Lotus Flower Tattoo Meaning

While lotus flowers are a popular tattoo today, the lotus symbol has a history that stretches back thousands of years. Originally, this beautiful flower was a popular part of art and religious emblems in Eastern cultures. Because of this, it has a number of different meanings, styles and designs.

The Lotus Flower Tattoo Meaning

In Buddhism, the lost flower is a common symbol. The layers are often used to create a complex imagery that represents tenants of Buddhism. When there are eight petals present, they indicate the Eightfold Path that Buddhists take to reach enlightenment. In addition, the lotus flower is often used by Buddhists to represent the purity of mind, body and spirit.

In Hinduism, the lotus flower is often known as Padma, or sacred lotus. The Padma is often used in representations of deities like Brahma and Vishnu. It can be used to represent purity and divine beauty. As the lotus flower unfolds, it symbolizes spiritual awakening and the expansion of the soul. The Padma is connected to the chakras, and the color changes in relation to the chakra that is represented. According to legend, the Padma actually has 1,000 petals, which is one of the reasons a Hindu lotus flower has so many petals illustrated.

The Meaning of Different Tattoo Colors

Each color of lotus flower comes with a different tattoo meaning. Some of the possible tattoo colors mean:

Pink: When the lotus is pink, it represents the Buddha. It can also be used to represent Buddhism or dharma as a whole.

Blue: Blue lotuses often mean that someone has a spiritual control over their body and senses. It means that the individual is able to overcome the temptations and frailties of the body to reach a higher spiritual truth. Blue lotus flowers are generally designed as only partially open to represent that the mind and spirit are never finished growing. Blue can also mean wisdom, knowledge or intelligence.

Red: A red lotus flower represents the Heart Lotus. This is basically an indication of the original state of the heart, and the flower is completely open to show that the heart should also be open. As expected, this heart-related color represents emotions like kindness, passion, love and compassion.

Purple: A purple flower is seldom used in Buddhism today. When placed on a platter or cup, purple lotuses could be related to Buddhist deities or a mystical view of spirituality.

White: A white lotus flower is emblematic of enlightenment. It is known as the Flower of the Buddhas and represents the supreme achievement of Buddhism. With a white lotus flower, the meaning relates to the perfection of one’s Buddha nature, purity and tranquility.

For many religions, the life cycle of the flower is a metaphor for the way that human spirituality unfolds and advances. The lotus is actually born within the murky, muddy bottoms of ponds. As it grows, the plant emerges through the darkened water until a pristine flower blossom starts to bloom. In a similar fashion, the human soul transcends from the murky depths to pure enlightenment.