The flower symbol of the sixth Tirthankara Padmaprabha is the lotus.
Padmaprabha, also known as Padmaprabhu, is the sixth Tirthankara of the present Jain time cycle. His name means “lotus-bright” or “bright as a lotus” in Sanskrit, and his lanchhana is traditionally a red lotus. The emblem is used in Jain sculpture and painting to identify him among the twenty-four Tirthankaras, who are frequently shown in similar standing or seated meditative poses.
Jain tradition says Padmaprabha was born at Kausambi, in present-day Uttar Pradesh, to King Sridhara and Queen Susima of the Ikshvaku dynasty. A well-known account says his mother desired a couch made of red lotuses during pregnancy. The child was consequently associated with the flower’s red glow and received the name Padmaprabha.
The lotus is also an important religious symbol across South Asian traditions, often representing purity because it rises from muddy water without appearing stained. In Jain contexts, however, it is specifically Padmaprabha’s identifying emblem. The fifth Tirthankara, Sumatinatha, is associated with a bird emblem, while the seventh, Suparshvanatha, is linked with the swastika.