A water lily with large, often sacred flowers, particularly significant in Eastern religions and mythology.
From Latin 'lotus' and Greek 'lōtos,' originally referring to various plants including a legendary fruit that caused forgetfulness. The modern association with water lilies developed through cultural exchange with Asian traditions.
The lotus position in yoga gets its name because practitioners sit with legs folded like lotus petals, but the flower's ability to emerge pristine from muddy water has made it a universal symbol of spiritual purity rising from earthly conditions. Ancient Greeks told of lotus-eaters who forgot their homeland after tasting the magical fruit.
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