Sacred Symbols

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February 1997

INSIGHT

Sacred Symbols

Endearing images emboding intuitions of the spirit adorn Hindu art,

architecture and iconography

We rarely think about it, but symbols are everywhere around us--

potent, poignant images, visual markers for something vitally

meaningful to us--a force of nature, a beloved Deity, a dangerous

roadway curve. Symbols arrest our awareness, signal a message and

draw us to a particular area of consciousness. Most often, symbols

convey abstract experience. Of the three depicted above, the first is

the element fire, the second a mythic creature representing time, and

the third a gesture of humble greeting. These are among dozens of

classical icons used in Hindu art and mysticism, reminding seekers of

the subtle, spiritual realities of the Sanatana Dharma. "

 

Symbols adorn our world and mind at every turn--in our spiritual,

social and political experience. A ring or golden pendant serves to

silently attest to and strengthen wedded love. On a mountainous road

in any country, a sign with a truck silhouette on a steeply angled

line warns drivers of dropping grades ahead. The red cross signals

aid and comfort in crises. Golden arches tell the vegan to beware.

Among the best known symbols in the world are the simple numerals: 0,

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9. They originated in ancient India as

characters of the Brahmi script. Now and then, historic images or

happenings are supercharged into symbols. The awesome mushroom cloud

of the atom bomb will forever represent the terrifying specter of

nuclear destruction.

 

It is humanity's sacred symbols, its icons of Divinity and Reality,

that wield the greatest power to inform and transform consciousness.

Taoists gazing upon a yin-yang symbol, Navaho Indians delicately

pouring a feather symbol in a sand painting, Muslims embroidering the

crescent moon and star, Tibetan Buddhists contemplating an intricate

mandala, Christians kneeling before the cross, Hindus meditating upon

the Aum, Pagans parading the ankh at Stonehenge--all these images,

and hundreds more, communicate cosmic belief structures and function

as gateways to inner truths.

 

To the societies of prehistory (ca. 7000-4000 bce), living fully in

the raw splendor and power of nature, symbols and icons represented

supernatural states and beings--as they still do for us today. A

stylized image of a snake coiled around the top of a clay vase

communicated a complex and abstract idea. Anthropologist Marija

Gimbutas interprets it as cosmic life force and regeneration.

 

Wielded by mystic priests, or shamans, symbols serve as psychic tools

for invoking invisible cosmic beings and shaping the forces of

nature. Thus, to conjure power, a medieval alchemist would enclose

himself in a magic circle (a worldwide symbol) filled with geometric

pictograms symbolizing astral plane realities.

 

Today, as in prehistoric epochs, religious symbols often draw on

nature forces. The sun flares into prominence among these symbols,

appearing in a spectrum of motifs across cultures from Mexico to

Mongolia. Hinduism developed dozens of solar symbols, including the

swastika and the wheel of the sun, adopted by the Buddhists as their

eight-spoked dharma wheel.

 

Hinduism has amassed a range of didactic icons from thousands of

years back. Coins found in the Indus Valley have carried the symbols

of the cow and of the yogi seated in meditation across a 6,000-year

corridor of time. Many images from the Vedic age have become popular

motifs in Kashmiri carpets and Chidambaram saris. These serve,

significantly, to identify and distinguish members of a sect or

community. The simple red dot worn on the forehead of many devout

Hindus is both the mark of our dharmic heritage and the personal

reminder to all who wear it that we must see things not only with our

physical eyes, but with the mind's eye, the Third Eye.

 

India's adepts and seers have excelled at symbolic imagery,

transforming mudras (hand gestures) into instantly recognized emblems

and transmitters of a Deity's power or a particular frequency of

energy. Each accoutrement of the dozens of Deities in the Hindu

pantheon conveys a cosmic function, force or capacity. Today, this

ancient magic is carried forward in a multitude of ways, from the

temple priest's invocation to the Indian housewife's drawing of multi-

colored designs, called kolams or rangoli, on the ground as

auspicious auguries, household blessings and greetings.

