Have you ever heard of the lotus flower or the lotus position of meditation? This very beautiful flower admired by people of many cultures has a special symbology and has become important to people all over the world.

Also known as Nelumbo nucifera, the lotus flower, lotus, lotus indus and Lotus indicus, is a well-known aquatic plant. It is native to Asia and can be found inhabiting gentle streams or freshwater ponds, always at shallow depths. It always takes root in muddy bottoms of these aquatic environments. Its flowers, which are large and have many petals, are alsoIt is, finally, a very popular species and cultivated for ornamental purposes in water gardens around the world.

The Meaning of the Lotus Flower

Rarer than the white, pink, or lilac specimens, the blue lotus flower could be found infrequently in Asia. Unlike the reddish or pink petals, which were associated with the heart, the blue lotus flower symbolized wisdom, knowledge, and intelligence to Buddhists.

People who go through difficult phases and manage to overcome adversity often get a lotus flower tattooed, which represents rebirth after such negative events and enlightenment toward a new phase of life.

Another symbolism of the lotus flower is that it is also associated with the sacred feminine and the ideal characteristics of women. In Ancient Egypt, for example, it was one of the representations of the female sex.

Lotus flower and spirituality

Although it is most commonly associated with Buddhism, the lotus flower has a deep connection to Ancient Egypt. To this day it is used to represent this territory and this people, when it had not yet been unified as a country.

One of the meanings of this plant for the ancient Egyptians was an association with the rays of the sun, because of its shape, which made it related to Ra, the sun-god. It was common to tell the legend that he was born from a lotus flower.

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Another god associated with the lotus flower was Nefertum, who, according to the tales, had a healing power symbolized by the flower, which grew out of the mud and thrived beautifully above it.

Finally, the plant was also associated with life after death for the Egyptians, since it closed at night and opened in the morning, which to them meant what happened to the men at the end of their lives.

To this day, lotus flower specimens are found on the banks of the famous Nile River in Egypt, where they usually bloom in white and lilac colors.

Lotus Flower for Buddhism

For Buddhists, being born in the mud, the lotus flower represents a path of purification and transcendence from what is considered impure in the world, so it is commonly associated with concepts such as rebirth and spiritual purity.

Buddha, when he is depicted in statues, usually appears sitting on a lotus flower, which refers to this idea of transcending the ordinary world by enlightening oneself from mental confusion.

The name "lotus flower" is also used to give the name to a meditation position in which the practitioner sits cross-legged and places the soles of the feet pointing upwards.

Lotus flower colors

You can find the lotus flower in many colors. Some of them have special meanings for Buddhists, while others do not.

The pink lotus flower, for example, represents purity of heart and Buddha himself. The white lotus flower signifies purity of mind. The blue lotus flower is a symbol of wisdom and knowledge, while the red lotus flower is associated with love and compassion. The purple lotus flower symbolizes the Noble Eightfold Path, which is one of Buddha's main teachings, and also represents the eightmain deities of the mandalas.

It can also be found in other colors, such as lilac and yellow, but only white, pink, blue, red, and purple have a special symbolism.

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Curiosities about the Lotus flower

- The seeds of the lotus flower are so long-lived that they can germinate after 13 centuries.

- These seeds can go up to 5,000 years without water, waiting for the ideal conditions to allow them to germinate.

- The lotus flower is one of the only ones in the world that can control its temperature, which is always kept around 35 °C.

- The world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, located in the city of Dubai (United Arab Emirates) was inspired by the shape of the lotus flower.

- Some Hindus see the lotus flower as a representation of the universe, because of the harmonious shape of its petals.

- According to this legend, the god Brahma was born from a lotus flower and then gave birth to the human being.

- In Greek mythology, the lotus flower was represented as a great narcotic capable of promoting peaceful sleep and amnesia in those who consumed it.

- Several lotus flower petals have been found in excavations in pyramids and palaces from the time of Ancient Egypt.

Lotus flower in cooking

All parts of this lotus species are edible: flowers, seeds, young leaves, and roots (better known as rhizomes). The wide leaves are also used for wrapping food. In countries such as India and Pakistan, the rhizome of the plant is widely used in soups and stir-fries.

Despite having all these edible parts, it is not recommended that the lotus flower be eaten without first being cooked, because there is a risk of transmitting parasites, especially Fasciolopsis buski, which causes the disease fasciolopsiasis.

How to grow lotus flower

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Since it is an aquatic flower, certain special care must be taken when growing the lotus flower. First of all, it must be sown in a place with plenty of water, such as a small pond or a mirror of water.

Instead of simply packing it in the soil, open the seed shells, so that the inside germinates and gives the first branch to the flower. The procedure can be done with a fine-tipped knife.

After opening the seed, it is recommended to place it in a container with warm mineral water, in order to let it germinate over the next nine days and then let the roots appear. Changing the water daily and leaving the container in a place with sunlight for at least 6 hours is also essential.

After these first nine days, you can plant it wherever you want, then it will germinate perfectly.

Certainly one of the most beautiful flowers in the world, the lotus flower has a special symbolism for each of the cultures to which it was important, but it is possible to perceive the respect with which people admired this flower. And you saw that planting it is not very difficult, right? So take advantage of these tips and plant the lotus flower, a symbol of renewal!