LOTUS: A HEAVENLY SYMBOL

Passionate about uncovering the past, My academic journey has equipped me with a deep understanding of historical contexts and research methodologies. My goal is to contribute to the field by exploring historical narratives and preserving cultural heritage.

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MEANING OF SYMBOL

A symbol functions as a referent and compels us to capture an associated significance embedded in culture. According to Ross Murfin, a symbol is ‘something that, although it is of influence in its own right, stands for or suggests something bigger and more complex- often a thought or an ambit of interconnected ideas, attitudes and practices’.

SIGNIFICANCE OF LOTUS SYMBOL

The case of lotus as a symbol in the beautiful repertoire of the Subcontinent is an fascinating undertaking with regard to the change in meaning and use. The initial usage is rooted in a religious and spiritual paradigm. The relationship between formal qualities of lotus and that of ideological construct is well- established and the lotus expresses a composite, abstract and impalpable ideas of purity and creation. However, as the socio-political and socio-cultural reality of the Subcontinent changes, one observes a shift in the meaning and significance of the symbol. This changeover became most definite after the advent of Mughals. From the admirable stature, lotus became an ornamental element. The changeover was not abrupt, there was an intermediary phase. From the spiritual repertoire of Buddhism, it became a part of the aesthetic lexicon of the Muslim art traditions by becoming a characteristic of arabesque pattern.

floral lotus motif
source: google

HEAVENLY CONNOTATION

One of the reasons for its sacred location is that the lotus plant, found in gloomy ponds, takes root in the mud while its petals come forth from water. Since the flower forms above the surface, it remains clean even in the presence of mud, which allows to affiliate ideas such as purity with the flower. According to Kramrisch, the lotus is a symbol of transition, “With its roots in the mud, its stalk traversing the full depth of the waters on which it rests, its leaves and flowers begin to the light of heaven, the lotus belongs to this cosmos and to those beneath and above, to light, earth and water”. Besides, the flower responds to the sun by opening and closing, and some of its variants respond to the moon in the same way.

lotus flower
source: google

LOTUS TEMPLE

The dual notion of reality meant that the observable is an illusion or ‘Maya’ while the intangible, unthinkable, undefinable is the truth, and that truth can only be learned through affiliation. This is why lotus has a transcendental significance since it is relatable to a plethora of spiritual ideas. The lotus instead of being a concrete existence referring to an abstract idea is, therefore, in Indian parlance, an abstraction that refers to the concrete. Till date, the lotus symbol exists in all its richness of meaning exemplified by the Lotus Temple in Delhi, India . Completed in 1986, the temple is a great example of how cultural experience overrides spiritual identity. The temple is a place of worship for the followers of Bahai faith. The lotus shape at once creates an understanding in the Indian mind which belongs to the sacred.

lotus temple Delhi
source: google

Lotus as a Decorative Motif

Lotus evolved as an ornamental motif in Muslim art particularly during the Mughal age in the Subcontinent. The internalization of the lotus symbol in Muslim aesthetic repertoire comes from two sources. One was the prevalent significance of the symbol embedded in Indian culture while the other was through the influences that came from the Sassanid, the Byzantine, Persian and then the Chinese culture. Except for Chinese culture, the rest can be traced back to Egypt, where lotus was a significant symbol. The Greeks also provide a fabulous tale of a human race known as the lotus-eaters.The use of lotus both as a mythological symbol and as a decorative ornament was prevalent in Persia. In the Sassanid and Achaemenid period, lotus was in use as a decorative motif.

lotus motif as decoration
source: google

Mughal painting
woman holding lotus
source: google

LOTUS MOTIFS FAR AND BEYOND

The appearance of the lotus motif in Mughal monuments of the Subcontinent is more related to the Central Asian tradition instead of the local one. The Delhi court was modelled after the Persian court and therefore both the artistic and administrative aspects can be traced back to the Safavid period. The artisans deployed by Mughals came from both backgrounds, the Central Asian and the indigenous.

This however did not affect the decorative connotation since it was not a material aspect in the modelling of the motif but a spiritual connotation that was a part of the subjective realm. Whether the artists used Indian design vocabulary or the Persian one becomes irrelevant when the connotation is the main focus. Due to the fact that artisans were trained according to Persian and Central Asian traditions, one is not surprised that the lotus motif used in Wazir Khan Mosque of Lahore is similar in design profile to Persian motif. Even the examples we find in Sindh seem to come from the same breed of artisans .

The indigenous design profile is noticeable in the case of lotus representation at the mausoleum of Shah Surkh Bukhari at Uch, where naturalistic buds of the flower meet with stylized depiction of petals . Some historians are of the view that the naturalistic representation of the buds can also be an influence of European sources on the Mughal design repertoire breed of artisans . The primitive design profile is detectable in the case of lotus deeds at the mausoleum of Shah Surkh Bukhari at Uch, where realistic buds of the flower meet with stylized characterisation of petals. Some historians are of the idea that the realistic representation of the buds can also be an influence of European sources on the Mughal design repertoire.

Mughal painting with lotus [source: Pinterest]

USE OF LOTUS IN CONTEMPORARY TIMES

The lotus symbol in Feng Shui is key if you are looking to enhance your home with the ancient Chinese tradition in mind. The flower is one of the most iconic images to come from the exercise and has various modified meanings that experts believe can help advance the balance and convenience of your living spaces. However, to interpret how you can best use the lotus symbol in your home surroundings, it’s important to learn what Feng Shui is in the first place. The well-respected approach to interior design is focused on creating rooms to proclaim good energy flow and that are in sync with the innate world – which can include all-in-all from decluttering to furniture arrangement and interior decoration. The latter also includes plants, which can bring a simple and aesthetically attractive natural component to your spaces.

CONCLUSION

From the medieval times to the contemporary times the use of lotus symbol has evolved manifold, from being a sacred symbol to being use in the pop culture, the symbol has been nearly used in every sense of aesthetics.

SOURCE

1.Britannica

2. Article: From Divinity to Decoration

3. Website: Homes and Gardens

4. lotus sculpture.com