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Personal symbols
Many Hindus wear or use individual symbols of their faith.
There are hundreds of different symbols used in Hinduism. Some of these are found on murtis, such as the things the gods and goddesses are holding. Other symbols are used by people in their everyday lives to demonstrate their faith. Here are some of these types of symbols.
Aum
Hindus believe that God first
created the sound “aum”,
and that the vibrations
of the sound caused the
world to be created. So,
Hindus often chant this
sound during worship and
meditation. You can see the word aum (above right) written on many mandirs and Hindu artworks.
Tilaka
The tilaka is a sign of being Hindu. It is made of ash or coloured and scented paste that has been blessed by the gods and goddesses. Worshippers may put tilaka on as a reminder that God is always with them, or as a sign that they are Hindu.
G This boy is putting a tilaka of sandalwood on his brother’s forehead after worship.
The tilaka is put on the forehead, in-between the eyes, in a spot believed to be important for wisdom and concentration. Many people believe that this spot controls all of our thoughts and actions. The tilaka is a paste, often made of sandalwood, which
is cooling, so that it will help keep the mind cool and calm.
Bindi
Women sometimes wear a type of tilaka called a Bindi. The bindi may stand for different things, such as whether or not the woman is married, or it may be just a decoration. The bindi is also a reminder of a person’s Hindu faith.
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