Have you ever noticed that in Indian temples, murals, or even in the hands of deities, there’s always a particular flower? Yes, it’s the lotus. It’s far more than just a beautiful flower. Today, let’s delve into the secrets this flower holds within Hinduism.
It Grows from Mud Yet Remains Unstained
Picture this: a filthy, stinking muddy pond. Yet right in such a place, the lotus blooms the purest, most beautiful flower. Not a single speck of mud clings to its petals.
What does this signify?
It’s like a message to us: Living in this world, we’ll inevitably face troubles, temptations, and impurities (like greed and jealousy). But our hearts can remain pure and untainted, just like the lotus. You can go about your work, daily life, and various tasks as usual, but it’s best not to let those negative things—like greed, anger, and delusion—stick to your heart. This is often described as “non-attachment,” at least in Hindu philosophy.
Was the Universe Born from a Lotus?
Isn’t this notion fascinating? In Hindu mythology, the creation of the universe began with a lotus flower.
Legend tells that the protector god Vishnu rested upon the cosmic ocean. Suddenly, a stem sprouted from his navel, and at its tip bloomed a gigantic lotus. From this lotus, the creator god Brahma was born! Upon his emergence, he began creating our world.
So in Hindu stories, the lotus isn’t treated as just a flower—it’s more like a starting point for everything else , the source of all things. People also call it the “womb of the cosmos.”
Divine Beings Love Sitting on Lotus Flowers.
In Hinduism, nearly every major deity has a connection to the lotus.
- Goddess of Wealth, Lakshmi: She always stands on a pink lotus, holding a lotus in her hand. This symbolizes her wealth and good fortune as pure and sacred, not tainted by dirty money.
- Protector God, Vishnu: One of his four hands holds a lotus. This flower represents his pure, unblemished divinity.
- Goddess of Wisdom, Saraswati: She sits upon a white lotus, symbolizing that knowledge and art are the purest, most noble things.
Why are deities so inseparable from lotuses? Because the lotus itself is a symbol of divinity. Sitting upon a lotus signifies their transcendence beyond the mundane world.
A Lotus Blooms Within Your Body.
Does this sound a bit mystical? Yet in yoga and meditation, it’s genuinely believed.
Our bodies contain seven energy centers called “chakras.” Each chakra is envisioned as a lotus with a distinct number of petals.
The most significant is the crown chakra atop the head. It is depicted as a lotus with a thousand petals. When this lotus fully blooms, it signifies that a person has attained the highest spiritual state, achieving complete enlightenment and liberation.
Thus, the path of spiritual practice is like slowly nurturing and unfolding a lotus within one’s own body.
The life of a lotus is our own life.
How does a lotus grow? It begins as a small bud beneath the water, gradually rising upward until it breaks through the surface, fully blooming toward the sun.
Isn’t this our own life?
We start out perhaps clueless (the bud), then experience various events, continually learning and growing (rising upward), until we finally find our direction and live our best life (blooming).
Moreover, after the lotus petal fades, it leaves behind a seed pod containing new seeds. This symbolizes the cycle of life—an ending is also a new beginning.
So what does this mean for us ordinary people?
This is the most crucial question!
The lotus offers us not a distant tale, but a “manual” for living.
It teaches us:
- Roots planted in the soil, yet untouched by its grime (Stay grounded while remaining pure)
- Flowers forever turn toward the sun (Keep your heart facing the light)
- Above all, no matter how chaotic the world may be, hold onto that inner purity and beauty.
Just imagine—if each of us could embody a little of the lotus’s qualities, wouldn’t the world be a much better place?
So next time you see a lotus, don’t just admire its beauty. Take a moment to imagine a lotus blossoming within your own heart. It reminds us that even in the most chaotic days, we have the power to preserve inner peace and purity.
Actually, the meaning of the lotus might not be that straightforward. I’m not sure if there’s any “ultimate correct” interpretation… But for me personally, this perspective feels the most grounded and practical.
Recommended reading: Lotus Flower Meaning: Growth, Purity, and the Power of Rising Above Life’s Struggles
