OM(KARA): the sacred syllable symbolising Brahman

(See also: OM, Hinduism, Hinduism Dictionary, Sanskrit Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Om:

Om: the pranava or the sacred syllable  symbolising Brahman.

(See also: Om, Hinduism, Hinduism Dictionary, Sanskrit Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Ardhanariswara (Sanskrit). Lit., "the bi-sexual lord". Esoterically, the unpolarized states of cosmic energy symbolised by the Kabalistic Sephira, Adam Kadmon, &c.

(See also: Ardhanariswara, Theosophy, Spirituality, Body mind and Soul, Spiritual Dictionary, )

In Hinduism and Buddhism the chakras are symbolised as flowers. In our human undeveloped state the chakras are like flower buds waiting to be opened. This article by Essential Oil-expert Carol Anne Asher explain the anatomy of the chakras and how essential oils may cleanse and raise the vibration of the chakras.

Read more here: » Essential oil: The Anatomy of the chakras

Danish Crown Regalia. The symbols of the monarchy, consist of the crown, the sceptre (symbolising supreme authority), the orb (a globus cruciger, symbolising the earthly realm surmounted by a cross), the sword of state and the ampulla. The oldest of these is Christian III's sword of state from 1551. The Danish Royal Regalia are kept at Rosenborg Castle. They include King Christian IV's diamond, pearl and gold-embroidered saddles; objects carved from ivory and rock-crystal; lapidary pieces of precious stones, and brooches in the form o ...

Read more here: » Danish Crown Regalia: Encyclopedia - Danish Crown Regalia

In Hinduism the Aswini are the celestial charioteers, Vedic gods symbolising the shining of sunrise and sunset. They can be compared with the twins Castor and Pollux of the Greco-Roman mythology. To each one of them is assigned the number 7 and to the pair the number 14. Other related archivesCastor and Pollux, Greco-Roman mythology, Hinduism, Vedic, number 14, number 7

Read more here: » Aswini: Encyclopedia - Aswini

Learn Fom History, Don't Change It

The path of love and compassion is the best way of achieving universal amity. Adi Shankara's mutts - which he established in several parts of the country - symbolise the oneness of the people of India. Adi Shankara worked to bring about unity and understanding among people. Towards this end, he journeyed across the country, spreading the message of peace and goodwill. 

By Sonia Gandhi

Read more here: » Hinduism: Soniaji, Hinduism is Not Just Ramayana!

The very root and core of all moral discipline is mental purification through refraining from all evil action and the active practice of virtue. Do good at all times. Ahimsa, Satya and Brahmacharya symbolise the three processes of avoiding sin, sticking to virtue and Self-purification.

Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Hindu Ethics: Ethical Culture Or The Process Of Purification

We live in a world of opposites where gain and loss, good and bad, pleasure and pain, life and death are as inevitable as the two sides of a coin. Yet, there is an underlying unity between the two contrasts.

One of the principal polarities in life is the one between the male and female side of human nature. The sublime union between these two aspects is symbolised by Lord Siva's depiction as a dynamic unification of the two, as the half-male, half-female Ardhanareeshwar.

(See also: Life and Death, Life and Beyond, Death and Dying, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Life and Death: Pairs of Opposites and The Golden Mean

The Buddhist flag is a flag designed to symbolise Buddhism. It was in designed in 1880 by a committee comprised of Ven Hikkaduwe Sri Sumangala Thera (Chairman), Ven. Migettuwatte Gunananda Thera, Don Carolis Hewavitharana (father of Anagarika Dharmapala), Andiris Perera Dharmagunawardhana (maternal grandfather of Anagarika Dharmapala), William de Abrew, Charles A. de Silva, Peter de Abrew, H. William Fernando, N. S. Fernando and Carolis Pujitha Gunawardena (Secretary). Colonel Henry Steele Olcott, an American journalist later made sug ...

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On Dhanteras , Hindus worship Lord Dhanwantari, the deity of health and healing. Dhan is wealth or Lakshmi - so the goddess of wealth and prosperity is also prayed to.

Every household buys something new. But we tend to forget the real meaning of wealth which is sound health. Lord Dhanwantari also symbolises the spirit of knowledge and nature, including all about herbs and medicinal plants.

(See also: Dhanteras, Indian Festivals, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Dhanteras: Dhanteras for Health, Wealth and Prosperity  

Mauna: Silence Please, It's Mauni Amavasya

Indian tradition emphasises the concept of mauna or silence as an ideal trigger for introspection and reflection. Derived from the word muni , an ascetic who practises silence, mauna ideally symbolises a state of oneness with the Self.

