religious symbols

The six-pointed star is the Creator's Star or Star of Creation. Its six points stand for the six days of creation, and are also represent the six attributes... read more

The imagery of a lamb in the New Testament is built upon how lambs were used in the Old Testament. Lambs were among the animals that were sacrificed by the... read more

Alpha and Omega

Alpha and Omega are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. When used symbolically in Christianity, they signify that God is "the beginning and the end," meaning that... read more

An aureole (from a Latin word for "gold") in Christian art is a halo that envelopes the whole body, signifying a greater degree of sanctity and divine power than a... read more

The victory banner was adopted by early Buddhism as an emblem of the Buddha's enlightenment, heralding the triumph of knowledge over ignorance. It is said to have been placed... read more

Baphomet Symbol

Although there are variations of the symbol, Baphomet is commonly shown with a goat head and horns, as well as wings, upon a human body. Baphomet is also traditionally seen... read more

The footprints of the Buddha (Buddhapada) are one of the early representations of the Buddha in the anticonic (no statues) stage of Buddhist art. The Buddhapada are highly revered in... read more

The Eye of God is an equilateral triangle with a single eye inside it and almost always with rays emanating from it. It symbolizes the omnipresence and omniscience of God... read more

On virtually every stupa, which is a shrine of Buddhism, in Nepal, there are giant pairs of eyes staring out from the four sides of the main tower. These are... read more

In Buddhism, he Golden Fishes symbol (Skt. suvarnamatsya; Tib. gser nya) consists of two fishes, which usually appear standing vertically with heads turned inwards towards each other. The pair of... read more

The Khanda was introduced by the 17th century Sikh guru, Hargobind Ji. The circle shape in the upper center of the symbol represents the caldron in which food was prepared... read more

Endless Knot

In Buddhism, the endless knot (Skt. shrivatsa; Tib. dpal be'u) is a closed, graphic ornament composed of right-angled, intertwined lines. It overlaps without a beginning or an end... read more

In Buddhism, Abhaya in Sanskrit means fearlessness, and the abhaya mudra symbolizes protection, peace, and the dispelling of fear. The gesture is made with the right hand raised to shoulder... read more

In Buddhism, Bhumisparsha means 'touching the earth'. It is more commonly known as the 'earth witness' mudra. This mudra, formed with all five fingers of the right hand extended to... read more

In Buddhism, Dharmachakra in Sanskrit means 'Wheel of Dharma'. This mudra symbolizes one of the most important moments in the life of Buddha, the occasion when he preached to his... read more

Dhyana Mudra: Meditation Gesture

In Buddhism, the dhyana mudra may be made with one or both hands. When made with a single hand the left one is placed in the lap, while the right... read more

In Buddhism, this mudra symbolizes charity, compassion and boon-granting. It is the mudra of the accomplishment of the wish to devote oneself to human salvation. It is nearly always... read more

Mudras are symbolic gestures, used symbolically in Buddha images and in practice to evoke particular ideas or buddhas in the mind during Buddhist meditation or ritual. Like symbols held by... read more

Om: Mantra and Symbol

What does Om mean? In Hinduism, Om (also spelled Aum) is a Hindu sacred sound that is considered the greatest of all mantras. The syllable Om is composed of... read more

Om Mani Padme Hum

In Buddhism, the Dalai Lama is said to be an incarnation of Avalokiteshvara, so the mantra is especially revered by his devotees. The basic English translation of Om mani padme... read more

Parasol

Above the mountain is the dome of the sky. This is symbolized by the umbrella, whose important function is to cast a shadow, the shadow of protection. The dictionary defines... read more

According to legend, in a time of famine a mother pelican would draw blood from her own chest and give the blood to her chicks. Thus the pelican symbol in... read more

Pentagram

The pentagram or pentacle is one of the major symbols described by "symbologist" Robert Langdon in The Da Vinci Code. This article compares his claims about the symbol with reality... read more

The pomegranate is a symbol of the resurrection and the hope of eternal life. Because of its abundance of seeds, it can also symbolize royalty and the church, where the... read more

What is a Pratik? In Hinduism, the pratik ("emblem") is the symbol of the Ananda Marga ("path of bliss") movement, which was founded in India in 1955 and emphases... read more

When a star is used as a symbol in the Christian faith, the number of points it has is especially significant because it adds meaning to the sign. In this... read more

A star is a logical symbol to be used in Christianity. The Bible teaches that God is the creator of not only the earth, but also the "heavens." Genesis 1... read more

The eight-pointed star is the Star of Redemption or Regeneration and represents baptism. Eight is traditionally the number of regeneration, and thus many baptismal fonts have an octagonal base... read more

The nine-pointed star symbolizes the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit listed in the Epistle to the Galatians. This star is sometimes shown with the Latin initials for each... read more

The triratna symbol represents the Triple Gem or Three Jewels of Buddhism, which are the three core values of: - Buddha - Dharma (the teachings) - Sangha (the monastic community) These are also... read more

What is a Trisula? In Hinduism, he trihsula (also spelled trishul or trisula, Sanskrit for "three spear") is a trident spear that is the emblem of the god Shiva... read more

The Tibetan Wheel of Life symbolizes the Buddhist perspective on life and contains within it numerous symbols of Buddhist themes and teachings. The creature who turns the wheel of life... read more

In Hinduism, a yantra is a geometrical diagram representing the universe. It is used in Hindu worship and meditation, especially in Tantrism. A yantra is quite similar to a mandala... read more

Zen Circle

In Buddhism, the Zen circle, a popular motif in Zen art, represents the entire universe in a single, perfect stroke. Although simple, images like this are difficult to paint successfully... read more