LI To know some Hindu Symbols What

LI: To know some Hindu Symbols

What do we mean when we talk about symbols? • Do all religions have symbols?

The Hindu Symbol of Aum (Om) This symbol is the most important and special symbol in Hinduism. Aum represents the Brahman (from where the whole universe came). Sacred syllable First sound of creation

The Hindu Swastika The swastika is a very holy symbol representing the sun god Surya. It also shows how Hinduism is about every part/direction of your life. Represents good luck Which four directions could this mean?

Trident/ Trishul • The trihsula (also spelled trishul or tris ula, Sanskrit for "three spear") is a trident spear that is the emblem of the god Shiva. The weapon symbolizes empire and the irresistible force of transcendental reality.

Trident/Trishul • The three prongs of the trishula represent Shiva's three aspects of: • creator, • preserver • destroyer • as well as the three shaktis (powers): • will • action • wisdom • The fearsome goddess Durga also brandishes a trishula in one of her seven hands.

The lotus flower Hindus believe the Creator Brahma came from a lotus flower. The lotus is also important in Hinduism, as, despite coming from muddy waters, it becomes a beautiful flower. People too should become kind and good and should never turn in to bad people.

Coconut… • The coconut's rough exterior fibers look like hairs, and its round shape and three eyes resemble a face. For this reason the coconut has been used to represent the three eyes of the Hindu god Shiva. The coconut can also symbolize a proud heart as it is has a rough exterior but the fruit within is sweet and tender.

Coconut… • During puja, Hindus make an offering to the deity and receive a blessing in return. Both the fruit and leaves of a coconut may be used during puja. The coconut fruit is used to represent a divine consciousness and is often displayed with its leaves in a copper pot called a kalasha.

Bindi… • a dot worn on women's foreheads. It is a form of the tilak, a symbolic mark worn by many Hindu men and women, but has less religious connotations than other tilaks.

Bindi • The bindi is a way of accentuating the third eye, the area between the eyebrows where attention is focused during meditation. Men and women often apply a tilak after a puja ritual or on other religious occasions as a way of invoking religious feelings, concentration and focus. Sometimes a woman's bindi represents sectarian affiliation, like the men's tilak, but this is less common.

Sindoor/a • Sindoor is the mark of a married woman in Hinduism. Single women wear the dot in different colors ("bindi" in Hindi) but do not apply sindoorin their maang. Hindu widows do not wear sindoor, signifying that their husband is no longer alive.

Tilaka • The tilak (Sanskrit tilaka, "mark") is a mark worn on the forehead and other parts of the body for spiritual reasons. • On a man, the tilak takes the form of different lines, indicating his religious affiliation. On women, a tilak usually takes the form of a decorative dot (or Bindi), which usually denotes marriage and auspiciousness, but which has its own symbolism. In a woman's case a Tilaka is a sign of her being in wedlock Among men, the Tilaka has been traditionally interpreted as a good luck charm.

Group work • Presentations will be done Friday • Four groups of Three • Rubric – When celebrated (1) – Date celebrated (1) – Significance (1) – Three important things done (6) – Two pictures (1) • Festivals – Mahashivaraatri – Krishna Janam Ashtami – Rama Nami – Nava raatri – Holi – Diwali (Use the Believers All text to assist with information)

Mahashivaraatri – the night of Shiva • is celebrated with devotion and religious fervor in honor of Lord Shiva, one of the deities of Hindu Trinity. Shivaratri falls on the moonless 14 th night of the new moon in the Hindu month of Phalgun/February- March in English Calendar. Celebrating the festival of Shivaratri devotees observe day and night fast and perform ritual worship of Shiva Lingam to appease Lord Shiva lingam/linga usually represented by a phallus

Krishna Janam… This festival is celebrated on two days, once on the actual day ( Janam Ashtami) of his birth in prison at Mathura, and the next day (Krishna Jayanthi) on his being discovered in the house of Nand Yashoda at Gokul. According to the Mythology and scriptures Krishna plays an enlightening role in the Mahabharatha (Great epic) giving us the life enduring message from the Bhagavat Gita.

Krishna Janam… • This is the festival of sweets and revives the childhood stages of Krishna. The Lord is worshipped with offerings – milk, curd, butter, cream, honey and avvalakki (all are Krishna’s favourites), variety of fruits and flowers along with lots and lots of sweets and savouries.

Krishna Janam… • People decorate the idols of God with flowers and decorate the Lord with silk and jewelery. They arrange dolls/idols depicting the childhood of Krishna in the cradle, stealing butter, playing with the Gopikas, Mother Yashodha viewing the Vishwa Roopa Darshana, Krishna with Radha etc.

Krishna Janam… • Rangolis (sacred, coloured designs/patterns decorated on floor) are drawn in front of the houses with various colours. Special foot steps of Lord is made as if baby entering the house. The Puja is performed in at midnight of Janam Ashtami. People arrange for Bhajans (Devotional songs) and Sathsang (singing in Bhajans).

Rama Nami • A festival that celebrates the birth of Lord Rama the son of King Dasharath. Usually falls in the month of April • Some people choose to fast. The diet of such a person would include potatoes made in any form without haldi (turmeric), garlic, ginger or onion. He can also eat fruit and root vegetables of any kind. Curd, tea, coffee, milk, and water are also permitted.

Rama Nami/Rama Navami • First, the youngest female member of the family applies teeka to all the male members of the family. A red bindi is applied on the foreheads of all the female members. Everyone participates in the puja by first sprinkling the water, roli, and aipun on the gods and then showering handfuls of rice on the deities. Then everybody stands up to perform the arti at the end of which ganga jal or plain water is sprinkled over the gathering. The singing of bhajans goes on for the entire puja. Finally, the prasad is distributed among all the people who have gathered for worship.

Nava raatri • Navaratri, Dussehra, and Durga Puja • The first nine days of this festival are known as Navaratri, and are filled with dance in honor of the Mother Goddess. The tenth day, called Dussehra, is devoted to celebrating the defeat of the demon king Ravana by Lord Rama.

Nava raatri • It also coincides with the victory of the revered warrior Goddess Durga over the evil buffalo demon Mahishasura. • In eastern India, the festival is observed as Durga Puja. Huge statues of the Goddess are made and immersed in the holy Ganges River. The festival is an extremely social and theatrical event, with drama, dance, and cultural performances held throughout the country.

Holi – festival of colours • Holi is a two day festival that also celebrates the victory of good over evil, as well as the abundance of the spring harvest season. People exuberantly throw colored powder and water all over each other, have parties, and dance under water sprinklers. Bhang(a paste made from cannabis plants) is also traditionally consumed during the celebrations.

Holi

Diwali/Deepawali. Festival of light • The biggest and the brightest of all Hindu festivals. It's the festival of lights (deep= light and avali = a row i. e. , a row of lights) that's marked by four days of celebration, which literally illumines the country with its brilliance, and dazzles all with its joy.

Diwali/Deepawali • Diwali is a five day festival that represents the start of the Hindu New Year. It's known as the "Festival of Lights" for all the fireworks, small clay lamps, and candles that are lit during the celebrations. These lights are said to represent the victory of good over evil, and brightness over darkness.