Indian Art: A History of Indian Art from the Earliest Times up to the Third Century A.D. c8.s1.30

c8.s1.30

*Padma*, also called *Pushkara*, the Lotus, is the highest Indian symbol in art, religion and cosmology, of life floating on the surface of creative waters. It is the flower opening its petals to the rising Sun. Sūrya is the symbol of Brahma, the Supernal Sun in heaven, and the Lotus is the flower of life blossoming on earth; it is the visible sign of consciousness (*Prāṇa*) in matter (*Bhūta*). A gamut of meanings is associated with the lotus. It symbolises the principle of growth, rising from the immortal navel of Viṣṇu or the cosmic deity whose ‘awakening’ throws up the lotus as the seat of Brahmā, the genius of emanation (*Brahma ha vai Brahmāṇam Pushkare sasrije* Gopatha, 1. 1. 16). The lotus-leaf typifies the womb of creation (*Yonirvai Pushkara-parṇam*, Śatapatha, 6.4.1.7). Lotus is also the cosmic mind (*Sahasrāradala Kamala*), and of the centre of energy in the individual. A detailed metaphysical doctrine of the Bhāgavatas explains the birth of the cosmos form a lotus (*Padmajā Sṛiṣṭi*) in distinction to the other belief of the world from the Golden Egg (*Aṇḍaja Sṛiṣṭi*). The womb of the individual and the universal mother giving birth to the child is symbolised as the lotus growing in water. The *Pūrṇa-ghaṭa* symbol combines both of them.