 | This articlemay need to be rewritten to comply with Wikipedia'squality standards.You can help. Thetalk page may contain suggestions.(August 2022) |
Over the millennia of its development,Hinduism has adopted severaliconic symbols, forming part ofHindu iconography, that are imbued with spiritual meaning based on either thescriptures or cultural traditions. The exact significance accorded to any of the icons varies with region, period and denomination of the followers. Over time some of the symbols, for instance theSwastika has come to have wider association while others likeOm are recognized as unique representations of Hinduism. Other aspects of Hindu iconography are covered by the termsmurti, for icons andmudra for gestures and positions of the hands and body.
Hindu sacraments are physical pieces of that help objects or markings that are considered sacred and used as a sign of devotion by the followers of Hinduism. These are often objects associated with apuja (prayer) or religious ceremony.
Murtis (Sanskrit: मूर्ति) are sacred works of art, primarily in the form of statues and paintings, which serve as representations of divinity, for use during religious devotion. Murtis are a huge part of contemporary mainstream Hindu culture and often hold significant sentimental value in many Hindu homes. Many believe that murtis are vessels that capture the essence of gods, which helps the devotees focus and concentrate during prayers.[1] Although there are many Hindu gods, the most common murtis are depictions ofGanesha,Hanuman,Shiva, andLakshmi. Each deity appeals to certain aspects of human life, for example Lakshmi is the goddess of fortune and the embodiment of love, while Hanuman is worshiped for strength and loyalty.[2]
Thetilaka (ortilak) is a mark worn on the forehead or other parts of the body as a sign of spiritual devotion. Hindus may wear a tilaka regularly or especially on religious occasions. The shape of thetilaka is often an indicator of devotion to a certain deity. For example, the U-shapedurdhva pundra usually denotes devotion toVishnu, whileShiva devotees often wear it in the form of three horizontal lines. It may be made ofsaffron,vermilion,turmeric,clay, or simply ash.
To denote marriage and auspiciousness, married Hindu women commonly wear a decorative vermilion dot or bindu, orbindī on the forehead. This is analogous to awedding ring worn in western countries. In southern India, the mark is called pottu (or bottu). The exact shape, size and location of the bindi or pottu shows regional variation; for instance, in some parts of India the bindi is often worn just below the hairline, while in southern India it is more common to wear it between the eyebrows. In east India, especially inWest Bengal, traditionally largerbindis are worn as mark of devotion towards goddessDurga.
Vibhuti (☰) is the holy ash obtained from sacredpuja rites involving fire. Ash is considered a sign of purity due to its powdery white color.[3] It is used on the forehead, normally as three horizontal lines representingShiva. Some Hindus meld both the three horizontal vibhuti lines of Shiva and the U-shapedurdhva pundra of Vishnu in an amalgam marker signifyingHari-Hara (Vishnu-Shiva). In addition, sacred ash signifies that the body's origin is from dust and ash, acting a marker of impermanence and a reminder of the illusory nature (maya) of existence.
Rudraksha (📿) are seeds of therudraksha tree that represent the tears ofShiva (also known asRudra). They are often threaded into a necklace and used as arosary to accompany prayer and meditation.
Among the most revered symbols in Hinduism, three are a quintessential part of its culture, and are most representative of its general ethos:
Om (or Aum,ॐ) is the sacredsound symbol that represents the universe; the ultimate reality (Brahman). It is prefixed and sometimes suffixed to all Vedicmantras and prayers. Aum is often said to represent God in the three aspects of Brahman (A), Vishnu (U) and Shiva (M). As the divine primordial vibration, it represents the one ultimate reality underlying and encompassing all of nature and all of existence. The written syllableॐ calledomkara serves as a deeply significant and distinctly recognizable symbol for Hinduism. The pronunciation of Aum moves through all possible humanlinguisticvowel sounds and is different from the pronunciation of Om. Both are often symbolically equated, although they aresonically distinct.
Swastika is a symbol connoting general auspiciousness, or a sign of prosperity or favor. This is so most naturally with astronomy as Ursa Major circumscribes Polaris in each 360 degrees. As an esoterica, the implication of the symbol is that of eternity; that is, "it is this way, it has always been this way, and it will always be this way." Just as Solaris' and Luna's circuits imply an eternally infinite system, so too, does the entire zodiac.[citation needed]
It may represent purity of soul, truth, and stability or, alternatively,Surya, the sun. Its rotation in four directions has been used to represent many ideas, but primarily describes the four directions, the fourVedas and their harmonious whole. Its use in Hinduism dates back to ancient times, however the earliest records of swastikas were imprinted on pottery from central Mesopotamia and at Susa in western Iran in 4000 B.C.[4]
TheSri Chakra Yantra ofTripura Sundari (commonly referred to as Sri Yantra) is amandala formed by nine interlocking triangles. Four of these triangles are oriented upright, representingShiva or the masculine principle. Five of these triangles are inverted triangles representingShakti, the feminine principle. Together, the nine triangles form a web symbolic of the entire cosmos, a womb symbolic of creation, and together expressAdvaita Vedanta ornon-duality. All other yantras are said to be derivatives of this supreme yantra.
