Blooming Lotus: a state of bliss, a symbol of love and human wisdom

Almost every flower growing in India has its own religious meaning and symbolism. The traditions of India are as multifaceted as they are beautiful, and a special place in them is given to the lotus.

In the ancient cultural heritage of India, the lotus is a flower of great importance.... It is so closely connected with the beliefs and customs and rituals of people that it is almost impossible to imagine Hinduism without this flower, as well as to understand the worldview of people and the culture of people professing it.

Esotericism vs science: the symbol of the flower

In esoteric practice, the lotus flower eliminates negative vibrations. It is believed that a photo of a lotus or an art image of it can become a cleansing amulet.Also, the plant can be used instead of asparagus and make marmalade from its seeds.

And how many amazing decorations exist with this ancient symbol

This divine symbol in various religions carries its sacred meaning about:

life and health

These extraordinarily beautiful flowers always reach for the light.

Blooming lotus is a perennial plant, its diameter can reach 30 cm. In the photo you can see that its bud is always turned towards the sun. The lotus is listed in the Red Book, so it is already special. Science has confirmed that lotus preparations act as tonics, cardiotonic and restorative agents.

"Pink lily of the Nile" - a sacred and miraculous plant

Its geography covers the reservoirs of America, Hawaii and other parts of the world (see more details in the photo). The flowering plant is found in Asian countries, India and Australia. The most amazing Lotus Valley is located in Russia, on the Taman Peninsula. This is an ideal place for travel, wedding ceremonies, unforgettable photo and video sessions.

Paradise flower lives in lakes and reservoirs

Who said that you can't get out of the water dry? In some photos, you can see a wax coating on the petals, beautiful mother-of-pearl overflows. Water on their surface does not linger, but rolls down in drops.

Where does the lotus grow

The lotus plant grows in sedentary muddy waters that warm well, and is the property of temperate tropical climates. Partially propagated by a knotty rhizome. A positive temperature is needed for the population, and so that the reservoir does not freeze. Heat is one of the conditions for preserving the relict species. The genus could have ceased to exist if it were not for the efforts of people to preserve this flower. For Russia, the plant is a decoration of the Far East. Residents of other regions of the country can see the flower only in the photo.

Egypt: the meaning of the blooming lotus and legend

For the Egyptians, this flower is a symbol of sleep and voluptuous oblivion. Here grows the Nile white lotus, which opens not under the scorching rays of the sun, but under the moonlight. In Egypt, it symbolizes the dying and resurrecting god Osiris, as well as Isis, the goddess of fertility. The Egyptians attached great importance to the blooming lotus during the harvest season. It was believed that the abundance of divine "lilies" during the flood of the Nile promised a well-fed year.

Lotus in the interior is both beautiful and harmonizes the space

The blooming sacred symbol is identified with the sun god Ra, establishes a connection with the sun. The meaning of flower magic is associated with light and it does not matter whether it is the sunrise or the moon. Blooming lotus for the Egyptians is also a symbol of eloquence, so girls decorated their hair, clothes, braided wreaths and bracelets. The Egyptians put the flower in tombs, believing that the dead would wake up in the next world.

Lotus is also a medicinal plant

The symbol of the red water lily flower is the personification of infinite divine wisdom for many peoples and religions. It is not surprising that lotus tattoos are so popular these days, as well as accessories, bedding and clothing (for example, trousers, knitted sweaters and a T-shirt with a lotus image), which also carry a sacred meaning. You can find photos of cool clothes on Indiastyle showcases!

Want a T-shirt with a trendy sacred symbol? Search in the catalog Lotus tattoos look very cool on the body

How to grow a lotus at home

It is quite a doable task to grow a lotus at home. For this it is necessary to create certain conditions. The algorithm for growing a flower from a seed is as follows:

• You can use sandpaper and a file to open the shell. The top should be filed. This must be done carefully so as not to damage the seed.
• After a seed is visible in a small sawn hole, the nut is placed in a small transparent vessel with water. It needs to be changed every day.
• After two to three weeks, the first shoots will appear, which after a while will turn into long stems with leaves.
• As soon as the roots grow, it's time to transplant the plant. For seedlings, you need a special soil (a mixture of sand, peat and black soil), which is placed on the bottom of a pot with holes.
• Plant the sprouts loosely on the surface, straighten the leaves.
• Prepare a large aquarium. Place a pot with seedlings on the bottom and fill with water so that the leaves can be on the surface. This is necessary in order for the plant to begin to grow and bloom, to prevent rotting.
• Don't forget about lighting - the flower loves a lot of light.

Lotus propagation

In place of the flower, a fruit appears - a kind of conical basket. The cells "sit" up to twenty seeds, similar to hard, brown nuts in a dense shell. When ripe, the fruits fall out of the basket into the reservoir. Reproduction of lotus seeds takes time. The relict population is restored mainly by replanting the rhizome. The shell of the nuts is so strong that even in favorable conditions, the seed can lie for a long time at rest.

Blooming lotus symbol in India

In India, a blooming lotus "climbs" even up a mountain, at a height of one and a half kilometers. The symbol of India is a red flower. It is associated with the heart, love experiences, passion and compassion, purity of thoughts and life. According to Indian mythology, all the present lives in the rays of the "Fiery Sun", and it is the blooming lotus that acts as the throne for Buddha Shakmuni.

Blooming lotus can be placed on any part of the body

The symbolism of the flower in Indian mythology differs:

• 5 petals - a symbol of the five stages of life - birth, teaching, marriage, rest, death
• 7 lotus petals symbolize the seven planets
• 8 petals are the Heart of Being, eternal oblivion
• 9 petals - a symbol of a person
• 10 petals of a flower - identified with God and the Absolute

The lotus helps the human soul to get out of the darkness of ignorance.

General information about lotus bloom

At the very beginning, the color of the petals of the lotus flower is bright pink, then it gradually fades, and the flowering thickets acquire the most diverse range of pink shades.

There is a tradition (as in the case of cherry blossom) to admire the lotus during its blooming, which lasts only 3 days.Then the beautiful petals fall off, after which the seed box is exposed. The seeds fall to the bottom of the reservoir, where they can lie for quite a long time.

