Questions tagged [symbolism]
Questions about symbols and iconography, which are used to symbolizing the ideas and concepts of philosophical and spiritual meanings behind.
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What does the colour Saffron signify? What do shastras say about that colour?
Does the colour Saffron/kashayam have any symbolism behind it?
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Dreaming of Chiranjeevis
Today I got a dream of a man who claimed to be there since the start of the world, he was pale with no eyes, he told me if you want to visualize a face just imagine it. The rest of the dream is just ...
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Is Bhagwan Vishnu's color Blue or White?
As per shantakaram shlok - meghvarn whereas as per shuklam bardharam shlok - shashivarna. So, What's the actual colour of Vishnu?
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Chakra roses and the Tudor Rose?
I'm curious about the rose petal representation of the chakras - what are the origins and are they universal. And also by extension - It seems there are several in the Tudor Rose?
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What is the symbolic significance of Maa Lakshmi offering bel fruit (Shree Phal) during her Shiv Puja.?
Disclaimer.: My intetion is not to hurt the sentiments of any sampradaya or infact anyone. As every Pouranik story has an inner symbolic meaning behind it. Hope u will understand.
Note.: I am ...
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Hindu Symbolism Of Kali Maa Earrings
Kali Maa’s earrings are dead bodies of babies, like this is from Exotic India book excerpt description :
“her ornaments are a garland or necklace of severed human heads, girdle of severed human arms, ...
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Symbolism & Figurative Meaning Of Samudra Manthan
Could possibly recommend commentary of Hindu texts that explains the symbolism of Samudra Manthan ?
What is the figurative meaning of it ?
Is it meditation in the brain brings up :
bad stuff, ...
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Symbolism behind Shiva holding deer in his hand?
What is the reasons/significance of Shiva holding deer in his hand?
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What is the symbolic meaning of Goddess Kali's garland and girdle?
Long back, I read in a Bengali article that her garland of skulls represents 51 Sanskrit alphabets. Together it represents the visible universe, which is nothing but a collection of names and forms (...
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Description of Lord Vishnu
I've read in slokams and places where it is mentioned that Lord Srinivas/Vishnu adorns Kausthubham and wears Peethambaram.
I searched in Google but unable to find what it actually means?
Can someone ...
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Is there any specific significance attached with green colored Hanuman-murtis?
Found this photo online, and this is unlike any color depiction of Hanuman, I have seen yet. Mostly, red or orange depictions, I have come across.
Is this depiction a canonical one? Or based on any ...
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What's the significance of bathing a King's waist with mud sourced from a Prostitute-brothel?
In the Agni Mahā-Purāṇa, we have verses in reference to the procedure of a King's coronation ceremony.
In the rituals involving cleansing the "to-be King's" body, we get the following -
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What does snake in the hands of apasmAra signify?
In Shiva's Nataraj form, there's a demon crushed by Shiva called apasmAra which holds a snake if one looks closely. What does this snake signify according to scriptures?
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Why Lord Balarāma is referred as 'Palm-tree bannered'? Is he 'palm-bannered (Tāla-dhvaja)' or 'plough-bannered (Sīrā-dhvaja)'?
It is well known that the god Viṣṇu (Kṛṣṇa) is known as Garuḍa-dhvaja - i.e. the Garuḍa-bannered deity, and god Śiva as Vṛṣabha-dhvaja - the bull-bannered deity.
In the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam Mahā-Purāṇa, ...
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Which other texts besides Padma Purāṇa describe a deity having scriptures as parts of their body?
In the Svarga Khaṇḍa of the Padma Purāṇa, we get a beautiful composition, where various Purāṇas are described as parts of the body of Śrī Hari Viṣṇu himself.
Here's the description:
श्रीपाद्मे महापुरा...
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Significance of Hanuman's sitting posture?
In many images, Lord Hanuman is shown as sitting in a particular posture seen in the images given below:
Here, he is kneeling down with the left knee touching the ground and the right leg is placed ...
