During the Vietnamese leader To Lam’s three-day visit to India, Narendra Modi delivered a carefully selected assortment of culturally relevant presents to her on Thursday. An exquisite Banarasi silk cloth, a brass Buddha sculpture, and the specifically created Namoh ‘108’ lotus were among the presents that showcased India’s cultural richness, traditional craftsmanship, and spiritual legacy. The Namoh ‘108’ lotus, a rare variation of India’s national flower created at Lucknow’s National Botanical Research Institute, was one of the most unusual presents.
A sacred number in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, the precise number of petals on the lotus flower is 108. In sacred geography, Vedic cosmology, and meditation traditions, the number has great significance.
The Sanskrit origin of the flower’s name, “Namoh,” which means “salutation” or “obeisance,” gives the present even more religious significance. A hand-carved brass sculpture of the Buddha sitting beneath a Bodhi tree canopy was also gifted by PM Modi.
Holding a bowl, which stands for compassion and food, the sculpture depicts Buddha in the Abhaya Mudra, a posture that represents courage and protection.
This present was very meaningful to President To Lam because he had previously visited the Mahabodhi Temple while in India.
Craftspeople from Moradabad, a city famous for its elaborate metalwork and traditional brasswork, created the artwork.
Image Credit: Open Magazine
Disclaimer: All news articles are sourced through valid sources, and Business Unlimited (BU) doesn’t have any exclusive rights on these pieces. If BU features any exclusive story or article, it will be marked as Exclusive Story.
