The primary god of the lotus flower is Nefertem (or Nefertum) in Egyptian mythology, representing creation, rebirth, and the rising sun, often depicted as a young man with a lotus on his head. In Hinduism, while not a single "god of the lotus," Goddess Lakshmi is famously seated on a lotus, symbolizing purity and prosperity, and Lord Vishnu also has strong associations with it.
The god Nefertem, as you may have guessed from the large lotus flower on his head, is closely associated with this symbolic and fragrant flower. He is associated with creation because the sun is said to have first appeared out of a lotus flower and he is considered the patron of perfume.
Padma (Vishnu) Padma (Sanskrit: पद्म, romanized: Padma, lit. 'Lotus') is one of the four attributes borne by Vishnu in his iconography. It is associated with Vishnu's abode upon water, as well as his role in creation and birth.
and the Song of Solomon describes a lotus blooming in a swamp. The lotus flower has been interpreted to represent Jesus' resurrection and rebirth, God's blessings can be found in places that are unexpected and undesirable.
Goddess Lakshmi
Goddess Lakshmi is known to bring abundance and good fortune. The Goddess sits on an open Lotus, and hence it is considered as her favorite flower. On every Wednesday, white colored fragrant flowers like Tuberose, Mogra and non fragrant ones like white chrysanthemum are offered to Lakshmi Mata.
Vishnu's Padmanabha Form
One of the names for Lord Vishnu is Padmanabhaswamy- “Lord with the lotus emerging from his navel”. This aspect of Vishnu is mentioned in the Puranas, where at the beginning of creation, he is reclining on the Adisehsa, with Lord Brahma originating from the lotus flower.
Since then, Dhatura has become Lord Shiva's favourite flower. Hence, Dhatura is offered to Lord Shiva during Shiv Puja to get rid of the poison of ego, rivalry, envy, and hatred.
The lotus is a sacred symbol associated with purity, awakening, transformation, and compassion in Buddhism and Hinduism. These flowers grow in murky waters then rise and bloom above the surface. Lotuses teach us that even from the muck and the darkest circumstances, moments of beauty and light can emerge.
The name 'passion flower' refers to the passion of Jesus and the genus therefore has a particular relevance at Easter. Spanish Christian missionaries adopted the unique structure of the plant as symbols of the last days of Jesus and especially his crucifixion.
Lakshmi is commonly portrayed as a beautiful woman with four arms, standing on a lotus flower. There is usually one, or sometimes two elephants behind her, anointing her with water.
Lakshmi is depicted in Indian art as an elegantly dressed, prosperity-showering golden-coloured woman standing or sitting in the padmasana position upon a lotus throne, while holding a lotus in her hand, symbolising fortune, self-knowledge, and spiritual liberation.
Lotus flowers are special because they symbolize purity, rebirth, and spiritual enlightenment, famously rising pristine from muddy water to bloom beautifully, representing resilience and the triumph of spirit over adversity in many Eastern religions like Hinduism and Buddhism. Their unique growth cycle, closing at night and reopening at dawn, also links them to creation, the sun, and renewal, making them sacred symbols of transformation and divine beauty across many cultures.
The crown chakra, known as Sahasrara in Sanskrit, is the seventh major chakra. It is located on the crown of the head and is associated with spirituality. The Sahasrara chakra is violet or white, and is represented by a lotus flower with a thousand petals.
Lotus flower is a symbol of eternity, plenty and good fortune and Goddess Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of wealth, is usually depicted with a lotus flower.
After growing to a mature length, the lotus plant can reproduce asexually or sexually with both male and female reproductive parts. This plant is also heavily pollinated by many insects throughout the day like bees, wasps, beetles and flies.
Role of Lotus in Hindu Worship and Rituals
Navaratri & Varalakshmi Vratham: Goddess Lakshmi is especially worshipped with pink lotuses for abundance and fortune. Sahasranamam Archana: During rituals like chanting the 1,000 names of a deity (e.g., Lalitha Sahasranamam), devotees offer lotus petals with each name.
The longevity of the sacred lotus, along with its beautiful flowers, see it featured heavily in religious art, especially across Asia. Hinduism and Buddhism both feature the lotus as a symbol for divinity, immortality and purity.
He is hungry, sees a fig tree in leaf, inspects it, finds nothing but leaves, and curses it, saying, “May no fruit ever come from you again!” Surprisingly, the tree withers immediately (Matt. 21:18–19). The OT has many miracles of judgment, but outside of this instance, Jesus' miracles bring healing and grace.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus refers to 'κρίνα τοῦ ἀγροῦ' 'lilies of the field'. True lilies were not native to Galilee and it is believed that Jesus was referring to a common field flower, whose beauty was adorned by God; 'even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. '
The "four types of lotus" often refer to colors in Buddhism (White for purity, Red for love, Blue for wisdom, Pink as supreme), but also to stages of spiritual growth (under mud, below surface, on surface, above water), or even specific Thai varieties like Pathum, Boontharik, Sattabongkot, and Sattabutre, all symbolizing different levels of enlightenment and spiritual potential.
Seven of the most sacred plants in the world
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According to mythology, Brahma used the Ketaki Flower to lie to Lord Shiva. When Shiva discovered the truth, he cursed the flower, saying it could never be used for prayers but only for decoration.
The Middlemist's Red Camellia has the title of rarest flower in the world. It's named after John Middlemist, who brought it back to England from China in 1804. It's believed that only two Middlemist's Red Camellias exist in the world today, one in the United Kingdom and the other in New Zealand.
Prosperity: Goddess Lakshmi sits on the lotus flower. Lakshmi is the Goddess of wealth, fertility, and prosperity. Due to its association with Goddess Lakshmi, lotus also symbolizes prosperity.