Lotus Tattoo Meaning – What Does the Lotus Flower Symbolize?
The Lotus flower is one of the most popular floral ink designs linked to themes of enlightenment, balance, and inner growth ideals taught throughout Eastern religion.
The unfolding lotus petals are often equated to inner development and psychic growth, or associated with balance in a mandala tattoo. It’s also popular as a secondary theme in many different technical tattoos.
Lotus tattoo designs are great for every type of tattoo collector, from the contemporary millennial ink lover looking at concepts of wholeness, balance, and wellness, to the old-school tattoo generation with ties to Japanese tattoo and classic tribal concepts.
If you are looking to find the right type of style and symbolism for your lotus flower tattoo design, the article below breaks down lotus flower meaning and application techniques that will bring your own concept to life.
The Classical Meaning of Lotus Tattoos
The Lotus flower is also known as the Padma or the Sacred Lotus, and tattoos depicting the bloom look to the symbolic meaning of spiritual enlightenment, self-regeneration, rebirth, and as a symbol of purity.
In tattoo designs depicting the opening of the lotus flower, the petals symbolize spiritual awakening and the expansion of the soul.
These kinds of tattoos are becoming more popular with Eastern religion (Buddhism and Hindu) and meditation practices (Mandala, Yoga) becoming a more widespread part of Western civilization.
1. Japanese Lotus Tattoo Meaning
Japanese flower tattoos represent the top-notch tradition of ancient Asian art, representing the complete life cycle as well as sexual prowess and beauty. Floral tattoos, such as the lotus flower (Hasunohara) or cherry blossom (Sakura), promote a surprisingly masculine motif.
In Japan, the lotus blossom is connected to purity, enlightenment, and beauty because of the flower’s ability to bloom overnight from muddy water.
The Hasunohana in Japanese traditional tattooing (Irezumi) can be the main theme (Shudai) or a complementary aspect (Keshoubori) of the body art.
As a Japanese flower keshoubori, the lotus links up with Buddhist imagery as a mark of divinity, whether held by or surrounding God, or as a floral throne for him to sit.
The lotus flower will also pair with filler (Gakoubori) such as the elements – wind, water, earth, and fire – to add a third, seasonal layer of meaning to each elaborate irezumi piece.
2. Lotus Mandala Tattoo Designs
Mandala means circle in Sanskrit and symbolizes balance, eternity, unity, and perfection. The mandala is a key motif in Hindu and Buddhist religions, with it commonly representing the universe and can also be described as “the center of surroundings” or “sacred circle.”
Hindu and Buddhist mandalas differ slightly. In Hinduism, they are known broadly as yantra and are used in meditative rituals. Every yantra is unique and relates to a specific god. The subsequent rings of yantra help the individual call forth the qualities bestowed by a respective god, using them to summon him or her. In this way, the yantra connects to the heavens but translates into lived practices of individuals and acts as a guide.
In Buddhism, mandalas function primarily in a religious context. Like in Hinduism, they act as a guide in meditation, but instead of leading their devotee in their daily life, they lead Buddhist monks in chants. They decorate temples throughout the Buddhist world.
In western culture and contemporary flower tattoo meanings, a mandala tattoo can promote balance and harmony. This idea extends to mandalas becoming a spiritually linked method of tattoos, body art, and peace in general.
Mandala lotus ink is often used to promote a sense of peace, calm, and tranquillity which is useful in yoga teachings, meditation practice, and various methods used to relieve stress while presenting a wide range of versatile and symbolic meanings.
Mandala patterns and pictures start at a central point then radiate outward in a circle, with a variety of other images or patterns making up the whole. They are often very intricate, detailed sets of images when drawn together and make for aesthetically pleasing tattoos that many people respond to on a deeper level.
3. Lotus Unalome Tattoo Design
The links between the lotus and enlightenment mean they are the most used symbol incorporated into Buddhist aligned unalome tattoo ideas.
