Hindu iconography

thumb|right|A lingam with tripundra, projected on a [[yoni base]]

Yoni (Sanskrit: योनि, ), sometimes called pindika, is an abstract or aniconic representation of the Hindu goddess Shakti. It is usually shown with linga – its masculine counterpart. Together, they symbolize the merging of microcosmos and macrocosmos, the divine eternal process of creation and regeneration, and the union of the feminine and the masculine that recreates all of existence. The yoni is conceptualized as nature's gateway of all births, particularly in the esoteric Kaula and Tantra practices, as well as the Shaktism and Shaivism traditions of Hinduism.

thumb|Indra (alias Sakra) and [[Shachi riding the five-headed Divine Elephant Airavata, Folio from a Jain text, Panch Kalyanaka (Five Auspicious Events in the Life of Jina Rishabhanatha), c. 1670–1680, Painting in LACMA museum, originally from Amber, Rajasthan]]

In the Hindu tradition, a murti (, ) is a devotional image, such as a statue or icon, of a deity or saint used during puja and/or in other customary forms of actively expressing devotion or reverence – whether at Hindu temples or shrines. A mūrti is a symbolic icon representing divinity for the purpose of devotional activities. Thus, not all icons of gods and saints are mūrti; for example, purely decorative depictions of divine figures often adorn Hindu temple architecture in intricately carved doorframes, on colourfully painted walls, and ornately sculpted rooftop domes. A mūrti itself is not

Nataraja (, ; , Naṭarājar), also known as Adalvallan (), is a depiction of Shiva, one of the main deities in Hinduism, as the divine cosmic dancer. His dance is called the tandava. The pose and artwork are described in many Hindu texts such as the Tevaram and Thiruvasagam in Tamil and the Amshumadagama and Uttarakamika agama in Sanskrit and the Grantha texts. The dance murti is featured in all major Hindu temples of Shaivism, and is a well-known sculptural symbol in India and popularly used as a symbol of Indian culture, as one of the finest illustrations of Hindu art. This form is also referr

300px|thumb|The eight Matrikas riding different vahanas like (top row, second from left to right) Garuda, a peacock, Nandi bull, a hamsa (goose/swan); (bottom row, from left) buffalo, elephant and lion Vāhana () or vahanam () denotes the being, typically an animal or mythical entity, a particular Hindu deity is said to use as a vehicle. In this capacity, the vāhana is often called the deity's "mount". Upon the partnership between the deity and his vāhana is woven much iconography and Hindu theology. Deities are often depicted riding (or simply mounted upon) the vāhana. Other times, the vāhana

thumb|upright=1.25|These ammonite fossils serve as a non-anthropomorphic symbol of Vishnu.

thumb|A four-armed bodhisattva, the lower right hand displaying varada mudra thumb|Bodhisattva making varadamudra. Pala period, 12th century.

thumb|Miniature, c. 1780|260x260px Gajalakshmi (), also spelt as Gajalaxmi, is a prominent representation of the goddess Lakshmi, the Hindu deity of wealth, prosperity, and fertility, depicted with two elephants on either side. This representation symbolises not only the divine blessings of wealth and prosperity but also embodies themes of fertility and royal authority.

thumb|upright|Hindu man, wearing tripundra In Hinduism, vibhuti (), also called bhasmam or tirunīru, is sacred ash made of burnt dried wood, burnt cow dung and/or cremated bodies used in Agamic rituals. Devotees of Shiva apply vibhuti traditionally as three horizontal lines across the forehead (also known as tripundra) and other parts of the body.

thumb|260x260px|Iconography of the Panchajanya on a temple wall Panchajanya (, ) is the shankha (conch) of the Hindu preserver deity Vishnu, one of his four primary attributes. The Panchajanya symbolises the five elements, and is considered to produce the primeval sound of creation when blown.

religious symbol

thumb|Bhutesvara Yakshis (2nd century CE), [[Mathura art]]

Upapurana given with the Brihaddharma Purana

manifestation of Vishnu in Hinduism

thumb|A group of surasundaris on Lakshmana Temple, Khajuraho|Lakshmana Temple in [[Khajuraho]]

thumb|A Hindu flag from the temple Maa Naina Devi, Nainital, Uttarakhand, India|260x260px thumb|220px|right|Dhvaja (Victory banner) – pole design with silk scarfs, on the background the Potala Palace

thumb|Ashtavinayaka with an Om featured in the centre

Five elements in Ayurveda and Hindu cosmology

thumb|300px|A depiction of Somaskanda with a dancing Skanda in the middle of Parvati and [[Shiva .]]

iconic symbols with spiritual meaning in Hinduism

thumb|A murti statuette of [[Vishnu made from Panchaloha]] Panchaloha (), also called Pañcadhātu (), is a term for traditional five-metal alloys of sacred significance, used for making Hindu temple murti and jewellery.

thumb|Plaster replica of the Ashtamurti form of Shiva, 6th century CE. On display in the Prince of Wales Museum, Mumbai.

In Asian art a lotus throne is a stylized lotus flower used as the seat or base for a figure

thumb|A Gupta era one-faced mukhalinga, [[Bhumara]] thumb|A four-faced mukhalinga, 10th century, Asian Art Museum of San Francisco|Asian Art Museum

thumb|280x280px|Depiction of Kalyanasundara, Ellora caves.

thumb|Granite figure of Vishnu, India, 16th century CE. National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh.

The panchavimshatimurti () is the representation of twenty-five forms of Shiva in Hindu iconography. These forms are described in the Shaiva Agamas of the southern Shaiva Siddhanta sect of Shaivism. The Sritattvanidhi calls these the panchavimshatililamurti (twenty-five sportive forms). These forms are based on the Puranas and the Itihasas, in which the theme of Shiva's divine play is explained with numerous narratives. Most of these forms are featured in South Indian temples as the main images of the sanctum or sculptures and reliefs in the outer walls of Shiva temples.

thumb|Shiva, [[Chola bronze, 12th-century]] thumb|Chinese wooden Guanyin in "royal ease" pose, [[Song dynasty]]

thumb|Panchamukha Shiva, 16th century, Ayutthaya. Photograph from the National Museum, Bangkok, Thailand. Panchamukha (), also rendered Panchamukhi, is a concept in Hindu iconography in which a deity is represented with five heads. Several Hindu deities are depicted with five faces in their iconography, such as Hanuman, Shiva, Brahma, Ganesha, and Gayatri.

lotus attribute of Vishnu

thumb|Ivory depiction of Vishnu as Adimurti 293x293px|thumb|Statue of Adimurti at the National Museum of Indonesia

processional idols in Hinduism

thumb|The Vaijayanti, Karnataka

Hindu sacred symbol dedicated to Lord Ganesha