Transcript Powerpoint

HAFSITE.ORG
Religious Symbols
Promoting Human Dignity
Mutual Respect & Pluralism
Aum/Om
H I N D U S C O N S I D E R aum
TO BE THE SOUND OF
C R E AT I O N A N D T H E U N I V E R S E
It is composed of three syllables:
ah
oo
mm
The Mandukya
Upanishad is
devoted to Om
Om is the
IMPERISHABL
E
word
Om is the
UNIVERSE,
and this
is the
exposition
of Om
The past, the
present, and
the future,
A L L T H AT W A S ,
A L L T H AT I S ,
A L L T H AT W I L L
EVER BE
is Om
Likewise,
all else that
may exist
BEYOND
THE BOUNDS
OF TIME,
that too
is Om
H I N D U S B E L I E V E T H AT T H E V E R Y V I B R AT I O N S
C R E AT E D B Y C H A N T I N G om A R E C O N S I D E R E D
SACRED AND POWERFUL
The vibrations of
Om
help the chanter
align their
mind, body,
and spirit
with the vibration
of the universe
namaste
Namaste
Hindus traditionally greet
each other by bringing
their palms together in
the middle of their chest
and saying NAMASTE.
The word means “the
divine within me bows
to the divine within you.”
It reflects the respect
that Hindus have for the
divinity all around them.
This short video depicts this thought.
bindi and tilak
Bindi
T r a d i t i o n a l l y, t h e
“red dot” or bindi,
was primarily a
symbol of marriage.
The bindi is associated
with the worship of
God as the feminine
divine. It is also
indicative of the
conceptual “third eye
of spiritual wisdom,”
that Shiva is depicted
as having.
Bindis were red or maroon in color and
made of vermilion paste (kumkum).
To d a y, t h e b i n d i h a s
largely become a
fashionable accessory
for Hindu females of
all ages, regardless
of their marital status.
Now bindis come
in all shapes, sizes,
and colors.
Tilak
The male version
of forehead markings
can be representative
of an individual's
deity tradition.
The marking is amongst
the first requisite steps
in most rituals and
sacred ceremonies.
They can be made of kumkum,
sandalwood, or sacred ash in a
variety of shapes including lines,
U-shapes, and dots.
BOTH BINDIS & TILAKS…
Are placed about one
centimeter above the
center of
the eyebrow
considered to be
the sixth
chakra
Represent
interdependence
of both
Are reminders
of a seeker’s
ultimate goal of
feminine &
masculine
aspects of
the divine
enlightenment,
liberation
or moksha
swastika
Swastika
For Hindus, the ancient
swastika is a symbol of
auspiciousness and good
fortune. It is commonly
used at the entrance
of Hindu homes, as an
integral part of worship
rituals, in temples,
and on invitations to
special occasions such
as weddings and other
rites of passage.
The Nazis misappropriated this
symbol for their hateful message.
A H O LY S Y M B O L F O R M A N Y C U LT U R E S
Hinduism
Buddhism
In Sanskrit, the word
is a combination of
“Su”
meaning “good”
Jainism
Sikhism
and
“Asti”
meaning “to exist”
T H E F O U R L I M B S O F T H E H I N D U S WA S T I K A
H AV E D I V E R S E S Y M B O L I C M E A N I N G S
Yajur
1
The
Four
Ve d a s
Rig
Sama
Atharva
T H E F O U R L I M B S O F T H E H I N D U S WA S T I K A
H AV E D I V E R S E S Y M B O L I C M E A N I N G S
Brahmacharya
2
The
Four
Stages
of Life
Sannyasa
Grihastha
Vanaprastha
T H E F O U R L I M B S O F T H E H I N D U S WA S T I K A
H AV E D I V E R S E S Y M B O L I C M E A N I N G S
3
The
Four
Goals
of Life
Artha
Dharma
Kama
Moksha
T H E F O U R L I M B S O F T H E H I N D U S WA S T I K A
H AV E D I V E R S E S Y M B O L I C M E A N I N G S
4
The
Four
Yu g a s
Treta
Satya
Dyapara
Kali
T H E F O U R L I M B S O F T H E H I N D U S WA S T I K A
H AV E D I V E R S E S Y M B O L I C M E A N I N G S
5
The
Four
Seasons
Spring
Winter
Summer
Fall
T H E F O U R L I M B S O F T H E H I N D U S WA S T I K A
H AV E D I V E R S E S Y M B O L I C M E A N I N G S
North
6
The
Four
Directions
West
East
South
K E Y TA K E A W AY S
Om
is a Hindu
symbol with
many meanings
that represents
the sound of
the universe
Namaste
is a Hindu
greeting which
stems from the
belief that divinity
exists within
everyone and
everything
Bindis
and
Tilaks
are worn
to remind
Hindus of
their ultimate
goal of
liberation
the
Swastika
is a symbol
of good fortune
THANK YOU