The Lotus flower is held sacred in the Hindu, Buddhist, and Egyptian religions. The Lotus is a type of water lily, which rises from muddy waters to blossom, making it a symbol of purity and resurrection.
The Lotus is one of the eight auspicious signs of Buddhism- an eight petalled lotus used in Buddhist mandalas symbolizes cosmic harmony, a thousand petalled lotus, spiritual illumination. A bud symbolizes potential. The well known Buddhist mantra, "Om mane padme," refers to the "jewel in the lotus," enlightenment.
In Egyptian mythology, the lotus was associated with the sun, because it bloomed by day, and closed by night. The lotus was even believed to have given birth to the sun.