Several symbols (animals, flora, instruments, weapons, or even color) in Hindu iconography are associated with particulardevas, and vice versa. In certain cases the deities themselves are personifications of natural forces, for instanceAgni (fire),Vayu (wind),Surya (Sun) andPrithvi (Earth). In other instances, the associations arise from specific incidents or characteristics related inHindu theology. The iconography serve to identify the particular deity in their pictorial or sculptural representations. The symbolism also often links the deities with a particular natural or human attribute, or profession.
It is important to understand the symbolism, in order to appreciate the allegorical references in not only Hindu scriptures (for instance,Puranic tales), but also in both ancient and modern secular works of authors from the Indian subcontinent. The art and science of designing temples includes the study of sculpture and the ornamentation of religious significance as described insacred texts (shilpa shaastra aagamas). InAncient India twelve years of theoretical and practical training used to be given to the student by an able experienced teacher.
TheShiva Lingam represents the deityShiva, and is used as an icon of strength and fertility due to its sexual symbolism.[5] Shivalinga (Sivalinga) is the most important and a popular symbolic representation of Shiva in Hinduism. It represents Shiva in his aspects of the creator, protector, and the destroyer in Shaiva traditions
The word ‘Shivalinga’ is a combination of the words ‘Shiva’ (auspiciousness) and linga (sign or symbol). Thus ‘Shivalinga’ is a representation of Shiva in His all-auspicious aspect. Linga has been translated as phallus, which refers to his aspect of the masculine principle.[6] ‘Linga’ also means the place of dissolution of the disintegrated universe.[7]
Based on the mobility of the object of worship, Shivalingas are broadly divided into two categories – ‘Cala’ and ‘Acala’[8]
These are made of stone, crystal, metals, clay, rice, dough, etc. These can be moved from one place to another.[8]
 | This sectionmay beunbalanced towards certain viewpoints. Pleaseimprove the article or discuss the issue on thetalk page.(August 2022) |
The sacred texts describe many types of the lingas based on variations in the proportion
Shivalingas are installed in temples and are fixed to ground or a base. They are usually made of stones or metals. The sacred texts suggest that the shiva linga must have three parts. A bottom most 1/3rd part that is in the earth -Brahma bhagam (represents Brahma, the Creator of the World) it is rectangular in cross section.[8] A middle 1/3rd part is calledVishnu bhagam or Vishnu Bhaga (it represents Vishnu, the Protector and sustainer of the world; it is octagonal in cross section. Both the Brahma bhagam and Vishnu bhagam are embedded in peetham (the ornamental pedestal).[9] A visible 1/3rdShiva Pooja bhagam or Pooja bhaga (also known as Rudra bhagam or Rudra bhaga) which is top most part which is worshiped. It is circular in cross section and cylindrical in shape. It represents Rudra (Shiva), the destroyer of the world. It is known as Pooja bhagam because this part is worshipped.[9]Brahmasutras: These are certain essential lines present on the Rudra bhagam (Rudra bhaga). Without them a Shivlinga is unfit to be worshipped.[9] The Shiva linga is at the level of ground and easily accessible to the worshipers irrespective of their caste, social or economic status.
Thelotus is associated with thecreation theology as well as the godsVishnu,Brahma, andLakshmi. It is the symbol of beauty and fertility. "In theBhagavad Gita, a human is adjured to be like the lotus; they should work without attachment, dedicating their actions toGod, untouched bysin like water on a lotus leaf, like a beautiful flower standing high above the mud and water."[10]
The musical instrumentVeena is associated with the Hindu goddessSaraswati and the sageNarada. Its origin lies in south India as it was used in Carnatic classical music.[11] Furthermore its a symbol of arts and learning.
The conch shell is a major Hindu article ofprayer, used as a trumpeting announcement of all sorts. InVaishnavism, the god of preservation,Vishnu, is said to hold a special conch,Panchajanya, that represents life as it has come out of life-giving waters. In the story ofDhruva the divine conch plays a special part. The warriors of ancientIndia would blow conch shells to announce battle, such as is famously represented in the beginning of the war of Kurukshetra in theMahabharata, a famous Hindu epic. The conch shell is also a deep part of Hindu symbolic and religious tradition. Today most Hindus use the conch as a part of their religious practices, blowing it during worship at specific points, accompanied by ceremonial bells. Shankha also symbolizes the sound that created the universe and stands for knowledge.
