Aga Khan is a title of the spiritual leader, Imam, of the Nizari sect within the Ismaili branch of Islam (Nizari Ismaili). The first Imam to bear the title of Aga Khan was Aga Hasan Ali Shah in the mid 19th century. The title Aga Khan means "Great Chief" and was bestowed upon Imam Aga Hasan Ali Shah by the Shah of Persia. The hereditary Imam of the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims is the direct descendant of Muhammad through his cousin and son-in-law, Ali, the first Imam, and his wife Fatima, Muhammad's daughter.
Some of those who claim that Ismail, the eldest son of Imam Jaffar, was the rightful ruler of all Muslims, are known as "Aga Khanis" or "Ismailis". They are also known as the "Seveners", because Imam Jaffar was the seventh and, according to them, the last Imam.
Ashofarohar (C) (Available Sizes: 1C, 1A, 1, 2)
Ayyappan (Available Sizes: 1C, 1A, 1, 2)
The Hindu god Ayyappan is one of southern India’s most revered deities. Known also as Dharmasastha, Hariharan, Manikanta, Ayyanar and Bhoothnath. Lord Ayyappa is worshipped in a number of shrines across India. At Kulathupuzha, in Kerala he is worshipped as a child; at Achankovil in conjunction with his consorts, Pushkala and Poorna; and at Sabarimala as an ascetic, a celibate meditating in solitude for the benefit of all mankind. Lord Ayyappa is considered a symbol of unity between the Vaishnavites and Saivites, two schools of thoughts in Hinduism. His origin being traced to a union of Siva and Vishnu.
Balgopal (Available Sizes: 2C, 1A, 1, 2)
Krishna the child (Bala Krishna). Stories of his upbringing in Gokula and Vrindavan are a staple of children's tales in India.
The childhood of Lord Krishna is full of his mischief. His stealing of butter lovingly earned him the nickname of 'MAKHAN CHOR' It is said that while his father Vasudev was taking the newborn to Nandgaon across the Yamuna River, the river started rising and did not subside till it touched the Lord's feet.
Buddha (C) (Available Sizes: 1C, 1A, 1, 2, 3)
Buddha (literally Awakened One or Enlightened One, from the root: vbudh, "to awaken") is a title used in Buddhism for anyone who has discovered enlightenment (bodhi), although it is commonly used to refer to Siddhartha Gautama, the historical founder of Buddhism.
Buddha was born as crown prince Siddharth. Early in life he saw four signs of sufferings which made him renounce everything and search for The Eternal Truth. He wandered for 13 years before he finally attained the statehood of Boddhisattva or the Enghlightened One under a Banyan (Bodh) tree in Bodh Gaya. Lord Buddha's teachings are based on compassion and non-violence.
The awakened bliss of Nirvana, according to Buddhism, is available to all beings—although orthodoxy holds that one must first be born as a human being. Emphasizing this universal availability, Buddhism refers to many Buddhas and also to many bodhisattvas - beings committed to Enlightenment. From the standpoint of classical Buddhist doctrine, a Buddha is anyone who rediscovers the Dharma and achieves enlightenment, having amassed sufficient positive karma to do so.
Dasham Guru (C) (Available Sizes: 3)
These are the Ten Gurus of Sikhism
Guru Nanak Dev, Guru Angad Dev , Guru Amar Das , Guru Ram Das , Guru Arjan Dev , Guru Har Gobind , Guru Har Rai , Guru Har Krishan , Guru Teg Bahadur , Guru Gobind Singh , Followed by Guru Granth Sahib, Perpetual Guru of the Sikhs. The Dasam Granth is a holy book of Sikhism and is believed to have been composed by 10th Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh.
Guru Gobind Singh, the Tenth Sikh Guru, significantly shaped the Sikh Panth and helped instil timid and oppressed Punjab people with the discipline and spirit to fight against the tyranny of their Mughal rulers.
She is depicted as a woman riding a lion with multiple hands carrying weapons and assuming mudras, or symbolic hand gestures. One hand is always raised to bless her devotees.
This form of the Goddess is the embodiment of feminine and creative energy (Shakti). The word Shakti, meaning strength, reflects the warrior aspect of the goddess, embodying a traditional male role. But she is also strikingly beautiful, and initially Mahishasur tries to marry her. In her other incarnations such as Annapurna or Parvati, she is more mother-like, and as Karunamayi (karuna = kindness), she is softer.
She was created out of the flames that issued from the mouths of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva and other gods to vanquish the buffalo headed demon-Mahisasur. This gave her the name of Mahisasurmardini. This victory is commemorated during the navratras, a nine day long festival in September/October every year. Puja means worship, and Durga's Puja is the major festival in Bengal.
Durga (C) (Available Sizes: 2C, 1C, 1A, 1, 2, 3)
She is depicted as a woman riding a lion with multiple hands carrying weapons and assuming mudras, or symbolic hand gestures. One hand is always raised to bless her devotees.
This form of the Goddess is the embodiment of feminine and creative energy (Shakti). The word Shakti, meaning strength, reflects the warrior aspect of the goddess, embodying a traditional male role. But she is also strikingly beautiful, and initially Mahishasur tries to marry her. In her other incarnations such as Annapurna or Parvati, she is more mother-like, and as Karunamayi (karuna = kindness), she is softer.
She was created out of the flames that issued from the mouths of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva and other gods to vanquish the buffalo headed demon-Mahisasur. This gave her the name of Mahisasurmardini. This victory is commemorated during the navratras, a nine day long festival in September/October every year. Puja means worship, and Durga's Puja is the major festival in Bengal.
Ek Omkar (Available Sizes: 3C, 2C, 1C)
Ek Omkar (also Ek Onkar, Ik Omkar and other variants) meaning one God is a central tenet of Sikh religious philosophy. It is also a symbol of the unity of God in Sikhism commonly found on Gurdwaras. Guru Nanak, the founder of the Sikh religion used the Hindu Vedantic idea of Om the most sacred syllable in Hinduism. Ek Onkar is a combination of three letters: Ek - one, Om - the sacred letter for God, and the kar - which is a line drawn over the Om, meaning the continuity, timelessness, eternal presence of Om (God).
Ek Onkar is the start of the Sikh Mool Mantra and the first phrase of the Sikh holy book, the Guru Granth Sahib.
There is but one God. Truth by name, the creator, all-pervading spirit, without fear, without enmity. Whose existence is unaffected by time, who does not take birth, self-existent, who is to be realised through his grace.
Gods and Goddesses are sometimes referred to as Aumkar, which means Form of Aum, thus implying that who are limitless, the vibrational whole of the cosmos. Ek Onkar, meaning 'one god' is a central tenet of Sikh religious philosophy. In Hindu metaphysics, it is proposed that the manifested cosmos (from Brahman) has name and form (nama-rupa), and that the closest approximation to the name and form of the universe is Aum, since all existence is fundamentally composed of vibration. This is considered by some to be remniscent of some current physical theories such as quantum physics and super string theory, which describe the universe in terms of vibrating fields or strings.
In Hinduism, Ganesha (or "lord of the hosts," also spelled as Ganesa and sometimes referred to as Ganapati in Marathi, Gujarati and other Indian languages) is a son of Shiva and Parvati, and the husband of Bharati, Riddhi and Siddhi. He is also called Vinayaka in Marathi and Kannada, Vinayagar (in Tamil) and Vinayakudu in Telugu. 'Ga' symbolizes Buddhi (intellect) and 'Na' symbolizes Vijanana (wisdom). Ganesha is thus considered as the master of intellect and wisdom. He is depicted as a pot bellied yellow or red god with four arms and the head of a one-tusked elephant, riding or attended to by a mouse. Typically, His name is usually prefixed with the Hindu title of respect, 'Shree'.
Ganesha is known as Aumkara, because his body mirrors the shape of the Aum, the elephant god is thus seen as the embodiment of the cosmos. His elephantine head symbolizes the intelligence and beatitude of the elephant, powerful, yet gentle. His vehicle is a mouse known as Mooshika, Mooshikam, Minjur, or Akhu, and this symbolizes the intellect, small enough to find out any secret in the most remote of places. It also signifies his humility, that he espouses the company of one of the smaller creatures.