In Buddhist tradition, the unalome represents the path towards enlightenment that is each person’s duty and purpose on this physical plane. The swirls and twists in the design represent the trials and tribulations that we all face in everyday life, while the straight portion symbolizes the clarity and peace that is reached through enlightenment. Finally, the dots at the top of the piece signify the infinite nothingness that comes after death.
These interesting shapes can also represent the different aspects of the male and female depending on which way the spirals face. Female unalomes face left while the male faces right.
This orientation can also make for a more informed design concept when incorporating other elements into a unalome tattoo. These shapes should always be pointing up, as the path towards enlightenment moves the individual to a higher plane of existence.
4. What Do Different Color Lotus Flowers Symbolize?
The color of a lotus affects its symbolic meaning in Buddhist teachings, a perception that can also translate to the world of tattoos.
White lotus flower and pink lotus flower (the most common) are those designs most often attributed to purity.
Red lotus flower, purple lotus flower, and blue lotus flower blooms can mean ascension, spiritual enlightenment, and spiritual rebirth.
A green lotus flower is commonly linked to self-improvement.
The black lotus tattoo idea often symbolizes authority, power, and death.
Lotus flower tattoos may also incorporate blackwork and gray wash technical pieces. Some collectors prefer black and gray shading over more colorful elements.
Pricing is also important, as black line or black and gray work tends to be cheaper than those etched in color.
Contemporary Lotus Flower Tattoo Concepts
For some collectors, the Eastern mythology surrounding lotus tattoo ideas is either just a bit part of the design or completely inconsequential.
The lotus flower is a beautiful bloom that resonates with individuals looking to create cool new school tattoo art.
5. Realistic Lotus Flower Tattoo Meaning
Realism (or photorealism style) lotus flower tattoo ideas are designs meant to look as convincing as a photographed image.
Realism body art often features natural landscapes and scenery, with collectors looking to capture some of the essences of the flora in intensely detailed color or black and gray tattoo art.
Realism differs from other more expansive styles because the key to the design is in the tattoo artist transferring a real image onto the skin as accurately as possible.
They may have associations with the religious or mystical elements the lotus represents, however, the emphasis is on the physical beauty of the lotus flower.
6. Geometric Lotus Flower Tattoo Ideas
There are almost no limits to the design possibilities for different flowers, leaves, and stems when combined with different facets of geometry.
The sacred lotus, which ties in with geography across mandala tattoo design, unalome, and even Japanese koi fish, are popular geometric tattoo subjects.
If there’s a type of deep meaning you wish to incorporate into the lotus ink – such as the path to enlightenment – you can do so with creativity and flair by applying a variety of technical options, whether it’s 3D design, repeating patterns, or color and shading application.
7. Small Lotus Tattoo and Simple Flower Ink
Small lotus tattoos are also a dominant subject choice. They are increasingly versatile in style, application, color, and placement. Simply executed smaller-sized tattoos can look just as good as larger more detailed personal expressions, whether it’s an abstract pink lotus flower or black ink line.
Where tattoos of the past featured roses and sunflowers, modern small tattoo art displays all the variations of flowers, their stunning styles, colors, shapes, and symbolic meanings, whether it’s the quintessential lotus, a bright hibiscus flower tattoo, or cherry blossom tattoo.
By starting small and going with a simple flower design, you’ll slowly ease your way into body art or go with a comfortable design that suits your tattoo needs.
There are countless design ideas incorporating the lotus to go with for symbolic meaning, and for some their smaller stature means they can be placed anywhere – such as a simple red lotus flower wrist tattoo for example – yet retain what makes them special to the tattoo lover.
Conclusion
How you choose to illustrate your lotus tattoo idea is entirely up to you, there is no wrong answer.
As the flower tattoo meanings options above demonstrate, there are tremendous opportunities to craft amazing lotus flower body art, whether you opt for Eastern religious and wellness concepts or aesthetic designs based on different colored flowers, different sized, or simplified designs.
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