________________
Vi
iśvakarmā the architect of the universe and god of all craftsmen and artisans emerges from the navel of the Unborn, in the waters. Visņu Nārāyaṇa reclines on a couch of serpents, floating in the cosmic waters. He is called Padmanabha - 'the lotus-naveled'; from his navel springs a lotus on which creator-god Brahma sits and brings forth the universe. "All birth, all coming into existence, is in fact being established in the Waters' and to be 'established' is to stand on any ground - prithivi or platform of existence; he who stands or sits upon the Lotus 'lives'."2
In India the universe has been conceived as a 'many-petalled lotus' - utpalla-padma- in the centre of which sits the deity. It is said that 'the Lord created the lotus in front of him; then he sat on it and meditated upon the first origin.' In the Vedas, the goddess Laksmi is praised as padma sambhava - 'lotus born', padmākṣi - 'lotus eyed', 'adorned with lotus garlands' padmamalini, 'to whom the lotus is dear' padma priya. She has even been called as 'the one who reveals the nature of the lotus'.3
-
Laksmi, the goddess of wealth and fertility, with her flower, the lotus.
Throughout the length and breadth of India, and in the vast history of her artistic and spiritual traditions - Hindu, Buddhist and Jain the lotus is the most pervasive symbol and metaphor. It is likened to the human heart and is said to be born of the
Bharhut, 2nd century B.C. Stone.
-
