spiritual symbols in the East

The image of Buddha Shakyamuni holding a lotus flower is a noble image representing beauty and kindness that overcomes all human temptations.

Carved in ancient temple

The drizzling winter afternoon makes the space of the ancient Con Son pagoda in the special national relic site of Con Son - Kiep Bac (Chi Linh) even more quiet and sacred. The roof of the pagoda is covered with lotus-shaped tiles (comic-shaped tiles) that resemble lotus petals, creating wonderful curves in the space of clouds and sky. Through the steps, under the pagoda's porch, white stone bases supporting pillars carved with blooming lotus petals appear.

The statues of the Three Buddhas sitting on a lotus pedestal at Con Son Pagoda have been recognized as national treasures.

Talking to us in that quiet space, Dr. Le Duy Manh, Deputy Head of the Management Board of Con Son - Kiep Bac relics, said that the image of the lotus flower has been associated with Buddhism since its inception, so we can easily recognize traces of the lotus flower in most pagodas in Vietnam in general and Hai Duong in particular.

The lotus grows from the mud but has a very strong vitality, both fragrant and colorful. In particular, according to Mr. Manh's explanation, the lotus is the only flower that, since its birth, has symbolized the spirit of cause and effect - a spirit that bears the philosophical imprint of Buddhism. Therefore, the lotus is considered the 'national flower' of Buddhism. Buddha is the liberator, so he sits on the lotus pedestal.

In the East, lotus flowers are also used in many temple artifacts, many of which have become special and unique. In addition to the Buddha statue sitting on a lotus pedestal, one of the most special and highly concentrated symbols of lotus flowers in Buddhism is the image of lotus flowers on the Nine-grade Lotus throne.

Nine-grade lotus at Dong Ngo pagoda (Hai Duong city), completed in the year of Nham Than (1692) during the reign of King Le Hy Tong, is the most concentrated and unique product of lotus flowers in Buddhism in Vietnam. Photo: THANH CHUNG

There are currently 4 Nine-Piece Lotus Temples in the country, 3 of which are located in Hai Duong. Among them, 2 are ancient temples dating back hundreds of years at Dong Ngo Pagoda (Hai Duong City) and Giam Pagoda (Cam Giang), and 1 newly restored temple at Con Son Pagoda.

The name Nine-Piece Lotus means nine-layer lotus. All the sides of the nine-layer lotus are carved with lotus petals. From above, the Nine-Piece Lotus looks like a lotus with thick layers of petals supporting the Buddha statue sitting on it.

In addition, at Hao Xa Pagoda (Thanh Ha) - one of the oldest pagodas in Hai Duong, built thousands of years ago, still preserves an ancient lotus stone pedestal from the Tran Dynasty. The surface of the stone pedestal forms two layers of lotus petals with decorative patterns bearing the strong imprint of Cham architecture. Currently, the whole country has only 27 ancient lotus stone pedestals of this type.

The lotus stone pedestal at Hao Xa Pagoda (Thanh Ha) was built a thousand years ago.

In 1979, at Con Son Pagoda, fragments of an ancient tower from the 14th century of Huyen Quang Ton Gia - the third Patriarch of the Truc Lam Zen sect were excavated. The entire lower part of the tower is shaped like a lotus flower, with a total of 50 - 70 petals, as big as a hand.

Nowadays, when entering Con Son Pagoda, Buddhists and tourists will see in the third row from the top the image of Buddha holding a lotus flower. This statue was formed in the 17th century, is one of the earliest Buddha statues holding a lotus flower in Hai Duong. This is also a unique image in the system of Buddha statues that not many pagodas have built and preserved until today.

“Through the image of Buddha Shakyamuni holding a lotus flower, the ancients wanted to teach sentient beings to lift the dark clouds, let the good heart illuminate the true heart, overcome all temptations of life circumstances to become a good person, like the lotus flower near the mud but not tainted by the smell of the mud,” Mr. Le Duy Manh explained.

Fragrance in every home

Many people buy lotus flowers to decorate a space oriented towards Buddha (photo provided by the character)

Over the years, lotus flowers have always been fragrant in many homes. Ms. Le Huyen, owner of a fresh flower shop in Thanh Binh Ward (Hai Duong City) said that lotus is one of the flowers that her customers love because it is not only beautiful but also has meaning in spiritual life. Many people buy lotus flowers to worship or display in spaces oriented towards Buddha.

In the past, lotus flowers were only available in the summer. The sunlight and summer showers helped the lotus bloom quickly, with deep colors and fragrance. But now there are also winter lotus flowers. There are many types of lotus such as: Quan Am, Mau Peony, Phat Am, Super… with long blooming periods and no petal loss to serve consumer tastes.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Le often arranges and watches lotus flowers to purify her soul and think about the good things in life.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Le in Thanh Hai commune (Thanh Ha) said that in her family, everyone loves lotus flowers. Every summer, her mother often arranges lotus flowers on the altar to worship ancestors. Now that she has her own family, Ms. Le still maintains the beauty passed down from her mother.

“I am always attracted by the pure beauty of lotus flowers. During the blooming season, I often choose large, beautiful flowers to offer on the altar. Sometimes I also decorate the house with lotus vases to make it more beautiful and fragrant. Every time I look at lotus flowers, I feel my heart calm down, thinking about good things like the fragrance of that pure flower,” Ms. Le shared.

THANH NGA

Source: https://baohaiduong.vn/sen-bieu-tuong-tam-linh-o-xu-dong-401090.html