It sometimes happens with me that I repeatedly come across images of a particular thing and it guides me to do my blog. This week it is `Kamal' and so I present a collage of Lotus for you. But first some facts about this flower.
Lotus is one of the most sacred and popular symbols in Hindu religion.
It is said that Lord Brahma emerged from the navel of Lord Vishnu sitting on a lotus. Goddess Saraswati, the Hindu Goddess of learning, is shown sitting on a lotus. 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. Both the heart and feet are often compared with lotus in Hindu religion. Even the eyes of Lord Rama in the epic Ramayana, were described as a pair of full-blown lotus-- gentle and calm.
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| Melange, Chennai |
According to mythology, Lord Rama, before crossing the sea to rescue his wife Sita from the clutches of Ravana, was worshipping the Sea God, and needed 100 lotus flowers for the ritual. But he could find only 99 and promptly plucked his own eye, which was compared to the lotus by the sages, and offered to the God. Pleased by his devotion, the Sea God guided Rama in His mission.
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| Carved ceramic incence burner |
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| Korean Pot Images webei-mono.com |
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| Images courtesy: yogagoat.etsy.com |
Throughout many cultures, the lotus has been a powerful image and a spiritual symbol.
In Buddhism, the lotus refers to the Buddha. Images of Lord Buddha are typically positioned on a lotus — usually a double lotus — with petals facing both up and down. The protrusion sometimes found on the Buddha's head is also portrayed as a lotus.
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| In stone Courtesy Siamese Dream |
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| Courtesy Lotus-sculpture |
Because the lotus rises from unclean water to blossom as a pure, uncontaminated flower, it is a symbol of purity and resurrection. In Chinese, blooming lotus symbolizes love and harmony between husband and wife.
The Lotus Sutra is widely regarded as one of the most important and influential sutras, or sacred scriptures, of Buddhism.
So, here are some images of lotus, moulded in different media, in different cultures.
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| Lotus painting Courtesy artsite.me |
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| Origami Lotus Courtesy Butterflyeyes |
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| Lotus carved in soap Courtesy soapcarvingart.com |
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| Thai painting |
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| Lotus Temple, Delhi |
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| Batik Wall Hanging Courtesy Ten Thousand Villages |
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| Lotus lamp |
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