Sunday, July 5, 2009

Aniconic and Iconic images in Indian Religion

In India, while there are millions of deities, with well-defined forms, there are also aniconic images that are worshiped regularly.

Examples of aniconic images include:
  1. Local devtas, typically called devis, bhairavs, peers etc. You see them by the side of the road, with a silver-colored foil and kumkum on them.
  2. Saligram (typically found on the bed of Gandaki river in Nepal) - represent Vishnu
  3. Stones from Vraj - represent Krishna
  4. Stones from Narmada - Bana Linga - representing Shiva
  5. Crafted shivlings
  6. Fire
(2, 3, and 4 above are considered to have divinity in them, and can be put in a temple, and their pooja started even without consecrating them.)

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