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| Nelumbium nucifera |
Nelumbium nucifera
Sinhala: Nelum
Tamil: Tamarai
From ancient times the Nelum has been a divine symbol in Sri Lankan traditions as a symbol of purity. Found growing wild in Sri Lankan village tanks, boys with enterprise in their blood, wade into the waters to pluck buckets full of lotus flowers which they take to temple and sell to devotees. According to legend, Gautama Buddha was born with the ability to walk and everywhere he stepped, lotus flowers bloomed. In Buddhist symbolism the lotus again represents purity of the body, speech, and mind as if floating above the muddy waters of attachment and desire.
Hindus revere it with the gods Vishnu, Brahma, and the goddesses Lakshmi and Sarasvati. Often used as an example of divine beauty, Vishnu is often described as the "Lotus-Eyed One". Its unfolding petals suggest the expansion of the soul. The growth of its pure beauty from the mud of its origin holds a benign spiritual promise. Particularly Brahma and Lakshmi, the divinities of potency and wealth, have the lotus symbol associated with them. In Hindu iconography, deities often are depicted with lotus flowers as their seats.
A flower of worship used by Buddhists and Hindus, the lotus is found on ancient temple paintings and its flower petals motifs are sculptured on moonstones. Lotus leaves are used as plates in rural areas for serving food. Lotus Seeds are strung together to make rosaries, while lotus leaf stalks are used to make wicks for temple lamps.
The main use of the plant however comes from flowers, which are used for ornamental and religious purposes.
The flowers, seeds, young leaves, and "roots" are all edible. In Asia, the petals are used sometimes for garnish, while the large leaves are used as a wrap for food.
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