Simbol of the lotus
The lotus flower serves as a prominent symbol in many Asian cultures, and has many meanings associated with it. Much like the rose in Western society, different colors of the lotus have different meanings.
White Lotus
1. The white lotus symbolized bodhi (Sanskrit for enlightenment). It symbolizes a pure body, mind and spirit, along with spiritual perfection and a pacification of one's nature. A lotus flower normally has eight petals, which corresponds to the Eightfold Path of Good Law. It is the white lotus that is found at the heart of the Garbhadhatu Mandala, where is serves as the embryo of the world.
Blue Lotus
2. The blue lotus symbolizes the control of the spirit over one's material senses. It also symbolizes knowledge, wisdom and intelligence. The blue lotus is always depicted only partially opened---perhaps to symbolize that knowledge should never be finished blooming. In a similar vein, its center is never seen.
Red Lotus
3. The red lotus symbolizes the original state of the heart. It is a symbol of love, compassion, activeness, passion and other emotions associated with the heart. The red lotus is typically depicted with its petals opened, which may be to symbolize the beauty and openness of a giving heart.
Pink Lotus
4. The pink lotus is the supreme lotus, it is often associated with the highest deity, the Buddha himself. Though often confused with the white lotus, it is the pink lotus that symbolizes Buddha where the white lotus is used for lesser holy figures.
Purple Lotus
5. The purple lotus is known as the mystic lotus, and is only represented in a few esoteric Buddhist sects. This lotus is often depicted several ways; it may be in bloom or merely a bud. It can be supported by a single stem, a triple stem which symbolizes the three parts of the Garbhadhatu (which are vairocana, lotus and vajra), or a quintuple stem which symbolizes the Five Knowledges of Vajradhatu. The eight petals again symbolize the Eightfold Path and also the eight principal acolyte deities of the central deity on the mandalas.
By Christine Marie Wyman
