Buddhism is the major religion of Thailand. It is estimated that about 95% of the total population of Thailand belongs to Buddhism. The remaining 5% are divided to other religious affiliations.

Flowers and Buddhism

Buddhism has a large influence on the culture and traditions of Thais. Numerous festivals, events, and holidays have Buddhist roots. It also influences the way flowers are used in the Thai society.

Lotus is a highly-revered flower in Buddhism. It is very common in Thai surroundings and can be easily obtained in ponds, swamps, and other small bodies of water. According to legends, everywhere Buddha trailed, lotus flowers are said to grow and bloom. For this reason, the lotus is used to symbolise Buddha and the purity and enlightenment that can be achieved when an individual follows his teachings.

Anchored on this belief, the widespread use of lotus flowers to depict images of Buddha is very rampant on Thai arts. It is normal to see paintings, sculptures, and pictures of Buddha along with lotus flowers. On their temples, the flower is also a common offering to Buddha along with incense and food.

Udumbara is another flower of great significance to Buddhism. According to Buddhist literature, it is a very rare flower that is said to bloom once every 3000 years. It resembles the egg sac of an insect. Contrary to the somehow foul odor emitted by egg sacs, udumbara is very fragrant. The rarity of the flower symbolises the rarity of meeting Buddha. According to historic accounts and literature, anyone who sees the legendary flower will experience good luck. This belief is probably anchored on the literal translation of the flower to English. Udumbara is a Sanskrit word that translates as auspicious flower from heaven.

Different Buddhist customs such as weddings are also set to tone and mood by different flowers. Lotus flowers are always present in arrangements. However, other flowers also partake in the beautification of the wedding premises. You could see roses, sunflowers, and chrysanthemums sharing ornamental purposes with lotus.

In a traditional Thai marriage, various flower arrangements are used throughout the wedding ceremony. Aside from the bouquet and garlands, flower offerings are also presented by the couple to the monks. The flowers are presented along with food, medicine, and any other valuable items that could be of significant use to the monks.

A Buddhist funeral is also made more solemn by flowers. This is due to their belief that the death of a person is a transition of life form one stage to another. Flowers used during funerals are mostly white or light-coloured. Typical examples of funeral flowers are chrysanthemums, orchids, and lilies. These flowers are either arranged as sprays or wreaths. Usually, the number of sprays and wreaths that sympathizers offer is associated with how good the dead person is while still living.

Online florists can help you partake in a wide variety of Buddhist traditions. If you want to partake in the joys of a Buddhist wedding of a family member or a dear friend, an online florist can assist you in conveying your best wishes through flowers Thailand arrangements. The same is true if you want to show sympathy during Buddhist funeral. Online Thai florists can prepare flower arrangements that will relay your messages of grief and sympathy.

This article was originally published at http://floristbangkokthailand.com/2011/10/24/flowers-and-buddhism/.

Ryan Cliff is an experienced retail and online florist. His natural passion for flowers pushed him to study, write and blog about flowers.

Ryan Cliff is an experienced retail and online florist. His natural passion for flowers pushed him to study, write and blog about flowers. His ideas and thoughts about flowers are dropped off at his blog at http://floristbangkokthailand.com.

Author Bio: Ryan Cliff is an experienced retail and online florist. His natural passion for flowers pushed him to study, write and blog about flowers.

Category: Arts and Crafts
Keywords: Buddhism, lotus, funeral flowers, udumbara, wedding flowers, Thailand, flower arrangements