The lotus across cultures, belief systems and art

The workshop, Many Lives of the Lotus: Between Sacred History and Contemporary Claims, was conducted by Sharan Apparao, owner-director of Apparao Galleries, Chennai. The session was illustrated with images from her personal archive to examine the history of the lotus as a visual form grounded in nature and observation rather than belief.

She began by situating the sacred within early ecological thinking, noting that early cultures did not separate cosmology from nature. The lotus functioned as a visible metaphor: a flower that opens and closes with the sun, and makes time observable. This shaped early understandings of life, scale, and connection. “Most later symbolisms were initially observations made by early humans,” Sharan said.

She traced the lotus across ancient cultures, beginning with Egypt, where white and blue lotuses appeared prominently in tomb paintings, jewellery, and textiles—associated with the sun god Ra and ideas of rebirth.

The motif’s movement continued through Persia, where it was known as the Niloofer, symbolising purity, fertility and cosmic order, and into China, where lotus forms appeared across bronzes, porcelain and textiles, evolving through successive dynasties. Sharan pointed to how artisans adapted the flower’s form, leading to abstraction in some cultures and naturalism in others. “At some point, all cultures were integrated, and countries didn’t have borders; the lotus goes beyond borders,” she said.

In Central and East Asia, the lotus gained renewed significance with the spread of Buddhism, appearing as the pedestal in sculptures and in ritual objects across Tibet, Ladakh, China, Japan and Southeast Asia. 

Turning to South Asia, Sharan discussed the lotus’ Vedic references, Buddhist and Jain usage, and its presence in temple architecture across periods. She showed participants photographs from Ajanta and encouraged them to visit the Sanchi stupa, Sittanavasal, and the temple sites of Kumbakonam and Srirangam, where the lotus appears in pillars, ceilings and domes. “We are so lucky that we are in India; we can still witness the richness of our culture,” Sharan said.

The Hindu Lit For Life is presented by The all-new Kia Seltos. In association with: Christ University and NITTE, Associate Partners: Orchids- The International School, Hindustan Group of Institutions, State Bank of India, IndianOil, Indian Overseas Bank, New India Assurance, Akshayakalpa, United India Insurance, ICFAI Group, Chennai Port Authority and Kamarajar Port Limited, Vajiram & Sons, Life Insurance Corporation of India, Mahindra University, Realty Partner: Casagrand, Education Partner: SSVM Institutions, State Partner: Government of Sikkim & Uttarakhand Government

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