Hindu Iconography
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Table of Contents Various Symbols in Hinduism ...................................3 Holy Animals of India....................................................5 Hindu Deities...................................................................9 Significance of Mehndi Art.......................................14 Bibliography...................................................................16
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Various Symbols in Hinduism Lotus
Lotus Mahal, Vijayanagara, India, 15th or early 16th century. The Vijayanagar Empire was the most powerful Hindu kingdom in southern India during the 14th to 16th centuries. The Lotus Mahal is an eclectic mix of Hindu temple features and Islamic architectural elements. The buildings of the so-called Royal Enclave are more eclectic in character. One example in this prosperous royal city is the two-story monument of uncertain function known as the Lotus Mahal.
The lotus is the foremost symbol of beauty, prosperity and fertility. According to Hinduism, within each human is the spirit of the sacred lotus. It represents eternity, purity, divinity, and is widely used as a symbol of life, fertility, ever-renewing youth. The lotus is used to describe feminine beauty, especially female eyes. The flower is associated with Vishnu, who following tender care as he slept from Lakshmi, was awakened by the creation sound Om. Then follows a Lotus flower blossoming from the naval of Vishnu. A top the Lotus was Brahma, who upon Vishnu’s command created the world. All of the gods and goddesses of Hinduism are associated with a pink Lotus flower, as this is considered to be the most divine and is only awarded to those of the highest standing.
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16 miles – northeast of the main Angkor Thom temple group, Banteay Srei is a beautiful temple that is carved with delicate lotus flowers. It is said that the carvings and reliefs on this temple are so delicate that only a woman could of created something like this. This temple is also referred to as “citadel of a woman”. Banteay Srei is a dedication to Lord Shiva. The lotus is associated with several Hindu deities. Krishna is described as the “Lotus-Eyed One,” referring to his divine beauty. Brahma and Lakshmi, the deities of potence and wealth, are often seen with the lotus symbol. Other deities associated with the lotus include Vishnu and Sarasvati.
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Various Symbols in Hinduism Chakras - OM
1899 Yoga manuscript in the Braj Bhsa. The origins of Yoga may date back to pre-vedic Indian traditions. The earliest accounts of yoga-practices are to be found in the Buddhist Nikayas.
In Hinduism, Om is a Hindu sacred sound that is considered the greatest of all mantras. The syllable Om is composed of the three sounds a-u-m (in Sanskrit, the vowels a and u combine to become o) and the symbol’s threefold nature is central to Thousand Petalled Crown Chakra, Two its meaning. It represent several important Petalled Brow Chakra, Sixteen Petalled triads: Throat Chakra (Nepal, 17th Century) The three worlds - earth, atmosphere, and heaven The three major Hindu gods - Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva The three sacred Vedic scriptures - Rig, Yajur, and Sama Brandi LaPointe - HUM206 - Final Project
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Holy Animals of India Elephant
Basawan and Chatar Muni, Akbar and the Elephant Hawai - ca. 1590. Opaque watercolor on paper. The Mughal rulers of India were great patrons of miniature painting. This example, showing the young emperor Akbar bringing the elephant Hawai under control, is also an allegory of his ability to rule.
In modern day India, festivals honoring the elephant-god are celebrated yearly. As with most religious and cultural traditions, some myths, legends and tales are more popular than others. For the Hindu, a special relationship has been formed with the elephant. Perhaps the deity of the elephant began with a prayer being answered, or maybe it came in a dream. The practice of worshipping the elephant has made it a religious symbol that continues to be shared by most Hindus today. Brandi LaPointe - HUM206 - Final Project
13th-century sculpture of the elephant-headed god Ganesha. The elephant-headed Ganesha is one of the most popular Hindu gods – the creator and remover of obstacles. The main stone sculpture in the display was carved from schist around 800 years ago and was originally positioned on the outside of a temple in the eastern state of Orissa.
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Holy Animals of India Lion
In Hinduism, the lion is an avatar Goddess Durga symbolizes the divine (embodiment or personification) of Vishnu. forces (positive energy) known as divine shakti (feminine energy/ power) that is used against the negative forces of evil and wickedness. She protects her devotees from evil powers and safeguards them. It is believed that Goddess Durga is the combined form of powers of Goddesses Lakshmi, Kali and Saraswati. Brandi LaPointe - HUM206 - Final Project
Another relief shown here from Banteay Srey at Angkor. The lion symbolizes strength, wisdom, power, and courage.
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Holy Animals of India Snake
Boar avatar of Vishnu rescuing the earth. Vishnu stands with one foot resting on the coils of a snake king (note the multiple hoods behind his human head), who represents the conquered demon that attempted to abduct the earth. Rows of gods and sages form lines to witness the event.
The temple complex is named the Bering Nag Temple. The Nags (Sanskrit ‘nagas’) are serpent-spirits associated with the mountains, and their images are prominent all over the temple. They are considered to be the inhabitants of a subterranean otherworld, possessed of great wealth and of great knowledge. The serpent image can also represent the esoteric Kundalini; a magical/mystical power held by certain sects powerful in this region to dwell within the human body. The activation of this power is the goal of many meditative systems, and is believed to result in anything from spiritual enlightenment to the acquisition of dark, magical abilities.
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Holy Animals of India Monkey Hanuman, the monkey god, is a very popular deity and is worshipped all over India, specially in villages. His image is found in many forms, often with one head, two arms and a long tail looped over his head. He normally has a monkey’s face on a very well built and strong human body. There are several other forms also including one with ten arms and five heads. Apart from his own, the other heads are of a garuda (half man, half bird), a boar, a horse and a man-lion, representing the five most important avataras of Vishnu.