He is the lord of wisdom, intelligence, education, prudence, luck and fortune, gates, doors, doorways, household and writing. He is the remover of obstacles, and as such it is normal to invoke him before the undertaking of any task with such incantations as Aum Shri Ganeshaya Namah (hail the name of Ganesha), or similar.
Ganesh (C) (Available Sizes: 2C, 1C, 1A, 1, 2, 3)
In Hinduism, Ganesha (or "lord of the hosts," also spelled as Ganesa and sometimes referred to as Ganapati in Marathi, Gujarati and other Indian languages) is a son of Shiva and Parvati, and the husband of Bharati, Riddhi and Siddhi. He is also called Vinayaka in Marathi and Kannada, Vinayagar (in Tamil) and Vinayakudu in Telugu. 'Ga' symbolizes Buddhi (intellect) and 'Na' symbolizes Vijanana (wisdom). Ganesha is thus considered as the master of intellect and wisdom. He is depicted as a pot bellied yellow or red god with four arms and the head of a one-tusked elephant, riding or attended to by a mouse. Typically, His name is usually prefixed with the Hindu title of respect, 'Shree'.
Ganesha is known as Aumkara, because his body mirrors the shape of the Aum, the elephant god is thus seen as the embodiment of the cosmos. His elephantine head symbolizes the intelligence and beatitude of the elephant, powerful, yet gentle. His vehicle is a mouse known as Mooshika, Mooshikam, Minjur, or Akhu, and this symbolizes the intellect, small enough to find out any secret in the most remote of places. It also signifies his humility, that he espouses the company of one of the smaller creatures.
He is the lord of wisdom, intelligence, education, prudence, luck and fortune, gates, doors, doorways, household and writing. He is the remover of obstacles, and as such it is normal to invoke him before the undertaking of any task with such incantations as Aum Shri Ganeshaya Namah (hail the name of Ganesha), or similar.
AUM BHOOR BHUWAH SWAHA, TAT SAVITUR VARENYAM BHARGO DEVASAYA DHEEMAHI DHIYO YO NAHA PRACHODAYAT.
Summary of the Mantra Oh God! Thou art the Giver of Life, Remover of pain and sorrow, The Bestower of happiness, Oh! Creator of the Universe, May we receive thy supreme sin-destroying light, May Thou guide our intellect in the right direction.
Word for Word Meaning of the Mantra Aum = Brahma ; bhoor = embodiment of vital spiritual energy(pran) ; bhuwah = destroyer of sufferings ; swaha = embodiment of happiness ; tat = that ; savitur = bright like sun ; varenyam = best choicest ; bhargo = destroyer of sins ; devasya = divine ; dheemahi = may imbibe ; dhiyo = intellect ; yo = who ; naha = our ; prachodayat = may inspire!
Meaning of Gayatri Mantra Rishis selected the words of various Mantras and arranged them so that they not only convey meaning but also create specific power through their utterance. Gayatri Mantra inspires wisdom. Its meaning is that "May the Almighty God illuminate our intellect to lead us along the righteous path". All the problems of a person are solved if he/she is endowed with the gift of righteous wisdom. Once endowed with far-sighted wisdom, a man is neither entangled in calamity nor does he tread the wrong path. A wise man finds solution to all outstanding problems. Only those persons who do not think correctly find difficulty and take wrong steps due to foolishness. Chanting of Gayatri Mantra removes this deficiency. The teachings and powers incorporated in the Gayatri Mantra fulfill this purpose. Righteous wisdom starts emerging soon after Jap(recitation) of this Mantra is performed.
Gayatri Mantra (C) (Available Sizes: 2.5)
AUM BHOOR BHUWAH SWAHA, TAT SAVITUR VARENYAM BHARGO DEVASAYA DHEEMAHI DHIYO YO NAHA PRACHODAYAT.
Summary of the Mantra Oh God! Thou art the Giver of Life, Remover of pain and sorrow, The Bestower of happiness, Oh! Creator of the Universe, May we receive thy supreme sin-destroying light, May Thou guide our intellect in the right direction.
Word for Word Meaning of the Mantra Aum = Brahma ; bhoor = embodiment of vital spiritual energy(pran) ; bhuwah = destroyer of sufferings ; swaha = embodiment of happiness ; tat = that ; savitur = bright like sun ; varenyam = best choicest ; bhargo = destroyer of sins ; devasya = divine ; dheemahi = may imbibe ; dhiyo = intellect ; yo = who ; naha = our ; prachodayat = may inspire!
Meaning of Gayatri Mantra Rishis selected the words of various Mantras and arranged them so that they not only convey meaning but also create specific power through their utterance. Gayatri Mantra inspires wisdom. Its meaning is that "May the Almighty God illuminate our intellect to lead us along the righteous path". All the problems of a person are solved if he/she is endowed with the gift of righteous wisdom. Once endowed with far-sighted wisdom, a man is neither entangled in calamity nor does he tread the wrong path. A wise man finds solution to all outstanding problems. Only those persons who do not think correctly find difficulty and take wrong steps due to foolishness. Chanting of Gayatri Mantra removes this deficiency. The teachings and powers incorporated in the Gayatri Mantra fulfill this purpose. Righteous wisdom starts emerging soon after Jap(recitation) of this Mantra is performed.
Gita Updesh (Available Sizes: 3)
The incarnation of the Supreme Being, and the divine Guru, who teaches Arjuna how to take the right action in the Bhagavad Gita.
Paartha-sarathi – the charioteer of Arjuna (Paartha) during the great battle where, he instructs Arjuna in dharma and yoga in the Bhagavad Gita.
The great episode of Mahabharata of Hindus is a source of inspiration of life of them. The most important landmark of this episode is the war of Kurukshetra (the squabble of great war waged by the Pandavas against the Kauravas). The sermon delivered by Lord Krishna (An incarnation of Vishnu) to Arjuna (A prominent bowman and archer of the time and an ardent disciple of Lord Krishna) at the beginning of war of Kurukshetra in the battlefield is known as Geeta Updesh.
Golden Temple (Available Sizes: 1C, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
Harmandir Sahib or Hari Mandir is the most sacred gurdwara in all of Sikhism, located in Amritsar, Punjab, India. It was previously known as the Golden Temple, but was renamed in March 2005 by the SGPC. The temple is the most important sacred shrine for the Sikhs, who travel from all parts of the world to enjoy the blissful environments and offer their thanks by giving prayers. In addition, the sacred shrine is increasingly becoming a tourist attraction for visitors from all over the world.
The temple is surrounded by a pool of water, known as the Sarovar. There are four entrances to the temple, signifying the importance of acceptance and openness. Anyone who wants to enter the Golden Temple may do so, irrespective of religion, colour, creed or sex. The only restrictions are that the person must not drink alcohol, eat meat or smoke cigarettes or other drugs while in the shrine. All Sikh temples in the world follow this traditional rule that everyone is welcome to enter.
Golden Temple (C) (Available Sizes: 1, 2, 3)
Harmandir Sahib or Hari Mandir is the most sacred gurdwara in all of Sikhism, located in Amritsar, Punjab, India. It was previously known as the Golden Temple, but was renamed in March 2005 by the SGPC. The temple is the most important sacred shrine for the Sikhs, who travel from all parts of the world to enjoy the blissful environments and offer their thanks by giving prayers. In addition, the sacred shrine is increasingly becoming a tourist attraction for visitors from all over the world.
The temple is surrounded by a pool of water, known as the Sarovar. There are four entrances to the temple, signifying the importance of acceptance and openness. Anyone who wants to enter the Golden Temple may do so, irrespective of religion, colour, creed or sex. The only restrictions are that the person must not drink alcohol, eat meat or smoke cigarettes or other drugs while in the shrine. All Sikh temples in the world follow this traditional rule that everyone is welcome to enter.
Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji (Patna, Bihar, India, December 22, 1666 – October 7, 1708) was the tenth and last of the Ten Gurus of Sikhism and became Guru on November 11, 1675 following in the footsteps of his father Guru Teg Bahadur. Before he died, he nominated the Guru Granth Sahib as the next perpetual Guru of the Sikhs. This Granth is more than a holy book for the Sikhs.
