Sacred emblem louts destroyed (5)

I believe the answer is:

lotus

'sacred emblem' is the definition.

'louts destroyed' is the wordplay.
'destroyed' indicates an anagram.
'louts' anagrammed gives 'LOTUS'.

(Other definitions for lotus that I've seen before include "Mythical plant inducing languor" , "A blooming" , "Sacred flower" , "Type of water-lily" , "Plant that mythically induces languor" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.

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