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Why does the half-moon symbolize timelessness in Hinduism?
I've often seen Lord Shiva with 'half-moon' on his head which, I was told, as the timelessness of Lord Shiva; meaning Lord Shiva is beyond 'time' or he's the master of time and space as per Hindu ...
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Scriptural Reference that say - "a Banyan tree represents Shiva"?
The Vaṭ, Bargad, or the Indian Banyan tree ( Ficus benghalensis ) is one of the most venerated trees within Hinduism.
Several times, it's told by people that the tree is a combined representation of ...
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Vomitting knowledge as food - is it an allegory?
SOURCE
Yajnavalkya was the son of Devavrata and the student of the renowned sage Vaisampayana. Once Vaisampayana got angry with Yajnavalkya as the latter argued too much about the inclusion of some ...
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Are Puranic stories symbolic? [duplicate]
Quora scholar
According to him purans are symbolic, there storys are symbolic.
So is it true, is this the way ancient scholar have interpretated Puranas?
what is the opinion of majority of puranic ...
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Is there any esoteric meaning of Hanuman Chalisa?
Is there any esoteric meaning of Hanuman Chalisa ?
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Why do many Gods and Goddesses bear a serpent? [duplicate]
I've observed that many Gods in one form or the other bear a serpent. For example, Devi Durga holds a serpent in one hand. Is there a spiritual significance to this?
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Do Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva represent Cosmic Energy, Cosmic Space and Cosmic Time?
Are there any interpretations of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva representing Cosmic Energy, Cosmic Space and Cosmic Time?
If not, what exactly do Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva represent symbolically?
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Significance of Symbol from Asura's Wrath [duplicate]
In the above image, at the mid-bottom section of the screen, is shown a symbol, of whose origin i do not know, appearing within the final fight between Asura and Chakravartin in the game: Asura's ...
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Why is Goddess Kali's depiction so scary? Do we get less scared of her image as we shed our ego?
I was wondering why Goddess Kali's image is so scary. She is said to be a mother that is compassionate and loving to her children.
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Is there any religious significance of saffron flag as per our scriptures?
Modern Hindu organisations usually use saffron triangular flag as a unanimously accepted symbol of Hinduism. However, does the flag or colour have any significance as per authentic Hindu scriptures?
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Why Saligram is considered symbol of Vishnu?
We can understand that Shiva linga/lingum depicts entire universe or to say existence. But, Saligram is a fossile of a creature of a type Ammonite. What could be the possible reason behind considering ...
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What is the reason behind men/women tying a waist band?
I have seen many men wearing a waist band or thread around their waist, red or black color. It's called Karbuta in Marathi. Is there any significance behind wearing it?
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Why third eye is vertically placed?
I am bit curious to understand why is the third eye in Shiva/Shakti depicted vertically not horizontally like the other two eyes, is there any specific reason/logic behind that or is it just ...
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What does three steps of Vamana avataar symbolize?
I very well understand the story of Bali and Vamana but as a common man I would like to understand what exactly does three steps of Vamana (Vishnu avataar) symbolize?
Any commentaries on this topic by ...
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Does any scripture mention that forms of God or Goddess are symbolic?
Often I read different interpretations of the Forms of God. For example, the ten hands of Durga repesent the ten directions, the standing of Kali over Shiva repesent the Saguna Brahman or Prakriti ...
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What is implied by the Tribhanga form of God or Goddess?
Lord Sri Krishna is known as 'Tribhanga MurAri', as shown in the enclosed image. As per the Dhyana-Mantra of Goddess Durga, She is also having a Tribhanga form.
What exactly is meant or signified by ...
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Meaning of Bhartrihari verse on Brahma and a swan's ability to separate milk from the water
Verse 18 from Bhartihari's Nītiśataka says:
ambhojinī-vana-vihāra-vilāsam eva
haṃsasya hanti nitarāṃ kupito
vidhātā |
na tv asya dugdha-jala-bheda-vidhau prasiddhāṃ
vaidagdha-kīrtim ...