Guru Gobind Singh was the last of 10 Sikh Gurus, who were the founders of the Sikh religion. The part played by this Guru in the development of the Sikh faith has been monumental. The First Sikh Guru was Guru Nanak.
Guru Gobind Singh exemplified the teachings of Sikh principles during his lifetime. He not only taught the teachings, but he felt the pain of sacrifice in upholding those beliefs and teachings. Guru Gobind Singh lost his father, mother, and all four of his sons to a religious war, fought against the Mughal emperor of the time, Aurangzeb. Aurangzeb demanded that all Sikhs either convert to Islam or be killed. It was in this fight for spiritual survival the Guru Gobind Singh felt the pain of loss.
Guru Gobind Singh also finalised many elements of Sikhism. He proclaimed himself the last living Guru and established the Guru Granth Sahib -- a compilation of the ten Gurus' writings -- as the eternal guru for the Sikhs. However, it was only spiritual authority that was bestowed upon the Guru Granth. Temporal authority was given to the Sikhs as a whole. Guru Gobind also established the Sikh baptism ceremony, the partaking of amrit.
The following is a summary of the main highlights of Guru Gobind Singh's life:
· Compilation of the 1428 page Dasam Granth Sahib.
· Author of various important Banis which Sikhs recite daily: Jaap Sahib, Chaupai, etc.
· Wrote autobiography Bichitra Natak
· Built various Gurdwaras - Kesh Garh Sahib etc.
· Developed Anandpur Sahib as a Sikh Centre of Excellence.
· Enhanced the structure of Sikh society by introducing various administration systems.
· Extreme personal sacrifice for society: Father martyred for protection of Kashmiri Hindus, all four sons sacrificed to the Mughal and Tribal Forces.
· Sent Zafarnama to Aurangzeb.
Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji (Patna, Bihar, India, December 22, 1666 – October 7, 1708) was the tenth and last of the Ten Gurus of Sikhism and became Guru on November 11, 1675 following in the footsteps of his father Guru Teg Bahadur. Before he died, he nominated the Guru Granth Sahib as the next perpetual Guru of the Sikhs. This Granth is more than a holy book for the Sikhs.
Guru Gobind Singh was the last of 10 Sikh Gurus, who were the founders of the Sikh religion. The part played by this Guru in the development of the Sikh faith has been monumental. The First Sikh Guru was Guru Nanak.
Guru Gobind Singh exemplified the teachings of Sikh principles during his lifetime. He not only taught the teachings, but he felt the pain of sacrifice in upholding those beliefs and teachings. Guru Gobind Singh lost his father, mother, and all four of his sons to a religious war, fought against the Mughal emperor of the time, Aurangzeb. Aurangzeb demanded that all Sikhs either convert to Islam or be killed. It was in this fight for spiritual survival the Guru Gobind Singh felt the pain of loss.
Guru Gobind Singh also finalised many elements of Sikhism. He proclaimed himself the last living Guru and established the Guru Granth Sahib -- a compilation of the ten Gurus' writings -- as the eternal guru for the Sikhs. However, it was only spiritual authority that was bestowed upon the Guru Granth. Temporal authority was given to the Sikhs as a whole. Guru Gobind also established the Sikh baptism ceremony, the partaking of amrit.
The following is a summary of the main highlights of Guru Gobind Singh's life:
· Compilation of the 1428 page Dasam Granth Sahib.
· Author of various important Banis which Sikhs recite daily: Jaap Sahib, Chaupai, etc.
· Wrote autobiography Bichitra Natak
· Built various Gurdwaras - Kesh Garh Sahib etc.
· Developed Anandpur Sahib as a Sikh Centre of Excellence.
· Enhanced the structure of Sikh society by introducing various administration systems.
· Extreme personal sacrifice for society: Father martyred for protection of Kashmiri Hindus, all four sons sacrificed to the Mughal and Tribal Forces.
· Sent Zafarnama to Aurangzeb.
Guru Nanak (Available Sizes: 1C, 1A, 1, 2, 3)
Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji (20 October 1469 – 7 May 1539), the founder of Sikhism and the first of the ten Gurus of the Sikhs, was born in the village of Talwandi, now called Nankana Sahib, near Lahore in present-day Pakistan. His parents, Kalu Mehta and Matta Tripat, were Hindus of the Khatri caste. Guru Nanak Dev Ji married Sulkhni, of Batala, and they had two sons, Sri Chand and Lakhmi Das. He continued his religious pursuits as always.
His teachings are expressed in devotional hymns and his message of peace, love and tolerance is as relevant today as ever. Guru Nanak said, "The name of God is like the mighty ship, whosoever embarks, shall cross the ocean of mundane existence". Guru Nanak's birthday is celebrated on the full moon after Diwali.
Guru Nanak (C) (Available Sizes: 2C, 1C, 1A, 1, 2)
Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji (20 October 1469 – 7 May 1539), the founder of Sikhism and the first of the ten Gurus of the Sikhs, was born in the village of Talwandi, now called Nankana Sahib, near Lahore in present-day Pakistan. His parents, Kalu Mehta and Matta Tripat, were Hindus of the Khatri caste. Guru Nanak Dev Ji married Sulkhni, of Batala, and they had two sons, Sri Chand and Lakhmi Das. He continued his religious pursuits as always.
His teachings are expressed in devotional hymns and his message of peace, love and tolerance is as relevant today as ever. Guru Nanak said, "The name of God is like the mighty ship, whosoever embarks, shall cross the ocean of mundane existence". Guru Nanak's birthday is celebrated on the full moon after Diwali.
Guru Teg Bahadur (Available Sizes: 1C, 1)
Sri Guru Teg Bahadur Ji (April 1, 1621 - November 11, 1675) was the ninth of the Ten Gurus of Sikhism and became Guru on March 20, 1665 following in the footsteps of his grand-nephew, Guru Har Krishan . Before he died, he nominated his son, Gobind Rai – who later was renamed - Guru Gobind Singh, as the next, and as it turned out, the last Guru of the Sikhs – in human form. The following is a summary of the main highlights of Guru Teg Bahadur's life:
· Built the city of Anandpur Sahib.
· Toured various parts of India.
· Responsible for saving the Kashmiri Hindus who were being persecuted by the Mughals, but had to lay down his own life.
· Contributed many hundreds of hymns to the Guru Granth Sahib.
· The Saloks (Mahal 9) near the end of the Guru Granth Sahib are extremely popular.
· Martyred in Delhi by Mughal Emperor, Aurangzeb.
· Gurdwara Sis Ganj, Chandani Chowk, Delhi, where he was beheaded and Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib, Delhi, where at the residence of Lakhi Shah Vanjara - who burnt his house so as to cremate the Guru's body.
Guruvayurappan (Available Sizes: 1, 2, 3)
Lord Krishna is worshipped as Guruvayurappan in the town of Guruvayur in Kerala, India. However, people from all parts of Kerala and Tamil Nadu as well as many other Krishna devotees from other parts of India go on a pilgrimage to this Temple town in order to worship Lord Krishna. According to legends, the Vigraham of Lord Guruvayurappan (Lord Krishna), which is made of a stone called Patala Anjanam or black Bismuth was originally worshipped by Vasudeva, father of Lord Krishna and represents the full manifestation of Lord Maha Vishnu. The Vigraham is in the standing pose with 4 arms carrying the shanku (conch), the chakra (discus), the gada (mace) and padma (lotus). The Vigraham was installed in it’s current location by Brihaspathi (Guru) and carried there by Vayu ( Wind God) and hence the town got it’s name Guruvayur meaning the place sanctified by GURU and VAYU.