TheChakra or disc-like weapon ofVishnu is often found mounted on the top ofVaishnava temples or incorporated into architectural designs. Images depicting Vishnu's four-armedNarayana form almost always include the Chakra in one of his hands. It is a general symbol for protection. Chakra is also known to symbolize the need to follow dharma and to condemn adharma.
![[icon]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=http%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aWiki_letter_w_cropped.svg) | This sectionneeds expansion. You can help byadding to it.(July 2011) |
An array of Hindu, Buddhist, and some Jain deities are often depicted with multiple heads, arms, and other body parts, creating what one author refers to as a "multiplicity convention" in religious iconography.[12][13] Such multiple body parts represent the divineomnipresence andimmanence (ability to be in many places at once and simultaneously exist in all places at once), and thereby the ability to influence many things at once.[12] The specific meanings attributed to the multiple body parts of an image are symbolic, not literal in context.[14] In such depictions, the visual effect of an array of multiple arms is to create a kinetic energy showing that ability.[15] Several Hindu deities are depicted in theirPanchamukha (five-faced) aspect, as well as theirChaturbhuja (four-armed) aspect.[16]
Vāhana or vehicle, sometimes called a mount, is an animal or mythical entity closely associated with a particular deity in Hindu theology. Sometimes the deity is iconographically depicted riding and/or mounted on the vahana; other times, the vahana is depicted at the deity's side or symbolically represented as a divine attribute.
Vishnu is the Protector-God, also the God of Destruction. Of the three gods of the Hindu Triad, Vishnu, being the Preserver, appears most human. The Rig Vedic Vishnu is conceived as the sun in three stages - rising, zenith and setting. The Vedic Vishnu strides through the heavens in three steps. This is Vishnu's great deed and constitutes his great glory. With these three steps Vishnu, a solar deity, courses through the three divisions of the universe, "the god being manifest in a threefold form, asAgni on earth,Indra orVayu in the atmosphere andSurya in the sky". He is said to have taken these three steps for the preservation and benefit of mortals. The zenith is appropriately called Vishnu's place. His third step cannot be seen with human eyes. It is here that Indra dwells.
| God or deity | Associated symbols | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Adi Parashakti | Chariot (Ratha) of seven lions,Sri Chakra | Supreme goddess in Shaktism |
| Brahma | Lotus,swan (hamsa),Vedas, garland of beads (akshamala) | Creator |
| Vishnu | Shesha,shankha,chakra,gada,lotus,Garuda, color blue | Preserver |
| Shiva | Shiva Linga,Nandi,third eye,trishula (trident), crescent-moon,rudraksha,cobra,drum,tiger skin,vibhuti | Destroyer |
| Saraswati | White lotus,swan, peacock,veena, color white | Goddess of learning, music, and art |
| Lakshmi | Red lotus,elephant, shower of gold,kumbha, owl, peacock feather | Goddess of prosperity, wealth, love, and fortune |
| Parvati | Lion,Nandi, trident, chakra, gada, padam, couch, cross bow, khadag | Goddess of courage, fertility, and power |
| Indra | Thunderbolt (vajra), rainbow, clouds | King of the devas andSvarga |
| Varuna | Noose (pasha) | God of duty and contracts King of the waters |
| Yama | Noose (pasha), danda (rod),buffalo | King of the netherworld, God of death |
| Surya | Chariot, sun-rays, the colour of gold | The god of the sun |
| Kali | Garland of severed human heads,scimitar,khanda, khapar, khadag, trident | Fierce manifestation of Parvati |
| Rama | Bow and arrow, the colour blue, royal panoply | Embodiment of Righteousness |
| Krishna | The colour blue,cow, flute,Sudarshana Chakra,milk, peacock feather | God of Compassion, love, yoga, Svayam Bhagavan |
| Ganesha | Aṅkuśa, mouse,modak,Aum | God of wisdom, auspiciousness, good fortune |
| Murugan | Peacock,vel,rooster flag | God of war and commander-in-chief of the gods |
| Hanuman | gada | God of strength, courage, and devotion |
It is the tower that was built on the wall of entrance. It was many storied building, up to one storied to sixteen storied. It contains many portico like kudaivarai, prasthra, karnakuta, sala, panchara,kudu. It can be seen mainly in south Indian temples with Dravidian architecture.
The Met notes that with sculptural depictions of multiple-armed deities viewed by the flicker of oil lamps in a dimly lit shrine, the visual kinetic energy of their many arms are no doubt made the more powerful to the viewer by the movement of light upon the sculpture