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What is the significance of PAsha and Ankusha?
What is the importance PAsha and Ankusha in Devi's hands?
I didn't see these in Sri Parvathi's hands, as Sri Parvathi either holding Kumara in one hand and Lotus in another hand, when along with ...
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Why is the holding of Chakra different in different images of Vishnu
In northern parts of India, Sri Vishnu holds Sudarshana Chakra on His forefinger. But in the Southern parts of India, He is seen holding the chakra within two fingers (as seen in the enclosed images).
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What does Shiva purana says about Shiva wear tiger skin and hold a trishul with damru? [duplicate]
[
According to Shiv puran when did Lord Shiva start to wear tiger skin and hold a trishul with damru? Does it describes any story about it. I have heard that Shiva had killed a tiger and wrapped the ...
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Are mythologies real (historical) or merely allegorical?
Are all mythologies real or are they stories or symbolic things meant to teach us something higher?
I know that we (individuals) too are not so real as far as Vedanta is concerned. All is one. But ...
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Did Bhima have the strength of 10000 elephants?
I remember a story to that effect - is it in the Mahabharata?
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What is meant by Lord Vishnu as protector?
I would like a more detailed meaning of this. Whom does he protect? From what does he protect?
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What is the symbolic meaning behind the siva-sakthi triangle?
What is the symbolic meaning behind the siva-sakthi triangle?
I know there are several variations of symbols that can represent her, but what does this upside-down triangle with the dot in the ...
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What is the message that Lord Krishna giving to us stealing butter? [duplicate]
We all know that Krishna is god, but he also stolen butter in his childhood, so what someone can perceive good in that?
How can we look into it in a positive way?
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What is the significance of bride leading the groom during Saptapadi?
This question has nothing to do with feminism or anything else. In Vedic or Hindu religion every step has deep meaning or significance. I know the significance of sacred oaths taken during Saptapadi. ...
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Why does Devi Mantras contain the name of the Demons She slayed?
Goddess Durga got her name after slaying the Demon Durgamasur, there are mantras such as "Om Durgaye namaha", She got the name Mahishashura Mardini after slaying Demon Mahishashur, again there are ...
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What is the Laghunyasam recited before Sri Rudram? What does it symbolize and represent?
Sri Rudram Laghunyasam
The above is a question about the "Why" of Laghunyasam. The time, precautions and reasons. However my question is not the same and I ask for what Laghunyasam symbolizes and ...
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What is the meaning of Karni Mata's description as a woman with a head in her hand?
What's the meaning of Karni Mata's depiction as a woman with a head in hand, a lion behind her and rats on the floor? What is her story?
Also known as Shri Karniji Maharaj, she is worshiped as the
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What are the symbolisms associated with the fingers of the hands?
I read somewhere recently that with your palm facing you and going clockwise (anti-clockwise if left hand), starting from the middle finger, the Panchabhuta in order of creation are represented. To be ...
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What is the significance of Lord Ayyappa's sitting posture?
Lord Ayyappa is mostly shown as sitting in a peculiar posture. Like shown in the images given below:
When i checked his Dhyana Sloka in order to find out whether this posture is any particular ...
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What are different symbolic representations behind lingam?
I know shiva lingam is call Mark of God, some shiva lingams are phallic symbols mainly in tantric traditions, some represent brahmand, I want to know what different scriptures say about different ...
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What does Shiva's third eye signify? [duplicate]
I am not a scholar of Hinduism but I think Shiva's third eye is not a physical eye but it represents the deepest knowledge of nature and its actions.
Shiva reached the deepest state of meditation ...
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Why is the queen required to sleep next to the dead horse at the end of Aśvamedha Yajña?
From the Wikipedia article on Aśvamedha Yajña:
After this, the horse, a hornless he-goat, and a wild ox (go-mrga, Bos gaurus) are bound to sacrificial stakes near the fire, and seventeen other ...
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