Lotus

Lately I was a bit more interested in the Lotus flower (aka Nelumbo Nucifera) and its "misteries".. (did I really say that?).. well, all of that began like this..

Once upon a time.. a guy had pretty good elasticity in his legs, thing that with time and a lack of exercise he gradually lost.. but lately he thought it would be awsome to stretch a bit everyday and get back what he once had or even more.. but as usual, to keep up a routine, a goal is needed.. so he choose to set a very tough one: to reach the Lotus position! (which some men and women can easily do and enjoy while they meditate).

A few weeks ago I went with some friends to a very nice tea house and I had a lotus tea and yesterday I had rice with vegetables for lunch and it came with a yummy lotus flower!

Here some extra info abt it..

"According to greek mythology, a scared beautiful goddess ran away to the forest and ended up in a place called Lotus, where she drowned. The young goddess fought during ages and finally could get away in the shape of a beautiful flower, with long petals.. That's why for greeks the lotus flower means the triumph after fighting tirelessly against failure." [source (in spanish)]

Lakshmi (also Mahalakshmi) is the Hindu goddess of wealth, purity, beauty and prosperity.. she is the consort of Vishnu and sometimes she appears with a lotus in her hand (called then Padmā). She is known to be very closely associated with the lotus, and her many epithets are connected to the flower (Padmā/Kamala: lotus dweller, Padmahasta: One who holds a lotus,.. )

Brahma (Hindu god of creation) was self-born (without mother) in the lotus flower which grew from the navel of Vishnu at the beginning of the universe.

The fruits of the Nelumbo Nucifera germinated after being stored for 100-200 years. Some seeds that were found burried in a swamped area in China (with no oxygen) germinated after 340-430 years. People say that some seeds can germinate after 1000 years of being burried, but this is not yet confirmed..