Lotus flower in ancient China

The blooming lotus was revered in China long before the spread of Buddhism. Modern Chinese and Japanese people even manage to cook this flower! They eat candied water lily roots and are convinced that this delicacy prolongs youth and preserves beauty. The flower has become a symbol of the victory of will over emotions, wisdom and intelligence over stupidity. Incense is still used here to drive out evil spirits. The Chinese associate only a pink blooming lotus with Buddha.

Lotus flowers are a constant offering to the Eastern gods

In other religions and beliefs, the flower managed to "be" the muse of Apollo (Ancient Rome), a love bed for Zeus and Hera (Ancient Greece). Tibetan lore associates the meaning of a flowering plant with the Wheel of Life. According to the monks, the stages of being (past, present and future) are also arranged, as is the structure of a flower (bud, flower and seeds). But among Christians, a blooming lotus has a sacred meaning of Light, is identified with the Trinity and Christ.

The blossoming lotus flower represents rebirth

The aura of this plant exudes powerful energy. The blooming lotus is a frequent "witness" of the consecrated altar, it protects against witchcraft and black magic. Cards, paintings and photos with a lotus can protect a person from atrocities.

The image of a lotus - protection from evil spells and intentions

Born in water, Sacred flower, "tonic of health", an important ingredient for Ayurveda, the image of creation, the emergence of the world - the blooming lotus has many names, sacred meanings and medicinal properties. Even in the photo, you can see the nobility and grandeur of this flower.

Lotus flowers have perhaps the richest and most universal symbolism in the world and are described in a large number of the most sacred myths and legends. They are known not only for their refined beauty and delicious aroma, but also for their healing properties - soothing the spirit and healing the body, giving vitality and confidence, attractiveness and long youth. In fact, the lotus is the most sacred plant of the countries of the East, unanimously identifying it with light, pristine purity, chastity and self-knowledge.

Types of nut lotus

On the territory of Russia, there is not the only variety of this plant. There are such types of lotuses:

1. Caspian. The flower grows near the Volga delta. It differs from the Asian species in that it is smaller and resistant to cold.
2. Far Eastern. The flower grows in the Far East. It is resistant to cold, but dies when the soil is severely frozen.
3. American. The homeland of the plant is South America. Flowers are yellow. Thanks to cultivation, it has spread widely throughout Russia.

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Ontology [edit | edit code]

The lotus was originally associated with the sun god. This is explained by the fact that its flower opens in the light of the Sun, and its numerous petals resemble the rays of the holy. The lotus is involved in many cosmogonic myths and legends of ancient India. He personifies the creative (female) bosom, is the source of the divine principle and has a special sacred power. Correlated with the female genital organ, the lotus symbolizes creativity or matrix (mother goddess). "Padma" and "kamala" - in Sanskrit synonyms for "lotus" of the female womb, soft, pink and open [5]. The lotus is identified with fertility, prosperity and offspring. The symbol finds a place in the worship of lotus goddesses or goddesses of fertility in rural cults.He also participates in the formation of more complex mythological images associated with the female and male principles of the world [5].

As a sacred symbol, the lotus was adopted by many great civilizations from Egypt to Japan [6]. The symbol is deeply rooted in the art and architecture of the ancient East. The lotus opens at sunrise and closes at sunset. In ancient Egypt, the sun was perceived as rising from the eastern lotus at dawn and setting into the western lotus at dusk [1]. The blue lotus (lat. Nymphaea caerulea) was especially revered in ancient Egypt, where its petals were soaked in water, infused in alcohol, or an essential oil was made from them to obtain a powerful anti-aging and sex drive-enhancing universal remedy [7].

Lotus and its habitat

Lotus is one of the most ancient flowers on earth - they already existed in the Cretaceous period, more than 100 million years ago. Their fossils are found in North America, the Far East, and even in the Arctic. Nowadays, there are, strictly speaking, only two types of purebred lotuses.

The yellow lotus (Nelumbo lute a) lives on the Atlantic coast of North and Central America, in the Hawaiian Islands. Indians of local tribes call it "chinkepin", or small water chestnut, - this is for its fruits, which taste like chestnuts.

The Indian lotus, or nut-bearing (N. nucifera), is an inhabitant of the Eastern Hemisphere; it lives in the warm and hot regions of South and East Asia, southern Japan, India and China, the Philippines and northeastern Australia. This lotus also grows in our country - in the Far East, in the Transcaucasus and in the Volga delta. True, if we are to be scrupulously accurate, it should be noted that some botanists assign the status of an independent species to the lotus of the Caspian Sea region (N. caspicum).

The Volga Delta is the northernmost point of distribution of the lotus and the only place in Europe where you can still see the legendary flower growing free. The total area it occupies here is about 60 hectares. The fact that you can still admire the lotus on the Volga is largely due to the creation of the Astrakhan Reserve - the first Soviet reserve, established in 1919, when the lotus here was threatened with complete extinction.

Interestingly, at the end of the 60s, the thickets of lotus flowers suddenly began to grow rapidly. At first it was a surprise, but then everything cleared up. Due to the drop in the level of the Caspian, many estuaries, creeks, shallow lakes were formed, where the water warmed up very well, creating conditions for the lotus close to those of their native and familiar: he loves shallow water.

And yet the lotus has a hard time, it still requires care and protection. Often, his flowers perish in the bouquets of exotic lovers. Lotus fields also thin out when moisture leaves when the land is drained. The nutritious rhizomes of the plant are eaten with pleasure by various local animals, especially wild pigs (“even the dung beetle has a desire to eat honey from the lotus,” says a Bengali proverb). And livestock does not pass by the mouth-watering stems and rhizomes of the lotus.

So that a beautiful flower does not disappear on our land

We have to protect it by all means. And the lotus is very beautiful, especially during the flowering period, which occurs on the Volga in August. Its buds open with the first rays of the sun. At first, the petals are bright pink, but gradually fade, and the flowering thickets turn red with the whole gamut of shades of pink. The flower heads, lush and large, about 30 cm in size, sit on long curved legs, stretching almost two meters in height.And under them, on long stalks, are leaves, thyroid, more than half a meter in diameter, covered with a gray-green waxy bloom, with a deep depression in the middle.

