Blue Lotus Flower Meaning

Find out about the meanings of Blue Lotus Flower

The blue Lotus flower has been steeped in symbolism since the time of the Egyptians, where it was used
as a metaphor for re-birth and of the Sun. It also plays a key role in Buddhism where it's color is thought
to be associated with a victory of the spirit.

There are three main plant species that are referred to as the blue Lotus, and these belong to two
different genera. The species are as follows: Nymphaea caerulea; Nymphaea nouchali; and Nelumbo
nucifera.

All of these are also referred to as blue water lilies (amongst other names). The Nelumbo genus should
not really be referred to as a water lily; plants of this name are rightly classified in the Nymphaea genus.

One of the major distinctions between the two types of lotus is that the true lotus, Nelumbo, creates a
circular seed pod.

The first of these species Nymphaea caerulea is the plant that plays a major role in Egyptian culture, and
although the plant is native to Egypt it is known to have spread throughout Southern and Southeastern
Asia long before the prevalence of the Egyptian Empire.

In addition to their use as ornamental plants and in spirituality, which will be discussed below, the
tubers and seeds of Lotus are also a well known source of food, and the plant can also be used in the
treatment of ailments such as indigestion.

Blue Lotus Flower Meaning in Egytian Culture

The blue Lotus is strongly connected with Egyptian culture, and it features in many ancient paintings,
and carvings. Perhaps the most well-known role of the blue Lotus flower in Egyptology is set in it’s
association with the Sun, the creation, and rebirth.

The reason that that Lotus is used as a metaphor for these things is due to the way that it raises out of
the water, over a small period of time, and flowers in the morning to the late afternoon, before sinking
below the surface again. The repeat of this pattern makes it easy to understand why the Egyptians chose
it to symbolize the Lotus with rebirth, as it followed the same pattern as the sun.
Egyptian Blue Lotus Flower (Nymphaea caerulea)

In addition to being used as a metaphor, the blue Lotus flower was also used for other things by the
Egyptians, for example it was fairly often used in a herbal tincture along with wine, this is because the
liquid made that Lotus tea acted as both a sweetener, and perhaps more importantly added a slight
narcotic affect.

The flowers from the Lotus plant were also considered to have aphrodisiac properties. The plant is also
associated with pain relief, and was thought to stimulate circulation.

It is not only the blue Lotus that is native to the Nile area, as the white Lotus was known to be growing in
the region during the time of the ancient Egyptians. Furthermore, the pink lotus flower was also
introduced at some stage. However, it is a blue Lotus flower that is most often seen Egyptian art.

The Lotus is known to have been abundant in the upper Egyptian area, whereas in the lower regions of
Egypt, Papyrus was by far the more common plant in the waterways. Therefore the two plants are often
shown entwined together as a symbolism of the bringing together of the lower and upper kingdoms of
Egypt.

As the Lotus is closely associated with the sun in Egyptian mythology it comes as little surprise that the
Lotus is shown as an emerging from the primordial waters carrying the Sun God.

The Blue Lotus Flower and its Symbolism in Buddhist Culture

The Lotus is a symbol of purity and enlightenment in the Buddhist culture, and different colors of
Lotus are known to symbolize different aspects of spirituality. In Buddhism the blue Lotus flower is
symbolic with a victory over the spirit of self, that is to say being able to leave wisdom, intelligence, and
knowledge behind and becoming open to spirituality and the attachment to life.

Blue Lotus Flowers emerging in a state of purity from a murky pond.

In Buddhism, the Lotus is considered to be one of the eight auspicious
symbols, and is associated with the purification of the mind and body,
and the ability to blossom and become liberated.
In Buddhist art it is usually seen that the blue Lotus flower is partially
open, this in itself signifies a state between full enlightenment (fully
opened flower) and a closed mind (closed bud). It is the blue Lotus that is
the preferred flower of Manjushri (Gentle Glory), the enlightened
bodhisattva transcended wisdom.
White Lotus Flower Meaning

Find out about the meanings of the White Lotus Flower

A look at the symbolism and meanings associated with the white Lotus Flower.

