The National flower of India, is the symbol of beauty, prosperity and fertility. Virtually every Gods and Godesses of Hinduismare typically shown sitting on the lotus or holding a lotus flower in their hand.
For indians, the lotus is more than a flower, it represents beauty and non attachment - although it grows in mud, it smells of myrrh.
“Just as water cannot wet the lotus leaf, so work cannot bind the unselfish man by giving rise to attachment to results.” -- Swami Vivekananda
“One who performs his duty without attachment, surrendering the results onto the Supreme Lord, is unaffected by sinful action, as the lotus leaf is untouched by water.”-- Bhagavat Gita
A lotus emerged from the navel of Lord Vishnu. Lord Brahma originated from it to create the world. Hence lotus symbolises the link between the creator and the supreme cause.
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| Lotus |
Lotus is also seen in pre-historic murals and cave paintings in India. The most noted is the painting, Padmapani of Cave 1 of Ajanta
in Maharashtra state. In Sanskrit, Padmapani literally means the bearer
of lotus.The flower also decorate great place in Indian literature. "Face as beautiful as blooming lotus" - Mukha pankajam ; or " eye shaped like lotus petals" - Nalinakshi, Pankajakshi ; names like Nalini, Padmini; are common in Indian literature.
मुखसरोजरुचं मदपाटलामनुचकार चकोरदृशां यतः।धृतनवातपमुत्सुकतामतो न कमलं कमलम्भयदम्भसि॥शिशुपालवधम् - माघ
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| A Lotus
Apart from India, Lotus is also the national flower of Vietnam. In Egypt the Lotus Flowers are considered to auspicious because they are regarded as the symbol of Sun God. Lotus seeds are medicinal in nature and are used for the treatment
of kidney, spleen, and heart ailments. They are also considered
beneficial in the treatment of Leucorrhea, palpitation and insomnia. The seeds, leaves and tubers of the Lotus Flower are edible.
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