fire (अग्नि); god of (the sacrificial) fire; It used as a weapon of war. It is also used for making offerings. Śiva frequently carries Agni in one of his hands.
Ājyasthālī (Sanskrit: आज्यस्थाली) a vessel or dish to hold clarified butter
Akśasūtra (Sanskrit: अक्षसूत्र) or Akshasutra is a rosary, string of beads
The Akshamālā (Sanskrit: अक्षमाला) is a rosary and is made of beads. It may be either of the ‘rudrāksha’ variety, in which case it may be associated with the Rudra cult, or the ‘kamalāksha’ variety, probably associated with the Vishnu… Continue Reading →
elephant god; Ankusha, also Aṅkuśa or Ankusa (Sanskrit: अंकुश) is an elephant hook or elephant goad, a tool used by elephant handlers (mahouts) to guide and train elephants. It is made of a small wooden handle topped by a strong… Continue Reading →
An Ātapatra (आतपत्र) is an umbrella (of silk or leaves used as a parasol). This is the symbol of Buddhist goddesses like Uṣṇīṣasitā, Pañcarakṣā, etc.
Bāṇa (बाण) is an arrow. It is made up of wood, tipped with a metallic point and has feathers at its tail-end.
Bheṇḍipāla is a vegetable.
Bhiṇḍipāla (Sanskrit: भिण्डिपाल) a kind of spear or one-pointed arrow
Fruit of Bilva, wood-apple; also known as Bael or Aegle marmelos, is a sacred tree in Hinduism.
A chaitya (चैत्य) is a Buddhist or Jain shrine or temple including a stupa. The symbol of Maitreya, the Future Buddha, and others.
Wheel of Vishnu; discus; attribute of Vishnu The chakra (चक्र) or wheel symbolises the rotation of the world, and also represents the Wheel of Dharma. It also stands for air. In Buddhism, the chakra is symbolic of the Wheel of… Continue Reading →
fly-whisk
Flag with the Chintamaṇi jewel.
Churi or Churī (Sanskrit: छुरी) or Chūrī (Sanskrit: छूरी) is a knife or dagger (cf. Chūrikā)
Churī (Sanskrit: छुरी) or Chūrī (Sanskrit: छूरी) or Churi is a knife or dagger (cf. Chūrikā)
Chūrikā (Sanskrit: छूरिका) is a knife or short sword (cf. churi or churī)
Ḍamaru (डमरु) is a small, double-ended, hourglass-shaped drum held by Shiva, its sound denoting the primordial creation and destruction of the universe; hand-drum; Its two ends are covered tightly with membranes which are held in that position by a string… Continue Reading →
Darpaṇa (दर्पण) means a mirror.
a bow (धनुस्)
Dhvaja (ध्वज) is a flag, a banner or an emblem.
Gadā (Sanskrit: गदा) the Indian mace, stout stick, club of Vishnu; attribute of Vishnu; Sometimes it is held in the hand and other times, the hand is merely placed upon the top of the mace. The gadā may be plain… Continue Reading →
Ghaṇṭā (घण्टा) refers to the bell or tinkling bells.
hala (Sanskrit: हल) primarily means an Indian plough; It can also refer to a weapon or a land measure. Additionally, it’s an epithet for Balarama, the elder brother of Kṛishṇa, who is often depicted holding a plough.
Jambhara (जम्भर) is a Lemon; This is the ‘seed’ of the universe and the symbol of Jambhala, the Buddhist Kubera.
(also kalasam or kalasha/kalaśa, Tamil: கலசம்) pot-shaped component of the capital of a pillar (cf. lasuna); wide-mouthed vase; lowermost member of the pillar capital, so-called after its shape. Also the vase-shaped finial over the amalaka of northern temples. Kalaśa (Hindi:… Continue Reading →
(also kalasam or kalasha/kalaśa, Tamil: கலசம்) pot-shaped component of the capital of a pillar (cf. lasuna); wide-mouthed vase; lowermost member of the pillar capital, so-called after its shape. Also the vase-shaped finial over the amalaka of northern temples. Vase; The… Continue Reading →
Kalpalatā is a wish fulfilling tree.
Kamaṇḍalu (कमण्डलु) refer to a water pot, water jug or holy jug; a vessel or vase to hold water. It is of different shapes and in some cases has a spout.
Kapāla (कपाल), literally human skull – used as begging bowl; skull-cup, usually of Brahmā when it is carried be Śiva. In sculptural representations it looks like a spherical or oval bowl.
Karttrikā (कर्त्त्रिका) or Karttṛkā (कर्त्तृका) is a small sword or hunter’s knife; chopper, the symbol of Tantric goddesses like Buddhaśaktis, Ḍākshinīs, etc.
