Lotus flowers play a vital role in Buddhism. They generally represent spiritual awakening, purity, and faithfulness. This belief roots from the fact that lotus flowers emerge from muddy waters. For Buddhism, that means the act of rising above despite the challenges and moving towards the light of wisdom. Buddhists consider the petals to depict the opening of the heart.

In Buddhism, the journey of the lotus is said to mirror our own spiritual journeys. Mired in suffering (or samsara), our spirits start out like a lotus bud, tightly closed and buried in deep in the muddy dark. It is only by living through Buddhist virtues and working our way through varied experiences that we can slowly open ourselves to enlightenment. Buddhists also regard the lotus as an important symbol of non-attachment: it remains firmly planted in the mud while growing high above the water’s surface, unsullied by the dirt that surrounds it. ^{[30] [31] [32]}

As a lotus flower is born in water, grows in water and rises out of water to stand above it unsoiled, so I, born in the world, raised in the world and having overcome the world, live unsoiled by the world.

Buddha referred to the lotus in his teachings as a powerful metaphor

The lotus appears frequently in Buddhist mythology, art, and scripture. Art and statues of Buddha often depict him seated on top of a lotus. Legend has it that when he was born, lotuses in grew in Buddha’s footsteps. The most important text in Mahayana Buddhism is referred to as the Lotus Sutra and contains the final teachings of Buddha. The Tibetan Mantra, Om Mani Padme Hum, one of the most widely used mantras within Buddhism, also alludes to the lotus flower and is said to invoke the bodhisattva of compassion.

The lotus is unusually rooted in the mud, deep beneath the water’s surface, where it eventually breaks through to the air and sunlight, then blossoms into a beautiful flower, symbolizing purity, enlightenment, and resurrection. The flower has long been a metaphor for the human being mired in the egoic sense of self before waking up to its self-created darkness and being born in the light. For this reason, the lotus plays a central role in Indian religious art of the Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs, and Jains. Lotus thrones commonly adorn the pedestals of most important figures in Buddhist art. During the Pala period (1000 B.C.E.), the Blue Lotus adorned a statue of Tara, a leading advocate of Buddhist philosophy in eastern India. ^{[30] [31] [32]}

There is the mud, and there is the lotus that grows out of the mud. We need the mud in order to make the lotus. 

Renowned Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh

It is difficult to say whether the Blue Lotus is more revered for its symbolism of the universe, or for its healing properties and powers. Or perhaps the two are inseparable. The Hindus consider the lotus seed to be especially sacred because it contains a complete template for the adult plant as the divine form in the process of manifesting into physical expression. The eight- petaled lotus common to Buddhist mandalas speaks to cosmic harmony. ^{[30] [31] [32]}

In Buddhism, the symbolism of a lotus flower also differs depending on its colour. For instance, a blue lotus flower symbolizes a spirit’s victory over knowledge and wisdom. White lotuses signify peace and purity, while red lotuses, much like other red flowers, mean love and compassion. Purple lotus flowers, on the contrary, have a deeper meaning as their petals represent important teaching of Buddha called the Noble Eightfold Path. The pink lotus flower, however, gives an essential sense in Buddhism. It is regarded as the “true lotus” and the primary colour of the flower. ^{[30] [31] [32]}

One example is the fact that lotuses rise from the muddy water for three days before it blooms. Another is that these plants’ roots can reach up to 6 ft deep, plus the seeds live for a long time and can be resurrected after a period of inactivity. All of these somehow relate to the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ. ^{[30] [31] [33]}

In Hindu scriptures, the god Brahma is said to have been born from a lotus that emerged from Lord Vishnu’s navel. A figure of divine beauty, the god Krishna is often described as “The Lotus-Eyed One.” Other Hindu deities are also associated with a lotus flower, such as the Hindu goddess of learning, Goddess Saraswati, and the Hindu goddess of wealth, Goddess Lakshmi. 

Similar to Buddhism, Hinduism places importance on the lotus’s ability to remain unsullied by the water and dirt around it. Rising above the water, the lotus teaches followers to stand on their own in the search for enlightenment and to carry out spiritual duties without getting bogged down by material temptations (represented by the mud). The lotus is also associated with the highest level of enlightenment: in the Ayurvedic Chakra system, Crown Chakra, the seventh Chakra, believed to be the center of spiritual awareness and a source of pure consciousness, is referred to as the “Thousand Petal Lotus.”

Because a lotus is able to emerge from Muddy Waters un-spoilt and pure, it is considered to represent a wise and spiritually enlightened quality in a person; it is representative of somebody who carries out their tasks with little concern for any reward and with a full liberation from attachment. In general, lotus flowers represent spiritual enlightenment, growth, purity, and birth, among many others. The flower symbolizes one’s ability to perform their duty without being influenced by any desire, pleasure, or gain. It is very interesting how the open flower and the unopened Lotus bud forms are associated with human traits. The unopened bud is representative of a folded soul that has the ability to unfold and open itself up to the divine truth. ^{[30] [31] [33] [29]}

Interestingly, lotus flowers also signify “death” in Ancient Egypt. The renowned Book of the Dead, an ancient Egyptian text commemorating the dead, includes spells that transform a person into a lotus flower. Also, lotus has always been a frequent sight in ancient Egypt’s hieroglyphics. It holds a significant symbol uniting the upper and lower Egypt.

Another interesting fact about the lotus flower meaning to the Egyptians was the way that it was used as a symbol for the unification of the two Egyptian kingdoms, that is to say the bonding of upper and lower Egypt. For a long time the lotus had been used in the hieroglyphics and art of upper Egypt, whereas in lower Egypt the Papyrus plant was notably in abundance. Therefore pictures of lotus and Papyrus that had grown up together and become inter-wound with each other came to be a symbol of the bringing together of the two kingdoms.^{[30] [31] [33]}

Upon arriving on the island (following a disastrous battle on Ismarus), Odysseus sends three men to look for food and to check with the peaceful locals. The Lotus-eaters offer the Lotus plant to Odysseus’ men to eat. They then immediately, fall into a peaceful stupor, without a care in the world.

After a while, Odysseus became concerned for his men and sent out a search party; again these did not come back. So he decided to explore for himself and discovers his men chilling out with the native islanders. He turns down the offer of a Lotus Flower, and carries his men back to the ship one by one. Upon waking the men who had ate the lotus started to fight as they wanted to return to the lotus eaters so they could have some more plants to eat. Odysseus immediately gave the order to sail away.

The meanings are different in Chinese culture since lotus flowers are perceived as a symbol of femininity and marital happiness. However, that is not the case in Japan, where lotus flowers are considered spiritual and enchanting. In Japanese culture, lotus plants represent the purity of the mind and body.

The lotus is also sacred in Jainism. The blue lotus, in particular, is the symbol of the 21st Jina, Neminatha. ^{[30] [31] [33]}

Certain mudras, or sacred gestures used to channel energy during yoga or meditation, also invoke the lotus. Ah hand gesture known as the Padma Mudra is said to open the Heart Chakra and inspire gratitude, empathy, and unconditional love. To create the Padma Mudra, one simply touches the heels of both hands while spreading all the fingers. The pinky and thumbs of each hand touch one another, creating the image of a lotus blooming in the sun. ^[34]