Why The Lotus? What Does It Symbolize?
After careful consideration and deep thought, the leaders of our nation has chosen a well-deserving flower as the national flower of India. The lotus is unparalleled in beauty, unique in many aspects, and a symbol of great qualities. The national flower of India symbolizes purity, fruitfulness, knowledge, and supreme reality. As per a saying “Despite growing in the murky waters, the lotus smells of myrrh.” The lotus symbolizes the evolution of human consciousness from ordinary impulsive behavior to the attainment of spiritual liberation.
Association With Indian Mythology And Folklore
The national flower of India is also strongly intertwined with tradition and mythology in the country. The Hindu Goddess of Knowledge, Saraswati is portrayed sitting on the lotus, and the flower is also offered to Hindu gods and goddesses during worship rituals. It is said that when the Hindu God Shiva was escaping the wrath of Saneeshwara, he managed to transform himself into a bee and hid inside a lotus flower. The Bhagavad Gita advises humans to live like a lotus, detached from earthly sins, untouched by earthly impurities, living life with the aim of reaching out to God through the performance of virtuous actions. The gradual unfolding of the multi-layered petals of the lotus is believed to symbolize the expansion of the human soul.
Believe It Or Not!
The national flower of India is unique in many aspects including its morphology and physiological traits. The roots of the lotus plant are anchored to the bottom of the lake or pond in which it grows while its leaves float on the surface of the water. The plant normally grows to a height of about 150 cm though scattered reports suggest it can grow as tall as 5 meters. The horizontal spread of the plant is about 3 meters. The attractive flower with an average diameter of about 20 cm grows at the tip of a thick, fleshy stem that rises several centimeters above a leaf.
A recent study on the lotus plant, published in Nature, indicate that like humans and other warm-blooded animals, the lotus plant can regulate its body temperature, keeping itself warm even when the surrounding temperatures are lower than normal.
The national flower of India is also associated with other jaw-dropping facts! A single flower can survive for over thousand years in situ. Seeds of lotuses that have been in stasis for more than a millennium can also be revived to produce a new plant.
The lotus is available in a variety of colors, white and pink being most common. The pink lotus represents the national flower of India.
Where Does The Lotus Grow?
The lotus grows in freshwater ecosystems like ponds and lakes in semitropical environments. The lotus plant is native to tropical Asia and Australia’s Queensland. Besides being the national flower of India, it also serves as the national flower of Vietnam and Bangladesh.
What Are The Uses Of The Lotus Plant?
The national flower of India is of great benefit to the human race. In Southeast Asia, lotus parts are utilized in various dishes. All parts of the plant are edible and can be eaten raw or cooked. Traditional medicines are also derived from lotus plant extracts.
Thus, for all its beneficial qualities, unique traits, and heart-winning appearance, the lotus is deservedly the National Flower of the great country of India.
After careful consideration and deep thought, the leaders of our nation has chosen a well-deserving flower as the national flower of India. The lotus is unparalleled in beauty, unique in many aspects, and a symbol of great qualities. The national flower of India symbolizes purity, fruitfulness, knowledge, and supreme reality. As per a saying “Despite growing in the murky waters, the lotus smells of myrrh.” The lotus symbolizes the evolution of human consciousness from ordinary impulsive behavior to the attainment of spiritual liberation.
Association With Indian Mythology And Folklore
Believe It Or Not!
A recent study on the lotus plant, published in Nature, indicate that like humans and other warm-blooded animals, the lotus plant can regulate its body temperature, keeping itself warm even when the surrounding temperatures are lower than normal.
The national flower of India is also associated with other jaw-dropping facts! A single flower can survive for over thousand years in situ. Seeds of lotuses that have been in stasis for more than a millennium can also be revived to produce a new plant.
The lotus is available in a variety of colors, white and pink being most common. The pink lotus represents the national flower of India.
Where Does The Lotus Grow?
The lotus grows in freshwater ecosystems like ponds and lakes in semitropical environments. The lotus plant is native to tropical Asia and Australia’s Queensland. Besides being the national flower of India, it also serves as the national flower of Vietnam and Bangladesh.
What Are The Uses Of The Lotus Plant?
Thus, for all its beneficial qualities, unique traits, and heart-winning appearance, the lotus is deservedly the National Flower of the great country of India.
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