Guruvayurappan Temples: Although the main Temple of Lord Guruvayurappan is located in Kerala near Trichur, there are hundreds of Guravayurappan Temples scattered over India and in all parts of the world where people of Indian origin particularly South Indians have settled down. The Vigraham, which is installed in the Parashakthi Temple was cast in Panchaloka (5 metals) as per the instructions and guidance of the Melshanthi (Chief Priest) of the Guruvayurappan Temple in India. The Vigraham itself was cast by a well-known Sthapathy in Nagerkoil, Tamil Nadu, and India and brought to Michigan where the Vigraham underwent all the prescribed Vedic rites for installation. We in Michigan are blessed to be able to worship Lord Krishna in all His Glory at the Parashakthi Temple in Pontiac. It is now a year since the Pratheeshta of the Lord took place in our Temple.
Hanuman (Available Sizes: 2C, 1C, 1A, 1, 2, 3)
Hanuman Ji (Anjaneya) is a vanara who aided Rama in rescuing his wife, Sita, from the Rakshasa king Ravana. He symbolizes the pinnacle of bhakti. He is more well-known as the son of Vayu deva, Pawan Putra or the wind god. He is more popular in the north of the Indian subcontinent than in the south.
Hanuman epitomizes virtue, strength, humility, siddhi and courage. He is symbolized in Hinduism for his unwavering dedication to righteousness, unstinting performance of entrusted duties, and unfailing talents in serving his master Rama. He is given the role of a guru in several South Indian traditions, for his uniting Rama with Sita is likened to that of a teacher helping an individual soul realize the divine.
Hanuman (C) (Available Sizes: 1C, 1A, 1, 2)
Hanuman Ji (Anjaneya) is a vanara who aided Rama in rescuing his wife, Sita, from the Rakshasa king Ravana. He symbolizes the pinnacle of bhakti. He is more well-known as the son of Vayu deva, Pawan Putra or the wind god. He is more popular in the north of the Indian subcontinent than in the south.
Hanuman epitomizes virtue, strength, humility, siddhi and courage. He is symbolized in Hinduism for his unwavering dedication to righteousness, unstinting performance of entrusted duties, and unfailing talents in serving his master Rama. He is given the role of a guru in several South Indian traditions, for his uniting Rama with Sita is likened to that of a teacher helping an individual soul realize the divine.
Infant Jesus (Available Sizes: 1, 2, 3)
The Child Jesus is a religious archetypal symbol based on the activities of Jesus as an infant up to the age of twelve that recurs throughout history starting from around the 3rd & 4th century with religious figurines and icons of the infant Jesus, usually with His mother, the Virgin Mary, and His father Joseph.
This "original nuclear family" symbolized the Holy Trinity to many early Christian believers and solidified the family unit with such deep spiritual significance that it eventually became an integral part of the Catholic religious dogma, which has a tenet belief in the Holy Family.
The term "Child Jesus" often refers to the Infant Jesus of Prague.
Jalaram Bapa (C) (Available Sizes: 1C, 1A, 1)
Shree Jalaram Bapa was born in the year 1800 AD in the village Virpur, Gujarat. His mother, Rajbai was very fond of serving sadhus and saints. He was 20 years when his saintliness acquired a great fame. There are stories of how he was put to tests for his qualities of patience, endurence, love towards others, his steadfastness of thinking - he did not change under any pressure - he came out of all those tests successfully. His fame spread and he was regarded and accepted as a saint. People started worshipping him. In 1934, Jalaram Bapa worked very hard for whose who were struck by the terrible famine. In 1935 Virbama died and in 1937 Jalaram Bapa left his body in his prayers. This is the story of the great saint of Virpur.
Jesus (Available Sizes: 1C, 1A, 1, 2, 3, 5)
Jesus, also known as Jesus Christ, is the central figure of Christianity, most of the adherents of which worship him as the Messiah, son of God, and God incarnate.
The main sources concerning the life and teachings of Jesus are the four canonical gospels from the New Testament, which depict Jesus as (among other things) a Galilean rabbi, healer, and performer of other miracles, who was often at odds with Jewish religious authorities, and was crucified outside of Jerusalem during the rule of the Roman prefect Pontius Pilate.
Born in a stable in Bethlehem, on 25th December, Lord Jesus spread the message of love, peace & forgiveness. The day of crucification is called Good Friday. On the 3rd day, he resurrected, and this day is called Easter Sunday. The birthday of Christ is celebrated as Christmas the world over.
Jesus (C) (Available Sizes: 2C, 1C, 1A, 1, 2, 3)
Jesus, also known as Jesus Christ, is the central figure of Christianity, most of the adherents of which worship him as the Messiah, son of God, and God incarnate.
The main sources concerning the life and teachings of Jesus are the four canonical gospels from the New Testament, which depict Jesus as (among other things) a Galilean rabbi, healer, and performer of other miracles, who was often at odds with Jewish religious authorities, and was crucified outside of Jerusalem during the rule of the Roman prefect Pontius Pilate.
Born in a stable in Bethlehem, on 25th December, Lord Jesus spread the message of love, peace & forgiveness. The day of crucification is called Good Friday. On the 3rd day, he resurrected, and this day is called Easter Sunday. The birthday of Christ is celebrated as Christmas the world over.
Kali (Available Sizes: 2)
Although her presentation in the West is usually as simply dark and violent, Kali is a goddess with a long and complex history in Hinduism. Her earliest history as a creature of indiscriminate violence and wrath still has some influence, while more complex Tantric beliefs sometimes extend her role so far as to be the Ultimate Reality and Source of Being. Finally, the comparatively recent devotional movement largely conceives of Kali as a straightforwardly benevolent mother-goddess. Kali is associated with many devis (goddesses) as well as the deva (god) Shiva.
Kali is generally considered one of the consorts of Shiva. Her name seems to be a female version of the word 'kala' (Sanskrit for 'dark' or 'time'- time in this form being a euphemism for death); it also means Black Female, in contrast to her consort, Shiva, who is white. The goddesses that she is associated or identified with include Durga, Bhowani Devi, Sati, Rudrani, Parvati, Chinnamastika, Kamakshi, Uma, Menakshi, Himavati, Kumari. These names, if repeated, are believed to give special power to the worshipper.
Khand Sahib (Available Sizes: 4C, 3C, 2C, 1C)
The Khanda is one of the most important symbols of Sikhism. Its importance is emphasised by the fact that many Sikh flags, including the Nishan Sahib have the Khanda on them. It is a collection of four weapons commonly used by Sikhs at the time of Guru Gobind Singh, as explained below:
In the centre, the double edged sword, or Khanda, from which the symbol derives its name. The Khanda represents knowledge of divinity, the creative power of God and the belief in one god.
Surrounding the Khanda is a circular quoit, called a Chakkar, a medieval weapon which symbolises the unity of God, and the balance of life and death.
On either side, crossed daggers, or Kirpans, called Piri and Miri (after the personal weapons of Guru Hargobind), symbolising spiritual and temporal/political sovereignty, respectively.
The Khanda is an important emblem in Sikhism and can be compared to the Cross to Christians, or the Star of David to Jews.
Krishna (Available Sizes: 2C, 1C, 1A, 1, 2, 3, 5)
Krishna (Sanskrit for 'black'), is according to common Hindu tradition the eighth avatar of Vishnu. In Gaudiya Vaishnavism ,he is seen as the Supreme God.
Krishna appears under many names, in a multiplicity of stories, among different cultures, and in different traditions. Sometimes these contradict each other, though there is a common core story that is central to most people's knowledge of Krishna.
Gopala - cowherd; protector of cows Govinda - protector of cows Hari - the fawn (or yellow or gold) coloured one Hrshikesha - master of the senses Jaganatha - lord of the universe (see also Juggernaut). Keshava – long haired; in some accounts, the killer of Kesi Madhava - bringer of springtime Vaasudeva, Krishna Vaasudeva - son of Vasudeva
Lord Krishna with Flute
Lord Krishna was the Divine lover of the gopis of Vrindavan, such that the music of his flute would prompt the gopis to leave their homes and dance to the tune of his flute. It is said that Lord Krishna use to play the flute for Radha, his favourite gopi on the banks of Yamuna. It has also inspired religious poetry, music and art.
Krishna New (C) (Available Sizes: 1A, 1, 2, 3)
Krishna (Sanskrit for 'black'), is according to common Hindu tradition the eighth avatar of Vishnu. In Gaudiya Vaishnavism ,he is seen as the Supreme God.
