Transcript Document

In India, the Lotus also represents
birth. Vishnu puts forth from his
body a single giant navel on which
Brahma, the lotus-born Creator
is seated.
This lotus has 1,000 golden petals from which mountains
rise and waters flow.
The Hindu goddess Laxmi, is also called
Padma, Kamia and Kamalasana, all names
for the lotus. She emerged from a lotus
which sprang from Vishnu's forehead.
Vishnu himself is pictured holding a conch,
a wheel, a mace and a lotus in his four hands.
A statue unearthed at Mohenjo-Daro
showing a wide-hipped goddess,
lifting her breasts with her hands
and wearing lotus blossoms in her
hair.
Legend says that when the
Buddha was born, he walked
seven steps in ten directions and
with each step a lotus flower
appeared. Look closely at the
soles of his feet when you see
a statue of Buddha — you may
see the imprint of the lotus.
In China,the lotus was honored as the plant
of summer. One of the eight immortals holds
a lotus, the "flower of open-heartedness" or
a lotus-pod wand. It was an emblem of purity,
fruitfulness and creative power.
The Buddhist sutras believe that the lotus has
four virtues: scent, purity, softness and loveliness.
In China, the envelopes given to the family
at a funeral are impressed with the outline
of a lotus. And in rural areas, people still burn
incense to the Spirit of the Lotus.
In Chinese Buddhism, the lotus became a symbol
of purity. "Bathing in the clear water of the spiritual
pond, the lotus' roots dig deep into the soil." It
represented being able to distance oneself from
vulgarity.
The lotus became a popular symbol in Chinese
folk custom. Pictures showing fat dancing babies
holding lotus leaves or flowers are purchased in
the hope that people will give birth to several
boys in succession. And since lotus leaves protect
the goldfish under them, the lotus also symbolizes
abundance year after year.
The lotus was an important
symbol in Egypt.It was
associated with the sun
because it opens in the
morning and closes at night.
Horus, the sun-god was often
depicted sitting on a lotus.
The lotus was also the flower of resurrection,
used in funeral rites and depicted on tombs.
Mourners would pray that the deceased would
have the chance to bloom again, "like a water
lily reopening."
The water lily appears all over the tomb of King
Tutan-kamen which was built in 1361 BC. Water
lilies adorn the tops of columns. The oar King Tut
is using to row to the land of rebirth is made in the
image of a half-open water lily.
A beautiful woman who resembles Cleopatra
offers the water lily she holds in her to another
woman to sniff.
In North America. A Star Maiden came down
from the night sky and wanted to live with the
Dakota. The chief, Red Strawberry Man, sent
his son with the maiden to
consult the tribe's advisor
who lived across the lake.
While rowing across the lake
in the darkness, the son's canoe
hit a log and the Star Maiden
tumbled into the waters. In the
morning, the first yellow water lily
appeared at the same spot.
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