Lotus
A lotus flower motif, a symbol of purity, woven into borders, buttas and the pallu.
Also: padma, kamal, thamarai
The lotus grows from mud and rises clean above the water, and in Hindu, Buddhist and Jain art it stands for purity and the divine. The goddess Lakshmi is shown seated or standing on a lotus. As a design, it appears in saree weaving as an open flower with petals in rows, as a bud, or as a whole pond with leaves. It is used in Kanchipuram, Paithani and Banarasi sarees and in block printing. A lotus border or a row of lotus petals is also found along temple borders, a connection that is natural since the lotus is the flower of temple art.