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Hindu Deities Shiva
Dancing Shiva, rock-cut relief in cave temple, Badami, India, late sixth century. Shiva here dances the cosmic dance and has 18 arms, some holding objects, others forming mudras. Hindu gods often have multiple limbs to indicate their suprahuman nature and divine powers.
Hindu deity Shiva as destroyer of the three cities of the demons 1000-1100 CE central India sandstone. While the god Shiva may appear as ferocious and terrifying, the god Vishnu generally appears as a princely and benevolent being, sometimes even in a charming and playful childlike form. Vishnu, like Shiva, is capable of conquering tremendous adversaries and is likewise armed with various weapons.
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Hindu Deities Vishnu
Shiva Linga Representing Brahma Vishnu ce 9th century
Vishnu is the Preserver of the Universe. Artists frequently portray him with four arms holding various attributes, including a conch-shell trumpet and discus. He sometimes reclines on a serpent floating on the waters of the cosmic sea. When the evil forces of the universe become too strong, he descends to earth to restore balance and assumes different forms (avatars, or incarnations), including a boar, fish, and tortoise, as well as Krishna, the divine lover, and even the Buddha himself. Brandi LaPointe - HUM206 - Final Project
Vishnu Temple Deogarh, India, early 6th century is among the 1st Hindu temples constructed with stone blocks. A simple square building, it has an elaborate doorway at the front and a relief in a niche on each of the other three sides. Sculpted guardians and mithunas protect the doorway.
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Hindu Deities Devi
She is the female counterpart without whom the male aspect, which represents consciousness or discrimination, remains impotent and void. Goddess worship is an integral part of Hinduism. Devi is the Great Goddess who takes many forms and has many names. Hindus worship her alone or as a consort of male gods (Parvati or Uma, wife of Shiva; Lakshmi, wife of Vishnu), as well as Radha, lover of Krishna .She has both benign and horrific forms. She both creates and destroys. In one manifestation, she is Durga, a multiarmed goddess who often rides a lion. Her son is the elephant-headed Ganesha.
Draupadi ratha, which was modeled on a thatched hut and is dedicated to Durga, a form of the goddess Devi. Draupadi is the smallest of the five rathas at the site and is carved out of single long stone of granite. The temple is stated to generate “primal energy� in consonance with the characteristics of deity of Durga; the dwarapalika on the left has a bow in her hand and that on the right has a sword.
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Hindu Deities Ganesha
Endowed with child-like innocence, mischief in eyes and carefree disposition the cool, soft and benign elephant-headed Ganesha is invoked primarily for removing obstacles and assuring a detriment-free beginning. Ganesha is usually depicted either as a pictograph or as an idol with the body of a man and the head of an elephant, having only one tusk, the other tusk appearing broken. His unique feature, besides the elephant head, is the large belly practically falling over his lower garment. On his chest, across his left shoulder, is his sacred thread, often in the form of a snake. The vehicle of Ganesha is the mouse, often seen paying obeisance to his lord.
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Hindu Deities Krishna
Krishna and Radha in a Pavilion, ca. 1760. Opaque watercolor on paper.The love of Krishna (the “Blue God”) for Radha is the subject of this colorful, lyrical, and sensual Pahari watercolor. Krishna’s love was a model of the devotion paid to the Hindu god Vishnu.
Krishna (meaning “dark” or dark-blue”) is one of the most revered and widely worshipped of all the Hindu deities. Krishna born ca. 3200 and 3100 BC is supposedly the embodiment of love and divine joy, is the destroyer of all pain, sin and suffering; in Vaishnava Hinduism He is God Himself. Worshipped as both an avatar (“descent” or “embodiment”) of the Hindu god Vishnu, as well as a complete god in his own right, Krishna is depicted alternatively as a mischievous child, a divine lover, and a spiritual master.
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Significance of Mehndi Art
Mehndi is yet another traditional yet exciting pre wedding ceremony. In India, a lot of emphasis is given on customs and rituals. Indian people are ardent lovers of beauty and elegance. This is what reflects in the Mehndi ceremony before marriage. Mehendi ceremony has been prevalent since ages and forms such an integral part of the wedding ceremony that it cannot be imagined without it. Furthermore, Mehndi is one of the sixteen adornments of the bride and her beauty is incomplete without it.
The Mughals brought Mehendi to India as lately as the 15th century AD. As the use of Mehndi spread, its application methods and designs became more sophisticated. The tradition of Henna or Mehndi originated in North Africa and the Middle East. It is believed to have been in use as a cosmetic for the last 5000 years. Mehndi is very popular with both men and women also as a conditioner and dye for the hair. Mehndi is also applied during the various vratas or fasts, such as Karwa Chauth, observed by married women. Even gods and goddesses are seen to adorn Mehndi designs. A large dot in the center of the hand, with four smaller dots at the sides is an oft seen Mehendi pattern on the palms of Ganesha and Lakshmi. However, its most important use comes in a Hindu Wedding.
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Significance of Mehndi Art
Ganesha is recognized by his elephant head, symbolic of auspiciousness, strength and intellectual prowess. The largest and strongest animal of India, the elephant is gentle, affectionate and loyal; These are also the qualities of Ganesha. Although he is a powerful god, he is known as a loving, forgiving deity. Ganesha’s large head is symbolic of the wisdom of the elephant. His large ears allow him to hear everything yet able to separate good from bad, reality from the unreal.
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Bibliography “South and Southeast Asia after 1200.” Https:// digitalbookshelf.artinstitutes.edu/#/books/. N.p., n.d. Web. “Met Audio Guide Online.” The Metropolitan Museum of Art, I.e. The Met Museum. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 June 2015. BBC News. BBC, n.d. Web. 09 June 2015. “Google Images.” Google Images. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 June 2015.
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