Why is lotus important in worship?

Why is lotus important in worship?

Lotus is a symbol of beauty and grace from the worldly point of view. In Vatsyayana Kamasutra, 'Padmini' has been called a woman with all the virtues. Being a flower of aquatic creation, it is also related to the heart and mind of human beings. Lord Vishnu in his Chaturbhuj form holds a lotus in one hand. Lakshmi is addressed as 'Kamala'. In the yagnas performed for obtaining Lakshmi, it is prescribed to offer oblations with lotus flowers.

There is a scriptural instruction to establish Lakshmi in a lotus flower on four Deepawali. The position of Brahma in the navel of Lord Vishnu explains 'lotus' as a special symbol. Among flowers, lotus is considered to be very sacred and divine. It includes all types of sadhanas.

In 'Srimad Bhagavad Gita', Lord Krishna has described the form of knowledge and a wise person like a lotus leaf in water.  In the words of a poet- Do not forget everything, do not leave the world, do your duty in life. Live in the world like a lotus lives in water. The lotus flower shows its specialty of being unattached to all these despite being born from mud and living in water.