Hinduism Symbols?

Question

What is the main symbol that represents Hinduism?

Answer 1

The most powerful and the significant one is the single-syllabled incantation called the Pranava. This is the OM.

The available literature upon the significances of the Vedic mantra is almost voluminous. Nowhere in the world can we meet with a more sacred symbol that has got such a vast amount of significance.

From Vedic times until the present day the word 'OM' has been taken as a symbol and as an aid to meditation by spiritual aspirants. It is accepted both as one with 'Brahman' and as the medium, the Logos, connecting man and God. The entire history of the syllable is in the revelations of the Vedas and in the declarations of the Upanishads.

The sound of OM is also called 'Pranava', meaning, that it is something that pervades life, or runs through prana or breath.

Speaking of OM, the Taittiriya Upanishad says: "Thou art the sheath of Brahman.' That is, OM is the container for the Supreme and, therefore, invoking OM is invoking the Supreme.

In every piece of music there are three aspects, namely (1) the meaning of the song; (2) the laws of music, and (3) the sound of the song. Similarly, on OM there are three aspects. The first is the mere sound, the mere mantra as pronounced by the mouth; the second is the meaning of the syllable, which is to be realized through feeling; and the third is the application of OM to your character, singing it in your acts, and so through your life.

OM represents the Self which is the Supreme Nondual Reality. The Self is known in four states, namely, the waking state, the dream state, the deep-sleep state, and the fourth state called the turiya. All these states are represented in the three sounds of OM (i.e., A, U, M***), and the silence that follows and surrounds the syllable.

The sound A represents the waking state; the sound U represents the dream state, and the sound M represents the deep sleep state. The waking state is superimposed on the A sound because it is the first of the three states of consciousness, and so is the sound A the very first of the letters of the alphabet – in all languages. The dream is but a view within the mind of the impressions that had reflected on the surface of the mental lake during the waking state. Besides, the dream state occurs between the waking and the deep-sleep state, and comes second among the three states of consciousness. And so, U, being next to A in order of sounds, and also since it is between A and M, is treated as representing the dream state. On the M sound of OM is superimposed the deep-sleep state. The comparison between the last sound of the OM and sleep lies in that it is the closing sound of the syllable, just as deep sleep is the final stage of the mind in rest. A short pregnant silence is inevitable between two successive OMs. On this silence is superimposed the idea of the fourth state, known as turiya. This is the state of Perfect Bliss when the individual Self recognises the identity with the Supreme.

You may visit the below link to have a look at the symbol OM.

Answer 2

i'm no longer constructive of what Hindu image you're relating? Their are many symbols, the english language is symbolic each and every letter blend creates contained in the viewer a idea. The symbols symbolize an idea, or "accepted reality" such as the idea of viewing the stop signal. We comply with its meaning, yet rolling stops and blowing even with the actuality that the signal are effortless. an identical is authentic with faith as an finished.

Answer 3

ScotchPines gave the most universal one, and is correct in a way... there are just so many symbols, but the "OHM" is the most universal.

_()_

Answer 4

Om ... I am sorry that I cannot draw one for you here, but you can find the "picture" of it in Devanagari script .... just type out "Om" .

Peace & Love