Krishna appears under many names, in a multiplicity of stories, among different cultures, and in different traditions. Sometimes these contradict each other, though there is a common core story that is central to most people's knowledge of Krishna.
Gopala - cowherd; protector of cows Govinda - protector of cows Hari - the fawn (or yellow or gold) coloured one Hrshikesha - master of the senses Jaganatha - lord of the universe (see also Juggernaut). Keshava – long haired; in some accounts, the killer of Kesi Madhava - bringer of springtime Vaasudeva, Krishna Vaasudeva - son of Vasudeva
Lord Krishna with Flute
Lord Krishna was the Divine lover of the gopis of Vrindavan, such that the music of his flute would prompt the gopis to leave their homes and dance to the tune of his flute. It is said that Lord Krishna use to play the flute for Radha, his favourite gopi on the banks of Yamuna. It has also inspired religious poetry, music and art.
Krishna (C) (Available Sizes: 1C, 1A)
Krishna (Sanskrit for 'black'), is according to common Hindu tradition the eighth avatar of Vishnu. In Gaudiya Vaishnavism ,he is seen as the Supreme God.
Krishna appears under many names, in a multiplicity of stories, among different cultures, and in different traditions. Sometimes these contradict each other, though there is a common core story that is central to most people's knowledge of Krishna.
Gopala - cowherd; protector of cows Govinda - protector of cows Hari - the fawn (or yellow or gold) coloured one Hrshikesha - master of the senses Jaganatha - lord of the universe (see also Juggernaut). Keshava – long haired; in some accounts, the killer of Kesi Madhava - bringer of springtime Vaasudeva, Krishna Vaasudeva - son of Vasudeva
Lord Krishna with Flute
Lord Krishna was the Divine lover of the gopis of Vrindavan, such that the music of his flute would prompt the gopis to leave their homes and dance to the tune of his flute. It is said that Lord Krishna use to play the flute for Radha, his favourite gopi on the banks of Yamuna. It has also inspired religious poetry, music and art.
Kuniyam (Available Sizes: 1A, 1, 2)
Kuan Yin (also written as Guan Yin, Kwan Yin etc.) is the bodhisattva of compassion as venerated by East Asian Buddhists. Commonly known as the Goddess of Mercy, Kuan Yin is also reverenced by Chinese Taoists as an Immortal. The name Kuan Yin is short for Kuan Shih Yin (py: Guan Shi Yin) which means "Observing the Sounds of the World".
In Japanese, Kuan Yin is called Kannon or more formally Kanzeon; the spelling Kwannon, based on a pre-modern pronunciation, is sometimes seen. In Korean, she is called Kwan-um or Kwan-se-um. In Vietnamese, she is called Quan Âm or Quan Th Âm B Tát.
Kuan Yin is the Chinese name for the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara. However, folk traditions in China and other East Asian countries have added many distinctive characteristics and legends. Most notably, while Avalokitesvara can be depicted as either male or female, Kuan Yin is usually depicted as a woman, whereas Avalokitesvara in other countries is usually depicted as a man.
Ladoo Gopal (C) (Available Sizes: 1A, 1)
Krishna the child (Bala Krishna). Stories of his upbringing in Gokula and Vrindavan are a staple of children's tales in India.
The childhood of Lord Krishna is full of his mischief. His stealing of butter lovingly earned him the nickname of 'MAKHAN CHOR' It is said that while his father Vasudev was taking the newborn to Nandgaon across the Yamuna River, the river started rising and did not subside till it touched the Lord's feet.
In India, Lakshmi or Laxmi is the goddess of wealth, light and fortune, as well as (secondarily) luck, beauty and fertility. Representations of Lakshmi (or Shri) are found in Jain and Buddhist monuments, in addition to Hindu temples.
In Puranic Hinduism Lakshmi is the Mother of the Universe and Vishnu's Shakti. Lakshmi is married to Vishnu, and also married his incarnations Rama (in her incarnation as Sita), Krishna (as Rukmini) and Venkateshwara (as Padmavati.) Lakshmi has a son named Kama. In Hinduism, money or wealth is considered to be a form of the Goddess Lakshmi.
Goddess Lakshmi is very incorrectly connected only with money, popular public perception is that she is the goddess of money. This however is incorrect, as the holy goddess is also the goddess of prosperity, of divinity and purity. She is also the goddess of Brahma-vidya (divine Knowledge) and one of her name is "Vidya" - which literally means knowledge. She is the goddess to whom we ask for happiness in family, friends, marriage, children, food and wealth, beauty and health. Hence she is a very popular goddess who is worshipped by every Hindu. As she is the goddess of prosperity, she is also called as Dharidranashini (destroyer of poverty) and Dharidradvamshini (one who opposes poverty).
In India, Lakshmi or Laxmi is the goddess of wealth, light and fortune, as well as (secondarily) luck, beauty and fertility. Representations of Lakshmi (or Shri) are found in Jain and Buddhist monuments, in addition to Hindu temples.
In Puranic Hinduism Lakshmi is the Mother of the Universe and Vishnu's Shakti. Lakshmi is married to Vishnu, and also married his incarnations Rama (in her incarnation as Sita), Krishna (as Rukmini) and Venkateshwara (as Padmavati.) Lakshmi has a son named Kama. In Hinduism, money or wealth is considered to be a form of the Goddess Lakshmi.
Goddess Lakshmi is very incorrectly connected only with money, popular public perception is that she is the goddess of money. This however is incorrect, as the holy goddess is also the goddess of prosperity, of divinity and purity. She is also the goddess of Brahma-vidya (divine Knowledge) and one of her name is "Vidya" - which literally means knowledge. She is the goddess to whom we ask for happiness in family, friends, marriage, children, food and wealth, beauty and health. Hence she is a very popular goddess who is worshipped by every Hindu. As she is the goddess of prosperity, she is also called as Dharidranashini (destroyer of poverty) and Dharidradvamshini (one who opposes poverty).
Last Supper (Available Sizes: 3)
In the Christian faith, the Last Supper was the last meal Jesus shared with his apostles before his death. The Last Supper has been the subject of many paintings, perhaps the most famous by Leonardo da Vinci. The meal is discussed at length in all four Gospels of the canonized Bible. The meal is considered by most scholars likely to have been a Passover seder, celebrated on the Thursday night (Holy Thursday) before Jesus was crucified on Friday (Good Friday).
According to tradition, the Last Supper took place in what is called today The Room of the Last Supper on Mount Zion, just outside of the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem.
The Last Supper is remembered by Roman Catholics as one of the Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary, and by Protestants as the "inauguration of the New Covenant", mentioned by the prophet Jeremiah, fulfilled by Jesus at the Last Supper, when He said, "Take, eat; this [bread] is My Body; which is broken for you. Par-take of the cup, drink; this [wine] is My Blood, which is shed for many; for the remission of sins". Other Christian groups consider the Bread and Wine remembrance as a change to the Passover ceremony, as Jesus Christ has become "our Passover, sacrificed for us" (I Corinthians 5:7).
Mahaveer (Available Sizes: 1C, 1A, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
Mahavira (or Mahavir (the "Great Hero" -- Also, Vardhamana (increasing) or Niggantha Nathaputta -- 599 BC-527 BC, though possibly 549 BC-477 BC) was the 24th, and last, Jainist Tirthankara.
Lord Mahavir was born as Vardhaman. At the age of 30 he renounced all worldly ties in search of realisation which he attained after severe penance. He advocated mankind to conquer the senses, mind and eventually the self to become a 'Jina' or follower of the Jain faith. His main doctrine on which the religion rests is of 'Ahimsa' or non-violence.
