vishnu interpreting hindu iconography lakshmi noelle buitronvishnu is a member of the hindu trinity,...
TRANSCRIPT
Vishnu is a member of the Hindu trinity, or Trimurti, who is the preserver or protector. He
is said to protect the world when it is threatened with
chaos. He is most often depicted with four hands, each
containing a different “weapon”. Padma (lotus
flower) in his lower left arm, a gada (mace) in his lower right
hand, sankha (conch) in his upper left hand, and the
chakra (discus) in his upper right hand. The conch in his
upper left hand shows Vishnu’s ability to communicate with his
followers by blowing into it. The chakra conveys the idea
that Vishnu protects his devotees. The mace in his
lower right hand symbolizes his energy and power which he
uses to bestow upon the world. Finally, the lotus flower in his
lower left hand represents Vishnu granting blessings to his
devotees.
Vishnu
Lakshmi is the wife and female counterpart of lord Vishnu, the goddess of wealth and prosperity in both the material and spiritual sense. She parallels her counterpart with four hands as well, which represent the four goals of a rich and successful life, which it is said she has the power to grant: dharma (righteous living), kama (worldly pleasure), artha (prosperity), and moksha (spiritual liberation). She is depicted holding a lotus in the back right hand which conveys each person’s duty to achieve moksha, symbolized by the other lotus in the back left hand. The gold coins in her front left hand symbolize the prosperity she brings to her devotees and her front right hand shows her granting those blessings to them.
Lakshmi
Hand gestures in Hinduism are essential to the depictions of gods and goddesses. They help to distinguish each of them from each other and
develop their characteristics and unique traits or attributes. A mudra, or hand gesture, can have deep symbolism in yoga or traditional Indian dances and can
convey a wide range of messages or meanings. Some of the most common mudras are: chin or vitarka mudra (consciousness or deliberation), abhayamudra (no fear), namaskara mudra (giving honor), bhumisparsha mudra
(earth-touching), dhyana mudra (meditation), tarjani mudra (index finger), and varada mudra (giving). Mudras are said to help channel and guide energy
through the brain and other parts of the body.
Interpreting Hindu IconographyNoelle Buitron
Sources: "What is Vishnu? - Definition from Yogapedia." Yogapedia.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Mar. 2017."Who is Lakshmi? - Definition from Yogapedia." Yogapedia.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Mar. 2017."Hindu Deities: Lord Vishnu." Hindu Deities: Lord Vishnu. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Mar. 2017."Hindu Deities: Goddess Lakshmi." Hindu Deities: Goddess Lakshmi. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Mar. 2017."The Secret Language of Hands in Indian Iconography." Smithsonian.com. Smithsonian Institution, 17 Feb. 2016. Web. 21 Mar. 2017.