Some of the leaves are floating, some are underwater. Lotus flowers are always facing the sun: they, as botanists say, have positive heliotropism. Just below the place where the flower is attached to the peduncle, there is a kind of sensitive receiver of light radiation. It is in this place that the flower changes its position, following the luminary floating in the sky.

When the lotus petals fall, the receptacle grows and becomes similar to the funnel of a home shower, only with the holes facing up, and in each hole there is a fruit. The ripe seed fruit breaks off, falls into the water and floats until it decays. Then the nuts fall out, sinking to the bottom. Here they can lie for a very long time - it is not for nothing that the lotus is called the record holder for seed vitality.

Once in Japan, in a peat bog, three lotus seeds were found, the age of which, as shown by radiocarbon analysis, is about 2 thousand years! They were surrounded with caring care, and two fruits sprouted, bloomed and grew into healthy plants ...

Both the lotus flower and Buddha ...

Indian legends say that the Buddha immediately after birth took seven steps on his own - and where the baby's foot stepped, a lotus blossomed. Lotus flowers indians

revered as a symbol of eternal youth, they are used to decorate the most magnificent temples, and the creator god Brahma is always depicted against the background of a sacred flower.

The lotus flower is central to the popular Buddhist magic spell: Om Mani Padme Hum. It is inscribed on every object of worship, it fills prayer mills, and every devout Buddhist repeats it constantly. The original meaning of the spell is not even known to many believers, but "padme" means not only "lotus", it is also the feminine principle. And the theme of the union of the masculine ("mani) and feminine (" padme ") principles, giving birth to new life, is clearly traced in the spell. The legendary property of the lotus is connected with this - it supposedly helps a person, having consigned former sorrows to oblivion, to be reborn in a new quality.

Even in their cosmological concepts, the ancient Indians could not do without the lotus. In the form of its seven-petal flower, they depicted the inhabited world: its center was located somewhere in the Himalayas supporting the sky and in the mountains of Tibet, in the same place, in the upper reaches of the Ganges, the sacred mountain Meru, the capital of the gods, rose, and from there, like lotus petals from the center of a flower, continents stretched in different directions.

Lotus was not only worshiped - it was fed

Man drew attention to the lotus at the very dawn of his history. During excavations, archaeologists encounter lotus seeds in campsites of people who lived 50-70 thousand years ago. He has always been a reliable help in feeding the poor people of the East. Bengalis still have a saying: "They say that they live well, but even their teeth have turned black from the roots of the lotus." The centuries-old worship of the lotus is largely due to the fact that in difficult years it saved the population from hunger. The rhizomes of the lotus, rich in starch, were commonly eaten. They were boiled and fried, dried and ground into flour, from which tortillas were made. Until now, the peasants of China, Japan and India make flour from the seeds and rhizomes of the lotus, prepare starch, boil down sugar, and squeeze oil.

Residents of these countries can treat themselves to a full lotus dinner: the first dish is rhizome soup, the second is cooked with it as a side dish that perfectly replaces potatoes, and the third is an exotic delicacy: candied slices of the same rhizomes, which taste very similar to marmalade. A delicious substitute for coffee was prepared and prepared from dried lotus seeds, and in Vietnam they like to drink tea with lotus seeds - they give the drink a special aroma. In China and Japan, the lotus is even grown on special plantations. It is no coincidence that there are now many cultural forms of the lotus.

But the peoples of the East used the lotus not only for food. In Chinese medicine, all parts of the plant are considered medicinal and are used against fever, skin ulcers, and burns. Much attention is paid to the lotus and Tibetan medicine. In one of the fundamental healing treatises, it is said that the lotus should be attributed to the group of drugs that cure badkan diseases with fever. When deciphering this treatise, carried out by scientists from Buryatia, it turned out that this group of drugs includes those that help with metabolic disorders and various inflammatory phenomena.

And in the history of the lotus ...

The word "lotus" is rooted in the ancient Greek language, where it came from the Hebrew. Having migrated to Latin, it spread to many countries and even in languages ​​that are very far from each other - Slavic, Romance, Germanic - retained its original appearance.

However, both the Greeks and the Romans called the "lotus" not at all that (or not only that) flower in question. Here are the "lotuses" from the ancient Greek-Russian dictionary: "Greek lotus" - a kind of clover; "Cyrene lotus" - a tree with sweet fruits, identified with one of the representatives of the buckthorn family (Homer, Herodotus, and Strabo also mention it, they also speak of the lotophagous tribe that ate the fruits of this tree); "Egyptian lotus, or Nile" - a type of water lily; "African lotus" - a tree with black wood.

So, historically, "lotuses" are not at all what we mean now. Apparently, such a confusion of concepts occurred due to the fact that these plants live in similar conditions, most often in water (by the way, in Latin lofio means "bathing", "ablution"). As for the true lotus, it is not a "lotus" at all. Its generic and specific name - Nelumbo - is taken from the Sinhalese language, the indigenous population of the island of Sri Lanka. Under this name, this plant entered science. It is interesting that even in the "Dictionary of foreign words included in the Russian language" edition of 1894 there are such explanations: "Nelumbium is a plant from the family of the same name, Indian water lily ... Lotus is a plant from the water lily family ..." Other plants that are called lotuses, have a very distant relation to them.

The most famous namesake of lotuses is the white Nile lotus (Nimphaea lotus) from a completely different family - the nymphaean. It also looks very much like an Indian lotus. Thousands and four years ago, his Indian namesake appeared next to him on the Nile. Who brought it to these parts and how is unknown. But he also liked the new places, and the Egyptian fellahs liked him. And he began to diversify the poor table along with the already familiar local lotus. Most likely, that is why he did not live up to our times on the Nile. And the native lotus is also found there now less and less.

But he, like in India - the Indian lotus, has always been a sacred flower for the Egyptians: according to ancient beliefs, the main Egyptian sun god was born from a lotus flower in the thickets of the Great Nile. The lotus cult penetrated deeply into Egyptian life. Its flower symbolized Lower Egypt, decorated the country's coat of arms, and was minted on coins. And the highest attribute of power is the pharaoh's rod, and the columns of Djoser's pyramid were copied from the stems of the sacred flower. The weaving of its stems varied endlessly on furniture, on fan handles and staffs, on vases and jugs made of faience, stone and gold.

