Have you ever heard of the lotus flower or the lotus position of meditation? This very beautiful flower, admired by people of different cultures, has a special symbolism and has become important for people from all over the world.
Also known as Nelumbo nucifera, the lotus flower, lotus, Indian lotus and Lotus indicus, is a well-known aquatic plant. It is native to Asia and can be found inhabiting soft watercourses or freshwater ponds, always at a shallow depth. It always takes root in the muddy bottoms of these aquatic environments. Its flowers, which are large and with many petals, are also rounded and white, pink, blue, red, purple, among others. It is, in short, a very popular species and cultivated for ornamental purposes in water gardens around the world.
The meaning of the lotus flower
Rarer than the white, pink or lilac specimens, the blue lotus flower could be found infrequently in Asia. Unlike the reddish or rosy petals, which were associated with the heart, the blue lotus flower symbolized wisdom, knowledge and intelligence for Buddhists.
People who go through difficult phases and manage to overcome adversity usually tattoo a lotus flower, which represents rebirth after these negative events and enlightenment towards a new phase of life.
Another symbolism of the lotus flower is that it is also associated with the sacred feminine and ideal characteristics of women. In Ancient Egypt, for example, it was one of the representations of the female sex.
Lotus flower and spirituality
Despite being most commonly associated with Buddhism, the lotus flower has a deep connection to Ancient Egypt. Until today it is used to represent this territory and this people, when it had not yet been unified into a country.
One of the meanings of this plant for the ancient Egyptians was an association with the rays of the Sun, because of its shape, which made it related to Ra, the sun god. The legend was commonly told that he was born from a lotus flower.
Another god associated with the lotus flower was Nefertum, who, according to tales, had a healing power symbolized by the flower, which grew out of the mud and thrived beautifully above it.
Finally, the plant was also associated with the afterlife for the Egyptians, as it closed at night and opened in the morning, which, for them, meant what happened to men at the end of their lives.
To this day, lotus flower specimens can be found on the banks of the famous Nile River, in Egypt, where it usually blooms in white and lilac colors.
lotus flower for buddhism
For Buddhists, for being born in the mud, the lotus flower represents a path of purification and transcendence in relation to what is considered impure in the world, so it is commonly associated with concepts such as rebirth and spiritual purity.
Buddha, when represented in statues, usually appears seated on a lotus flower, which refers to this idea of ​​transcending the ordinary world, enlightening himself from mental confusion.
The name “lotus flower” is also used to name a meditation position in which the practitioner sits cross-legged and places the soles of the feet facing upwards.
lotus flower colors
You can find the lotus flower in different colors. Some of them have special meanings for Buddhists, while others do not.
The pink lotus flower, for example, represents purity of heart and the Buddha himself. The white lotus flower signifies purity of mind. The blue lotus flower is a symbol of wisdom and knowledge. The red lotus flower is associated with love and compassion. The purple lotus flower symbolizes the Noble Eightfold Path, which is one of the main teachings of the Buddha, as well as representing the eight main deities of the mandalas.
It can be found in other colors, such as lilac and yellow, but only white, pink, blue, red and purple have a special symbology.
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Facts about the lotus flower
• The lotus flower seeds are so long-lived that they can germinate after 13 centuries.
• These seeds can stay up to 5 years without water, waiting for the ideal conditions for them to germinate.
• The lotus flower is one of the few in the world that can control its temperature, which is always kept around 35 °C.
• The tallest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa, located in the city of Dubai (United Arab Emirates) was 828 meters high, inspired by the shape of the lotus flower.
• Some Hindus see the lotus flower as a representation of the Universe, because of the harmonious shape of its petals.
• According to this legend, the god Brahma was born from a lotus flower to then give rise to the human being.
• In Greek mythology, the lotus flower was represented as a great narcotic capable of promoting peaceful sleep and amnesia in those who consumed it.
• Several lotus flower petals have been found in excavations in ancient Egyptian pyramids and palaces.
lotus flower in cooking
The lotus flower is also popular in cooking. All parts of this lotus species are edible: flowers, seeds, young leaves and roots (better known as rhizomes). The leaves of this species, quite wide, are also used to wrap food. In countries such as India and Pakistan, the plant's rhizome is widely used in the composition of soups and stir-fries.
Despite having all these edible parts, it is not recommended that the lotus flower be eaten without first being cooked, because there is a risk of transmission of parasites, especially Fasciolopsis buski, which causes the disease fasciolopsiasis.
How to plant lotus flower
Since it is an aquatic flower, special care must be taken when growing the lotus flower. First of all, it needs to be sown in a place with plenty of water, such as a small pond or a water mirror.
Instead of simply placing it in the soil, open the seed shells so that the inside germinates and gives the first branch to the flower. The procedure can be done with a fine-tipped knife.
After opening the seed, it is recommended to place it in a container with warm mineral water, with the aim of, in the next nine days, letting it germinate, making the roots appear. Changing the water daily and leaving the container in a place with exposure to sunlight for at least 6 hours is also essential.
After those first nine days, you can plant it wherever you want so it will germinate perfectly.
Certainly one of the most beautiful flowers in the world, the lotus flower has a special symbolism for each of the cultures for which it was important, but it is possible to see the respect with which people admired this flower. And you saw that planting it is not very difficult, right? So take advantage of the tips and plant the lotus flower, a symbol of renewal!
