Hindu Iconography

Lesson Overview

In order to understand how the image has been conceptualized and created at different historical periods and in different cultures, we will now examine significant contributions of Hinduism as a religion, a philosophy, and a way of life, and how each of these was represented by a highly developed aesthetic sensibility. While Judaism, Christianity and ancient Greece have been fundamental to the history of Western culture, Hinduism (which predates all three) represents a cultural achievement which has shaped India, first of all, as well as neighbouring countries in south-east Asia. The spread of Hindu culture can be seen in countless ways, from the extensive ruins of Angkor in Cambodia, to the day-to-day rituals and observances of the people on the island of Bali.

We will glimpse the complexity of Hinduism by moving from the particularity of pictograms, symbols, and emblems to the images of their polytheistic gods, while also examining the various meanings of body positions and hand gestures used in dance and yoga. The inter-relationship of these images will allow us to define some of the central elements of Hinduism as a form of thought as well as its influence in the creation of Buddhist doctrine and life.

Hindu Iconography: Pictograms and Emblems

Hinduism is, first of all, represented by a rich textual heritage. It does not have one holy book (as the Qur’an of Islam), but many sacred texts such as the Vedas, each of them devoted to the representation of rituals and daily life in India extending back to 2000 B.C.E. The Upanishads, another important collection of texts, are filled with spiritual and philosophical knowledge on how to conduct oneself in life.

Pictograms

Hinduism is especially prominent as a religion of images. To begin with, we can analyze what have been described as pictograms, symbols with a particular meaning that contribute to defining the various elements of Hinduism. All pictograms represent divine principles. They are often geometric in shape and composition. Three in particular can be briefly described.

Hindu Iconography: Pictograms and Emblems

Pictograms

Aum/Om

Aum (or, more commonly, Om) is perhaps the best known Hindu symbol and is considered more sacred than all the others. It designates both the soul and ultimate reality beyond the world of mere appearance. It is both a visible symbol found in Hindu sacred writings and an audible sound; it can be repeated, for example, during mediation and recited during ceremonies.

Swastika

One shape in particular will seem familiar to many of us, though it has a completely different meaning than it did for the Nazi regime of Germany. The swastika is the Hindu symbol for male and female energy and is a universal principle; it can be seen in many temple complexes throughout south-east Asia, in part because it was also adopted by Buddhism. The swastika comes from the ancient language of India (Sanskrit) and is made up of su, which means well, and asti which means being. It represents auspiciousness and therefore ensures that the future will be beneficial.

Yantra

Another familiar image in Hinduism is called the yantra. It is made up of several inter-related shapes that individually represent the unattainable divine, eternity, and heaven and earth. When yantras are drawn, the process itself is considered holy. During the composition of a yantra, mantras or religious chants are sung as an act of devotion. In Buddhism a yantra is known as a mandala.

Emblems

The importance of emblems for Hinduism revolves around their proximity to the gods; these emblems are indications of a particular understanding of life as such and how they relate to the meaning and function of certain gods.

These are only a few of the many examples:

Bell: Symbol of a sound which is at the origin of creation

Book: A sign of wisdom. The written and spoken word is at the origin of human existence

Drum: its sound represents the original sound, the rhythm of creation

Vase: a symbol of plenty, immortality, and wisdom. It holds the nectar or eternal life

Wheel: the symbol of the cycle of life and death

The latter of these emblems is especially important given the Hindu (like the Buddhist) doctrine of reincarnation.

The Language of the Gods

Essential to Hinduism is an understanding that, in addition to its central ideas being represented in pictograms and emblems, the gods may be depicted in a particular way, each of them with discrete meanings. They can be seen in extensive paintings and sculptures; especially important is the aspect of communication conveyed through the image of the gods. In Hinduism, gods speak to those who pray and serve them with offerings.

When travelling in India, one can see one unique aspect of Hindu culture. While most of us have a conception of religion and its sacred space as a building of some kind (church, synagogue, mosque), Hindus have temples with remarkable architectural as well as spaces and altars in typical neighbourhoods where devotees bring offerings to the gods in the form of flowers, for example, or food.

Na Songkhia / Shutterstock

Hindu gods express meaning that is conveyed through different channels. These channels are many and varied. For our purposes, we will look at positions of the body, positions of the hand, and headdresses. By first looking at some of these evocations of the gods’ imagery, we will then be in a better and more informed position to look directly at images of the gods and understand how each individual element of their appearance has been selectively evoked.