To liberate one's self, Mahavira taught the neccesity of right faith (samyak-darshana), right knowledge (samyak-jnana), and right conduct (samyak-charitra'). At the heart of right conduct for Jains lie the five great vows:
· Nonviolence (Ahimsa)- not to cause harm to any living beings
· Truthfulness (Satya)- to speak the harmless truth only
· Non-stealing (Asteya)- not to take anything not properly given
· Chastity (Brahmacharya)- not to indulge in sensual pleasure
Non-possession/Non-attachment (Aparigraha)- complete detachment from people, places, and material things
Mahavira (or Mahavir (the "Great Hero" -- Also, Vardhamana (increasing) or Niggantha Nathaputta -- 599 BC-527 BC, though possibly 549 BC-477 BC) was the 24th, and last, Jainist Tirthankara.
Lord Mahavir was born as Vardhaman. At the age of 30 he renounced all worldly ties in search of realisation which he attained after severe penance. He advocated mankind to conquer the senses, mind and eventually the self to become a 'Jina' or follower of the Jain faith. His main doctrine on which the religion rests is of 'Ahimsa' or non-violence.
To liberate one's self, Mahavira taught the neccesity of right faith (samyak-darshana), right knowledge (samyak-jnana), and right conduct (samyak-charitra'). At the heart of right conduct for Jains lie the five great vows:
· Nonviolence (Ahimsa)- not to cause harm to any living beings
· Truthfulness (Satya)- to speak the harmless truth only
· Non-stealing (Asteya)- not to take anything not properly given
· Chastity (Brahmacharya)- not to indulge in sensual pleasure
Non-possession/Non-attachment (Aparigraha)- complete detachment from people, places, and material things
Mary (Available Sizes: 1A, 1, 2, 3)
In Christianity according to the New Testament, Mary (Judæo-Aramaic îøéí Maryâm "Bitter"; Septuagint Greek Ìáñéáì, Mariam, Ìáñéá, Maria; Arabic: Maryem, ãÑíã) was the mother of Jesus of Nazareth and at the time of his conception was the betrothed wife of Joseph (cf. Matt 1:18-20, Luke 1:35). Most Christians and Muslims understand the Gospel accounts in this respect to mean that Mary was a virgin when she conceived Jesus through a miracle of God.
Mary is the subject of much veneration in the Christian faith, particularly in the Roman Catholic Church and Orthodox Church, and is also highly regarded by Muslims. The area of Christian theology concerning her is Mariology. The feast of the nativity of Mary is celebrated both in the Orthodox and in the Roman Catholic (and also Anglican) churches on 8 September.
Mata ka Durbar (C) (Available Sizes: 2C, 1C, 1A, 1, 2, 3)
In terms of popularity no pilgrimage site can match Vaishno Devi. Every year thousands of people throng to 'mata ka darbar' to plead for wish fulfillment.
As is the case with most holy shrines in India, Vaishno Devi also has a legend attached to it. Around 700 years ago Vaishno Devi was praying to Lord Rama when Bhairon Nath a tantrik demon god decided he wanted to pursue her. As the Goddess had taken a vow of celibacy she fled from Bhairon. Vaishno Devi ran towards the Trikuta Mountains with Bhairon in hot persuit. While running she felt thirsty and shot an arrow into the earth from where water sprang out. This place is now called Banganga. The Goddess rested at Charan Paduka where the imprint of her feet got embedded into the earth. She hid and meditated in a cave at Adhkawari where she stayed for nine months. Since that time the cave has come to be known as Garbh Joon (the womb). When Bhairon finally located her in the cave she blew an opening with her trident and escaped. She then took on the form of Mahakali and in her fury cut off Bhairon's head with such force that it fell at a distance. It is here that the Bhairon Temple is now located. Some people also believe that the boulder that blocks the enterance to the holy cave is actually Bhairon's torso as Mata Vaishno Devi forgave Bhairon in his last moments.
The shrine of Vaishno Devi is located in the Trikuta Mountains at a height of 5200 feet above sea level. It is 61 km north of the city of Jammu.
Meenakshiamman (Available Sizes: 1, 2, 3)
In Hindu mythology, Meenakshi was a princess who was born with three breasts, fish-shaped eyes and fishy smell. According to the story, after seeking advice from holy men, she was told that the extra breast would disappear when she met her future husband. She was also told that the fish-like qualities would transform into beauty. This duly happened when she met the god Shiva, whom she married 8 days later in Madurai, the husband taking on the form of Lord Sundareshwara. The Meenakshi temple in south India is named after her.
The story describes the early understanding of beauty and growth and the processes of life and creation in mythical metaphors. Goddess Meenakshi is considered as a form of Mathangi, one of the deities in the SriVidhya tradition.
Murli Krishna (Available Sizes: 1A, 1, 2)
Krishna (Sanskrit for 'black'), is according to common Hindu tradition the eighth avatar of Vishnu. In Gaudiya Vaishnavism ,he is seen as the Supreme God.
Krishna appears under many names, in a multiplicity of stories, among different cultures, and in different traditions. Sometimes these contradict each other, though there is a common core story that is central to most people's knowledge of Krishna.
Gopala - cowherd; protector of cows Govinda - protector of cows Hari - the fawn (or yellow or gold) coloured one Hrshikesha - master of the senses Jaganatha - lord of the universe (see also Juggernaut). Keshava – long haired; in some accounts, the killer of Kesi Madhava - bringer of springtime Vaasudeva, Krishna Vaasudeva - son of Vasudeva
Lord Krishna with Flute
Lord Krishna was the Divine lover of the gopis of Vrindavan, such that the music of his flute would prompt the gopis to leave their homes and dance to the tune of his flute. It is said that Lord Krishna use to play the flute for Radha, his favourite gopi on the banks of Yamuna. It has also inspired religious poetry, music and art.
Murugan (Available Sizes: 1)
In Hinduism, Kârttikeya (also Skanda, Subrahmanya, Kumara, Arumugan, Shanmugan, Murugan, Guha, Saravana, Swaminatha, Velan, Senthil) is a deity born out of a magical spark created by Shiva. The name Kârttikeya means "him of the Pleiades". There are several legends surrounding his birth.
According to some legends, Shiva's spark was so bright and luminous that only Agni, god of Fire, could carry it. Agni deposited the spark, according to Shiva's directions, in the Ganges river. The Ganga then nourished the spark, causing a living being, Kartikeya, to spring from it.
Skanda is regarded as the second son of Shiva and Parvati. Kartikeya is the god of masculinity, war and leader of the armies of the gods. Tamil legends say he married two deities, Valli and Devayani. However, other Hindu legends he is unmarried, and call him Kumaraswami (Kumara meaning a bachelor and Swami meaning God)
Namokar Mantra (Available Sizes: 1A, 1, 2, 3)
For the Jain devotee, the Namokar Mantra enjoys primacy as the premier mantra in Jainism. This mantra is about Aradhana, Sadhana and Anubhuuti.
The ethical code of Jainism is taken very seriously. Summarized in the Five Vows, they are followed by both lay people and monastics. These are:
Nonviolence (ahinsa, or ahimsa)
Truth (satya)
Non-stealing (asteya)
Chastity (brahmacharya)
Non-possession or Non-possessiveness (aparigrah)
OM (Available Sizes: 3C, 2C, 1C)
Aum (also Om) is the most sacred syllable in Hinduism, first coming to light in the Vedic Tradition. The syllable is sometimes referred to as the "Udgitha" or "pranava mantra" (primordial mantra); not only because it is considered to be the primal sound, but also because most mantras begin with it. As a seed syllable (bija), it is also considered holy in Esoteric Buddhism. In Devanagari it is written (Unicode U+0950) and in Tibetan script (Unicode U+0F00).
The goal, which all Vedas declare, which all austerities aim at, and which humans desire when they live a life of continence, I will tell you briefly it is Om. The syllable Om is indeed Brahman. This syllable Om is the highest. Whosoever knows this symbol obtains all that he desires. This is the best support; this is the highest support. Whosoever knows this support is adored in the world of Brahman. -Katha Upanishad I, ii, 15-17
The symbol of Om contains of three curves, one semicircle and a dot. The large lower curve symbolizes the waking state; the upper curve denotes deep sleep (or the unconscious) state, and the lower curve (which lies between deep sleep and the waking state) signifies the dream state. These three states of an individual’s consciousness, and therefore the entire physical phenomenon, are represented by the three curves. The dot signifies the Absolute (fourth or Turiya state of consciousness), which illuminates the other three states. The semicircle symbolizes maya and separates the dot from the other three curves. The semicircle is open on the top, which means that the absolute is infinite and is not affected by maya. Maya only affects the manifested phenomenon. In this way the form of Om symbolizes the infinite Brahman and the entire Universe.