Mauna has been described by Sankara as one of the three essential attributes of a sanyasi , along with balya or childlike state and panditya or wisdom. According to Ramana Maharshi, mauna is a state beyond speech and thought, it is "living without the ego-sense". He made silence the medium of spiritual instruction.

Read more here: » Mauna: Silence Please, It's Mauni Amavasya

Sravana, a Month Devoted to Shiva

The devout spend the entire month of Sravana in austerities and worship of Shiva, culminating in the Sravana Purnima on Raksha Bandhan day. Shiva is beyond the gunas, as His trident represents all three, sattva, rajas and tamas. The elephant skin attire indicates that he is beyond pride; the tiger skin symbolises his going beyond lust, and the snake around his neck represents wisdom and eternity.

Read more here: » Shiva: Sravana, a Month Devoted to Shiva

This power of devotion symbolises God's response to a devotee's deep love. In the Srimad Bhagavatam, Krishna says: "Many are the means described for the attainment of the highest goal... but of all, love is the highest; love and devotion that make one forget everything else; love that unites the devotee with me... as all earthly pleasures fade into nothingness."

(See also: Devotion, Faith and Belief, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Devotion: Taste of Heaven - Devotional Love  

In the Indian tradition there are seven immortals: Aswathama, Bali, Vyas, Hanuman, Vibhishana, Kripacharya and Parashuram. They symbolise certain higher ideals.

These seven immortals exemplify certain basic truths, laws and standards of ethical behaviour which transcend time, locale and generation. They are universal and immutable. Their immortality is therefore not mere deathlessness - it is more the immortalising of each divine principle they stood for and upheld even in the face of adversity and pressure.

(See also: Seven immortals, Faith and Belief, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Seven immortals: The Seven Eternal Values  

In a conversation with his consort Parvati, Shiva is believed to have said that through self-knowledge, one can attain salvation. People are born as human beings due to their past good samskaras, but to attain liberation they will have to attain self-knowledge.

In ancient times, Parvati symbolised the spirit of enquiry. She would pose questions to Shiva, and Shiva's answers provided deep insight into the nature of spirituality. Parvati's questions are collectively known as the Nigama shastra. Shiva's answers are philosophical; they are also of great practical value.

(See also: Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Peace of Mind: Spiritual Evolution Is The Key To Salvation

Vision is the ability to see beyond the present; to be able to chart a map of the future. Is such a vision possible for a universal religion? When all technologies and knowledge in the world are converging, why should humanity have different religions?

One basic question has haunted us for long: Are the many religions of the world opposed to each other? If their common goal is universal welfare, why do we need so many religions? All religions echo the need for righteous conduct, truth and non-violence. But they differ in their rituals, which are unfortunately being projected today as their core. Dress, mode of worship and language of rituals have come to symbolise purity of faith.

(See also: Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Peace on Earth: Universal Faith for World Harmony

The Vedic concept of Saraswati was three-fold: First, she is like the sacred river which gave birth to the Aryan civilisation. Second, she was vak or speech personified, as expressed in the Rig Veda’s Vak Sukta . 'Speech’ basically refers to the sacred-word or the Vedas themselves.

The third and most important aspect is Saraswati’s identification with Gayatri, although the Gayatri mantra is worship of the Sun-god, Suryanarayana. The Sun-god symbolises three female deities: Gayatri, Savitri and Saraswati, to be invoked in the morning, noon and evening respectively.

(See also: Saraswati, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Saraswati: Three Divine Aspects Of Mahasaraswati  

In Hindu devotional practice, three kinds of external symbols are used for worship of the Supreme Being, who is actually formless and nameless. The most external is that of divine images cast in human form, with paraphernalia symbolising supra-human divinity.

The most subtle is that of the mantras or divine names with certain sounds. A mantra is divine power clothed in sound. Between these two come the yantras or chakras , representing the deity in geometrical diagrams. Worshippers of Shakti consider the Srichakra the holiest and most significant of divine symbols.

(See also: Srichakra, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Srichakra: Role Of Srichakra In Devi Worship  

Love is the essence of religion too, for it is religion (not organised religion) that teaches ethics and compassion.

The story goes that once the Devil and his close friend went for a walk. The devil picked up something from the ground and put it in his pocket. When he was asked by his friend what he had picked up, he said: "I have picked up the Truth".

The friend said: "If you picked up the Truth, then your time is up because Truth is the opposite of what you symbolise". The devil smiled and said, "Don't worry my friend, I will organise it".

You know what I mean?

(See also: Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Love and Happiness: Love is the Essence of Evolution