THE LIVING ARCHIVE
About Vishnu’s Padma
Padma means lotus. This entry concerns the flower Vishnu holds in his hand. It is distinct from the lotus that grows from the navel of the reclining Vishnu and bears Brahma in a creation account. The two images give the lotus different roles.
The hand-held flower belongs to the group of emblems associated with Vishnu's appearance. A passage that explains those emblems gives the lotus a symbolic meaning rather than describing an attack made with it. Its presence communicates divine abundance as well as contributing to the deity's visible form.