The white Lotus has long been symbolic in Hinduism and Buddhism. It is very easy to see why this is the
case as it is a beautiful flower, which usually emerges in a pristine condition from the murkiest of
waters.

In Buddhism the different colors of the lotus are associated with different stages of the spiritual journey.
For instance a Lotus of blue symbolizing someone who has started their spiritual journey behind by
leaving the concept of ‘self’ behind. The pink is the one reserved for enlightenment of the highest order
and is associated with the highest deity, the Buddha.

Различните видове цвят на цветето Лотус се асоциират с различните етапи на духовното развитие.
Синият лотус символизира началото на нашия духовно израстване чрез отказа от идеята за „аза“.
Розовият лотус символизира просветлението от най-висш порядък и с Буда състоянието.

The white lotus flower on the other hand sits at a stage between these two and is associated with the
state of bodhi; that of becoming awakened to the wonders of it all.

When one reaches this state it is said that one has mental purity and has reached a state of spiritual
perfection. In addition to this the white lotus flower also has a few further meanings as it is considered
to be the womb of the world. Additionally it is linked with the pacification of one’s own nature.
The Beautiful White Lotus Flower Showing It's Heart

The White Lotus Flower and it’s Association with Hinduism

In the religion of Hinduism the white lotus flower is associated with beauty and the state of non-
attachment; therefore it is closer related to its meaning in Buddhism as opposed to Egyptology (where
the Lotus, usually the blue one, is associated with re-birth and the Sun). Furthermore the white lotus
flower symbolism is often associated with the divine Gods and Goddesses of India, and it is often
depicted as growing from the naval of Vishnu; Brahma sits on top of the Lotus and from there He carries
out the order of Vishnu to create the world.

The central heart of the Lotus also has a symbolic meaning as it is thought to be pure, therefore people
of good heart and soul should strive to reach the beauty of the fully opened white Lotus flower heart.

All the content on this site is written by Dean Ravenscroft and is original, please do not copy elsewhere
without referencing this site as being the original source.

Pink Lotus Flower Meaning

Find out about the meanings of the Pink Lotus flower.

The pink lotus flower is perhaps one of the most celebrated flowers that there is. It is considered
sacred, and it is associated within the highest realms of Buddhism, with the Buddha himself, many
kings, and the highest deity often depicted with this plant.

The scientific name for the genus of lotus is Nelumbo, and the plant serves many uses, in addition to
being associated with Hinduism and Buddhism, wrote is representative of creation, enlightenment, and
purity; it is all a well-known source of food.

Indeed, in ancient Greek mythology Homer in his book the Odyssey describes how Ulysses visits the land
of the lotus eaters.

The plant has many purposes, and can be used to make tea; its seeds can be eaten, as indeed can their
tubers. Plants of the genus Nymphaea are also considered to be lotus, even though they are
scientifically classified as water lilies.
The Exquisite Pink Lotus.

Pink Lotus Flower and Buddhism

In Buddhism different colors of flowers have different symbolism is and meanings, for example the blue
Lotus is associated with spiritual freedom, whereas the red lotus symbolizes love and compassion.
However, it is the pink lotus flower that is considered to be the supreme lotus; the true locus of the
Buddha.

One of the reasons that lotus flowers are considered so sacred is due to their daily cycle, they emerge
slowly from dirty, muddy ponds over a period of a few days, and open all in the morning, and close
their petals in the late afternoon. Despite, emerging from such a muddy and dirty environment, the
lotus flower remains clean; and not only this it is beautiful.
Many civilizations have therefore associated the lotus flower with rebirth and especially in Buddhism
with purity.

The state that the pink lotus flower is in is also representative of the state that a person is going through
and the flower represents ones heart; when the flower is a just a bud it is synonymous with a closed in
person who is yet to step up other way of spirituality.

