The San Francisco call., 1910-09-18
ny Katharine BeaIs

INDER the name OF the Lotus, which
some iconoclasts now declare to be
historically incorrect, the water
lily has drawn around it all the rlcn
SYMBOLISM OF the east Long peiore
TToYneric days the lotus was sacred, not
only as a symbol, but was in ltseI all
object of worship as the tree OF lie
According to Hindu theology, before
tbe creation of the world, % great sea
existed everywhere. ON, the supreme
thought and behold Nishnu, the pre-
server appeared floating in the water
He neither swan nor walked put was
horne by the gods upon nine goiuen
lotus plants From his body arose
lotus blossom in which was sea'eu
Brahma the creator, who by his radlant
countenance dispelled the gloom Whlch
hung over the waters and by the power
of his presence caused the earth to rise
out of the sea-
The paraslise of the Hindu is de-
scribed in the Maha bharata as brllllant
with gold and gems, with many green
valleys and beautiful lakes, upon lhe
surface of which are myriads OF lolus
flowers. white and blue and red, some
Of which have as many as 1000 petals'
On a throne covered with lotus howers
sits ON, the supreme, and beside him
is enthroned Loka -mata the moIher OF
the world also sitting upon a lotus ana
holding the sacred flower in her hanu'
The sweet odor of the blossom Is dl1-
fused all through the heavens Buddha
also appeared on earth floating on the
water in an enormous lotus blossom,
and he carried as his symbol lotus
surmounted by a trident Most or the
sacred images of India are represented
as seated upon the lotus. and it enters
conspicuously' into the decoration or
their temples.
GODS PROTECTED 1T IN EGYPT
In Egypt the plant was regarded as
under the especial protection of the
gods. 1t was dedicated to Osiris, the
Apollo of the Egyptians, and dawn was
typified by youth dancing in water
lily
Like that of the Brahmins, the
Egyptians story of the creation was
of a lotus lily, appearing upon the sur
face of the water and its leaves unfold
ing under the rays of Osiris, the sun
god. The ancient Egyptian always car
ried lotus in his hand when approach
ing place of worship, and offerings
Of the blossoms were placed in the
tombs to pacify the anger of the gods.
After festivals the walls of the ban
quoting halls were decorated and great
vases filled with the flowers stood
about the room and on the table.
Wreaths and necklaces made from the
stems and blossoms were placed by the
servants upon the heads and around the
necks of the guests
The lotus was reverenced by the in
habitants of upper Egypt. In lower
Egypt the papyrus was the sacred
plant The Indian lotus was of a pink
ish tinge, while that Of Egypt was
pure white. Both the seed and the root
of the latter were used for food. The
root enclosed nut which was said to
be more delicate than the almond. The
seeds were dried and then powdered
into -four, from which bread was
made
In sowing the seeds were inclosed in
a ball of clay, and thrown into the
water, and some of the commentators
suggest that this custom was referred
to by Solomon, in Ecclesiastics Kill,
where he writes, Cast thy bread upon
the waters for thou shalt find it after
many days.
The Egyptians have many names for
the lotus Among them is one which
means Bride of the Nile" and the sur
face of that great river, at the time
OF its rising, is covered with thousands
of the white blossoms.
The Greeks regarded the water LILY
as the symbol of beauty and eloquence
and, according to their mythology, it
owed its origin to a beautiful nymph
named Lotus, who fell deeply in love
with Hercules, and when he did not re-