Hinduism and Symbol Worship

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Symbols play a very important part in our material and spiritual life. Though they look simple and unimportant but they are very scientific and effective. For example Tilaka is a mark of auspiciousness. The devotees of Siva apply sacred ashes on the forehead, the devotees of Vişņu apply Chandan, and the worshippers of Sakti apply Kumkuma. The scriptures say, "A forehead without a Tilaka, a woman without a husband, a Mantra the meaning of which is not known while doing Japa, the head that does not bend before holy personage, a heart without mercy, a house without a well, a village without a temple, a country without a river, a society without a leader, wealth that is not given away in charity, a preceptor without a disciple, a country without a justice, a king without an able minister, a woman not obedient to her husband, a well without water, a flower without smell, a soul devoid of holiness, a field without rains, an intellect without clearness, a disciple who does not consider his preceptor as a form of God, a body devoid of health, a custom without purity, austerity devoid of fellow feeling, speech in which truth is not the basis, a country without good people, work without wages, sanyasa without renunciation, legs which have not performed pilgrimages, a determination unaided by Viveka, a knife which is blunt, a cow which does not give milk, a spear without a point-all these are worthy of condemnation. They exist for name's sake only." From this we can very well imagine the importance of a sacred symbol like Tilaka. It is very scientific also. Tilaka is applied on the space between the two eyebrows. It has a very cooling effect. Tilaka indicates the point at which the spiritual eye opens.

The Hindus have innumerable symbols for worship. It is difficult to count them all. But an attempt has been made to discuss some of the most important symbols. In fact they are precious gems. Their utility and efficacy is wonderful. Linga and Yoni are the symbols of power and fertility. A circle is a Brahm, having neither beginning nor end. The triangle is a symbol of Siva. Water is symbolized by a cone. Trees and serpents are symbols of fertility. In the words of Edward Moor, "The Hindus are prone to fancying a type of something mysterious in almost every subject, that come under their contemplation."

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