The lotus flower meaning… Did anyone tell you about the flower’s symbolism? If not, we are honored to be the first one! This spectacular hydrophyte is an abstract depiction of various religious entities. It is also a subject of untold tales, heavily influenced by different cultures across the planet. Because this knowledge may be limited only to where it is commonly cultivated and traded, we will try to shed light on the legends behind this captivating aquatic flower. Who knows? In the future, this might be a good anecdote to tell when gifting it to a special someone!
Why Is the Lotus Flower so Special, What Special Powers Does It Have?
Lotus flowers are traditionally believed to possess special flowers, especially in oriental religions. However, in science, they are indeed superplants with impressive supernatural and botanical characteristics! Learn about them below!
- Spiritual cleansing – Lotus flowers have the habit of surfacing from ponds. This habit has become associated with the soul's nature – despite being tarnished with sins, it's cleansed as it propels itself from the murky waters.
- Divine affinity – The supernatural significance of lotus flower is associated with Hinduism and Buddhism. It is considered as a sacred flower and is used to adorn the religion's deity.
- Thermoregulation – The ability to keep warm in cold climates was thought to be only present in plants. However, it was in Nelumbo nucifera, sacred lotus, where this power was first observed by Australian botanists, making it one of the biggest discoveries in plant physiology.
- Seed survival – Most plants – primarily those belonging to the grass family with dry, recalcitrant seeds – have the power to hibernate in the soil for a couple of centuries, but not lotus, a remarkable longevity of its kind! A 1,300-year-old seed unearthed from an ancient Chinese lakebed was successfully revived by a group of American scientists, another feat that enables us to understand the seed physiology.
- Anti-aging properties – After successfully sequencing the lotus' genome or the entire DNA script, scientists found that it has rejuvenating properties, able to play-back the aging process. In a separate study, germ extracts obtained from the sprouting seeds of lotus delayed cell aging. This is considered a promising discovery that helps scientists understand healthy aging.
Lotus Flower Meaning and Symbolism in Different Cultures
What is the meaning of a lotus flower? Behind its splendid floral structure is a definition that many are unaware of, mainly influenced by the set of anthropological beliefs distinct from country to country. To know about its cultural essence, we have summarized it below:
Across Different Religions
The meaning of the lotus flower has been shaped by diverse cultural perspectives to which the blossom is part of the autochthonous landscape. Find out how they vary!
Buddhism
It is not surprising that the Asian lotus, Nelumbo nucifera, is tied to Buddhist doctrine, for it is where the species originated in South and East Asia. In Buddhism, this charming blossom is a consecrated object, embodying spiritual awakening and enlightenment, a joint between the man’s soul and the universe.
Hinduism
The ethereal flower is also a sanctified object in Hinduism. Like Buddhism, the lotus blossom meaning in this religious belief is enlaced with spiritual awakening and enlightenment, a character of Sanskrit. In fact, yoga incorporates the lotus position, padmasana, a vital pose to meditate and progress towards enlightenment. If you happen to visit a Hindu temple, expect to witness holy figures embellished with lotus flowers on its pedestal.
Christianity
The lotus flower significance in Christianity is often analogized to the teachings of Jesus, the religious leaders revered in this doctrine. As the lotus flower shoots up to display its flower, it represents the resurrection of Jesus. Moreover, coming from mud-splattered waters, analogous to the sins, the freshly emerged flowers – white, unspeckled, and innocent – embody rebirth and purification.
Catholic
The Catholic doctrine mainly revolves around God, the Holy Spirit, and Jesus. Saints, who were previously mortals and now share a space with God, are also worshiped. Saint Thomas, the apostle, ’s arrival in India is often associated with the lotus flower. Another indirect association with the lotus flower is the parable of life – despite growing in mucky marshes, flowers, representing life, can still bloom, and life around it happens to thrive despite adversities – a reminder that God is always with man, guiding through their obstacles.
Hebrew
In Hebrew, there is no special mention of the striking marsh flower in the holy scriptures. However, they typically carry a spiritual significance like other religions, centralizing in purity, enlightenment, and rebirth. It also aligns with the themes found in Jewish religion and mysticism.
In Various Countries
Lotus meaning is culturally fluid due to set geographical boundaries. Heading to Japan, its interpretation is distinct as opposed to the middle east, particularly ancient Egypt. Know more about this below!