A Pink Lotus Flower Opening Up It's Heart To The World.

As a flower blooms it comes to represent a place in opening up to all that is around them. The fully
opened pink lotus flower represents a full sense of enlightenment and somebody who has reached
Nirvana.

All the content on this site is written by Dean Ravenscroft and is original, please do not copy elsewhere
without referencing this site as being the original source.

Lotus Flower Meaning and Symbolisms

Find out about the Meanings associated with the Lotus Flower

Anybody who has ever observed a lotus flower emerging from a murky pond cannot fail to see the
beauty of this exquisite plant.

The flower always looks so clean and pure against the background of the dirty pond.
Because of this the lotus flower has come to be associated with purity and beauty in the religions of
Buddhism and Hinduism respectively; the ancient Egyptians scholars observed that in the night-time the
lotus closed its flowers and sank into the water, and came up with a different association with the
flower related to rebirth and the Sun; in actual fact the Lotus slowly emerges from a pond over a three
day period and then blooms in the morning until mid-afternoon.

It can therefore be assumed that the lotus flower meaning is different between cultures, though in fact
they share many similarities.

I would like to explain how some of these associations came about, and I will therefore split up this
article into three main sections, based upon the three main groups, that is to say that of the ancient
Egyptians, the Buddhists, and Hinduism.

Meaning of the Lotus Flower to the Ancient Egyptians

Anybody who has taken a look at Egyptian culture cannot fail to have noticed the significance of the
meaning of the Lotus flower in their culture.

In ancient Egypt there were two main types of lotus that grew, the white, and the blue (scientifically a
waterlily, but symbolically a lotus). Further to this another type, the pink lotus flower was introduced
into Egypt sometime during the late period of their civilization. If one is to observe the many
hieroglyphics, it is easy to see that the blue Lotus flower is the most commonly portrayed.
This Egyptian artwork shows the Priest Nebsini holding a blue lotus flower

As mentioned in the introduction above about the meanings of the lotus flower, this plant is known to
be associated with rebirth. This is a consequence of it supposedly retracting into the water at the night,
and emerging a fresh in the Sun the next day (see the introduction for how a lotus plant actually comes
into bloom). The Egyptians therefore associated the lotus flower with the sun which also disappeared in
the night, only to re-emerge in the morning. Therefore the lotus came to symbolize the Sun and the
creation. In many hieroglyphics works the lotus is depicted as emerging from Nun (the primordial water)
bearing the Sun God.

As something that is associated with rebirth, it is no surprise that the lotus flower is also associated with
death, and the famous Egyptian book of the dead is known to include spells that are able to transform a
person into a lotus, thus allowing for resurrection.

Another interesting fact about the lotus flower meaning to the Egyptians was the way that it was used
as a symbol for the unification of the two Egyptian kingdoms, that is to say the bonding of upper and
lower Egypt. For a long time the lotus had been used in the hieroglyphics and art of upper Egypt,
whereas in lower Egypt the Papyrus plant was notably in abundance. Therefore pictures of lotus and
Papyrus that had grown up together and become inter-wound with each other came to be a symbol of
the bringing together of the two kingdoms.

Lotus Flower Meaning in Buddhism

In Buddhism the lotus is known to be associated with purity, spiritual awakening and faithfulness. The
flower is considered pure as it is able to emerge from murky waters in the morning and be perfectly
clean. Therefore in common with Egyptian mythology the lotus is seen as a sign of rebirth, but
additionally it is associated with purity. The breaking of the surface every morning is also suggestive of
desire, this leads to it being associated with spiritual enlightenment.

Buddha atop a Lotus Flower.

As Buddhism stems from a different part of the world to Egyptology, there are many more colors of
lotus to be seen. So it is not too surprising that the many different colors have come to be associated
with different aspects of Buddhism. The main symbolism of the lotus flower and their meanings are
given here.
 1. Blue Lotus: The blue lotus flower is associated with a victory of the spirit over that of wisdom,
intelligence and knowledge. If you get to see it a blue Lotus in Buddhist art you will notice that
it is always depicted as being partially open and the centre is never observed.

