Science behind Hindu culture : Why do we consider the lotus as special?

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{Namaskar, many people

liked the previous message I sent

similar to this one. These Q & A are

from Swami Chinmayananda's book

'Hindu Rituals'. You can either buy the

book or go to google and give search :

(

" Hindu rituals " swami

chinmayananda filetype:doc) and

you will the doc file of entire book

which has about 15

Q & A.

Namaskar,

Anish}

 

 

Why

do we consider the lotus as

special?

 

By Swami

 

Chinmayananda

 

 

The lotus is

the symbol of truth, auspiciousness

 

and beauty (satyam, shivam,

sundaram). The Lord is also that

nature and therefore, His various

 

aspects are compared to a lotus

(i.e. lotus-eyes, lotus feet, lotus

hands,

the lotus of the heart etc.).

The lotus blooms with the rising sun

and

close at night. Similarly, our

minds open up and expand with the

light of

knowledge. The lotus grows

even in slushy areas. It remains

beautiful and untainted despite its

surroundings, reminding us that we

too can and

should strive to remain

pure and beautiful within, under all

circumstances. The lotus leaf

never gets wet even though it is

always in water. It symbolises the

 

man of wisdom (gyaani) who

remains ever joyous, unaffected by

the world of sorrow and change. This

is revealed in a shloka from the

Bhagwad Geeta:

 

Brahmanyaadhaaya karmaani

 

Sangam tyaktvaa karoti yaha

 

Lipyate na sa paapena Padma

 

patram ivaambhasaa.

He who

does actions, offering them to

Brahman

(the

Supreme),abandoning

 

attachment, is not tainted by sin,

just as a lotus leaf remains

unaffected by the water on it. From

 

this, we learn that what is natural

to the man of wisdom becomes a

 

discipline to be practised by all

saadhakas or spiritual seekers and

 

devotees. Our bodies have certain

energy centres described in the

Yoga Shaastras aschakras. Each

 

one is associated with lotus that

have a certain number of petals. For

 

example, the Sahasra chakra at

the top of the head, which opens

when

the yogi attains Godhood or

Realisation, is represented by a lotus

 

with a thousand petals. Also, the

lotus posture (padmaasana) is

 

recommended when one sits for

meditation. A lotus emerged from

the navel of Lord Vishnu. Lord

 

Brahma originated from it to

create the world. Hence, the lotus

symbolises the link between the

creator and the supreme Cause. It

 

also symbolises Brahmaloka, the

abode of Lord Brahma. The

 

auspicious sign of the swastika is

said to have evolved from the

lotus.

 

 

Please join my group on

Goddess Mahasaraswati

Mahalakshmi Mahakali and Hinduism:

 

/groups/divyabhakti

 

 

Other

groups of friends on Hinduism:-

 

1.

/groups/sri_radha

 

2.

/groups/uttishthata

 

3.

http://in.bramhandnayaka