The Padma is a major river in Bangladesh. Padma may also refer to: Common meanings Padma (attribute), the lotus, a symbolic flower repeatedly referred to in Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism Padma, in the Indian numbering system equal to one quadrillion (1015) Padmaprabha, 6th Jain Tirthankara Padmasambhava, a Buddhist scholar Places Padma, Hazaribagh (community development block), in Jharkhand, India Padma, Hazaribagh, in Jharkhand, India Notable people Padma (politician) (born 1945), Indian politician Padma Choling (born 1952), Chairman of the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR), China Padma Desai (born 1932), Indian-American development economist Padma Gole (1913–1998), Marathi poet from Maharashtra Padma Khanna (born 1949), popular actress of Bollywood and Bhojpuri cinema Padma Lakshmi (born 1970), a host of the reality TV program Top Chef Padma Narsey Lal (born 1951), Fijian ecological economist Padma Sachdev (1940–2021), Indian writer, novelist in Dogri Padma Kant Shukla (1950–2013), Indian physicist Padma Talwalkar (born 1948), Indian classical vocalist Padma Viswanathan (born 1968), Canadian playwright Arts, entertainment, and media Padma Patil, a fictional character from the Harry Potter books Padma Purana, a Hindu religious text, one of the major eighteen Puranas See also Padme (disambiguation)