The halls where the Egyptian nobility feasted were decorated with garlands of their favorite flower, and the participants in the solemn ceremonies were presented with wreaths of white lotus. The hieroglyph depicting the lotus flower was read as "joy" and "happiness."

The Egyptians prepared flour from lotus seeds, and it often saved the poor from hunger. Cloths were woven from lotus fibers.The life of a lotus flower is short-lived, and if lotuses bloomed at the same time, the Egyptians considered it a happy omen: it means that a fertile year is coming.

Lotus - a symbol of purity and love

Another species of the same family, the blue, or Egyptian, lotus, was also deeply revered. Its sky-blue flowers bloom during the day, as if replacing the night flowering of the white Nile lotus. And his flowers were a frequent motif in painting and carving. When scientists opened the tomb of Ramses II and Princess Nsi-Khonsu, they saw several dried buds and blue lotus flowers on the half-rotted fabric of the bedspread. These three-thousand-year-old flowers have preserved an almost pristine blue ...

The lotus is so beautiful that, talking about it, you involuntarily fall into a certain sentimentality. What can you do - at all times, among all peoples who knew him, the lotus was a symbol of purity and love; can we talk about him in cold, indifferent words?

In memory of his untimely deceased wife, the mighty Shah Jahan was erected three and a half centuries ago near Agra, along the banks of the Jamna River, the Taj Mahal mausoleum. Now all over the world they call him a legend of love and a swan song in marble. In the very center of the mausoleum there is a tomb decorated with lotus flowers, each of 64 precious stones. In front of the mausoleum, complementing the white marble ensemble, there is a huge pond - and it is dotted with lotus flowers, only alive.

In the poem of Rabindranath Tagore "Gifts of the Beloved" it is said about the Taj Mahal: "... You crowned the formless death with an immortal form." And the dome of the marble pearl of India is crowned with an inverted bowl of the Indian lotus flower facing the stars.

On the lotus lake near Khabarovsk

Sacred symbol [edit | edit code]

The lotus growing in a muddy watery quagmire has become a symbol of purity and renunciation. He is identified with beneficial actions performed without the influence of the cycles of birth and death of the human soul. The lotus seats or thrones on which the deities sit or stand symbolize their divine origin. Divine souls and beings are born in impeccability, possess innate perfection. Lotus nature reflects the purity of body, speech and mind. Although deities can manifest in the course of karmic cycles, they are not defiled or polluted by the earthly world [8].

Following the Gopalatapani Upanishad, the lotus represents the manifested universe, a flower that blooms in all its glory in the formless and endless waters of conditioning:

In my heart, I think of the material world with its eight world guards (lokapals) as a blossoming lotus flower growing in an ocean of repeated birth and death.

In Hinduism, the lotus is associated with purity and sattva (goodness). The lotus grows in coastal mud and travels through the water column. It then reaches the water surface and blossoms. Likewise, a spiritual seeker rises from the mud of worldly existence and, having undergone purification, attains righteous behavior (dharma) and spiritual knowledge (jnana). Thus, the lotus symbolizes the enlightened mind. The water from which the lotus grows does not touch it, just as worldly temptations, delusions and illusions do not affect enlightened beings [9].

In the iconography of Hinduism and Buddhism, ornaments, rosettes, medallions with the image of a lotus are often used, which emphasize the sacred aspects of the depicted creatures [5].

Lotus in the iconography of deities

Growing

In room:

The lotus can be grown in indoor ponds and conservatories. But it should be remembered: during the dormant period, in the cold months of the year, the plant sheds its leaves and loses its decorative effect. To admire the Lotus all year round, you need to take care of additional sources of heat and light.

ON THE PICTURE: With a shortage of natural light, the photophilous Lotus needs artificial lighting.

For a home lotus, you need a deep, at least 40 cm, and wide container, since all parts of the plant grow quickly. The material of the container can be anything: Lotus grows well in a glass aquarium bowl, a ceramic vessel, a plastic tub.

A nutritious and heavy clay soil with the addition of bone meal is preferred. You can use the silty soil extracted from reservoirs, peat-sand mixture. Drainage from fine gravel is required. The topsoil is also covered with gravel or sand.

ON THE PICTURE: If the Lotus is planted in a round container, it is important to place the rhizome exactly in the center: the shoots always grow in a circle, and the young growth is at the edges. Photo by raghuramashok.

The container with the Lotus is placed in a well-lit place, but without direct sunlight. The angle of incidence of light is important: Lotus flowers turn in the wake of the sun.

Indoor lotuses are fertilized with complex fertilizing for aquarium plants. Fertilizers should contain macro and micronutrients, including sulfur, magnesium and calcium.

For the first time, it is recommended either to fertilize the soil before planting the plant, or to feed the Lotus no earlier than the development of several emergent leaves. Overfeeding can kill a young specimen. Subsequently, fertilizers with the NPK 20‒10‒20 formula are applied every 20 days. First, take half a teaspoon of 20 liters. water. Then the feeding dose is doubled.

In the garden pond:

Growing a beautiful Lotus in a garden pond in central Russia is a very real task. There are enough examples of this: the experience described in the "Instructions for growing a lotus" by V.G. Ivlyakova at the Far Eastern Experimental Station VIR, in Vladivostok. The Caspian variety of Nelumbo Nelumbo caspica is well adapted to the conditions of the pond.

It is better to decorate garden ponds with plants planted in containers. Planted in open ground, the Lotus is guaranteed to bloom only in mild climates.

Growing in a container makes it easy to move lotuses indoors when there is a sudden cold snap. The lotus is able to hibernate in a frost-free body of water, but at the same time difficulties arise with its flowering.

Containers with Lotuses are placed in garden ponds when the temperature of water and air does not drop below + 20 ° C at any time of the day. It is more convenient to place them in a partially filled pond.

Maintaining water quality in a lotus pond includes:

1. Its timely inflow and outflow. Due to the fact that water mainly evaporates from the garden pond, rather than being absorbed into the drainage, most of the harmful substances remain in the pond. Their excess is dangerous for Lotus and other exotic plants. Regular water changes will help remove most of the chemicals, contaminants, dangerous bacteria: 5-10% of the total amount per week. The outflow and inflow of more moisture is unsafe for the ecosystem of the pond.