2. White lotus flower: this color lotus is known to symbolize Bodhi (being awakened), and
represents a state of mental purity, and that of spiritual perfection; it is also associated with
the pacification of one’s nature. This lotus is considered to be the womb of the world.

3. Purple Lotus: known to be Mystic and is associated with esoteric sects. It can be shown
depicted as either an open flower or as a bud. The eight petals of the purple Lotus are
representative of the noble eightfold path; one of the principal teachings of the Buddha.
Following this path is thought to lead to self awakening, and is considered one of the noble
truths.

4. Pink lotus flower: this is the supreme lotus and is considered to be the true lotus of Buddha.

5. Red lotus: this is related to the heart, and the Lotus flower meaning is associated with that of
love and compassion.

The Lotus Flower and its Meaning in Hinduism

Perhaps one of the strongest associations of the lotus flower with religion is that that is observed in
Hinduism. In this religion the lotus flower meaning is associated with beauty, fertility, prosperity,
spirituality, and eternity.

The most common lotus form seen in Hinduism is the white lotus flower.
The beautiful white lotus flower has special significance in Hinduism, where its meaning is strongly
associated with Laxmi and Brahma. Image by Matze_ott.

Lotus Flower

发布日期：2013-09-23 字体大小：小 中 大

From the beginning of the humankind, symbols have been used very often. They convey a message that
is universal in meaning. They represent abstract concepts or ideologies of a particular society and to
properly understand them, you must depend on your knowledge of that culture. They make their
statement in a special way that invites individual interpretation without a lengthy written explanation.
Symbols play an important part in Chinese life and reveal a great deal about how the Chinese related to
the cosmos and all of nature around them.

"The leaves break the bandage of the green stem, stretch themselves and form a green pool with untidy
edges. Now the flower comes from out of the vast surface of the water, just like a very beautiful woman
coming gracefully from her bath.”
Old Chinese Poem

Chinese have always loved lotus (lian-hua) flower paintings. These flowers are thought of as being like a
gentleperson, who keeps themselves clean, alive and healthy in a dirty environment. Essentially the
Chinese lotus flower represents creative power and purity amid adverse surroundings. It is also a symbol
of the seventh month, summer. Chinese poets also use lotus flowers to inspire people to continue
striving through difficulties and to show their best part to the outside world, no matter how bad the
circumstances may be. This is understood as being just like the lotus flower, bringing beauty and light
from the murky darkness at the bottom of the pond.

Another symbolic characteristic of the Chinese lotus flower leads from the observation that the plant's
stalk is easy to bend in two, but is very hard to break because of its many strong sinuous fibers. Poets
use this to represent a close unbreakable relationship between two lovers or the members within a
family, showing that no matter how far away they might live nothing can really separate them in heart.

In Buddhism the lotus flower symbolizes faithfulness. The golden lotus that is mentioned in Buddhist
sutras has two meanings; one is the symbol for the achievement of enlightenment and the other points
towards a real flower which is beyond our normal perception. It is also symbolizes the complete
purification of the defilements of the body, speech and mind, and the full blossoming of wholesome
deeds in blissful liberation.

In Mahayana tradition Lotus flower characterizes regeneration, perfection, youthful bloom and
immortality. It is a sacred flower in Buddhism. The closed lotus represents potential. Depending on the
number of petals, the lotus meaning changes, shaped by the symbolism of the number. With eight
petals it means cosmic harmony. In Chan Buddhism tradition, the fruit of the lotus, the flower and the
stalk symbolize the past, the present and the future. The blue lotus blossom (qing) stands for cleanliness
and modesty.

The significance of Lotus flower in Buddhist Culture is quite remarkable and it needs a thorough
intensive study to reveal the hidden meaning of this symbolism. The natural characteristics of Lotus
flower reflect upon the interpretation of the similes and metaphorical statements in the Buddhist
teachings.

