Symbolism

    Symbolism is very important in spiritual texts. In the first instance, spirit only becomes matter and it is from the abstract invisible aspect (that cannot be described since there are no sounds, alphabets or words to express) emanate the concrete gross objects of the phenomenal world. Thus what all we see have a subtler invisible base in the spiritual power. This spiritual creative power is attributed to the Lotus, a flower that blooms with the first rays of theSun. It is thus the symbolic expression of manifestation of consciousness. It has petals resembling the blades of fan that help disseminate knowledge. The Lord Padmanabha is shown as the 'Father' from whose navel (nabhi) the Lotus blooms! He, the Lord Padmanabha, Anantashayana, is shown in pictures as one lying in the ocean of Consciousness (Chit-sagara) on the bed of Five-hooded Serpent Adishesha (serpent symbol of consciousness and potency), with Lakshmi, the source of all creation and brahma seated on the Lotus, symbolic of dissemination of knowledge (jnyan), Consciousness (chitshakti) and creative power (kriyashakti). There are blue, red and white Lotus flowers indicating the tamas, rajas and sattva aspects, respectively. The thousand petalled  Lotus is not exactly a thousand by numerous. These sahasrara daLa (thousand petals) are symbolic of Light (referred to as a thousand electric bulbs lighting a room) indicative of knowledge and consciousness (jnyan and chit shakti). When a person attains the highest level of spiritual power through yoga, the upasaka is said to have reached sahasrar prajnya level and gets  Light- enlightenment.
   Thus, a blooming lotus flower and its petals are used as symbols of manifestation of the inherent chit shakti and jnyan shakti. This is widely used in all the scriptures.