Symbols & Glossary
Om, the tilak, the lotus and an A–Z of Hindu terms.
- Om (Aum): the Sacred SoundThe meaning of Om, Hinduism's most sacred sound and symbol: its three sounds and silence, what the Upanishads and Gita say about it, and how it is used.
- The Swastika in HinduismThe true meaning of the swastika, an ancient Hindu symbol of good fortune and well-being, its use in worship today, and how it differs from the Nazi symbol.
- Tilak and Bindi: Marks on the ForeheadThe meaning of the tilak and bindi, the marks worn on the forehead by Hindus: sectarian tilaks of Vishnu, Shiva and the Goddess, the bindi and sindoor, and their use today.
- The LotusWhy the lotus is one of the most important symbols in Hinduism: purity and detachment, the lotus of creation, the lotus seats of the gods, the chakras and the lotus posture.
- The Ganges and the Sacred RiversWhy rivers are sacred in Hinduism: the goddess Ganga and her descent from heaven, the seven sacred rivers, river worship and pilgrimage, and the challenge of pollution.
- Varanasi and the Holy CitiesThe seven holy cities of Hinduism, the Saptapuri, with a closer look at Varanasi, and other great pilgrimage centres from Puri and Rameswaram to Tirupati and Vrindavan.
- A–Z Glossary of Hindu TermsShort, clear definitions of more than 100 Hindu and Sanskrit terms, from aarti to yuga, with links to fuller articles.