The flower is beautiful in colour and fragrant in smell. It is always clean and pure and usually grows in
the cool and clean water. Although it comes out mud and water it is not spoiled by the soil nor it is
soaked with water. It blooms above the surface of the water so elegantly that it beautifies the entire
pool. The blossom floats above the water dancing up and down, in accordance with the changing
current.

The Buddhist cosmology reveals Lotus to be the first flower bloomed in the beginning of this cosmic
world. Five holy lotus flowers appear for the first time in this "Bhadda Kappa" aeon prophesying the
Enlightenment of five Buddhas in this very human world. And this is the most unique event for
Buddhism.

"Of all the flowers, [the Buddha] selected the lotus blossom to symbolize the Lotus Sutra. There is a
reason for this…. The benefit of all the other sutras is uncertain, because they teach that one must first
make good causes and only then can one become a Buddha at some later time. With regard to the Lotus
Sutra, when one’s hand takes it up, that hand immediately attains Buddha hood, and when one’s mouth
chants it, that mouth is itself a Buddha…”

[The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, p. 1099]

By Shaolin Master Shi Yan Zhuo

Head Master of the Greek Shaolin Temple Cultural Center

http://www.shaolin.org.cn/templates/EN_T_newS_list/index.aspx?nodeid=297&page=ContentPage&co
ntentid=10479

The lotus flower symbol has deep, mythic meaning for many cultures.

The lotus blossom has been revered, attributed to deities, and meditated on for thousands of years.

The mystical lotus bloom appears in poetry, the writings of saints and sages, on temple walls, and as a
central concept in several world religions.

Fascination with the lotus blossom can be traced back to ancient Egypt, India, and Asia, appearing in the
mythologies and religions of these cultures for thousands of years. Lotus flowers can be found adorning
household items, temples, and art throughout all the Asian continent.

LOTUS FLOWER MEANING AND SYMBOLISM

The lotus is associated with creation, the afterlife, enlightenment, fertility and sensuality, purity, and
health. Many cultures ascribe different virtues to the different colors of the blooms – as well as the
number of petals on the bloom.

The lotus is also associated with the system of the 7 chakras, Buddhism, Hinduism, Bahai, and Egyptian
myths.

Within Hinduism and Buddhism, the lotus flower represents the awakening of the spiritual
consciousness.

In Indian culture, the Lotus flower represents enlightenment, wealth, knowledge, and connection to the
divine. It is associated with the goddess of wealth, Maha Lakshmi, who represents purity, prosperity and
generosity. She sits on a fully blossomed lotus flower.

In Egypt, the Lotus flower is called Sesen. In Egyptian mythology, the lotus flower is a symbol of the sun,
creation and rebirth.

In the Islamic tradition, it is mentioned that if a person dies in a state of ihram (a purification period
before embarking on a pilgrimage) that person should be washed with water that has been perfumed
with lotus flowers.
The Chinese lotus flower represents creative power and purity amid adverse surroundings. It is also a
symbol of the seventh month, summer. Chinese poets also use lotus flowers to inspire people to
continue striving through difficulties, and to show their best part to the outside world, no matter how
bad the circumstances may be.

Another symbolic characteristic of the Chinese lotus flower leads from the observation that the plant’s
stalk is easy to bend in two, but is very hard to break because of its many strong sinuous fibers.

***

According to Buddhist principles, the heart of a person who has not attained enlightenment is the
embodiment of a lotus that has not blossomed yet. Once enlightenment has been reached, their heart
becomes a lotus in bloom. This is why depictions of Buddha often show him seated upon an open lotus
flower.

A common way of understanding the Buddhist concepts of enlightenment is told through the parable of
the lotus. The lotus grows in muddy water, and yet the dirt and muddy waterfall off its leaves and
petals, keeping it clean and pure.

 The seed of the lotus blossom represents a person at an early stage of the karmic cycle.

