Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera)

Lotus is native to the Middle East, Asia, New Guinea and Australia. It is the most commonly featured flower in South Asian mythology and has been featured in many South Asian religions through the ages.

Lotus is native to Iran, India, China, Vietnam to Japan, Malaysia, New Guinea and Australia. It has been held sacred in Asia and the Middle East for over 5,000 years.

It has been cultivated since early times for religious and ornamental purposes. In India it is commonly grown in ponds and tanks for its elegant, sweet-smelling flowers.

Lotus flowers have been used throughout history in South Asia and have been featured in Buddhist and Hindu art, architecture and literature. It was even a symbolically important plant before the religions at the time of the Indus Valley civilization.

The flowers became symbolic of immortality and resurrection because people observed that they would grow from the bottom of dried up pools after the monsoon rains.

Despite its early use, it was Buddhism which first brought the lotus symbol to widespread use. Lotus medallions are prominent in the Buddhist places of worship at Sanchi, in Madhaya Pradesh, and Amaravati, in Andhra Pradesh, dating from the second century BC to the second century AD.