Karttṛkā (कर्त्तृका) or Karttrikā (कर्त्त्रिका) is a small sword or hunter’s knife; chopper, the symbol of Tantric goddesses like Buddhaśaktis, Ḍākshinīs, etc.
a small knife
Kaumudī (कौमुदी) is associated with half-moon, moonshine or moonlight.
The khaḍga (खड्ग) is a sword. It may be long or short, single-edged or double-edged. It is the symbol of enlightenment. ‘As the sword cuts knots, so does the intellect pierce the deepest recesses of Buddhist toughts.’ It is the… Continue Reading →
Khakkhara (खक्खर) is an alarm staff. It is a long wooden staff with a metal top with a number of metal rings attached to it. Shaken to give warning.; also a beggar’s staff
Khaṭvānga (खट्वाङ्ग) a kind of a club made up of the bone of the forearm or leg. To the end of this is attached a skull. It is probably a weapon which comes from antiquity. Sometimes the bone shaft is… Continue Reading →
The kheṭaka (Sanskrit: खेटक) is a shield. It represents Dharma, which protects like a shield. It may be circular or rectangular. It has a handle at the back. the face of the shield shows a variety of faces and emblems.
Kukkuṭa (Sanskrit: कुक्कुट) a cock or fowl. Held by Sbrahmaṇya (Kārttikeya).
Kuṇḍa or kunta (कुन्त) is a spear; also a sacrificial pit
Kunta or kuṇḍa (कुन्त) is a spear; also a sacrificial pit
Kuṭhāra (कुठार) is an axe
Laḍḍu (लड्डु), a round sweetmeat dear to Gaṇeśa; a round ball of sugar, wheat or rice-flour, ghee, and spices (cf. modak or modaka)
Laḍḍuka (लड्डुक), a round sweetmeat dear to Gaṇeśa; a round ball of sugar, wheat or rice-flour, ghee, and spices (cf. modak or modaka)
Mahāḷuṅga (महाळुंग) is a fruit, also held by Devi.
Mayūrapiccha (मयूरपिच्छ) are feathers of peacock.
Meṣa (मेष), ram; carried by Śiva in earlier images. Later images show a buck (mṛiga).
Modak or Modaka (Sanskrit: मोदक) a typical indigenous sweetmeat (cf. laddu or ladduka); sweets in a bowl held by Gaṇeśa
Modaka or Modak (Sanskrit: मोदक) a typical indigenous sweetmeat (cf. laddu or ladduka); sweets in a bowl held by Gaṇeśa
Mṛga (मृग) is a deer or buck and symbolizes gentleness as well as attentiveness.
Mudgara (Sanskrit: मुद्गर) is a mallet, mace, club or a weapon formed like a carpenter’s hammer
Muṇḍa (मुण्ड) refers to a scalp, skull or human head
Muraḷī (मुरली) is a flute or pipe made from a thin and hollow bamboo (cf. Veṇu).
Musala (मुसल) refers to the Indian wooden pestle.
A fruit, refers to the ‘Emblic myrobalan’ and represents a type of fruit-bearing plant (cf. amalaka).
Nakula (नकुल) a mongoose.
Lotus; capital member (doucine) below the phalaka (abacus), shaped like a lotus with petals (also padmam, Tamil: பத்மம்).
Paraśu (Sanskrit: परशु) battle-axe; It made up of a strong blade of steel fitted to a wooden handle. The blade is curved and may have a hole at one end to fit onto the wooden handle. In later forms the… Continue Reading →
Parigha (परिघ) refers to an ‘iron club’ (used in battle); a kind of club.
Pāśa (पाश) refers to ‘noose’ or ‘rope weapon’ and represents one of the several ‘attributes’ (āyudha) or ‘accessories’ of a deity. It is a loop of rope used to bind the opponent’s hands and legs. In sculptural representations, two or… Continue Reading →
The Buddhist monks carry a pātra (पात्र) or bowl which is used for begging alms. The Indian tradition has it that when the Buddha completed four weeks of Buddha-hood, Tapussa and Bhallika, two merchants of Ukkula in Orissa, were warned… Continue Reading →
Patrakuṇḍala (पत्रकुण्डल) is an ear-ornament in the form of a leaf-scroll inserted in the ear lobe
Paṭṭā or Paṭa (Hindi: पट) Plain or decorated bands occupying the median face of the corbel, as if binding the rolls of taranga mouldings of the corbel (cf. Paṭṭikā); a cloth or dress
Paṭṭikā (Sanskrit: पट्टिका), a string course, refers to a type of moulding commonly used in the construction of an adhishthana or upapita (cf. Paṭṭā); a layer of the pedestal. Projected top slab of the platform or adhishthana in line with… Continue Reading →
Paṭṭiṣa or Paṭṭiśa (Sanskrit: पट्टिश) a long steel rod with a very sharp point at one end; spear with a sharp edge; one of the weapons of Śiva.
