Symbology in Hindusim

July 1, 8:03 PMSF Hindu ExaminerSohoni Das

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Like all ancient religion, Hinduism has developed several symbols used to signify the spirituality of the religion.  The symbols support the Hindu ideologies or concepts, the attributes of deities or the Gods or Goddesses themselves, and the Hindu cultural traditions.  Some of the widely used symbols are given below:

Om:  This symbol is considered the greatest of all mantras (religious dialog). The symbol represents the three worlds (earth, atmosphere and heaven) or the three major Hindu Gods (Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva). According to Hinduism, the sound Om is the root of the universe and everything that exists, and it continues to hold everything together. Om is spoken in the beginning and end of the Hindu mantras, prayers, inscription writing and meditations. Om is used in the practice of Yoga and is related to the techniques of auditory meditation.

Shiva Linga: Shiva Lingam is a Sanskrit word for Symbol of Shiva (Hindu God). Shiva Linga is worshipped as an idol (symbol of Lord Shiva) by millions of Hindus worldwide. There are evidences that the Shiva Linga was found to be worshipped during the early Indus Valley Civilization. The Linga had been found in the Harappan remains as short, cylindrical pillars with rounded top.  The Linga is a simple stylized phallus that rests on pedestal of a stylized Yoni (female sex organ) and together the Linga and Yoni represents the power of creative energy and fertility.

Swastika: In Sanskrit it means “all is well” is a cross with four arms of equal length, with the ends of each arm bent at right angle, and sometimes dots are added between each arm. The Swastika is one of the 108 symbols of God Vishnu, and Surya (Hindu Gods) and it indicates the rotation of the Sun from east to west. The right-facing Swastika represents the evolution of the universe and the left-facing Swastika represents the involution of the universe. The Swastika is found all over Hindu temples, signs, altars, pictures and iconography and is considered holy and auspicious by all Hindus. The Nazis adopted the Swastika because it was understood as an Aryan symbol and because of its iconic usage by the Nazis the symbol has become stigmatized in the Western World.

Tilak: Tilak in Sanskrit means mark and is worn on men’s forehead as line/s and on women’s forehead as a bindi (dot). Tilak signifies the third eye and is worn on special occasions like weddings and religious rituals.  The Tilak is applied by hand or with a metal stamp and can be made of ashes, sandalwood paste, turmeric, charcoal or red lead. The variations of the Tilak are determined by the religious sect one follows. For example, Saivites (followers of Shiva) wear a Tilak of three horizontal lines across forehead while Vaishnavites (followers of Vishnu) wear Tilak of two or more vertical lines resembling the letter U which symbolizes the foot of Vishnu. Traditionally the Bindi worn by Hindu ladies on the forehead are usually made of sandalwood and sindoor/Kumkum. Married women in some parts of India wear a Bindi of kumkum (red powder) to signify that they are married. The Bindi is worn by all women as a fashion essential while dressing traditionally.

Trishul: Trishul is a type of traditional Indian trident meaning three spears. The symbolism of Trishul is polyvalent and rich and is wielded by the Hindu God Shiva.  The three points signifies creation, maintenance and destruction. The Trishul can be found in some Hindu deities (Lord Shiva and Ma Durga)and they are believed to be used for fighting against demons.

There are various other symbols used in the Hindu religion like lotus, pratik, kalash, yantra etc. The symbols are part of the Hindu rituals and beliefs and they mostly signify the various Hindu Gods. Of the entire symbols, the Om is universally recognizable because of its sanctity and its application in the Yoga practice.