Photo: Barbados.org | Text by IamShaman.com
Nelumbo nucifera (Sacred Lotus Petals) have become etched in folklore
because of a fabulous people who supposedly occupied the north coast of
Africa and lived on the lotus, which brought forgetfulness and happy
indolence. The Sacred Lotus flower was also what the Ulysses' crew
smoked after coming ashore following years at sea. Similar in effect to
the Sacred Blue Lily of the Nile, the Sacred Lotus is often steeped in
wine or tea. It is said to produce a "feeling of joy that permeates the
whole body, emanating from every cell" that is "delightfully wonderful
and lasts for some time."
Sacred Lotus contains lotusine, demethyl coclaurine, neferin, and nuciferine.
Some
believe that the lotus came to India from Egypt. Later, Buddhism
borrowed the flower from Hinduism. In Buddhist painting and sculpture,
whenever Buddha is shown delivering an important sermon, he is shown
sitting on a lotus pedestal. Buddhist scriptures enumerate fragrance,
purity, delicateness and beauty as the attributes of lotus.
The
lotus is one of the world's most celebrated flowers. From time
immemorial to the present day, it has always been in folklore, religion
and the arts in one form or the other. The terms lotus is applied in
general to several species of plants. About 100 lotus species are found
in temperate regions of Asia, Africa, Europe and North America. The
pink and purple coloured variety found in the country and widely used
in religion is called Nelumbo nucifera. Scriptures tell us that it
first bloomed with the creation of the universe. Over the centuries it
has lost none of its allure.
According to Yoga and Tantra there
are seven lotus wheels in the human body. The lotus is the object of
meditation in Tantrik Buddhism. The lotus motif has also been
extensively used in shrines, art, architecture and sculpture of the
Jains. The Ionic order of architecture of the ancient Greeks is an
offshoot of the Assyrian and Phoenician forms which have the lotus as
their basis.
Nelumbo nucifera is a wholly edible species. Its
seeds are roasted to make puffs called makhanas. The plant's rhizomes
are a source of lotus meal which is rich in starch. In fact is American
counterpart, Nelumbo petapetala was source of starchy diet for the
American Indians. A number of wild animals feed on the plant. Fish find
refuge in its underwater stalks.
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Blue Lotus 
