Lotus most mysterious

Lotus is a multitasking flower. We all know from our knowledge. But have we noticed this flower depth of our heart? OR are we aware of all the theories connected with it?

Okay, so here I am with fascinating facts about lotus. Many things about lotus we already know, but in our hectic life, we have forgotten our history and myths.

Since childhood, I have felt that the lotus is a unique and magical flower. I used to watch mythological TV series like Om Namah Shivay and many more. In those TV series, its stems come out of the navel of Lord Vishnu. When the lotus blooms after coming out of the ocean to give birth to Lord Brahma. It became magical but more shocking when I grew up and trusted more with the spiritual side of life and the involvement of lotus in our lives.

Its origin:-

It's an aquatic plant that is nutrient-rich. Originates across areas belong to India, Sri Lanka, East Africa, Southeast Asia, and Australia.

Lotus roots emerge from muddy water and blooms out of the water's surface in search of it. Nelumbonaceae is the biological name or family to which it belongs. It consists of two species, as

Nelumbo nucifera (Sacred Lotus ) belongs to southern Asia

Nelumbo lutea, or Nelumbo pentapetala (American Lotus), belongs to southern Colombia.

Lotus and Lily, we often got confused despite it's simple to understand the difference by seeing their unique leaves. Lotus's leaf shape is like a funnel or cup shape. Sacred lotus leaves reach mostly above 1.8m or 6.5 feet water level. American lotus flower leaves stretch out above 60cm water level. The Sacred lotus color is pinkish or reddish. American lotus color is pale yellow. When the life cycle of a lotus is complete, the flower dries and spreads on the open water. Seeds dropped down in the mud to form new plants from that seed.

Its seed is a sign of longevity under critical circumstances of nature. Seeds recovered from an ancient marshy area in Manchuria have been experimented with by radioactive carbon dating and found seeds are from a 1,000-year-old era. These seeds are capable of germinating. Lotus needs different types of soil that contain clay, sand, and silt. Clay helps to take nutrients. Sand and silt help to prevent flowers from water drainage.

There is one more kind of lotus, an Egyptian Blue Lotus.

Spiritual Significance:-

Lotus plays a very significant role in our mythology. We all know that Goddess Laxmi holds lotuses in her hands. She used to sit on a lotus. Lord Brahma sits on the lotus. Lord Budhha also carries a lotus in his hand in many paintings. Only this much we all knew. Is this much the significance of the lotus in our mythology?

Well, there are many more facts beyond this.

According to Hinduism-

Lotus was first mentioned in our Rigveda and used as a metaphor for the unproblematic delivery of the child. Lotus has a connection with the birth of Agni Dev. We know Goddess Laxmi, the Goddess of wealth, sits on the lotus. Why? Because sea churning Goddess Laxmi came out along with sitting on a lotus. As Goddess Laxmi is the wife of Lord Vishnu, the god who regulates the world's significance, the lotus becomes more significant to all Vaishnavas. For Goddess Laxmi, it's not just a lotus flower but like a lotus throne. This gesture of lotus shows purity, divinity, and power.

Saraswati, seated on a white lotus and carrying a white lotus in her hand, symbolizes the Goddess of supreme knowledge.

Goddess Durga also holds a red lotus bud in her hand, showing that Goddess can destroy negativity.

On the worship ceremony of Durgashtmi, 108 lotuses are offered during worship in front of Goddess Durga deity as these flowers are the most sacred and show non-attachment quality as they bloom in muddy water without attaching to dirt.

According to Egyptian-

Lotus also plays a significant role in Egyptian mythology as blue lotus. It's the most fragmented flower that blooms during the day and closes during the night. Egyptian culture values every sort of natural hint as an infinite myth. So they connected it with the Sun and believed that lotus gave birth to the God Sun in Egyptian called Lord Ra( God of creation and rebirth), related to the Goddess of motherhood and fertility in Egyptian called Goddess Isis.