Bodies, Hands, and Headdresses

For Hindus, the first and most fundamental aspect of a representation of a god’s body in a particular position or pose is its relationship to a mood; secondly, the position represents a particular act. We will analyze these positions in order to understand the messages they convey.

Visual Literacy Builder

The reading “The Language of the Gods” by E. R. Jansen includes ten diagrams. You should familiarize yourself with at least two by completing a visual analysis. By carefully focusing on at least two diagrams, you will be equipped to write a journal entry and/or assignment that reflects your particular interest.

Body Positions

Pillar position.

There are many body positions that hold significance for Hindus. For example, the “pillar position” is most associated with the god Shiva and the discipline known as asceticism. The body in the pillar positon has achieved equilibrium and cannot be swayed by either internal or external factors. In asceticism, discipline is all-important: an ascetic life is achieved by being attentive to one’s physical presence, by reducing the amount of food eaten, by sleeping less, and by avoiding the physical pleasures that can distract one from contemplating the gods. An ascetic, for example, does not drink alcohol. When Prince Siddhartha (later to become the Buddha) began his spiritual journey towards enlightenment, he associated himself with Hindu teachers who were ascetic. After a long process of disciplining himself physically, the Buddha decided that asceticism (as a form of deprivation, learning to live with little) was not the best approach. He understood that feeling hungry for long periods of time makes you think about your belly a lot more than thinking about the spiritual life. He ultimately came up with the central Buddhist belief called “the middle way.”

Hand Positions

Hinduism expresses itself in many visual arts, not only painting, but also dance. There are many sophisticated hand gestures, or mudra, that convey divine intentions, emotions, and their qualities. In the hand position called Abhaya, the god blesses, provides protection and assurance. Watch the following video for an example.

Visual Literacy Builder

Analyze the body positions and hand gestures that are present in this image. What traditional Hindu meanings are present?

Manaku of Guler, The poet Jayadeva bows to Vishnu, 1730. Chandigarh: Government Museum and Art Gallery, Chandigarh.

Headdresses

The Kiritamukuta is both literally and metaphorically the highest of all crowns because it is the crown worn by Vishnu. Vishnu is usually depicted with blue skin and also has ten avatars—other bodies he can occupy. Vishnu is represented in the image included your most recent Visual Literacy Builder. Take a moment to look at how he is represented in typical ways, including his headdress.

Did You Know?

James Cameron has openly stated that he referred to images of Vishnu when creating the appearance of the Na’vi people in his blockbuster film Avatar (2009).

The Gods and Animals

There are innumerable gods in Hindu polytheism. Among the most important, each of them with attributes and functions that are essential for human life, are Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, and Krishna.

Did You Know?

Perhaps the most recognizable of all of the gods is Ganesh. He has the body of a portly man and the head of an elephant. Ganesh has two meanings that are particularly important. He is the god of education and wisdom and he can be summoned, in prayer, when confronting difficult situations. He intervenes and helps human beings overcome obstacles.

Although Hinduism is not the only world religion with gods who had human bodies and animal features (ancient Egypt did as well), what makes the religion particularly remarkable is its concern for the welfare of animals. A devout Hindu does not kill or eat animals. Vegetarianism, then, is not simply dietary; it is an ethical relationship. Certain animals are considered particularly sacred. In India, cows are revered and protected. Monkeys and mice are essential to some gods, both in terms of features (Hanuman, for example, is a god with the head of a monkey) and as companions. Humans and animals have the same origin.

Equally important, death has a fundamental significance for both human beings and animals due to the Hindu belief in reincarnation. An animal may be one life away from being human. A deceased friend may be reincarnated into an animal. That is certainly one argument for becoming a vegetarian. The chicken you eat for dinner could be your grandmother.

Summary

The complex history of Hindu culture—as a religion, a philosophy, and a way of life—can be at least partially glimpsed through an appreciation of some of their central symbols, attention to the body and its postures, the images of their gods, and the temples representing sacred places. Hinduism has developed an elaborate aesthetic sensibility that has emphasized the importance of images in expressing its identity and the self-understanding of its adherents. Hindu images are considered the language of the gods and a form of communication between the divine and the human worlds.

Checklist

Discussion

Comprehension Check

Iconography : An image with a particular meaning used to develop spiritual sensibility

Pictograms: Symbols that express an element of Hindu thought

Yantra: One particular symbol that represents the microcosm of the universe

Emblem: An object related to a god in particular

Mudra: A hand gesture used to convey a mood or an act

Asceticism: The discipline of the body to achieve spiritual ends such as tranquility

Sanskrit: The ancient language of India

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