 

Attention Web browsers: You may be interested in picking up a hard

copy of the February edition of Hindusim Today. The following

descriptions are actually a full 3 page color art presentaion and

guide to the ancient symbols of Hinduism.

 

Ganesha is the Lord of Obstacles and Ruler of Dharma. Seated upon His

throne, He guides our karmas through creating and removing obstacles

from our path. We seek His permission and blessings in every

undertaking. Aum.

 

Gopuras are the towering stone gateways through which pilgrims enter

the South Indian temple. Richly ornamented with myriad sculptures of

the divine pantheon, their tiers symbolize the several planes of

existence. Aum.

 

Pranava Aum is the root mantra and soundless sound from which all

creation issues forth. It is associated with Lord Ganesha. Its three

syllables stand at the beginning and end of every sacred verse, every

human act. Aum.

 

Swastika is the symbol of auspiciousness and good fortune--

literally "It is well." The right-angled arms of this ancient sun

sign denote the indirect way that Divinity is apprehended: by

intuition and not by intellect. Aum.

 

Sri Chakra yantra is central to Shakta worship and meditation. Often

rendered in three dimensions in stone or metal, its nine interlocking

triangles represent Siva-Shakti's multidimensional manifestations.

Aum.

 

Gaja is the elephant, king of beasts and sign of royalty and power.

He is Indra's mount, denoting the dominion of Heaven's King. In

larger Hindu temples and elaborate festive pageantry there is always

a noble elephant. Aum.

 

Padma is the lotus flower, Nelumbo nucifera, perfection of beauty,

associated with Deities and the chakras, especially the 1,000-petaled

sahasrara. Rooted in the mud, its blossom is a promise of purity and

unfoldment. Aum.

 

Nandi is Lord Siva's mount, or vahana. This huge white bull with a

black tail, whose name means "joyful," is disciplined animality

kneeling at Siva's feet, the ideal devotee, the pure joy and strength

of Saiva Dharma. Aum.

 

Vata, the banyan tree, Ficus indicus, symbolizes Hinduism, which

branches out in all directions, draws from many roots, spreads shade

far and wide, yet stems from one great trunk. Siva as Silent Sage

sits beneath it. Aum.

 

Kalachakra, "wheel, or circle, of time," is the symbol of perfect

creation, of the cycles of existence. Time and space are interwoven,

and eight spokes mark the directions, each ruled by a Deity and

having a unique quality. Aum.

 

Shikhara is the massive stone superstructure which rises above the

cave-like sacred sanctuaries of temples in North India. It is a

living model of Mount Meru, the center of the universe where the Gods

themselves reside. Aum.

 

Mudras are hand gestures employed in sacred dance and puja to focus

the mind on abstract matters and to charge the body with spiritual

power. This is chinmudra, the gesture of realization, reflection and

silent teaching. Aum.

 

Trishula, Siva's trident carried by Himalayan yogis, is the royal

scepter of the Saiva Dharma. Its triple prongs betoken desire, action

and wisdom; ida, pingala and sushumna; and the gunas--sattva, rajas

and tamas. Aum.

 

Tulsi is the holy basil plant, Ocimum sanctum, sacred to

Vaishnavites. Prayer beads are made from its wood or smooth seeds,

and the shrub is worshiped in the home as Lakshmi, bringing

prosperity, protection and long life. Aum.

 

Sivalinga is the ancient mark or symbol of God. This elliptical stone

is a formless form betokening Parasiva, That which can never be

described or portrayed. The pitha, pedestal, represents Siva's

manifest Parashakti. Aum.

 

Kukkuta is the noble red rooster who heralds each dawn, calling all

to awake and arise. He is a symbol of the imminence of spiritual

unfoldment and wisdom. As a fighting cock, he crows from Lord

Skanda's battle flag. Aum.

 

Shatkona, "six-pointed star," is two interlocking triangles; the

upper stands for Siva, purusha and fire, the lower for Shakti,

prakriti and water. Their union gives birth to Sanatkumara, whose

sacred number is six. Aum.

 

Dipastambha, the standing oil lamp, symbolizes the dispelling of

ignorance and awakening of the divine light within us. Its soft glow

illumines the temple or shrine room, keeping the atmosphere pure and

serene. Aum.

