http://www.speakingtree.in/public/spiritual-blogs/seekers/mysticism/significance-and-symbolism-of-lotus-in-indian-philosophy
Hindus gods are depicted as either standing or
sitting on a bloomed Lotus flower, what is the significance of Lotus in Indian
culture and tradition? Maha Vishnu is seen holding a Lotus flower in His hands,
why? According to Indian Philosophy lotus is the symbol of creation. Lotus
plant sprung from the naval of Maha Vishnu and then upon opening, it gave birth
to Brahma, the creator who in turn created the rest of the universe. Hence it
is believed that Lotus is a mythological map of the entire world.
Lotus is a symbol of Purity, Spontaneity and Divine Beauty. It rises from unclean water to blossom as a pure uncontaminated flower. Dearth and Dharma come from the fact that despite lotus growing in muddy waters it still restores such a beauty. It makes no pretense of being better than it is and yet it's naturally beautiful. In spite of being in water it is never wet. It does not bothered about its surrounding but it blooms and vanishes. It teaches us to perform actions without getting attached to the outcome of the action performed and also not to bother about the external factors that might influence the action.
A Lotus bud transforms itself as an enchanting flower just as the Individual Consciousness does the same on the path to enlightenment. Lotus represents purity of actions, morality of practical life and the spirit of detachment. Its unfolding petals suggest the development of the soul. The transformation of the Lotus bud to Lotus flower represents excelling from primal thought to highest spiritual consciousness. Atharva veda compares human heart to lotus, it is not the physical heart but the spiritual heart that the lotus represents. Maha Narayana Upanishad says, “One should meditate upon the Supreme – the limitless, unchanging, all-knowing, cause of the happiness of the world, dwelling in the sea of one’s own heart, as the goal of all striving. The place for His meditation is the ether in the heart – the heart which is similar to an inverted lotus bud. Like the bud of a lotus, suspends in an inverted position, the heart, surrounded by arteries. In it there is a narrow space which supports everything.” It is here that He dwells. Hence we see Hindus God shown sitting or standing on Lotus.
Lotus and the Sun reciprocate unconditional love displaying the importance of perfect symbol of love. The love showered by the Sun on the Lotus is unconditional, but the Lotus blooming out to smile at the Sun is reciprocal. In the muddy waters of still ponds deeply anchored root stretches triumphantly toward the surface. Hovering at the surface from the water is the beautiful bud that will allow it to unfold slowly, one petal at a time as the Sun showers the rays. The Lotus closes itself at night and sinks underwater the whole night and waits for the Sun to reappear at dawn and unfurls itself again. This signifies the fact that human mind flourishes with the illumination of spiritual thought and squirms without it. The lotus leaf which does not get wet despite being in water is often figuratively used in scriptures to indicate the nature of a Jnani (Enlightened Soul) who is ever blissful, untouched by the sorrows and the changes which is characteristic of the world.
Lotus is a symbol of Purity, Spontaneity and Divine Beauty. It rises from unclean water to blossom as a pure uncontaminated flower. Dearth and Dharma come from the fact that despite lotus growing in muddy waters it still restores such a beauty. It makes no pretense of being better than it is and yet it's naturally beautiful. In spite of being in water it is never wet. It does not bothered about its surrounding but it blooms and vanishes. It teaches us to perform actions without getting attached to the outcome of the action performed and also not to bother about the external factors that might influence the action.
A Lotus bud transforms itself as an enchanting flower just as the Individual Consciousness does the same on the path to enlightenment. Lotus represents purity of actions, morality of practical life and the spirit of detachment. Its unfolding petals suggest the development of the soul. The transformation of the Lotus bud to Lotus flower represents excelling from primal thought to highest spiritual consciousness. Atharva veda compares human heart to lotus, it is not the physical heart but the spiritual heart that the lotus represents. Maha Narayana Upanishad says, “One should meditate upon the Supreme – the limitless, unchanging, all-knowing, cause of the happiness of the world, dwelling in the sea of one’s own heart, as the goal of all striving. The place for His meditation is the ether in the heart – the heart which is similar to an inverted lotus bud. Like the bud of a lotus, suspends in an inverted position, the heart, surrounded by arteries. In it there is a narrow space which supports everything.” It is here that He dwells. Hence we see Hindus God shown sitting or standing on Lotus.
Lotus and the Sun reciprocate unconditional love displaying the importance of perfect symbol of love. The love showered by the Sun on the Lotus is unconditional, but the Lotus blooming out to smile at the Sun is reciprocal. In the muddy waters of still ponds deeply anchored root stretches triumphantly toward the surface. Hovering at the surface from the water is the beautiful bud that will allow it to unfold slowly, one petal at a time as the Sun showers the rays. The Lotus closes itself at night and sinks underwater the whole night and waits for the Sun to reappear at dawn and unfurls itself again. This signifies the fact that human mind flourishes with the illumination of spiritual thought and squirms without it. The lotus leaf which does not get wet despite being in water is often figuratively used in scriptures to indicate the nature of a Jnani (Enlightened Soul) who is ever blissful, untouched by the sorrows and the changes which is characteristic of the world.
Lotus has many names in Sanskrit I have tried to compile some here.
Aapja, Bisaja, Toyaja, Sarasija, Jalaja, Saroja, Neeraja, Vaarija,
Ambuja, Pankaja, Vanaja, Aravinda, Rajeeva, Indeevara, Kunala, Pundarika, Ravindra,
Indeevara, Pushkara, Mahotpala, Taamarasa, Kamala, Kumuda, Nalini, Mrunalini,
Padma, Sujala, Ravipriya, Shatadala, Ambhoruha, Sarasiruha, Saroruaha ….
No comments:
Post a Comment