Antique silver-plated lotus, beads, faceted glass teardrop beads, seed beads, large faceted blue glass focal bead, lotus drop

“O ye loved ones of God! Drink your fill from the wellspring of wisdom, and walk ye in the garden of wisdom, and soar ye in the atmosphere of wisdom, and speak forth with wisdom and eloquence. Thus biddeth you your Lord, the Almighty, the All-Knowing.” —Baha’u’llah, Tablets of Baha’u’llah

The lotus flower has deep spiritual meaning in many religions. A Hindu friend told me the blue lotus is a symbol of eternity and represents the entire universe. In Buddhism, the essence of the lotus is purity of wisdom. The architectural design of the Baha’i Lotus Temple in India honors these faith traditions in its stunning beauty and simplicity. Surrounded by reflecting pools, the temple resembles a lotus floating on water, thus creating the feeling  of walking in a garden of wisdom.  In these prayer beads each blue teardrop bead is reminiscent of the water from which the lotus emerges; the large faceted blue bead, a lotus flower bud; all symbols of the eternal wellspring of the wisdom of God from which we all desire to drink our fill.