Japan
If you have been in a Japanese-themed garden, temples, and shrines, there is a good chance that you will stumble upon lotus flowers. Locally known as hasu, lotus depicts purity and enlightenment, a characteristic of Buddhism, one of the major religions in the country. So when planning to visit Japan, visit the lotus garden, too, aside from the cherry blossoms!
India
Dominated by Hindus in a large part of its population, India's interpretation of the lotus flowers meaning is strongly tied to the principal religion. In fact, this quintessential hydric plant is celebrated as a national flower. It is believed that a lotus flower is ever present in each person's heart, which is seen as spiritual enlightenment, purity, beauty, prosperity, and eternity.
China
The lotus culture in China runs the economy, especially tourism. Well, you can't blame the Chinese, as evidence shows that the first lotus seeds sprouted in the country's wetlands! In the eyes of Chinese people, the elite flower exhibits admirable moral character, including honesty, beauty, goodness, and purity.
Ancient Egypt
The primeval Egyptian's depiction of lotus-lily does not differ that much from the other eastern countries. Ancient people of Egypt hail the lotus plant as an epitome of rebirth and rejuvenation, which reflects on their observation of how the flower behaves day and night on the water – sinking and reappearing.
Lotus Flower Symbolism and Meaning by Color
Putting colors as the point of perspective to answer, what does lotus flower symbolize, is worth learning! This is also attributed to various cultural focal points listed below:
White
White lotus is an embodiment of soul and mental purity. As it peeks through the shallow pond waters, it symbolizes Bodhi, or awakening, in Hinduism. On the other hand, Saraswati, a Hindu goddess, is portrayed as a pure white lotus. The significance of the lotus flower also has a femme connotation – a personification of the world’s womb.
Pink
Pink is the most common color of lotus and is primarily tied up with femininity in many cultures. Like the tip of a pink lotus flower, which is delicate and fragile, Hinduism considers the toned down aspects of the petal to embody feminal energy. To add, the symbolism of lotus flower is tied to Budda’s earthly being.
Red
Fierce, fiery, intense – these are the intangible characters that a red lotus flower represents, similar to the burning affection and love for someone. In Buddhism, flaming empathy or compassion is represented by Padma, one of the distinct Buddha families.
Yellow
A Lotus flower with yellow petals radiates a beaming positivity and entails one's attitude of being open, hospitable, and kind to someone. The interpretation of different cultures and religions also makes yellow lotus somewhat conflicting. However, they always reflect hope, joy, strength, and courage.
Purple
Purple lotus lilies are quite rare, but they don't lack any spiritual implication. Often referenced to Buddha, the violet lotus flower symbol touches upon the personal equilibrium and profound reflection of oneself.
Black
The black lotus flower meaning, spiritually, has to do with the internal growth of the mind and soul. Being such a potent color, it also transmits the feeling of power, transformation, resilience and perseverance.
What Is the Legend of the Lotus Flower?
Before the Egyptians laid the first stone to the pyramids, lotus flowers are keenly connected to their religion. They are the symbol of the sun, reminiscent of the flowers’ habit of ascending during the daytime and setting into the muddy waters at nightfall. Legend has it that a massive lotus inflorescence grew out from a pond and from it, where the sun rose like a symbolic flower.
Aside from this interesting anecdote, the lotus flower has been widely represented in Egyptian art. It has also been used as a mode of counting, like abacus.
Top Myths about Lotus Flower
What is a lotus? How did it emerge? If you ask these questions to various authors of interesting tales, they will have interesting answers! Afterall, myths and legends are common pop culture, putting plants and animals as the stars of the story, such as the following:
- The Lotus Eaters in Greek mythology – In Homer's famous epic poem Odyssey, Book XI, there is a special one-page mention of the lotus eaters, narrated by Odysseus' quest to a small island where the lotus-eaters are! They are a group of people whose population is limited to a remote island. They consume lotus regularly, causing them to live in a continuous sense of euphoria.
- The Buddhist Legend of Lotus—It is believed that before baby Buddha Siddhartha was born, a seven-petalled flower simultaneously flowered. Odd numbers in lotus petals are rare, as they always come in multiples of 4. Later, this is where Buddha took his first steps.
- The Journey of St. Thomas The Apostle to India – Also known as Didymus in Greek, St. Thomas is one of the 12 apostles of Jesus according to the Christian Bible, New Testament. According to traditional records, St. Thomas embarked on a journey outside the Holy Roman Empire to India to preach Christian doctrine, precisely in present-day Tamil Nadu and Kerala, India. Later, the Indian Christians put the lotus flower on the cross to imply the presence of Christianity in the land of Budhha.
