Medallion 1- Bharhut Series

 

The lotus holds a sacred place in Indian art, embodying purity, beauty, and transcendence. In the plant-style medallions of Bharhut, this symbolism takes centre stage.

At the heart of this medallion lies a lotus viewed from above, with a circular pericarp (karnika) surrounded by stamens and encircled by delicate petals. While the original medallion shows a wavy ornament encasing this central bloom, I chose to reinterpret it—surrounding the lotus with small utpala (blue lotus) motifs. Beyond this, the border unfolds into alternating full-bloom lotuses and blue lotuses, their stems and roots emerging with graceful rhythm.

In Bharhut reliefs, the lotus is deeply connected to water. Just as lotus leaves rest upon the surface, ancient thought saw the Earth itself floating upon cosmic waters—a reflection of water cosmology.

The lotus also holds profound meaning in the Buddhist canon. The Buddha, like the lotus, was born in the imperfect world yet rose above it—untainted and pure. This medallion, then, is not just a floral study but a meditation on life, resilience, and spiritual clarity

Information & Reference Image Credit- Remains of Bharhut Stupa in Indian Museum by Arabinda Ghosh

Original medallion