Uttering the monosyllable Om, the eternal world of Brahman, One who departs leaving the body (at death), he attains the superior goal. -Bhagavad Gita, 8.13
When you pronounce AUM: "A - emerges from the throat, originating in the region of the navel U - rolls over the tongue M - ends on the lips A - waking, U - dreaming, M - sleeping It is the sum and substance of all the words that can emanate from the human throat. It is the primordial fundamental sound symbolic of the Universal Absolute."
OM (C) (Available Sizes: 1A, 1)
Aum (also Om) is the most sacred syllable in Hinduism, first coming to light in the Vedic Tradition. The syllable is sometimes referred to as the "Udgitha" or "pranava mantra" (primordial mantra); not only because it is considered to be the primal sound, but also because most mantras begin with it. As a seed syllable (bija), it is also considered holy in Esoteric Buddhism. In Devanagari it is written (Unicode U+0950) and in Tibetan script (Unicode U+0F00).
The goal, which all Vedas declare, which all austerities aim at, and which humans desire when they live a life of continence, I will tell you briefly it is Om. The syllable Om is indeed Brahman. This syllable Om is the highest. Whosoever knows this symbol obtains all that he desires. This is the best support; this is the highest support. Whosoever knows this support is adored in the world of Brahman. -Katha Upanishad I, ii, 15-17
The symbol of Om contains of three curves, one semicircle and a dot. The large lower curve symbolizes the waking state; the upper curve denotes deep sleep (or the unconscious) state, and the lower curve (which lies between deep sleep and the waking state) signifies the dream state. These three states of an individual’s consciousness, and therefore the entire physical phenomenon, are represented by the three curves. The dot signifies the Absolute (fourth or Turiya state of consciousness), which illuminates the other three states. The semicircle symbolizes maya and separates the dot from the other three curves. The semicircle is open on the top, which means that the absolute is infinite and is not affected by maya. Maya only affects the manifested phenomenon. In this way the form of Om symbolizes the infinite Brahman and the entire Universe.
Uttering the monosyllable Om, the eternal world of Brahman, One who departs leaving the body (at death), he attains the superior goal. -Bhagavad Gita, 8.13
When you pronounce AUM: "A - emerges from the throat, originating in the region of the navel U - rolls over the tongue M - ends on the lips A - waking, U - dreaming, M - sleeping It is the sum and substance of all the words that can emanate from the human throat. It is the primordial fundamental sound symbolic of the Universal Absolute."
Padmavati (Available Sizes: 2C, 1C, 1A, 1, 2)
Lakshmi, goddess of wealth, has appeared earth in different aspects on different occasions.
When Lord Vishnu decided to manifest Himself as Venkateswara in response to the reverential prayers of Sage Narayana, Lakshmi did not like to stay alone in Her abode. The Universal Divine Mother, Goddess of Earth, wanted to enjoy the beauty and splendor of planet Earth. She accordingly manifested Herself as a little girl in the flower garden attached to the temple in Srivilliputtur, a small town in South India. Shree PADMAVATHI (Tiruchanur -- Andhra Pradesh) : Three miles from Tirupathi town in Andhra Pradesh, is Tiruchanur, where the temple of Alarmelu Mangai is situated. She is the consort of Lord Venkatachalapathi. She is also known as Padmavathi Thayar, as she is believed to have been born out of a Lotus flower.
Pramukh Swami (C) (Available Sizes: 1C, 1A, 1, 2)
Birth: 7 December 1921; Magshar Sud 8, VS 1978. Pujya Pramukh Swami Maharaj is the fifth spiritual successor of Bhagwan Swaminarayan and the present leader of Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha. He leads an austere life of lifetime celibacy, without personal wealth or comfort. Representing the essence of Hinduism,his compassion for humanity, universal wisdom and striking simplicity have touched many world religious and national leaders. But most important is his quiet, undisturbed love for God which rises beyond all borders of nation, race and religion.
Radha Krishna (Available Sizes: 1A, 1, 2, 3, 5)
In the Vaishnava devotional or bhakti traditions of Hinduism that focus on Krishna, Radha the gopi is his consort. For some of the adherents of these traditions, her importance approaches or even exceeds that of Krishna. She is considered his adi (original) shakti, the Supreme Goddess. Her connection to Krishna is of two types: svakiya-rasa (married relationship) and parakiya-rasa (unmarried, amorous relationship). The second type is considered more exalted.
Radha was born in Barsana, a village about 8 kilometeres from Vrindavana. One of her names, Hara, in vocative Hare, forms a part of the Hare_Krishna_Maha_Mantra, one of the most popular mantras in India. This mantra invokes Radha and Krishna as the Supreme Brahman.
Radha's love for Krishna is seen by Vaishnavas as the most perfect because it is endless and without conditions. She is a cowherd-girl (gopi), who has a simple and pure-hearted nature that enchants Krishna greatly. Thus she is the most important consort of Krishna, His heart and soul, and his hladini-shakti (spiritual pleasure potency).
This image has become a source of inspiration to numerous divotional groups. It has also inspired religious poetry, music and art.
Radha Krishna New (C) (Available Sizes: 1A, 1)
In the Vaishnava devotional or bhakti traditions of Hinduism that focus on Krishna, Radha the gopi is his consort. For some of the adherents of these traditions, her importance approaches or even exceeds that of Krishna. She is considered his adi (original) shakti, the Supreme Goddess. Her connection to Krishna is of two types: svakiya-rasa (married relationship) and parakiya-rasa (unmarried, amorous relationship). The second type is considered more exalted.
Radha was born in Barsana, a village about 8 kilometeres from Vrindavana. One of her names, Hara, in vocative Hare, forms a part of the Hare_Krishna_Maha_Mantra, one of the most popular mantras in India. This mantra invokes Radha and Krishna as the Supreme Brahman.
Radha's love for Krishna is seen by Vaishnavas as the most perfect because it is endless and without conditions. She is a cowherd-girl (gopi), who has a simple and pure-hearted nature that enchants Krishna greatly. Thus she is the most important consort of Krishna, His heart and soul, and his hladini-shakti (spiritual pleasure potency).
This image has become a source of inspiration to numerous divotional groups. It has also inspired religious poetry, music and art.
In the Vaishnava devotional or bhakti traditions of Hinduism that focus on Krishna, Radha the gopi is his consort. For some of the adherents of these traditions, her importance approaches or even exceeds that of Krishna. She is considered his adi (original) shakti, the Supreme Goddess. Her connection to Krishna is of two types: svakiya-rasa (married relationship) and parakiya-rasa (unmarried, amorous relationship). The second type is considered more exalted.
Radha was born in Barsana, a village about 8 kilometeres from Vrindavana. One of her names, Hara, in vocative Hare, forms a part of the Hare_Krishna_Maha_Mantra, one of the most popular mantras in India. This mantra invokes Radha and Krishna as the Supreme Brahman.
Radha's love for Krishna is seen by Vaishnavas as the most perfect because it is endless and without conditions. She is a cowherd-girl (gopi), who has a simple and pure-hearted nature that enchants Krishna greatly. Thus she is the most important consort of Krishna, His heart and soul, and his hladini-shakti (spiritual pleasure potency).
This image has become a source of inspiration to numerous divotional groups. It has also inspired religious poetry, music and art.
Ram Darbar (Available Sizes: 1, 2, 3)
Ram Darbar - Depicts Lord Ram, his wife Sita, his younger brother Lakshman and his devotee Hanuman. Rama and Lakshman are always shown to be ready for battle (with bow and arrow) as it is their Kshatriya dharma to fight. Rama is shown having blue skin which is a characteristic of Vishnu Lord Ram is the eldest of the four sons of Dashrath, the king of Ayodhya. The story of Ramayan revolves around them mainly. It is the story of good depicted by Lord Ram and the evil, Ravan. The battle between the two ended eventually in the killing of Ravan by Lord Ram. This day is celebrated as Vijay Dashmi or Dussehra, the victory of good over evil. Lord Ram's return to Ayodhya after his exile of fourteen years is celebrated as Diwali.
