The meaning behind the Lotus flower and its different origins.

Also known as the "Sacred Flower" and "Sacred Water-lily".

The Lotus Flower is white or pink most of the time. This eye-catching water flower originates from southern Asia and Australia, it grows in water gardens and ponds, in fact, it is familiar to musty waters with a muddy foundation. The enchanting lotus bloom in the morning and fall in the afternoon, it resides in warm sunlight and cannot survive the cold weather.

The Buddhist meaning of the Lotus Flower 

The lotus is one of the eight auspicious symbols of Buddhism;The true nature of beings who rise through Samsara into the beauty of clarity of enlightenment. The Buddhist give an honorable symbolization to this magical flower, purity of body, mind, speech and also brings importance to detachment. 

Buddha’s birth is represented by this sacred flower, as the legend tells, Buddha’s mother, Queen Maya claimed to have dreamed about a white elegant elephant carrying a lotus flower from her trunk, soon after the enlightened one was born. 

Have you ever heard about the Lotus Sutra? The Lotus Sutra is one of the most important Mahayana Buddhist text. It is not only text but a strong personal message, it’s a teaching of empowerment, how the inner determination of a person can transform everything and at this moment create infinite potential and honor, deep-rooted in every human being. 

Another famous Tibetan Mantra goes as follows... “OM MANI PADME HUM”. In English, it means: “OM the jewel inside the lotus HUM”. This Mantra invokes Chenrezig (Avalokiteshvara) who is the Bodhisattva of compassion. 

In some schools, they have lessons for every stage of the blooming sacred water-lily. A closed flower represent the moment before the time of enlightenment, the blooming petals indicate full enlightenment and a partly bloomed flower mean enlightenment beyond the ordinary sight.

The Buddhist also believed that this Asian beauty is a symbol of fortune because it rose from the musk to achieve enlightenment. While the spirit is rising it is also purified and faithful that it will rise above to reach enlightenment. Different color of lotus flower has a unique meaning, the white lotus represents purity, the red; love and compassion, the blue water-lily is common sense in which logic and wisdom create enlightenment. The pink lotus is the history of Buddha, the purple; mystic and spiritual awakening. Last but not least the gold lotus representing achievement and total enlightenment.

Egyptian Lotus Flower Meaning

The Ancient Egyptians had great meaning and many different uses for this highly valued water lily. Two colors were most dominant in ancient Egypt, the classical white lotus flower and the mystical blue water-lily that they used to call the blue lotus. Not only it is present in the Ancient Egyptian numeration system meaning 1000, in hieroglyph but it is depicted in tombs and temples with high spiritual meaning and symbolism.

The Lotus was associated with the divine, Many of the gods were painted with lotus flowers. For example, the god of the sun, Atum Ra and the goddess Isis were both born from this mystical wonder. In Ancient Egypt, they gave this flower the symbol of creation, rebirth, and the sun. Gods and Goddesses not only worshiped the lotus flower for its beauty but for its many medicinal and cosmetic properties.  

The Cow goddess Hathor, goddess of healing, fertility, and magic is associated with the blue lotus because of its regeneration and healing powers.
The blue water-lily was believed to symbolize the underworld, reincarnation, regeneration and the process of rebirth. They had special rituals and spells from “the book of the dead” that could reincarnate the dead as a lotus flower. Inspired by their unique blooming cycle, the Egyptians gave them great meaning a powerful utility. 

Some Egyptian religious leaders brewed the water lotus with mild sedatives and psychotropics to achieve a high performing ritual. The flower wasn’t just a spiritual advantage for them, they found many other important medicinal and cosmetic uses. By extracting the oil from the flower they can create massage oil, perfumes, tees, medicine, and bubble bath. Nefertum is the god of perfume and was also associated with the lotus flower hense to its enchanting fragrance. 

Hinduism meaning of the Lotus Flower

Looking at the Hinduism tradition, the lotus flower, the white lotus, in particular, is associated with the Devine, it is a well-known favorite and most worshiped amongst the gods. All of the Hindu deities are connected to the sacred flower of life. In fact, the Hindu vision of the creation of the world was created or born through the “Golden Lotus”.

The Hinduism Lotus Flower is the symbolism of purity, beauty, eternity, prosperity, and fertility.  Because of its unique blooming cycle, the flower demonstrates a metaphysical soul purpose of transition into purity.

This unique life path teaches us the way to pure illumination of consciousness. it’s the symbol of life, ever-renewing youth, eternity, purity, and divinity. The sacred flower is used to describe feminine beauty within the eye, true purity because the eye is the gateway to the soul.

There is more to this divine beauty than meets the eye, we all know that the lotus flower comes from a muddy place and elevates to a higher light which compares to the spiritual awakening and like ripe fruit ready to “pluck” the deities take their turn in admiring fully bloomed masterpieces.

“Song of God” or “Bhagavad Gita”

- Human is adjured to be like the lotus; work without attachment, dedicating their actions to god, untouched by sin like water on a lotus leaf, like à beautiful flower standing high above the mud. -

The Yoga Lotus Flower Meaning

In Yoga world, the Lotus Flower is actually the name of a basic pose. The posture of that specific pose is designed to help strengthen the back while working on the flexibility of your knees and inner-hips. It is also the “go-to” position for meditation, chanting, and pranayama.

In Yoga, the lotus holds strong spiritual meaning and valuable lessons. Serenity and the ability to unfold, enlighten, expand and bloom.

The Sacred Flower

To Conclude, the sacred flower has grand meaning all around the world. Yoga has become a mainstream practice and the world is beginning to change on a spiritual level. Minds are opening, more and more people are aware and conscious that there is more in this world than meets the eye.

Thank you for reading! Stay curious, more and more to come.