Flowers & Religion
There are numerous religions practiced all around the world, some are organized and some are not. The organized religions according to Christian Monitor include Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, Buddhism, Judaism, Jainism and Shintoism. Most of these religions are associated with flowers somehow. Some of the religions have flowers as a symbol of piety and spiritual superiority, whereas some of the religions consider flowers as a symbol of moral values and the virtue. In Christianity the whit Madonna lily flower is very important in this aspect as it symbolizes the purity. This flower specifically associates with and is the expression of spotless character of Mary the religious legend of Christianity. Different religious commentators explained that the white petals represent the spotless character and the golden stamens represent her glowing soul.
This mystic flower is mostly observed in paintings of Annunciation of Christianity. Hindus are infatuated with flowers both in worship and portrayals of divine. The lotus is the symbol of beauty, prosperity and fertility. It is the sacred flower in Hinduism. According to this religion every person possesses a spirit of sacred lotus inside him. It is the sign of eternity, purity and divinity and is used as the symbol of life, fertility, and ever-renewing youth and describes feminine beauty, especially the eyes.
In Gita the Holy book of Hindus, the man should be like lotus, work without attachment, dedicating his actions to God, untouched by sins as the lotus in mud stands high above the water spotless. Among Muslims the flowers are not that linked to spiritual aspects. But the flowers are considered to beautify the surroundings. In Muslim society flowers are used on the wedding occasion and the groom has to wear a special head-dress of flowers to express the joy. Also flowers are used in funerals and also spread over the graves of loved ones to show the love and respect to the deceased ones.
In Buddhism lotus symbolizes the exalted state of man, his head held high, pure and undefiled in the sun, his feet deep into the experience. For Buddhist lotus symbolizes the Buddha. The Mahabodhi temple in south India has large pond which is filled with lotus flowers symbolizing Buddha’s place where he paced to and fro in meditation. In Chinese religion flowers do not just represent beauty but also the sign of life, happiness and fertility. In Chinese culture white flowers are the symbol of death and funeral. Whereas red flower is symbol of love, joy, prosperity, happiness and ultimate joy.
Although there are no specific religious flowers in most of the religions, nevertheless flowers are used in different religious performances. Flowers are used in all religions and cultures specifically in weddings and joyful moment’s celebrations and also in death ceremonies accept Judaism. So culturally or religiously flowers are the sign of positivity most of the time. They symbolize the state of moods and the situations. “Flowers are the sweetest things God ever made and forgot to put a soul into.” Henry Ward
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