🕉️ Hindu Symbols

🕉️ Om (Aum) - The Primordial Sound

Om is the most sacred syllable in Hinduism, representing the ultimate reality (Brahman). The three sounds (A-U-M) represent the trinity of Brahma (creation), Vishnu (preservation), and Shiva (dissolution), as well as the three states of consciousness (waking, dreaming, deep sleep) and the transcendent fourth state (turiya). The silence after the sound represents the absolute.

Usage: Chanted at the beginning and end of prayers, mantras, and meditation. Written at the start of sacred texts and inscribed on temples.

🪷 Lotus (Padma) - Purity and Spiritual Awakening

The lotus emerges pristine from muddy water, symbolizing spiritual enlightenment rising from the mire of material existence. The unfolding petals represent the expansion of consciousness. Major deities are depicted with or seated upon lotuses.

Significance: Brahma emerged from a lotus growing from Vishnu's navel; Saraswati and Lakshmi hold lotuses. The seven chakras are visualized as lotus flowers of different colors.

✡️ Shatkona - Six-Pointed Star

Two interlaced triangles representing the union of Shiva (upward triangle - masculine, fire, consciousness) and Shakti (downward triangle - feminine, water, energy). This symbol predates its use in Jewish tradition and represents the cosmic balance of opposing forces.

Usage: Common in yantras, temple architecture, and meditation diagrams.

卍 Swastika - Auspiciousness and Cosmic Order

From Sanskrit svastika meaning "conducive to well-being," this ancient symbol (used for millennia before being misappropriated in the 20th century) represents prosperity, good fortune, and the eternal cycle of creation. The four arms symbolize the four Vedas, four directions, four stages of life (ashramas), or the four aims of human life (purusharthas).

Usage: Drawn during puja ceremonies, weddings, festivals, and on doorways for blessings.

🪔 Diya - Oil Lamp

Represents the triumph of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance. The flame symbolizes the eternal soul (atman) and divine consciousness. Essential in all Hindu rituals, especially Diwali, the festival of lights.

🌺 Tilaka - Sacred Mark

Applied to the forehead (location of the third eye/ajna chakra), the tilaka indicates spiritual aspiration and divine protection. Different traditions use different marks: vertical lines for Vaishnavites, horizontal for Shaivites, dot (bindi) for Shakti worship.

🔺 Yantra - Geometric Meditation Diagram

Sacred geometric patterns used for meditation and ritual. The Sri Yantra (nine interlocking triangles forming 43 smaller triangles) is the most revered, representing the cosmos and the divine feminine. Each yantra is a visual mantra, a doorway to specific divine energies.

🌿 Tulsi Plant - Sacred Basil

Worshipped as a manifestation of Lakshmi, the tulsi plant symbolizes devotion and purity. Every Hindu household traditionally maintains a tulsi plant. Its leaves are essential offerings to Vishnu.

📿 Rudraksha - Shiva's Tears

Seeds from the rudraksha tree, believed to be Shiva's tears of compassion. Used in prayer malas (rosaries), they come with different numbers of faces (mukhis), each having specific spiritual properties. Wearing rudraksha is said to protect from negative energies and aid meditation.

🌈 Chakras - Energy Centers

Seven primary energy centers along the spine, each represented by a lotus with specific colors, elements, and petals:

1. Muladhara (Root): Red, 4 petals - Survival, grounding
2. Svadhisthana (Sacral): Orange, 6 petals - Creativity, sexuality
3. Manipura (Solar Plexus): Yellow, 10 petals - Power, will
4. Anahata (Heart): Green, 12 petals - Love, compassion
5. Vishuddha (Throat): Blue, 16 petals - Communication, truth
6. Ajna (Third Eye): Indigo, 2 petals - Intuition, wisdom
7. Sahasrara (Crown): Violet/White, 1000 petals - Divine connection

⚡ Vajra - Thunderbolt/Diamond

Represents indestructible reality and spiritual power. Indra's weapon symbolizes the sudden flash of enlightenment that destroys ignorance. In Buddhism and tantra, represents skillful means and compassion.

🐍 Kundalini - Serpent Power

Dormant spiritual energy coiled at the base of the spine. Through yoga and meditation, this energy rises through the chakras, leading to enlightenment. Symbolized as a coiled serpent or as Shakti united with Shiva at the crown.