divine figures in Buddhist art and Hindu art, and is often seen in Jain art. Originating in Indian art, it followed Indian religions to East Asia in particular. Lotus flowers are also often held by figures. The Nelumbo nucifera, which is also called (Nilufar Abi in Persian), can be seen in many reliefs of the Achaemenid period (552 BC) such as the statue of Anahita in the Persepolis. Lotus flower was included in Kaveh the blacksmith's Derafsh and later as the flag of the Sasanian Empire Derafsh Kaviani. Today, it is the symbol of Iranians Solar Hijri calendar. See also Bingdi lotus List of vegetables The Lotos-Eaters Lotus Lotus position Lotus-eaters Palmette Tulsi References Getty, Alice, The gods of northern Buddhism : their history, iconography and progressive evolution through the northern Buddhist countries, 1914, Oxford, fully online External links nucifera Flora of temperate Asia Flora of tropical Asia Flora of Eastern Europe Garden plants Root vegetables Medicinal plants National symbols of India Plants in Hinduism Decorative fruits and seeds National symbols of Vietnam Rhizomatous plants Asian vegetables Thermogenic plants Symbols of Haryana Soma (drink) Plants in Buddhism