According to Buddhism-

As the lotus flower cleanly blooms in muddy water. Buddhist teachings are like a lotus as it is clean in slushy water. Humans also can purify their hearts and minds with negative vibes. For them, the lotus symbolizes the purity of speech, mind, and body. It is also associated with spiritual awakening and faithfulness. In Buddhism, the colors of the lotus differentiate its worth-

The blue lotus represents the victory of spirit.
The white lotus represents mental purity and the womb of the world.
The purple lotus represents noble eightfold paths within oneself to awaken.
The pink lotus represents the supreme and true lotus of Buddha.
The red lotus represents heart, love, and compassion.

Lord Buddha's birth signs when he took birth in this world at that time lotus blooms which, was potential for enlightenment. Lotus is a symbol of vairagya or the yog of padmasan. By meditation, the seven energy wheels, we can wake them all from the base chakra. Lord Buddha awakens all the seven energy wheels of his body by meditating. When his crown chakra awakened, he got enlightenment and connected with salvation.

Nutrients in lotus-

Do you have any idea that lotus is an edible plant? In Asian countries, for 7000 years, lotus has been consumed as food. Rockstocks lotus contains much starch in China, Japan, India, and a few Asian countries. They are sold fresh, canned, and frozen in the market. In many Soups and curries, it is an ingredient. The whole lotus is edible. Its leaves prepare vegetables. Many wrap rice from lotus leaves and steam it. Use of Stamens of the lotus to flavor tea. Use of Dried petals of the lotus in preparation of tea.

Lotus teas are popular in China, Vietnam, and Korea. Even in Chinese mooncakes and noodles, lotus seeds are a secret ingredient. Even use raw roots to make pickles around Asian countries. Use of lotus in natural food coloring to give a lovely pink color. Between January and July, lotus gives edible fruits. Use of lotus seeds grind as flour in many Chinese breads.

As lotus seeds are the power of longevity, you will be surprised to know that lotus seeds are in traditional Eastern medicine. In Chinese medicine, its calming effect helps to treat anxiety and insomnia. It helps in digestion and controlling sugar blood levels and heart disease. It also helps with diarrhea, infection, cough, and fever, among other ailments.

It is rich in antioxidants, anti-inflammatory properties, and anti-bacterial effects. It has anti-cancer effects and uses it to treat cancer and Alzheimer's. It can fight against teeth cavities and gums. It is one of the main ingredients in toothpaste.

Beauty products-

Lotus has its incredible beauty in nature. It has several benefits for our skin and hair. It can help in oil management in our bodies. Manages sebum production from sebaceous glands without reducing the skin's natural hydration. It cleans pores by reducing their size. It has a Kaempferol antioxidant that is good for skin conditioners. It has flavonoids whose phytochemicals have a strong affinity for elastin and collagen. It controls blood circulation and diminishes skin wrinkles. It is rich in vitamin B, vitamin C, iron, and protein, which helps the skin to keep healthy, fresh, and clean. A lotus flower is a skin cleanser and wound healer.

Conclusion-

Lotus is so sacred that it reaches every core of our living. It's the national flower of India, Egypt, and Vietnam.

We Indians know very well that the Lotus icon is the vote symbol of the Bhartiya Janata Party. Baha I Faith built seven lotus temples in the world due to their sacredness and purity. North America, Australia, Uganda, Germany, Panama, Samoa, and India are the places where these seven lotus temples exist. We Indians know about the Indian lotus temple situated in New Delhi. But the most beautiful is of India and Australia according to the resemblance of building with lotus shape.

Lotus's leaves are super hydrophobic. It has its unique lotus effect, which is the water-repellent effect. Our scientists and engineers got inspired by that and created water-repellent fabrics.

Its sacredness and purity are so vast we have lotus engravings in many historical monuments. We have our National Heritage Loin capital of Ashok pillar in which lotus you can see easily in a bell-shaped base to it.

Lotus is a miracle, a blessing in every poetry girl's life compared with lotus quality.

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