Table of Symbols
God or deity | Associated symbols | Note |
---|---|---|
Adi parashakti | Chariot of seven lions, Sri Chakra | Supreme Deity of Hindu mythology |
Brahma | Lotus, swan (hamsa), Vedas, garland of beads (akshamala) | Creator god |
Vishnu | Shesha, shankha, chakra, gada, lotus, Garuda, color blue | Preserver of creation |
Shiva | Shiva Linga, Nandi, third eye, trishula (trident), crescent-moon, rudraksha, cobra, drum, tiger skin, vibhuti | Destroyer, symbol of asceticism and renunciation |
Saraswati | White lotus, swan, peacock, veena, color white | Goddess of learning, music and art Consort of Brahma |
Lakshmi | Red lotus, elephant, shower of gold, kumbha, owl, peacock feather | Goddess of wealth and prosperity Consort of Vishnu |
Parvati | Lion, Nandi, trident, chakra, gada, padam, couch, cross bow, khadag | Goddess of courage, fertility, power, complete incarnation of Supreme deity, Adi parashakti Consort of Shiva |
Indra | Thunderbolt (vajra), rainbow, clouds | God of War, rains, fertility and the night-time sky King of the heavens |
Varuna | Noose (pasha) | God of duty and contracts King of the waters |
Yama | Noose (pasha), dhanda (rod), buffalo | God of justice and death King of the dead |
Surya | Chariot, sun-rays, the colour of gold | The Sun-God Father of Yama |
Kali | Garland of severed human heads, scimitar, khanda, khapar, khadag, trident | Symbol of Sanskrit alphabet, destroyer of evil Guardian of desert wastes, Goddess beyond time |
Rama | Bow and arrow, the colour blue, royal panoply | Symbol of righteousness and good governance Avatar of Vishnu |
Krishna | The colour blue, cow, flute, Sudarshana Chakra, milk, peacock feather | Protector of cattle Avatar of Vishnu Propounder of the Bhagavad Gita |
Ganesha | Aṅkuśa, rat, modak, Aum | God of foresight, wisdom and good fortune Son of Parvati and Shiva |
Murugan | Peacock, vel, rooster flag | God of war and commander-in-chief of the gods Guardian of hills Son of Siva and Parvati |
Hanuman | gada | Symbol of devotion (bhakti) and strength Devotee of Rama |
Read more about this topic: Hindu Iconography
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