Paṭṭiśa or Paṭṭiṣa (Sanskrit: पट्टिश) a long steel rod with a very sharp point at one end; spear with a sharp edge; one of the weapons of Śiva.
Pāyasa (Sanskrit: पायस) is a preparation of cooked rice, jaggery and milk
The pustaka (पुस्तक) is a book of palm-leaves cut long and narrow or a manuscript which looks like one. In Buddhist tradition, it represents the Prajñāpāramitā scripture of Transcendental Wisdom. This book is supposed to have been given by the… Continue Reading →
Śakti (शक्ति) refers to the ‘spear’ or ‘ornamental blade’; a spear-shaped weapon; also synonymous of power and energy; It consist of a rectangular or elliptical and sharp metallic piece attached to a long wooden handle.
a spear-shaped weapon; also synonymous of power and energy
Śaktyāyudha (Sanskrit: शक्त्यायुध) is a spear
Śaṅkha or Sankha (Sanskrit: शङ्ख) is a conch; also refers to a musical instrument; This is a special symbol of Vishṇu. His conch is known as Pañchajanya, being made from the body of the demon Pañchajana. It makes a frightening… Continue Reading →
Sankha or Śaṅkha (Sanskrit: शङ्ख) is a conch (cf. Śaṅkha)
Śaṅkha-pātra (शङ्खपात्र) a shell cut cross-wise, producing a spiral ring. Used as an ear-ornament.
a rabbit
Shārnga (Hindi: शार्ङ्ग) the bow of Vishṇu (cf. dhanus)
Śrīfala means a coconut.
Śriṅga or Shringa (Sanskrit: शृङ्ग) is an animal horn
Sruk (स्रुक्) is a circular shaped sacrificial spoon (cf. Sruva).
Sruva (स्रुव) or Sruv is an oval shaped sacrificial spoon (cf. Sruk).
(Tamil: சூலம், also śūlam), a trident, spear or pointed weapon (cf. triśūlam); The weapon of Śiva. It may look like a javelin and have one pointed dart or it may be a trident.
(Tamil: சூலம், also śūla), a trident, spear or pointed weapon (cf. triśūlam) The weapon of Śiva. It may look like a javelin and have one pointed dart or it may be a trident.
Ṭaṅka (टङ्क) is a chisel used by the stone-masons of India; also a unit for measurement of weight
Tomara (तोमर) an iron club, lance or javelin.
Tomaṣa is an iron club.
Tridaṇḍī (त्रिदण्डी) a triple shaft.
Triratna (त्रिरत्न); The Three Jewels symbolising the Buddhist Trinity of the Buddha, Dharma (Law), and the Sangha (the community of Buddhists monks and nuns).
Triśūla (त्रिशूल) a trident (cf. śūla); The triśūla represents either the triple function of God – Creation, Protection and Destruction or the three attributes or gunas – Sattva, Rajas and Tamas. Trident, the favourite weapon of Śiva. ‘Tri’ means three… Continue Reading →
Triśūla (त्रिशूल) a trident, spear or pointed weapon (cf. śūlam); The triśūla represents either the triple function of God – Creation, Protection and Destruction or the three attributes or gunas – Sattva, Rajas and Tamas. Trident, the favourite weapon of… Continue Reading →
Upavīta (उपवीत) a sacred thread worn across the left shoulder and under the right arm (see also yajnopavita). Deer skin worn from over left shoulder, across the body and below the right arm, coming up again at the back to… Continue Reading →
The vajra (वज्र) is the special symbol of the Hindu God Indra. With this thunderbolt, he destroys the enemies of Hinduism. Vajrapāṇi, the Buddhist Bodhisattva, also destroys the enemies of Buddhism with his vajra or thunderbolt. In Mesopotamia, the gods… Continue Reading →
Vakra-daṇḍāyudha (Hindi: वक्र दंडायुद्ध) is a crooked stick
wristlet, bangle or quoit (cf. kankana)
Veda (Sanskrit: वेद) means the sacred knowledge (cf. vedas); as a hand object symbolized by a book
Veṇu (वेणु) is a flute or pipe made from a thin and hollow bamboo (cf. Muraḷī)
Vīṇā (वीणा); a lute, a long-necked stringed instrument with globular resonator; A stringed musical instrument, the favourite of Sarasvatī. It consists of a longish hollow cylindrical shaft (cf. vīṇā-daṇḍa), with a number of keys on its sides. A string or… Continue Reading →
Viśvavajra (विश्ववज्र) a double thunderbolt.
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