 As the person continues to walk his path and rises higher in his spiritual evolution, he leaves the
murky water of Samsara (pain/suffering/attachment) behind.

 This is when the lotus bud emerges from under the water and reaches a purer state of
consciousness. Over time, the bud blossoms as he moves toward a state of nirvana.

 When a person has reached nirvana (enlightenment/freedom from worldly attachments)

this is represented as a lotus in full bloom.

The color of the Buddhism Lotus Flower also has significance:

The white lotus symbolizes the state of Bodhi, peace and serenity. It is associated with the White Tara
and proclaims her perfect nature, a quality which is reinforced by the color of her body.

The red lotus symbolizes the heart-state of compassion and love. This signifies the original nature and
purity of the heart (hrdya). It is the lotus of love, compassion, passion and all other qualities of the
heart. It is the flower of Avalokiteshvara, the bodhisattva of compassion.

The blue lotus symbolizes wisdom. This is a symbol of the victory of the spirit over the senses and
signifies the wisdom of knowledge. It is the preferred flower of Manjushri, the bodhisattva of wisdom.

The pink lotus symbolizes the Buddha and enlightenment. This the supreme lotus, generally reserved
for the highest deity. Thus, naturally it is associated with the Great Buddha himself.

The golden lotus symbolizes the worlds beyond this one. The golden lotus that is mentioned in
Buddhist sutras has two meanings; one is the symbol for the achievement of enlightenment, and the
other points towards a real flower which is beyond our normal perception.

– In Hinduism lotus flower mythology states that within each person is the spirit of a sacred lotus.
– The Bhagavad Gita speaks of the need to strive to be like the lotus blossom, pure of heart so that the
muck of earthly matters do not cling to us. It is further mentioned that the atman (the soul) dwells
within a lotus flower that is found within the heart (a reference to the heart chakra).

– References to the lotus flower symbol are also found in the tradition of hatha yoga, which features
sitting in the “lotus position” during meditation as a central core of its practice.

– The lotus is also a symbol of the centers of consciousness within the body (the chakra centers). The
highest chakra, known as the crown chakra or Sahasrara chakra, is referred to as a thousand-petaled
lotus flower.

– The ultimate lotus flower meaning in the Hindu belief system is that the lotus flower symbol
represents the awakening to the spiritual reality of life. The opening of a lotus flower represents rising
from primal thought and base energies to the highest spiritual consciousness. This meaning reflects
closely with the Buddhist lotus flower meanings as well, where they refer to it as enlightenment.

***

The lotus flower is one of the most important Buddhist symbols and has it’s own title as one of the
Buddhist sacred texts, “The Sutra on the White Lotus of the Sublime Dharma”, also known more simply
as the Lotus Sutra, and is mentioned by Buddha repeatedly in his teachings.

In Buddhist symbolism, the lotus is symbolic of the purity of the body, speech, and mind as while
rooted in the mud, its flowers blossom on long stalks as if floating above the muddy waters of
attachment and desire. It is also symbolic of detachment as drops of water easily slide off its petals.

The lotus is one of the Eight Auspicious Symbols which are recognizable and present in Buddhist
traditions around the world. It is symbolic of the purpose of the Noble Eightfold Path, which is the eight
steps in Buddhism that bring followers from the suffering of the human condition to a state of
enlightenment.

The form of the flower is also important in understanding the symbolism. A lotus can be represented
with dozens of petals, but a common number is eight (which represents the Noble Eightfold Path).
Multiple stems can represent such things as multiple types of knowledge. A closed bud is symbolic of a
human before reaching enlightenment while an open bloom is symbolic of reaching the state of
enlightenment.

“As a lotus flower is born in water, grows in water and rises out of water to stand above it unsoiled, so I,
born in the world, raised in the world having overcome the world, live unsoiled by the world” (Gautama
Buddha).

The Buddhist cosmology reveals Lotus to be the first flower bloomed in the beginning of this cosmic
world.