The garden pond should be equipped with a system of pipes for the flow of water from the pumping unit, weir and drain, combined with each other or separate. Such devices are also needed to maintain the water level required for growing Lotus. You can read more about this in the article: "Artificial pond for plants in the garden - design and construction."

2. Water circulation using pond pumps. It prevents water stagnation and blooming.

3. Biofiltration with BIO-SYS systems. They remove excess organic matter that causes rotting of the Lotus roots and serves as a breeding ground for bacteria and fungi. A skimmer is useful for cleaning the surface of the water.

4. Aeration. Saturation of water with oxygen is necessary for the full development of the root system of plants.

The lotuses are located in the second zone of the flora of the reservoir. In this belt there are plants attached to the bottom, the foliage of which floats on the surface.The "neighbors" of the Lotus in the pond are often Nymphea, Kubyshka, Rdest.

ON THE PICTURE: The lotus will decorate any body of water, but it looks most impressive in ponds with an oriental flavor.

The lotuses growing in garden ponds are fertilized in summer, in July.

Deity Attribute [edit | edit code]

The sun god Surya in the Vedic period was identified with lotuses. He holds his flowers in each of his hands, which symbolizes the path of the Sun through the heavens. In Hinduism, Brahma, the god of creation, was born from a golden lotus that grew from Vishnu's navel, like a baby tied to the mother's umbilical cord [6]. After merging the image of the sun god Surya with the all-pervading Vishnu, the latter inherited the lotus iconography. The lotus flower has become one of the four main attributes of Vishnu. Vishnu's consort Lakshmi is also identified with the lotuses that she holds in her hands. Deities sit on lotus thrones, supports, and lotus-shaped seats. As an attribute in the hands of the deities, the lotus is depicted as white, yellow, gold, blue and black [5].

White, or "edible lotus" (Skt. pundarika

, Tib.
pad ma dkar po
), Is an attribute of Vishnu, Brahma, and also of the Sikhin Buddha. The sixteen-petalled white lotus "utpala" is held in the hands of White Tara. Yellow lotus (Tib.
pad ma ser po
) and the golden lotus (Tib.
gser gyi pad ma
) are generally known as padma, while the more common red or pink lotus is commonly referred to as kamala. The Sanskrit term "utpala" means blue or black "night lotus". However, its transliterated Tibetan equivalent (Tib.
ut pa la
) can be applied to a lotus of any color [5].

Diseases and pests

The lotus is resistant to diseases, but sometimes it suffers from leaf spot: bacterial and fungal, caused by the pathogen Alternalia nelumbii. Damaged leaves are removed as soon as possible, ideally at the first sign of illness. If the growth of Lotus is infected with root rot, the infected specimens must be removed and destroyed immediately.

You can use fungicides, for example, Bordeaux mixture and HOM, but this is ineffective and dangerous for other flora and aquatic life.

The lotuses are harmed by caterpillars and aphids, which will be relieved by spraying with insecticide preparations. Pests can also be flushed away with a high pressure of water.

Do not use liquid pesticides to treat insect repellent Lotus if it grows in an aquarium with fauna. Such products are detrimental to aquatic life.

Lotus in Vishnu-sahasranam [edit | edit code]

Epithets and comparisons with the lotus in the sacred texts describe the god Vishnu, whose lotus flower is one of the main attributes. The hymn of Vishnu-sahasranama or a thousand names of Vishnu proclaims [10]:

Fragments of Vishnu-Sahasranam

bhajanti ye puṣkarākṣaṁ na te yānti parābhavam na tē yāṁti parābhavam ōṁ nama iti

Who has no birth, Who is always unchanging, Who shines and sparkles, and has eyes like lotuses. Singing names.

padmapatra viśālākṣa padmanābha surōttama bhaktānāmanuraktānāṁ trātā bhava janārdana

Please show mercy and become the shelter of all your devotees who come to you in love.

In Vishnu-sahasranam, the names of Vishnu are listed, formed as a result of syncretism and the fusion of the cults of the Vedic, local and ancestral deities into a single worship of Vishnu. He is revered as all-pervading and abiding in the hearts of all living beings. Lotus epithets are used to describe the beauty of Vishnu [10]:

Vishnu lotus names in Vishnu-sahasranam

Success secrets

In a room container:

After the end of the spring frosts, at an air temperature of at least + 15 ° C, it is recommended to arrange "walks" in the fresh air for the Lotus as often as possible.

ON THE PICTURE: "Airing", an abundance of solar heat and light will heal the plant.

The correct organization of rest is important during a seasonal shortage of heat and lighting. Preparation for dormancy begins at the end of summer, after flowering. Gradually lower the water level until the plant sheds its leaves.

"Sleeping" Lotus is stored in a darkened room, in moist soil at a temperature of + 10‒15 ° C. A cellar or basement is suitable for storage. It is important to drain off most of the water so that the plant does not grow ahead of time. If you need to keep only the rhizome, you can remove it from the water and, without clearing it from the soil, cover it with sawdust or moss. Watering is not necessary: ​​periodic spraying is enough.

In the garden pond:

If the Lotus remains to winter in a non-freezing reservoir, the entire surface is cut off. Only the rhizome remains.

During the wintering of Lotus rhizomes in a partially freezing pond, foam plastic slabs 510 cm thick are placed on solid ice. They are firmly pressed against the ice by boards.

Lotus in Buddhism [edit | edit code]

The lotus flower is one of the eight auspicious symbols (Skt. astamangala

; Tib.
bkra shis rtags brgyad
). These include a white umbrella, a pair of golden fish, a treasure vessel, a lotus, a white shell, an endless knot, a victorious banner, and a golden wheel. In Chinese Buddhism, eight auspicious symbols represent the eight internal organs of the Buddha's body. The lotus is identified with the liver of Buddha [2].

The Buddhist lotus is depicted with four, eight, sixteen, thirty-two, sixty-four, one hundred and eight or one thousand and eight petals. The numbers are symbolically associated with the inner lotuses, or chakras of the subtle body, and with the numerical components of the mandala [5].

