Lotus is widely considered a beautiful flower, admired for its large, boat-shaped petals and its ability to rise above muddy waters to bloom in pristine beauty. It symbolizes purity, beauty, knowledge, and resilience, making it a significant flower in various cultures and religion.
The lotus blossoms
Floating in muddy water
Remains pure, unstained!
ब्रह्मण्याधाय कर्माणि सङ्गं त्यक्त्वा करोति य: |
लिप्यते न स पापेन पद्मपत्रमिवाम्भसा ||
brahmaṇyādhāya karmāṇi saṅgaṁ tyaktvā karoti yaḥ
lipyate na sa pāpena padma-patram ivāmbhasā
Those who dedicate their performs all actions, actions to God, abandoning all attachment, remain untouched by sin, just as a lotus leaf remains unaffected by water.-This verse is from the Bhagavad Gita Chapter 5, Verse 10
Lotus described as Pankeyrooham (born from the mud), Sahasrapatram (thousand petaled), Kamalam (that which decorates water), Amboroham (that which sprouts from water) – Lotus has been known by many names in the subcontinent. Across artistic genres – literature, painting, music and rituals, the Lotus flower has been seen as a sacred symbol of fertility, birth and spirituality for centuries.
The lotus is the foremost symbol of beauty, prosperity and fertility.It is in shades of white, pink and purple. An aquatic plant, beauty growing from the depth of muddy waters. An iconic symbol in Hinduism, used as the throne of many deities. Definitely one of my favorite flowers, there is something so majestic about the beauty and symbolism of the lotus.
In the beauty of this flower we find solace and hope and its ability to bloom from murky mud we see purity of mind and heart and locate the possibility of reaching a higher consciousness.
Padmaparnam yatha caiva jale jatam jale sthitam
uparistad adhastad van a jalenopalipyate
As a lotus leaf, though born in water and remain in water
is not stained by water either above or below.
This phrase is used as a spiritual metaphor for purity and the ability to remain uncorrupted by one's environment, just as a lotus leaf stays clean despite being surrounded by water.
Here's a breakdown of the phrase:
Padmaparnam: (पद्मपर्णम्) means "lotus leaf".
Yatha caiva: (यथाचैव) means "just as" or "as".
Jale: (जले) means "in water".
Jatam: (जातं) means "born" or "produced".
Jale sthitam: (जले स्थितम्) means "standing in water" or "remaining in water".
Kalidas is one of the best poets of Sanskrit literature, whose works show a unique amalgamation of simplicity, grace, depth of emotions and imagination.
One of the stories about Kalidasa is linked to a Lotus
This story assumes that he was one of the nine gems in the court of King Vikramaditya. Some say Bhojaraja. Again, two version and disputes.
he was banished by the king Bhoja from his court after a false accusation of inappropriate behaviour with the queen. After being thus banished, he began living in the house of a courtesan in the same city.
In the absence of Kālidāsa, one day a travelling poet (some say it was Ḍiṇḍima Bhaṭṭa) came to the court of Bhoja and posed a poetical challenge to the poets assembled.
“कमले कमलोत्पत्तिः” – “A lotus coming out of another lotus”
These kinds of puzzles are called Samasyāpūraṇam, where the puzzle is solved by simultaneously explaining the posed challenge while completing the verse poetically. They are meant to test and demonstrate the quickness of wit and impromptu poetic creativity of the poet. Dindima gives time for the wise men in the court to solve the riddle, promising to come back after a weeks’ time to know if the riddle is solved. None of the scholars in the court are capable of solving the riddle and Kalidasa is away from the Kingdom. Bhojaraja announces a reward of half of his Kingdom to anyone who can solve the riddle.
All the great poets in Bhoja’s court were dumbfounded unable to solve this puzzle. King Bhoja was thoroughly embarrassed. However, before completely giving up, he decided to announce a prize to anyone in his kingdom who could come up with the solution to the puzzle.
The beauty of the story is in solving the riddle. The seemingly impossible riddle is solved effortlessly and with a higher degree of ecstasy. That is why they say "A poet can see things not seen even by the Sun". Kalidasa is immortal through his works as well as such stories.
Kamale Kamlotpattihi shruyate na tu drushyate.
(Lotus born in Lotus, neither heard nor seen)
kamalotpattiḥ” in the Sanskrit language represents a word or a combination of words (such as Nouns, Adjectives, Pronouns, etc.)
The Royal Courtesan in the Kingdom gets to know about the riddle and wishes to solve it. Kalidasa used to visit her daily and she puts the riddle before him. Kalidasa who became a Vikata Kavi (Jester Poet) by the grace of Maa Kali immediately looked at the glowing face of the dancer and said:
Balee tava mukhambhoje katham Indeevaradwayam?
(How is it there are two lotuses in your lotus face?)
The Royal Courtesan joins both the sentences and it reads thus:
कमले कमलोत्पत्तिः श्रूयते न तु दृश्यते ।
बाले तव मुखाम्भोजे कथमिन्दीवरद्वयम् ॥
Kamale Kamlotpattihi shruyate na tu drushyate
Balee tava mukhambhoje katham Indeevaradwayam?
(Lotus born in Lotus, neither heard nor seen. How is it there being two lotuses in your lotus face?)
Ambhuja is lotus and Indeevara is also lotus.....
Kalidasa uses one lotus in Mukhambhoja and the other two in Indeevara Dwayam.
“A lotus emerging from another lotus – if this is only hearsay but never seen in the world, then, sweet girl, how come there are two lotuses blossoming on your lotus-face?”
So, his poetic skill and charm (camatkāra चमत्कार) is demonstrated in describing the two lotus-like eyes on a beautiful girl’s face which is also like a lotus. This is how he explains the puzzle of how a lotus can blossom from another lotus.
Kalidasa praising her beauty says, “What is so special about one Lotus being born in another Lotus? Right now I am able to see two Lotus (eyes) in one Lotus (face), forget about one in one, here it is two in one!
The beauty of the incidence is that solving the riddle using the Prasa (Rhetoric) which is the Kali blessings given to Kalidasa by Her.
The story continues further as the courtesan rushes to the king’s court claiming the prize for solving the puzzle. However, Bhoja himself who was very intelligent noticed that the verse is romantically addressing a beautiful girl, and so it would be highly improbable that the courtesan herself has composed it. Moreover, the style of the verse was very reminiscent of Kālidāsa. Upon threat of punishment for falsely claiming authorship, the courtesan revealed to the king that Kālidāsa himself was indeed living in her house. Kalidasa is immortal through his amazing works. As it turns out, the courtesan heard about the prize on offer, and when she came home, she posed the challenge to Kālidāsa, who solved it in no time
On a lighter note, verses such as these verses is quite interesting give a good motivation to learn Sanskrit. While reading Sanskrit came to know more about Prehelika, Subhasitham Kavyam SamsayaPooranam Etc.