 

Amra, the pleasing paisley design, is modeled after a mango and

associated with Lord Ganesha. Mangos are the sweetest of fruits,

symbolizing auspiciousness and the happy fulfillment of legitimate

worldly desires. Aum.

 

Shankha, the water-born conch, symbolizes the origin of existence,

which evolves in spiraling spheres. In ancient days it signaled

battle's victory. In the Lord's hands it is our protection from evil,

sounding the sacred "Aum."

 

Chandra is the moon, ruler of the watery realms and of emotion,

testing place of migrating souls. Surya is the sun, ruler of

intellect, source of truth. One is pingala and lights the day; the

other is ida and lights the night. Aum.

 

Rudraksha seeds, Eleocarpus ganitrus, are prized as the compassionate

tears Lord Siva shed for mankind's suffering. Saivites wear malas of

them always as a symbol of God's love, chanting on each bead, "Aum

Namah Sivaya."

 

Urdhvapundra is the royal mark upon the forehead of Vaishnavites. Two

white lines are Vishnu's foot print resting upon a lotus base. The

red represents Lakshmi. Thus, the Lord's lowest part is worshiped on

our highest. Aum.

 

Shula, Lord Murugan's holy lance, is His protective power, our

safeguard in adversity. Its tip is wide, long and sharp, signifying

incisive discrimination and spiritual knowledge, which must be broad,

deep and penetrating. Aum.

 

Trikona, the triangle, is a symbol of God Siva which, like the

Sivalinga, denotes His Absolute Being. It represents the element fire

and portrays the process of spiritual ascent and Liberation spoken of

in scripture. Aum.

 

Shri paduka, the sacred sandals worn by saints, sages and satgurus,

symbolize the preceptor's holy feet, which are the source of his

grace. Prostrating before him, we humbly touch his feet for release

from worldliness. Aum.

 

Go, the cow, is a symbol of the earth, the nourisher, the ever-

giving, undemanding provider. To the Hindu, all animals are sacred,

and we acknowledge this reverence of life in our special affection

for the gentle cow. Aum.

 

Kamandalu, the water vessel, is carried by the Hindu monastic. It

symbolizes his simple, self-contained life, his freedom from worldly

needs, his constant sadhana and tapas, and his oath to seek God

everywhere. Aum.

 

Naga, the cobra, is a symbol of kundalini power, cosmic energy coiled

and slumbering within man. It inspires seekers to overcome misdeeds

and suffering by lifting the serpent power up the spine into God

Realization. Aum.

 

Kalasha, a husked coconut circled by five mango leaves on a pot, is

used in puja to represent any God, especially Lord Ganesha. Breaking

a coconut before His shrine is the ego's shattering to reveal the

sweet fruit inside. Aum.

 

Bilva is the bael tree. Its fruit, flowers and leaves are all sacred

to Siva, Liberation's summit. Planting Aegle marmelos trees around

home or temple is sanctifying, as is worshiping a Linga with bilva

leaves and water. Aum.

 

Ankusha, the goad held in Lord Ganesha's right hand, is used to

remove obstacles from dharma's path. It is the force by which all

wrongful things are repelled from us, the sharp prod which spurs the

dullards onward. Aum.

 

Mushika is Lord Ganesha's mount, the mouse, traditionally associated

with abundance in family life. Under cover of darkness, seldom

visible yet always at work, Mushika is like God's unseen grace in our

lives. Aum.

 

Homakunda, the fire altar, is the symbol of ancient Vedic rites. It

is through the fire element, denoting divine consciousness, that we

make offerings to the Gods. Hindu sacraments are solemnized before

the homa fire. Aum

 

Mahakala, "Great Time," presides above creation's golden arch.

Devouring instants and eons, with a ferocious face, He is Time beyond

time, reminder of this world's transitoriness, that sin and suffering

will pass. Aum.

 

Anjali, the gesture of two palms pressed together and held near the

heart, means to "honor or celebrate." It is our Hindu greeting, two

joined as one, the bringing together of matter and spirit, the self

meeting the Self in all. Aum.