Padmasambhava, or the "lotus-born" tantric master who brought Buddhism to Tibet, is believed to have been born from a wonderful lotus that blossomed on Lake Dhanakosha in the western Indian kingdom of Oddiyana. The lotus as a divine womb or female womb is revered as a fertile principle in Buddhist tantra. In Buddhism, the vajra is synonymous with the male organ. The union of vajra and lotus is a symbol of the union of form and emptiness, skillful means and wisdom. On the spiritual plane, the union of the vajra and the lotus symbolizes the penetration and ascent of psychic winds through the central channel of the subtle body, which penetrate and open the "lotuses" of the wheel channels, or chakras [11].

The lotus became the symbol of Amitabha, the red buddha of the west and "Lord Padma, or the lotus family." The qualities of Amitabha are characterized as redness of fire, vital fluids, evening twilight, summer and transformation of passion into discriminating awareness. Pandara is revered as the consort of Amitabha. Her attribute is also a red lotus. The predominant bodhisattva of Amitabha is Padmapani Avalokiteshvara, the "lotus holder" and the bodhisattva of great compassion [5]. Padmapani, meaning "lotus-handed," holds an eight-petalled white lotus as a symbol of his immaculate purity, love and compassion. As emanations of Avalokiteshvara, all fourteen successive incarnations of the Dalai Lama are depicted with a white lotus of compassion in their right hands. One of the main female bodhisattvas of the lotus family is White Tara. Tara's attribute in the form of a sixteen-petalled lotus symbolizes the perfection of all her qualities and her likeness to a sixteen-year-old maiden [3].

The thumb and one of the first three fingers on the hand of a deity or lineage holder in Tibetan Buddhism are often at heart level. They are folded in the gesture of bestowing doctrine or refuge. In their fingers, they gently hold the lower part of the stem. The stem then gracefully rises upward, releasing leaves as it approaches the flower at the ear of the deity. This symbolizes the nectar-like transmission of the Buddha Dharma, which attracts disciples like bees to the pure and unconditioned scent of oral or "whispered in the ear" instruction. The main stem of the lotus is divided into three shoots, one of which ends with a seed capsule, the stem in the middle ends with a flower, and the third, on the other hand, with a small, unopened bud. These three stages of maturation represent the buddhas of three times - past, present and future, respectively [12].

Lotus seeds are used in Buddhist rituals called the great four rituals or tantra activities. In particular, crystals, pearls, white lotus seeds, white coral, shell and ivory beads are used for peaceful rituals. For the rituals of multiplication and accumulation, beads from the seeds of the bodhi tree, lotus seeds, gold, silver and bronze beads are used [13].

Economic use

Since ancient times, people not only admired the beauty of the lotus, but also actively used it for food and medicinal purposes, as one of the most valuable plants. Chinese healers prepared drugs from it several thousand years before our era. Evidence of this was found during excavations of a Neolithic settlement in Bashidan (one of the very first in China). Its population did not just gather plants; the nut lotus was actively cultivated. In the southeastern countries of Asia, it is still grown as a vegetable. Rhizomes, rich in starch, are eaten boiled, fried, raw and even pickled, ground. Young leaves are used in a similar way to asparagus shoots. The seeds are candied or made into flour. Leaf petioles contain sufficiently strong fibers, which are used as spinning material, and wicks are made from them.

Lotus asanas in yoga [edit | edit code]

The "padmasana" pose is named after the lotus (Sanskrit: पद्मासन, padmāsana
IAST
), one of the basic postures in spiritual practice and yoga. In padmasana, the person sits cross-legged while the feet are on opposite thighs. The pose has been known since ancient times and continues to be used in hatha yoga and meditation [14].

Padmasana is believed to promote mental peace and concentration. The pose allows the body to be stable over a long period of time, and is therefore used in meditation. Posture puts pressure on the lower spine to promote relaxation. Breathing slows down, muscle tension and blood pressure decrease. Other yoga postures can be used in combination with padmasana [15].

Padmasana began to personify practices in Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. It depicts the deities and founders of traditions. Surya, Vishnu and Lakshmi, Shiva, as well as Buddha Gautama and the Tirthankaras sit in padmasana [16].

Tasty and healthy

The seeds, leaves and rhizomes of the lotus are good for food.

From rhizomes

get flour, starch, oil. Lotus rhizomes are rich in dietary fiber, vitamin C, free amino acids, potassium, phosphorus, copper, manganese salts. They are prepared like other root vegetables such as Jerusalem artichoke.

Young leaves

eaten like asparagus.
Nuts
click like seeds. Food is wrapped in leaves for heat treatment or storage.

Stamens

used for herbal teas and black tea flavoring.

In folk medicine, all parts of the lotus plant are used to treat diseases of the nervous and cardiovascular systems, for headaches and as a tonic.

Fragrant oil is obtained from flowers and fruits - an anti-inflammatory and anti-allergenic agent.

Why the lotus tattoo is special

The girl is a very gentle creature. Therefore, in choosing a tattoo, she often strives to dwell on a pure and delicate symbol that will help indicate the right path in life.

There are also enough modern tattoo fans who have a very strong nature. In their case, the lotus flower will help to strengthen this inner strength.

In some situations, a lotus tattoo will help you become more determined to change something in your life, leave the annoying reality, replacing it with beauty and unknown. Here, the lotus flower will also be useful and fill with its inspiration.

Pay attention to the fact that the lotus flower is a very ambiguous symbol that combines fragility with tenderness and strong energy, firmness of spirit. For this reason, if you plan to apply such an image on your body, first determine for yourself what the tattoo will mean for you personally.

Comparison with the gods

It's no secret that the sacred flower of the Egyptians was often combined with divine images and other sacred symbols. He was associated with one of the most revered god, the symbol of the rising sun - Horus. Also, the lotus was made in the form of a throne for such deities as Osiris, Nephthys and Isis. It is known that Queen Nefertiti also wore it. Recent studies have shown that Upper and Lower Egypt had different emblems, and if the latter depicted it as papyrus, then the former as a lotus flower. All newborn babies were exclusively on the petals of this flower, right up until the time when the Great Roman Era appeared. So the god Ra was born from a lotus.

