Persian carpets and silk saris were once considered symbols of status for the upper classes in Iran, with the lotreek and mooar well being woven from rich, deep red wool. Today these rugs and carpets are considering works of art, not just for the pleasure of being made but as gifts to loved ones and family. A lotre is usually embroidered with auspicious symbols representing the power of nature and the elements that are found around the world. This is why these types of rugs are often given as gifts for garden parties or other occasions, as well as hanging on walls to keep evil spirits away.
Persian carpets and silk saris were originally made from nomadic tribesmen who made a living by hunting wild game in the desert. These nomadic tribesmen relied on their knowledge of how to weave the fabric and pattern it to make the right pattern to attract the specific animal they were hunting. They would also decorate their tents with the patterns of the different animals they were hunting. Many of these tribesmen have kept this tradition alive today by making these pheromones symbols of their wealth and power, so much so that the Persians have adopted it as a legal standard and respect it as a mark of their dignity.
A lotro refers to the shade and the lotre orang is said to represent the shadow that a man will assume after death. Traditionally, once a man has been called to judgment in the afterlife (toddhid-e khus), he will transform into a bug or spider. Once the judgment has been passed, the soul will be carried away by the “light”. The shadow that follows is the body of the deceased orang. This is why in ancient times the dead would be wrapped in a blanket of the bug or spider and hung upon a wall to confuse it (similar to how vampires are thought to haunt dark places).
Many tribes believe that the dead will rise from their tomb to fight against the evil spirits who caused their death and some tribes carry on this belief even today. They say that the dead who rise up from the dead will use the magic wand as a weapon against the demons. The most well-known of these lotus flower tattoo designs is that which depicts the Egyptian queen Cleopatra surrounded by the lotuses. This tattoo design was immortalized by the star-shaped lotus flower in Greek mythology; this story was later used as the basis for the movie, The Star (starring Audrey Hepburn and George Peppard).
Another version of the Egyptian lotus flower is the Memenangkan. This lotus blossom is popularly depicted in the flag of Thailand; the royal insignia is the lotus with its bow. The meaning of the flag is that the Thai government considers all persons born in Thailand under its flag as its citizens. Other than the royal family, other people of nobility are known to have this flower in their symbol. In addition, the people of Burma are known to use this particular symbol as a sign of respect.
Traditionally, it is believed that the lotuses that bloom in spring symbolize good fortune while those that wilt during the summer period symbolize sorrow and failures. Menjatma is a prime example of a type of tree that blooms during both seasons. Its flowers are also of the same shape and color. Menjatma is said to be the king of all trees (or, “king of trees”) as it can be seen everywhere in a typical scene. In Hinduism, it is said that this particular tree has thirty-eight branches and that the number corresponds to the Buddha. Many people, however, believe that there are only twenty-one branches in every twelve Buddha trees.