| Lotus flowers are amazing and have strong symbolic | | | | also grow and change into something more beautiful |
| ties to many Asian religions especially throughout | | | | (hopefully!). So the symbol represent the struggle of |
| India. The lotus flower starts as a small flower down | | | | life at its most basic form. |
| at the bottom of a pond in the mud and muck. It | | | | Lotus flower tattoos are also popular for people who |
| slowly grows up towards the waters surface | | | | have gone through a hard time and are now coming |
| continually moving towards the light. Once it come to | | | | out of it. Like the flower they have been at the |
| the surface of the water the lotus flower begins to | | | | bottom in the muddy, yucky dirty bottom of the |
| blossom and turn into a beautiful flower. | | | | pond but have risen above this to display an object |
| Within Hinduism and Buddhism the lotus flower has | | | | of beauty or al ife of beauty as the case might be. |
| become a symbol for awakening to the spiritual | | | | Thus a lotus flower tattoo or blossom can also |
| reality of life. The meaning varies slightly between the | | | | represent a hard time in life that has been overcome. |
| two religions of course but essentially both religious | | | | Lotus flower and peonies are also two flowers that |
| traditions place importance on the lotus flower. | | | | are very popular among Japanese tattoo artists and |
| In modern times the meaning of a lotus flower | | | | they make a great compliment to Koi Fish tattoos. |
| tattoo ties into it's religious symbolism and meaning. | | | | Ironically enough the two koi fish and lotus flowers |
| Most tattoo enthusiast feel that the a lotus tattoo | | | | can often be found in the same pond in front of a |
| represent life in general. As the lotus flower grows up | | | | temple. The Koi fish is a symbol typically for strength |
| from the mud into a object of great beauty people | | | | and individualism. |