Objects used in Hindu worship

thumb|Altar in Roskilde Cathedral|Roskilde Lutheran Cathedral beneath a carved [[reredos]] An altar is a table or platform for the presentation of religious offerings, for sacrifices, or for other ritualistic purposes. Altars are found at shrines, temples, churches, and other places of worship. They are used particularly in Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, and modern paganism. Many historical-medieval faiths also made use of them, including the Roman, Greek, and Norse religions.

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

human-powered wheelless vehicle for the transport of persons

A garland is a decorative braid, knot or wreath of flowers, leaves, or other material. Garlands can be worn on the head or around the neck, hung on an inanimate object, or laid in a place of cultural or religious importance. In contemporary times, garlands are used to decorate, especially around holidays. thumb|Tinsel garlands on a Christmas tree

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

A japamala, ', or simply mala' (; , meaning 'garland') is a loop of prayer beads commonly used in Indian religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism. It is used for counting recitations (japa) of mantras, prayers or other sacred phrases. It is also worn to ward off evil, to count repetitions within some other form of sadhana (spiritual practice) such as prostrations before a holy icon. They are also used as symbols of religious identification.

thumb|A woman with a tilaka on her forehead In Hinduism, the tilaka, colloquially known as a tika, is a mark usually adorning the forehead at the point of the ajna chakra (third eye or spiritual eye) and sometimes other parts of the body such as the neck, hand, chest, or the arm. The tilaka may be applied daily for decorative purposes, as a symbol of religious affiliation, for rites of passage, or other special spiritual and religious occasions, dependent on regional custom. It is also used to honour and welcome someone upon arrival.

thumb|The Upanayana ceremony in progress in Nepal. Traditionally, this ritual was for 7, 9, and 11 year olds in South Asia, but is now practiced for all ages as seen above.

thumb|upright=1.3|A rangoli on the occasion of Diwali, Goa, India thumb|A rangoli made with flowers on the occasion of Onam thumb|Rangoli at Delhi, India Rangoli is an art form that originates from the Indian subcontinent, in which patterns are created on the floor or a tabletop using materials such as powdered limestone, red ochre, dry rice flour, coloured sand, quartz powder, flower petals, and coloured rocks. It is an everyday practice in some Hindu households; however, making it is mostly reserved for festivals and other important celebrations, as rangolis are time-consuming. Rangolis are

right|thumb|200px|Naivedya offered to Radha Krishna in Sri Maya Chandrodaya Mandir in [[Mayapur, India]]

A damaru (, ; Tibetan ཌ་མ་རུ་ or རྔ་ཆུང) is a small two-headed drum used in Hinduism and Tibetan Buddhism. In Hinduism, the damaru is known as the instrument of the Hindu deity Shiva, associated with Tantric traditions. It is said to be created by Shiva to produce spiritual sounds by which the whole universe has been created and regulated. In Tibetan Buddhism, the damaru is used as an instrument in meditation practices.

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

thumb|Carved conches or Vamavarta shankhas, , Pala Empire|Pala period, India: The leftmost one is carved with the image of [[Lakshmi and Vishnu, and has silver additions.]] thumb|A shankha, 19th century thumb|A Shankha (conch shell) with Vishnu emblem carved

oil or ghee based candle from South Asia

leaf of the banana plant

thumb|The Pūrṇa-Kalaśa or Pūrṇa-Ghaṭa with "Padmotpalakumudvat" - overflowing pot with Nelumbo|Padma (lotus), Utpala (blue water-lily) and Kumuda (white water-lily), 1st century BCE depiction.

thumb|right|Goat-hide and horse-hair Hausa people|Hausa fly-whisk, from near [[Maradi, Niger, early 1960s, ]] __NOTOC__ A fly-whisk (or fly-swish) is a tool that is used to swat flies. A similar device is used as a hand fan in hot tropical climates, sometimes as part of regalia, and is called a chowrie, chāmara, or prakirnaka in South Asia and Tibet.

thumb|The ingredients of panchamrita: (clockwise from bottom right) milk, curd, sugar (or jaggery), honey and ghee

thumb|Small and big ghanta in Changu Narayan Temple, Nepal Ghanta (Sanskrit: घण्टा, IAST: ghaṇṭā; Tibetan: drilbu) is the Sanskrit term for a ritual bell used in Hindu religious practices. The ringing of the bell produces what is regarded as an auspicious sound. Hindu temples generally have one metal bell hanging at the entrance and devotees ring the bell while entering the temple which is an essential part in preparation of having a darshan. A bell is also rung by the pujari during pūjā or yajna – during the waving of light, burning of incense in front of the deity, while bathing the deity, a

thumb|A brass kamaṇḍalu, held by a sadhu. Kamandalu () is an oblong water pot, originating from the Indian subcontinent, made of a dry gourd (pumpkin) or coconut shell, metal, wood of the kamaṇḍalataru tree, or from clay, usually with a handle and sometimes with a spout. Hindu ascetics or yogis often use it for storing drinking water. The water-filled kamaṇḍalu, which is invariably carried by ascetics, is stated to represent a simple and self-contained life.

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.

Religious ritual in Hinduism

A pandal is a fabricated structure, either temporary or permanent, that is used at many places such as either outside a building or in an open area such as along a public road or in front of a house in India and other neighbouring countries. This canopy or big tent is often used in a religious or other events that gathers people together, such as a wedding, fair, exhibition or festival. thumb|250px

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

Dhupa (धुप) is, in Indian religions (such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, etc.), the ritual offering of incense during puja to an image of a deity, or other object of veneration. It is also the Sanskrit word for incense or perfume itself.

Sanskrit term for a riceball used in Hindu rituals

Bhoga () is a Sanskrit term meaning "enjoyment; pleasure; experience". Etymologically, bhoga is derived from the root bhuj-, meaning to "enjoy", "consume" or "relish". Bhoga in general usage refers to the consecrated food offering to a deity or enjoyment of worldly pleasures.

thumb|A set of Xorais on display thumb|Two extra large Xorais being used by the roadside welcoming visitors to Kaziranga National Park The Xorai (), a manufactured bell metal product is one of the traditional symbols of Assam, which is considered as an article of great respect by the people of Assam. In simplistic terms it is an offering tray with a stand at the bottom which is used in felicitations also. There are Xorais with or without a cover on the top. Hajo and Sarthebari are the most important centers of traditional bell-metal and brass crafts in Assam.

Religious construction for Tulsi plant at homes

plates made of leaves

thumb|A brass dhunachi used for performing Arti (Hinduism)|aarti in Bengali Hindu religious events, including [[Durga Puja]] Dhunachi is a Bengali incense burner (commonly used in conjunction with Indian frankincense or dhuno () for traditional ceremonies) used for one of the stages during arti (ritualised worship). It is often used following the arti with the pradip (a lamp with an odd number of wicks).

alt=|thumb|A large Banalinga recovered from Saraswati River (Bengal)|Saraswati River at [[Andul in c.1650 AD.]] A Banalinga is a stone of a type found in the riverbed of parts of the Narmada River in Madhya Pradesh state, India, formed by natural processes of erosion into a shape resembling a lingam, an aniconic form of the Hindu deity Shiva. They are smooth ellipsoid stones that are regarded as manifestations of the deity, based on either the scriptures or cultural traditions among the Hindus, particularly of the Shaivas and Smarta Brahmins.