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The skin of Asian elephants is generally grey or dark grey, but the forehead, trunk, ears, and cheeks display pinkish or light-coloured patches, where pigment-producing cells (melanocytes) are less active or absent. This gives their head and trunk a spotted or mottled appearance. These marks become more visible with age and are unique to each elephant, much like freckles or fingerprints in humans. Since elephants are closely linked with lotus ponds, these pink marks are called “lotus marks” or “padmaka”, as mentioned in the Sanskrit work, Naiṣadha-carita.

In the Kusa Jataka, a prince named Kusa (whose name means grass) is born with a face like a lotus bud – ugly but radiant in virtue. His wife, Pabhavati (whose name means radiance), is compared to a fully bloomed lotus, showing the tension between outer and inner beauty, a recurring Buddhist theme.

In the Abhinha Jataka, a young man earns his living by collecting lotuses for sale. The lotus fades away each time, which is why there is a daily demand for fresh flowers. He reflects on the impermanence of beauty and realises that all worldly pleasures fade like the flowers he gathers. The lotus becomes a lesson in impermanence.

In the Padakusalamanava Jataka, a young man is executed unjustly. When his head is...

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