Sacred Hindu Symbols

Contents Preface 7 List of Photographs 11 1 Signs and Symptoms of Hinduism 13 2 Sacred Hindu Scriptures: An Overview 15 3 The Hindu Pantheism 19 4 Sacred Animal Symbols 27 5 The Mysticism of Mantra 30 6 The Mystic Mantra 'OM' 33 7 The Sacred 'Gayatri' Mantra 36 8 The Sacred Swastika 38 9 Symbol of Temple Worship 41 10 The Symbolic Water and Sacred Rivers 44 11 Namaskar or Pranam: The Sacred Posture of Hindu Salutation 47 12 The Sacred Sikha 49 13 The Sivalinga 50 14 Tripundra: The Shaivite Tilaks 58 15 Salagram Shila 63 16 Urdhapundra: The Vaishnavite Tilaks 70 17 Sankha - The Sacred Conch 77 18 The Symbolism of Sacred Trees 81 19 Rudraksha: The Tears of Shiva 84 20 The Sacred Tulsi 93 21 The Sacred Bilva Tree 98 22 The Sacred Vata Vriksha 100 23 The Sacred Peepal Tree 102 24 The Sacred Kadali Tree 104 25 Mango Tree 106 26 Betel Leaf or Pan 107 27 Durba Grass 109 28 Soma Plant 110 29 Sacred Karpura 111 30 Sacred Flowers 112 Select Bibliography 113 Index 116