- The Lotus Flower in Beijing – Being the cradle of lotus origin, it is an uncontested fact that the Chinese have an anthropogenic connection with the flower. According to a published study of social science, Chinese poets have admired the beauty of the lotus. Bai Juyi (772-846 AD), a former mayor of Huangzou, had such an intense fondness for the pond flower that during his term, he ordered the municipality's manpower to build the Bai causeway adorned with lotus alongside.
- The Egyptian's Tale of the Lotus – The legend tells the story of a lotus arising from a spaceless continuum. This emptiness–described as swampy, chaotic, and muddy – is also a legendary living creature named Nun. All of a sudden, amidst the mound of puddles, a beautiful elongated stalk, crowned with a living jewel on top, dramatically opened and displayed itself as a flower. The people of the Nile witnessed the spectacle, revealing Atum (Amun-Ra, Ra), the Sun god.
What Is the Purpose of the Lotus Flower?
The lotus flower’s purpose is often linked to religious rituals and personal growth, as it is considered as a sacred object for purity, strength, and rebirth. Aside from its ceremonial use, behind the lotus flower symbolism is its economic importance in various industries. In China, the backbone of their tourism industry is deeply rooted–like its mud-bound roots–in the celebrated lake flower. Floral varieties are mainly grown in pond-inspired oriental gardens, while its trypophobia-inducing seed heads and rhizomes are mainly consumed as food.
Can Lotus Flowers Grow Anywhere?
Lotus flowers can grow anywhere, but there’s a catch! Being an aquatic plant, deserts, and arid places are the least desirable spots for their growth. The most basic requirement is a warm climate with muddy terrain where its roots can anchor to an abundance of water. Artificial ponds with thick piles of mud enough to send down roots or a pot without holes are sufficient to mimic this condition!
Where Is the Best Place to Plant Lotus?
Lotus is one of the surviving plant species in the family Nelumbonaceae that loves aquatic environments. Therefore, water is an indispensable element when selecting the best place to plant lotus! If you have artificial ponds or a backyard adjacent to a river bank, lotus lilies will be happy. However, they can grow invasive, so check your locality to see whether the plant is permitted!
Is It Good to Have Lotus Plants at Home?
The meaning of the lotus flower is well-defined by the Chinese practice of feng shui. Living or nonliving displays at home are thought to magnetize positive energy, repelling bad vibes and increasing your sense of joy and peace for the body and mind. So if you ask us, we would say yes! Just don’t forget to situate it in a watery environment drenched with enough sunlight.
How Long Does It Take for a Lotus to Grow?
Depending on the variety’s genotype and the climatic conditions, it may take about 4-5 months or even up to the next season before you can see a lotus blossom flower. Some cultivars require about 62-70 days to flower after planting and are considered to be fast-growing. To boost its growth, consider choosing a plant with well-established rhizomes, which can be estimated based on the sizes, number, and overall stance of above-ground pars.
FAQ
How many lotus types are there?
The lotus family consists of 3 main species: Nelumbo nucifera, the sacred lotus; and N. lutea or N. pentapetala, the American lotus. Many varieties have been developed out of these species, specifically to produce new pigmentation and shape of petals.
Are lotus and water lilies the same?
Lotus and water lilies are different. The former belongs to the Nelumbo species while the latter to the Nympheae. The large round-petalled lotus soars above the water while the small, pointy flowers of water lilies stay afloat on the surface.
Can lotus grow in water only or in pots too?
Lotus best thrive in ponds, however, it is becoming more common in bog-inspired landscapes to incorporate these marsh flowers. It can grow in pots as long as they are provided with a constant water supply and enough anchorage.
What does lotus flower mean in love?
There is a deep lotus meaning imbued with a strong sense of affection to someone. As previously mentioned, red lotus transcends a passionate connection towards your loved one. So lotus might be a good love gift!
What is the 7 petal lotus meaning?
The meaning of the lotus flower with 7 petals is variable with cultural, religious and philosophical context. For instance, Hindus relate the 7-petal lotus to Chakra, embodying septenary principles of mind-body consciousness while Buddists connect it to the 7-stage enlightenment.
Is the lotus a symbol of luck?
Yes, oriental cultures bear on the idea that lotus bring good fortune, wealth and financial stability. In Hinduism and Buddhism, lotus relates to spiritual enrichment in the aspects of enlightenment, purity, and guidance towards divine blessing.
