noun
lotus-shaped pedestal for Buddhist images
Only when written 蓮台
Specifically a pedestal shaped like a lotus flower, used to support statues or images of the Buddha in temples and altars.
本堂の中央に、金色の蓮台に座った阿弥陀如来像が安置されている。
In the center of the main hall, a statue of Amida Nyorai seated on a golden lotus pedestal is enshrined.
noun
river palanquin; river litter
Historical term for a palanquin used to cross rivers, carried by bearers. Rare in modern contexts.
江戸時代、大きな川を渡る際には蓮台が使われた。
During the Edo period, river palanquins were used when crossing large rivers.
The spelling 蓮台 literally means 'lotus platform', reflecting its primary use as a Buddhist pedestal. The historical palanquin sense is written with the same characters, possibly by extension of the platform idea, but the exact derivation is uncertain.