flowering plants, and effectively
transcending normal time cycles.
The lotus flower is the national flower of India where it is
valued very highly.
Q: What else does it represent?
A: The lotus flower represents a long list of attributes to
many cultures and religious traditions. The lotus flower's
rich symbolism has embellished Egyptian, Thai, and Indian
literature since ancient times. The lotus is primarily
associated with heavenly beings. In Hinduism, the god
Vishnu, preserver of life, whose abode is the primordial
waters, was asleep in timeless darkness, dreaming of
worlds to come. As his dreams unfolded, a lotus flower
emerged from his navel and revealed within its many folds
the cosmic egg, in which Brahma the creator, was asleep.
As Brahma stirred, Creation began to unfold again, and
new worlds, new gods, and new life appeared. In India
today, the lotus is still considered to be the cradle of the
universe, and many Indian deities are portrayed sitting on a
large lotus flower.
In Buddhism, the flower is also valued very highly. It
symbolizes divinity, fertility, wealth, knowledge and not
forgetting enlightenment.
Om Mani Padme Hum, meaning, "
"Hail to the Jewel in the Lotus"
is the sacred mantra of Tibetan
Buddhists. One of the most
widely revered sutras
(sacred text) in the Mahayana
tradtion of Buddhism is titled
"The Lotus Sutra".
A third-century text, It contains
the essential teachings of
Mahayana ('the higher vehicle'),
stressing the doctrine of the
transcendental nature of the Buddha, the ideal of the
Bodhisattva (a practitioner who vows to save all living
beings from suffering), and the possibility of universal
liberation.
Typically Buddhist art from Tibet portrays images of the
Buddha sitting on a lotus flower to symbolize purity and
transcendence.
A: This unique flower
grows in muddy waters
and rises on a long stalk
above the surface to
bloom glorious.
Untouched by its surrounding impurities, a lotus symbolizes
purity of heart and mind. Since the seeds have been found
to last for thousands of years and are still perfect for
re-germination, it is a symbol of strong vital force that could
withstand extremely adverse conditions.
It also has unusual flowering habits; its flowers ‘wake up’
(open) at dawn and go to sleep (close) at about 2pm. Some
lotuses are even known to open up at night and close
during the day, ignoring the normal sunlight hours favoured
by the majority of flowering plants, and effectively
transcending normal time cycles.
The lotus flower is the national flower of India where it is
valued very highly.
Q: What else does it represent?
A: The lotus flower represents a long list of attributes to
many cultures and religious traditions. The lotus flower's
rich symbolism has embellished Egyptian, Thai, and Indian
literature since ancient times. The lotus is primarily
associated with heavenly beings. In Hinduism, the god
Vishnu, preserver of life, whose abode is the primordial
waters, was asleep in timeless darkness, dreaming of
worlds to come. As his dreams unfolded, a lotus flower
emerged from his navel and revealed within its many folds
the cosmic egg, in which Brahma the creator, was asleep.
As Brahma stirred, Creation began to unfold again, and
new worlds, new gods, and new life appeared. In India
today, the lotus is still considered to be the cradle of the
universe, and many Indian deities are portrayed sitting on a
large lotus flower.
In Buddhism, the flower is also valued very highly. It
symbolizes divinity, fertility, wealth, knowledge and not
forgetting enlightenment.
Om Mani Padme Hum, meaning, "
"Hail to the Jewel in the Lotus"
is the sacred mantra of Tibetan
Buddhists. One of the most
widely revered sutras
(sacred text) in the Mahayana
tradtion of Buddhism is titled
"The Lotus Sutra".
A third-century text, It contains
the essential teachings of
Mahayana ('the higher vehicle'),
stressing the doctrine of the
transcendental nature of the Buddha, the ideal of the
Bodhisattva (a practitioner who vows to save all living
beings from suffering), and the possibility of universal
liberation.
Typically Buddhist art from Tibet portrays images of the
Buddha sitting on a lotus flower to symbolize purity and
transcendence.
No doubt it is India's national flower
Q: Does it have any medicinal uses?
A: It has medicinal values in its petals, stamen and root. Its
comsumption benefits liver function and is said to
strengthen the heart, spleen and stomach. The seeds and
the young leaves are delicious. The large tough leaf can be
used to wrap cooked food.
Q: What else should
I know about this
amazing flower?
A: Modern Science has
recognized the lotus
flower's self-cleaning
attribute and aptly named
it the “lotus effect,”
applying the principle to various technologies.
As you would expect, many Asian handicrafts are inspired
by the flower's form and beauty.
Q: Now, please tell me, what is so special about the
Blue Lotus?
A: While the beauty of all lotuses lies in its ability to
lift itself in purity above the muddy water, the Blue Lotus
possesses universal relevance and power.
The blue lotus was found scattered over Tutankhamen's
body when the Pharaoh's tomb was opened in 1922. Many
historians thought it was a purely symbolic flower, but there
may be some reason to believe that ancient Egyptians
used it to induce relaxation and an ecstatic state.
It is the Blue Lotus flower which lent its name to Alfred Lord
Tennyson's 1850 poem, Song of the Lotos-eaters, in which
that blue flower symbolizes whatever urges us to seek new
experiences. The poem refers to the episode in "The
Odyssey" by Homer in which Odysseus' gets sidetracked
on his way home from the Trojan war.
The comic book writer Herge
wrote a book called "The Blue Lotus"
in his much-loved TinTin series.
Tintin travels to China in
"The Blue Lotus", a tale which is
generally considered Herge's first
masterpiece. It's also Tintin's only
foray into actual history, specifically
the Sino-Japanese conflicts of the
early 1930s.
Om Mani Padme Hum! Hail to the Jewel in the Lotus!
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