The lotus has long been regarded as sacred by many of the world’s religions, especially in India and Egypt, where it is held to be a symbol of the Universe itself. Rooted in the mud, the lotus rises to blossom clean and bright, symbolizing purity and resurrection. The leaves and flowers are borne high above the water. It is often compared to the enlightened being who emerges undefiled from the chaos and confusion of the world.
In India, the Hindus hold the lotus seed to be especially sacred because the seed contains perfectly formed leaves, providing a complete template for the adult plant. This is believed to be Divine form passing from the abstract into tangible reality. The eight-petaled lotus used in Buddhist mandalas speaks to cosmic harmony.
The thousand-petaled lotus represents spiritual illumination.
In Egypt, not a monument in the valley of the Nile, not a single papyrus scroll is without this plant in an honored place. On the capitals of the Egyptian pillars, on the thrones and even headdresses of the Divine Kings, the lotus appears everywhere.
The Blue Lotus in Buddhism is the symbol of the victory of the spirit over the senses, of intelligence and wisdom, of knowledge. It is generally represented as a partially opened bud, whose center is unseen, the embodiment of the “perfection of wisdom”. The Blue Lotus of the Nile was the most sacred of plants, prized above all others. The plant was associated with the sun god Ra as the bringer of light.
In the various traditions of India, the Blue Lotus has many treasured and sacred meanings. In “Cosmic Chants” by Paramahansa Yogananda, it is spoken of in reference to his beautiful chant “Blue Lotus Feet”:
“God in the aspect of Divine Mother is frequently depicted as sitting or standing on a large lotus, a symbol of purity and wisdom, hence a symbol of the Christ (Kutastha) intelligence, the ‘only-begotten’ reflected intelligence of God the Father in creation. Kutastha Intelligence initiates and guides all the activities of Cosmic Nature, the active principle or vibratory power of God manifesting in His creation. ‘Blue lotus feet’ poetically suggests Her origin in the Kutastha Intelligence, which is associated with the color blue. Aum, Holy Ghost, Cosmic Nature are all symbolic names of the Divine Mother.”
We are honored to take the name of this sacred plant for our company’s symbol. The artistic inspiration for our lotus mandala logo were the amazing paintings of Charlotte Backham www.mandalavisions.com We thank Charlotte for her kindness and generosity, and the beauty that she brings to the world through her art.