Flower: Blue Lotus
Sacred Symbol: Aum (Om)
Mantra/Prayer: The Hare Krishna Mantra
Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
In Hinduism, the lotus flower is universally regarded as a sacred
symbol. Rooted in the mud, it rises above the water and opens its petals
at the rising of the sun, denoting purity, resilience and liberation. It is
an image of the enlightened being who rises above the chaos and transience of the world.
“One who performs his duty without attachment, surrendering the results
unto the Supreme Lord, is unaffected by sinful action, as the lotus is untouched by water.” Bhagavad Gita 5.10
In Hindu iconography, artists often depict deities, such as Vishnu, Brahma, Sarasvati, and Lakshmi, as sitting or standing on a lotus flower
Lotuses are found in many colours, such as white, pink, yellow, red, blue,
and purple. Blue lotus flowers are captivating and hard to find. They
symbolise the arduous pursuit of greater understanding or greater
knowledge, and ultimately greater wisdom.
Two types of flowers are often referred to as Blue Lotus:
(1) The Blue Lily (Nymphaea Caerulea), a water lily native to Egypt and
other parts of Africa; and
(2) The Blue Lotus (Nelumbo Nucifera), a water lotus native to Asia.
The sacred symbol in the middle of the painting is ‘Aum’ (Om), the most sacred sound-symbol of Hinduism. As the divine primordial vibration, it represents the one ultimate reality underlying and encompassing all that exists.
Surrounding the lotus, written in devanagari script,
are the words Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare, Hare Krishna
Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
It is recited to cultivate awareness of a higher power and lead to God-realisation. It offers praise to the Deity in his various names: Rama, Krishna and Hari. Its meaning can be interpreted as ‘Oh Lord, oh energy of the
Lord, please engage me in your service’.