Other Hindu Symbols

Hinduism in its core believes that there is one God and can be seen in different forms. He is Formless and is beyond the limitations of human perception. People needed some symbols so that they could worship god. But this theory doesn't contradict the basis that God is beyond forms.

These symbols are easy to comprehend for the minds of human beings, but at the same time they are just symbols than objects themselves, which means that they symbolically indicate the God, Which is beyond the exploration of knowledge. In a way these Hindu symbols are abstract representation of the God. These are quite closer to the ideal as they form a bridge between the Formless one and the mind that expects a form.

Aum:

This symbol is comprised of three syllables put into one. In Sanskrit the vowel "o" is constitutionally a diphthong compound of a + u; hence OM is representatively written as AUM. The symbol of AUM is formed by three curves (curves 1, 2, and 3), one semicircle (curve 4), and a dot.

The large lower curve forms the waking state (jagrat), in this state the consciousness of a human is turned towards the gate of sense. The larger size of the curve signifies that this is the mos common \state of the human consciousness.

The upper curve represents the state of deep slumber (sushupti) in other words, the unconscious state. This is a state where the human has no desire of anything nor does he have a dream.

The middle curve implies the dream state (swapna). In this state the consciousness of a person is turned inwards, and the person who dreams holds an exciting view of the world.

These are the three states of an individual's consciousness, and since Indian mystic thought believes the entire manifested reality to spring from this consciousness, these three curves represent the entire physical phenomenon.

Swastika:

Usually, most westerners know the swastika symbol as a Nazi symbol. For many centuries swastika has been an auspicious symbol in India and continues to be in common use.

The swastika is considered very holy, and is regularly used to decorate Hindu homes. It is also used in temples and on religious scriptures The swastika is also a symbol of sun god Surya, a representation of all four directions and a symbol of Brahma, the creator. Lord Ganesha is also closely associated with the symbol of swastika.

Lotus:

The lotus flower even though has its roots in the muddy waters, blooms above the water without becoming dirty by the mire below. It is a natural symbol for the person seeking release or moksha, (a person who lives without worldly attachments). The lotus also represents "chakras" or centers of consciousness in the body. According Hindu mythology, the lotus represents creation as the Creator (Brahma) came from a lotus.

Bindi:

One of the most common symbols in Hinduism is the bindi, which is a colored dot placed on the forehead. It is usually a red dot made with vermilion (kumkum). Traditionally, it is worn on the forehead of Hindu women and sometimes-even men - it symbolizes the female energy and is believed to protect from evil. These days, it has become a decorative accessory and is worn not just by Hindus but also by people from other religions as well. It is also no longer in a single color or shape, and they are all self-adhersive.