Ancient and modern science

In fact, any lotus flower, the meaning of which is continuously associated with the feng shui technique, has a fairly large, if not the main, place in this teaching. The plant personifies the origin of life, which is why there are so many references to it in Chinese poetry. Based on the methodology of Feng Shui teaching, the lotus is the personification of purity and harmony of form. Thanks to him, any person can finally get the long-awaited inner peace and great life wisdom. At first glance, this flower may seem very delicate, light and vulnerable, but at the same time it has tremendous energetic power. For many people, he serves as an example that once again proves his belief in the best, despite even the most difficult life situation. In order to independently make sure that this flower deserves the most flattering words and highest praises, you just need to look at the full cycle of its growth.

Japanese exotic

The Japanese echo the whole world, also considering the lotus sacred, amazing and unique. For them, he is the personification of purity, spiritual integrity and craving for the light. It is also loved for its unique taste.

The perfect cut root of this plant is an indispensable delicacy on the spring seasonal menu in Japan. It is fried, stewed, served with sweet and sour sauce as a separate dish or as part of sushi, salads, tempura.

“One of the most powerful and beloved bodhisattvas of Mahayana Buddhism in Tibet, China and Japan is the Bearing Lotus Avalokiteshvara, 'the God who looks down with compassion.' The prayer, repeated millions of times, is addressed to him: Om mani padme hum, "O Treasure in the core of the lotus." He holds in one of his left hands the lotus of the world. " (J. Campbell).

Planting stages and care

To plant a lotus, you will need a large aquarium or a 20 liter glass container without any holes. Next, you need to fill the bottom with soil or peat. Plant ready-made shoots into the prepared soil to a depth of 6 cm. The leaves should float to the surface. Next, sprinkle the soil with sand and pebbles, fill everything with water. The proportions of water and soil are 2: 1.After planting, place the container or aquarium in a warm, bright place.

Hippeastrum: rules for caring for a flower at home

You should always consider the conditions that this flower loves. It is worth surrounding him with the necessary care:

1. 
   Since this is a tropical flower, it also prefers a warm climate. The temperature of the content varies from +25 to +30 degrees.

2. The plant needs a lot of light and drafts are contraindicated. Do not put vessels with it in open ventilated spaces.
3. It is necessary to maintain high humidity in the room. You can put a small fountain in a pond with flowers, then it will evenly spray the leaves of the flower and create the required air humidity or buy a special humidifier.
4. The thickness of the soil should not be less than 4 cm. In a round aquarium, the sprout is planted right in the center. The water depth should not be less than 50 cm.If the plant is subsequently transplanted into an open reservoir, the depth should not exceed 1.5 m.
5. It is necessary to add clean settled water to the vessel and monitor its color. If the water becomes cloudy, this is a sign of harmful bacteria and parasites that must be fought off. In winter, the water must be drained.
6. To prevent the lotus from dying, the bottom is covered with moss or foam. Lotus flowers planted from seed will only sprout in the third year. The older the flower, the larger it will be in diameter. If the temperature and humidity are maintained, the lotus will bloom all year round.

So, if you observe special conditions that are not so difficult, then you can decorate a garden or house with a legendary flower and thereby multiply the beauty in the world, so necessary for everyone.

Good symbols of Buddhism

Among the symbols of Buddhism, eight are the most auspicious (they are also called good). For Buddhists, they are what brings the patronage of heaven and, accordingly, protects against all sorts of life's misfortunes. Their significance for Buddhists is enormous.
The symbol of Buddhism, the Divine Good Umbrella, embodies the spiritual protection of the Buddha, which he extends to all living beings. On the gross material level, the umbrella is a symbol of nobility, wealth and respect. For an ordinary person, this had a certain meaning - the more umbrellas a person's servants carried, the higher his status in society was.

Close your eyes for a minute. Imagine a small lake, and on it are all strong buds of delicate white petals, framed by a pink edging. The unobtrusive scent of lotuses is barely audible, but it gives a feeling of complete calmness and confidence. We felt it.

Today we will tell you about why these amazing flowers are so dearly loved by millions of people - of different cultures, different religions, different nationalities. You will learn what the lotus flower symbolizes, how the Egyptians relate to it, and how the Japanese regard it, what it is revered for in Hinduism, why they are tattooed with its image, and most importantly, what it means in Buddhism.

In various traditions, the realization of potentialities is depicted as the blooming of a flower on the surface of waters; in the West, it is a rose or lily, in the East, a lotus. The cosmic lotus acts as an image of creation, the emergence of the world from the original waters or from emptiness; it is a special universal principle that governs the world and the life developing in it.

At the spiritual level, the umbrella was a talisman for everyone from their life sufferings, from all kinds of obstacles, diseases, including mental ones. The yellow or white color of the Good Umbrella symbolizes the spiritual power of the Buddha. The dome of the Umbrella represents wisdom, and the fringe or frill decoration is how compassion is manifested in this world for all living on Earth.

The lotuses are amazing in themselves.Getting into the muddy barren soil, soaked through with water, the seeds can "sleep" for tens of years, and then grow into a strong stem and break out of the water surface. Flowers, opening in the morning, make beautiful any, even the most inconspicuous, pond, and at sunset they hide again.

This symbol combines the solar and lunar principles; he is equally close to water and fire, chaos of darkness and divine light. The lotus is the result of the interaction of the creative forces of the Sun and the lunar forces of water, it is the Cosmos that has risen from the water chaos, like the Sun that has risen at the beginning of time, "The world of developing life in a whirlwind of rebirth"

(J. Campbell). This time is past, present and future, since every plant has buds, flowers and seeds at the same time.
“Time and eternity are two aspects of the same perception of the whole, two planes of a single, non-dualistic ineffability; thus, the treasure of eternity rests on the lotus of birth and death "
(J. Campbell).

Goldfish are not actually made of gold, just their scales sparkle in the sun in such a way that they dazzle with their radiance. These are two sacred golden carps, which in the East are considered practically deities. For society, they have the value of real natural resources, abundance, well-being of earth and water spaces. Since Rybok is a couple, they are still considered a symbol of the loyalty of the spouses and their long life.

