The Lotus Flower: Sacred Symbol of Transcendence

The lotus is a sacred symbol associated with purity, awakening, transformation, and compassion in Buddhism and Hinduism. These flowers grow in murky waters then rise and bloom above the surface. Lotuses teach us that even from the muck and the darkest circumstances, moments of beauty and light can emerge. This powerful metaphor for resilience is depicted in many Buddhist and Hindu artworks in a variety of colors, including pink, yellow, and white lotus flowers.

In Buddhist meditation practices, the lotus is a potent visual aid, symbolically guiding practitioners toward mental clarity and inner peace. The lotus can help focus the mind to achieve a meditative state that echoes the flower’s serene beauty. Practitioners often sit in lotus pose (padmasana in Sanskrit), with each foot placed on the opposite thigh, a position that resembles the petals of a lotus flower.

Buddhist artistic traditions often depict the Buddha and bodhisattvas in the lotus position, perched upon a lotus-blossom throne or holding the flower, symbolizing their transcendence over worldly suffering. Temples and monasteries are often adorned with lotus motifs, signifying the path to enlightenment. 

The Rubin’s collection is lush with depictions of lotus flowers in paintings, sculptures, and objects as diverse as shrine cabinets and a horse saddle.

Lotus mandalas are one of the most unique objects in esoteric Buddhist art. These three-dimensional representations of deity palaces typically feature a god or goddess standing atop the center of a flower with the deity’s retinue placed on hinged petals around him or her. The sculpture’s mechanical hinges allow the petals to close around the central deity so the sculpture resembles a flower bud. 

This object features the Buddhist deities Hevajra and Naraitmya in a lotus, a symbol of purity, which serves as an ideal metaphor for the perfection of their palatial habitat as envisioned in meditative practice.

This thangka depicts Padmasambhava, one of the most revered figures within Tibetan Buddhism, sitting atop a lotus throne. The legendary master, whose name means “Lotus Born,” is honored for bringing Buddhism to Tibet in the eighth century. Just like the lotus flower from which he was born, Padmasambhava embodies resilience. He subdued the negative forces that were preventing Buddhism from taking hold in Tibet and laid the foundation for Vajrayana Buddhism.

Avalokiteshvara, the bodhisattva of compassion, is one of the most popular deities in Nepal, where 108 forms of him are known. In his simplest form, with his right hand extended in the gesture of giving and his left hand holding the (now broken) stalk of a lotus, he is often called Padmapani, or “Lotus-in-Hand.” 

Watch Tibetan artist Buchung Nubgya paint a thangka of Avalokiteshvara, including his blooming lotus throne, using fruit and beet pigments.

Lakshmi is an important goddess in Hinduism, one of a trinity of goddesses with Parvati and Sarasvati. In this sculpture, her throne, pedestal, attributes, and tiara are all decorated with lotuses. The lotus goddess Lakshmi represents wealth and prosperity, as lotus flowers grow out of the mud following the summer monsoon rains and blossom in autumn when rice is ready for harvesting.

This form of the bodhisattva of wisdom Manjushri does not fit typical textual descriptions. Normally an orange Manjushri would be energetically wielding his sword. Instead the artist chose the simple grace of a relaxed pose atop the rippling water of a lotus pond. This imbues the image with a quiet, contemplative feeling.

Such richly decorated saddles were public displays of status throughout the Himalayas, especially in Tibetan and Mongolian cultures where horses played a prominent role. The primary motif on this saddle is long, thin scrollwork framing a pair of four-toed dragons that face a flaming jewel. The cover is decorated with a lotus motif surrounded by smaller roundels with the Chinese character for long life.

To present statues in a private place of worship, Tibetan Buddhists create special cabinets called “dharma displays” (chosham). They usually resemble small temples and can be simply or elaborately carved and painted, as in this carved example. This chosham has three niches framed by decorative carvings of foliage, with a lower frontal section, or veranda, ornately carved with lotus petals.

Tara is an important Buddhist deity and known as a savioress who rescues those in peril. She has many different peaceful and wrathful forms, and is often depicted as either white or green, which is associated with her limitless activity. In this painting, Green Tara sits in a lotus position upon a lotus throne that has emerged from the waters below.

Buddha Amitabha, the Buddha of Infinite Life, is depicted here seated in the lotus position above a pink lotus flower with his hands placed in the contemplation mudra. He presides over his paradise enthroned beneath a blossoming tree in Sukhavati, the Western Pure Land. Below him is a table of offerings surrounded by the eight great bodhisattvas each holding the stems of two lotus flowers. A human figure is portrayed being born from a lotus blossom positioned above the vignette of a bathing pond.

Offering tables (chog tri) are used to hold butter lamps, offering bowls, and ritual implements for a lama or ritual specialist to use during ceremonies. They are usually positioned to the right of the throne or seat of the lama performing the ritual. Offering tables vary in height and purpose in Tibetan religious settings and are often decorated with auspicious symbols, like the lotus flower shown in the center of this intricate example.