All about lotuses

The lotus plant is a perennial, aquatic plant that thrives in nutrient-rich, murky conditions. Found across India, east Africa, southeast Asia, and Australia, this plant enjoys an active and interesting daily life cycle. Lotuses root themselves in the mud, their lengthy stems reaching upward to find the top of the water. There, the lush blossoms grow, and as the lotus blooms, the blossoms unfold one by one.

Petal by petal, each one emerges pristine from the mucky water thanks to a protective outer coating that repels dirt and water. These day-blooming plants submerge and close up at night, and reawaken above the water every morning. The petals last for just a handful of days before shedding.

Lotus flower meaning across cultures

The lotus flower meaning varies from culture to culture. In general, however, the lotus commonly serves as a sacred for purity, rebirth, and strength. Because lotuses rise from the mud without stains, they are often viewed as a symbol of purity. Since they return to the murky water each evening and open their blooms at the break of day, lotus flowers are also symbols of strength, resilience, and rebirth. Still another lotus flower meaning is transcendence: the lotus represents the transcending of man’s spirit over worldly matter since it blooms from the underworld into the light.

The lotus flower meaning in India

The lotus appears in sacred texts and spiritual imagery from ancient Egypt to some early Buddhist texts. With that, it comes as no surprise that the lotus flower frequently symbolizes the Divine. Hinduism in particular finds rich meaning in the lotus flower. The lotus is referenced in Vedic texts dating back to 1400 BC! Several Hindu deities are frequently depicted with lotus flowers (or are otherwise associated with the lotus flower in some way). As the national flower of India, the lotus has long served as a symbol within the country’s arts, culture, philosophy, and religions.

The lotus: a source of pattern inspiration

Saffron Marigold’s co-founder and head designer Anisha Ghosh finds nature intriguing and irresistible, and it provides her an endless source of design inspiration. Born and raised in India, Anisha grew up with a fondness for the lotus, finding herself drawn to its symbolism as well as its grace.

“The lotus is my absolute favorite flower,” she says. “I often visualize the blooming lotus flower and use its eastern spiritual meaning as a metaphor for life.”