Botany gave the world the lotus as a cereal saturated with fiber, starch, sugar, from which bakery products are often baked. It is also used in tinctures with medicinal properties for oral administration. And the pleasant smell has become the reason why incense is made from the flower.

The buds of incredible beauty are entwined with threads of legends, myths and sacred stories. They absorbed the energy of all elements, became a conductor:

The stems originate from the earth, make their way through the water, the petals breathe air, and the whole plant lives with the rhythm of fire - the sun. This is how it connects with the universe.

Many countries and their cultural heritage interpret the meaning of the plant in their own way, but they agree on one thing: the lotus is a symbol of frequency, beauty and light.

Leaves and rhizomes

The nut-bearing lotus has two types of leaves.

• Floating leaves have a flat, rounded shape. They are located both under the surface of the water and on the surface.
• The leaves are airy, rising up to 2 meters above the surface. Their shape is funnel-shaped, the surface with a waxy coating is dense. The diameter of the leaf reaches about 55 cm. The color is deep green.

The thickened and strong rhizome grows around the plant for several meters. It contains trace elements, vitamins, large amounts of sugars, proteins and fats. Even under unfavorable conditions, they can persist for a long time. Embryonic buds are located along the entire root, giving rise to new plants. Freezing and complete drying of the reservoir is detrimental to this plant.

Trace in Hinduism

Vedic culture sees the lotus as a symbol of life. The Upanishads represent our planet as a serene bud swaying on the waves of cosmic chaos. Even many gods are depicted with this flower.

The most important god - Vishnu - slept in a pond, and a flower grew in his navel, from which Brahma then emerged. Vishnu's wife, Lakshmi, is also connected with the lotus - she found herself on the shore, emerging from the ocean and clutching a beautiful flower in her hands.

It is not for nothing that Lakshmi is also called "Padma" - translated from Sanskrit it means "lotus".

IN Buddhism the lotus symbolizes primordial waters, spiritual revelation, wisdom and nirvana. The lotus is dedicated to Buddha, the "Pearl of the Lotus", who emerged from the lotus in the form of a flame. This is an image of purity and perfection: growing out of the mud, he remains pure - just like a Buddha born into the world. The Buddha is considered the heart of the lotus, he sits on a throne in the form of a fully opened flower.

Eight spokes cut on their way all the obstacles that prevent one from reaching true enlightenment. In the eightfold path, all eight qualities must be correct - they are outlook, thinking, speech, behavior, lifestyle, effort, awareness and contemplation. The faster the Wheel of Dharma moves, the faster a person's spiritual growth occurs if he follows the eightfold path.

In the Indian tradition, the lotus cup symbolizes the birth and the associated sexual organ of women - the yoni. The gods in female form in India generally became "lotus" and were depicted for the most part with this plant, which emphasized fertility, creation, tenderness. The thrones of many other deities were also lavishly decorated with placers and wreaths.

In addition, in Buddhism, the emergence of the lotus is associated with the beginning of a new space era. The full bloom of the lotus personifies the wheel of the continuous cycle of existence and is the symbol of Kuan-yin, Buddha Maitreya and Amitabha. In Buddhist paradise, as in Vishnu's paradise, in reservoirs made of jewels, "wonderful lotuses of different colors are blooming."

There are other, less important in a global sense, Buddhist symbols. This is a mandala, which is a model of the Universe where deities live, a mantra is a mystical sound formula that can affect the material world, and a stupa is a sacred ritual structure that is a model of the universe and the body of the Buddha himself. Also in Buddhism, Hindu symbols took root - the mask of the Vanaspati illusion, the swastika twisting to the right, the chakra, which in Hinduism was a symbol of the power of the gods, as well as the well-known mantra of compassion OM or AUM, which has the meaning of an absolute syllable. So the symbolism of Buddhism did not appear from scratch.

Modern India has captured the red lotus in its emblem. Temples called "Lotus Mahal" are scattered throughout the country, and during siesta, the aroma of fragrant lotus tea spreads through the hot air.

Lotus tattoo - sketches and design options

Basically, the lotus tattoo is located on the back. For girls, the flower can be ideally located on the thigh, on the lower back or under the breast, depending on the personal taste and preferences of the owner.

Guys usually get a tattoo on their neck, leg or shoulder. A tattoo on the arm is universal and is found in both men and women.

In addition to the large number of placement options, there is an equally wide variety of lotus tattoo designs available.

Sketches of tattoos in the form of a closed or half-closed bud are quite rare. Basically, flowers are depicted in bloom with open petals to convey the purity and tenderness that they carry.

Another popular tattoo sketch is a lotus in water. This design is closely related to religious and cultural beliefs. Moreover, the tattoo will look more attractive with the correct color of the petals to create a contrast with the blue water. The drawing looks great when applied in watercolor technique.

Some Japanese artisans depict these stunning flowers along with the traditional dragon pattern. And to get an excellent final result, they are complemented with various patterns and ornaments.

The dotwork style implies the execution of the picture exclusively in black. However, the black color for a tattoo is used extremely rarely, since it does not fully convey the meaning of the lotus. For petals, color styles are preferred.

Modern fashion

Symbolism is no stranger to fashionable trends. Feng Shui only in the west is such, while in its historical homeland it took shape for many years. One way or another, one of the central concepts here is also the lotus.

Real flowers, figurines, images of a flower awaken and pacify the spiritual energy of space, activate the necessary zones, balance the two opposite sides, yin and yang.

IN China The lotus was revered as a sacred plant even before the spread of Buddhism and personified purity and chastity, fertility and productive power.

According to the tradition of Chinese Buddhism, the "Lotus of the Heart" personifies solar fire, as well as time, invisible and all-consuming, the disclosure of all that exists, peace and harmony. In the western sky, in the lotus paradise, there is a lotus lake, where among flowers, surrounded by bodhisattvas, sits Amitofo (Amitabha), the Buddha of the West. Each lotus growing on this lake is associated with the soul of a deceased person.

The plant can truly be called unusual. Creating the impression of tenderness, lightness, vulnerability, in fact, it boldly rushes up to the sun, overcoming all obstacles. That is why his motives are used in interior design, clothing, and even used in tattoos.