What type of plant is the lotus?

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The lotus is known by various names as the Indian Lotus, Sacred Lotus, Bean of India or simply lotus. It is an aquatic flowering plant which flowers for one or more years. It is sometimes mistaken for a water-lily which has a completely different structure.

It is majorly white in colour with hues of other colours too. The common Egyptian “white” lotus is a water lily. The white lotus opens when the sun sets, while the blue water lily opens in the morning. The white lotus is a plant growing in wetland areas with water of two meters in depth which blooms in the night.

The lotus flower symbolises awakening to the spiritual reality in Hinduism. One thing which is worth noting about the lotus flower is that it is unstained even though it grows in the mud.