Ramji (C) (Available Sizes: 1A, 1, 2, 3)
Rama, sometimes referred to as Ramachandra and also as Shri Rama, Ram is the Seventh Avatara of Vishnu. He is the embodiment of the absolute Brahman and Dharma. He is the Mariyada Purushottama or The Perfect Man.
The life and heroic deeds of Rama are related in the Sanskrit epic the Ramayana. A great devotional work on him is the Ramcharitmanas by Tulsidas, which builds on the Hindu bhakti movements of devotion and love of God.
Rama is the most famous and popular manifestation of the Supreme God for a vast majority of the 900 million Hindus across the world, including the nations of South East Asia such as Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Burma and Cambodia. He is recognized as the image, spirit and consciousness of Hinduism, the world's oldest organized religion, and of human civilization from the Indian perspective.
Salasarji (Available Sizes: 1, 2)
Salasar Ji is another name for Lord hanuman ji. Salasar Dham is situated in 100 K.M. from churu and 160 K.M. from Sadulpur, world famous for its Hanuman Temple ( The Monkey God). Salasar Dham attracts innumerable of Indian worshipers throughout the year. Salasar Dhams Idol was found in one field that you can see in History.
Saraswati (Available Sizes: 1A, 1, 2, 3)
Saraswati is the first of the three great goddesses of Hinduism, the other two being Lakshmi and Durga. Saraswati is the consort of Lord Brahma, The Creator. Saraswati (Sarasvati, Saraswathi) is the first goddess worshipped in the Hindu religion. She is first mentioned in the Rig Veda. She is also mentioned in Puranic texts, such as Ramayana. She likely originated as a river goddess.
She is associated with the colour white, which signifies the purity of true knowledge. She is not adorned heavily with jewels and gold like the goddess Lakshmi, but is dressed austerely--perhaps representing her preference of knowledge over worldly material things. She is generally shown to have four arms, holding:-
A book, which is the sacred Vedas, representing the universal, divine, eternal, true knowledge and her perfection of all the sciences and the scriptures.
A rosary of white pearls, representing the power of meditation and spirituality.
A pot of sacred water, representing creative and purificatory powers.
The musical instrument called the veena, representing her perfection of all arts and sciences.
Satya Sai Baba (Available Sizes: 1A, 1)
Sathya Sai Baba also known as Satya Sai Baba is a popular, controversial Indian guru who has millions of followers and hundreds of Sathya Sai Baba groups in many countries. When he was in his teens he claimed to be the reincarnation of Shirdi Sai Baba and subsequently took the fakir's name. He says that he is an avatar (incarnation) of Shiva and Shakti and an embodiment of love with divine powers such as omniscience and omnipotence.
He is said to manifest vibuthi (holy ash) and small objects like rings and watches daily. He claims to materialize these objects out of nothing. His followers report many, sometimes spectacular miracles of many kinds that they attribute to the Baba. He preaches a foundation of five basic values: Truth, Right Conduct, Peace, Love and Non-violence. He teaches the unity of all major world religions and says that they all lead to God.
Satya Sai Baba (C) (Available Sizes: 1A, 1)
Sathya Sai Baba also known as Satya Sai Baba is a popular, controversial Indian guru who has millions of followers and hundreds of Sathya Sai Baba groups in many countries. When he was in his teens he claimed to be the reincarnation of Shirdi Sai Baba and subsequently took the fakir's name. He says that he is an avatar (incarnation) of Shiva and Shakti and an embodiment of love with divine powers such as omniscience and omnipotence.
He is said to manifest vibuthi (holy ash) and small objects like rings and watches daily. He claims to materialize these objects out of nothing. His followers report many, sometimes spectacular miracles of many kinds that they attribute to the Baba. He preaches a foundation of five basic values: Truth, Right Conduct, Peace, Love and Non-violence. He teaches the unity of all major world religions and says that they all lead to God.
Shirdi Sai Baba (closeup) (Available Sizes: 1C, 1A, 1, 2)
Sai Baba of Shirdi or Shirdi Sai Baba (c. September 27, 1838 - October 15, 1918), born in Shirdi, a village in Western India, under an unknown name, was an Indian guru and fakir, who is regarded by his Hindu and Muslim followers as a saint. A walking example of religious and communal harmony, Sai Baba lived in a mosque, was buried in a mandir (Hindu temple), embraced several Hindu and Muslim practices and spoke in a language that drew from both traditions. His most popular dictum is one of tolerance, one that speaks to the truths of both the Qur'an and the Upanishads, the simple statement that says of God: "Sab ka Malik Ek" ("[He] is the Lord of All.")
Lovingly called Baba by his devotees, it was in Shirdi that Sai Baba spent a major part of his life till the end. There is a fire here, which has been burning since the days of Sai Baba and continues to do so even today.
Shirdi Sai Baba (rock pose - C) (Available Sizes: 3)
Sai Baba of Shirdi or Shirdi Sai Baba (c. September 27, 1838 - October 15, 1918), born in Shirdi, a village in Western India, under an unknown name, was an Indian guru and fakir, who is regarded by his Hindu and Muslim followers as a saint. A walking example of religious and communal harmony, Sai Baba lived in a mosque, was buried in a mandir (Hindu temple), embraced several Hindu and Muslim practices and spoke in a language that drew from both traditions. His most popular dictum is one of tolerance, one that speaks to the truths of both the Qur'an and the Upanishads, the simple statement that says of God: "Sab ka Malik Ek" ("[He] is the Lord of All.")
Lovingly called Baba by his devotees, it was in Shirdi that Sai Baba spent a major part of his life till the end. There is a fire here, which has been burning since the days of Sai Baba and continues to do so even today.
Shirdi Sai Baba (rock pose) (Available Sizes: 3)
Sai Baba of Shirdi or Shirdi Sai Baba (c. September 27, 1838 - October 15, 1918), born in Shirdi, a village in Western India, under an unknown name, was an Indian guru and fakir, who is regarded by his Hindu and Muslim followers as a saint. A walking example of religious and communal harmony, Sai Baba lived in a mosque, was buried in a mandir (Hindu temple), embraced several Hindu and Muslim practices and spoke in a language that drew from both traditions. His most popular dictum is one of tolerance, one that speaks to the truths of both the Qur'an and the Upanishads, the simple statement that says of God: "Sab ka Malik Ek" ("[He] is the Lord of All.")
Lovingly called Baba by his devotees, it was in Shirdi that Sai Baba spent a major part of his life till the end. There is a fire here, which has been burning since the days of Sai Baba and continues to do so even today.
Shiv Parivar (Available Sizes: 1, 2)
Shiv Parivaar Shiva : Sanskrit:, and written Siva is a form of Ishvara or God in the later Vedic scriptures of Hinduism. Adi Sankara interprets the name Siva to mean "One who purifies everyone by the utterance of His name" or the Pure One. He is often depicted as the husband of Uma or Parvati. he is austere. He is omnipresent and resides in everyone as pure consciousness. Shiva is inseparable from Shakti - Parvati the daughter of Himavaan - Haimavati. There is no Shiva without Shakti and no Shakti without Shiva, the two are one - or the absolute state of being - consciousness and bliss. The daily worship of Shiv family of the God himself, Goddess Parvati and Lord Ganesha is considered highly auspicious for keeping a family united and strengthens the bonds for a lifetime.
Shiva is inseparable from Shakti - Parvati the daughter of Himavaan - Haimavati. There is no Shiva without Shakti and no Shakti without Shiva, the two are one - or the absolute state of being - consciousness and bliss.
Parvati (Sanskrit/Hindi Parvati), sometimes spelled as Parvathi and Parvathy, is a goddess in Hinduism She is also the benevolent aspect, or representation of Shakti or Durga. Her other names include Uma, Dakshayani, Gauri and many hundreds of others; the Lalita sahasranama contains an authoritative listing. She is known as 'the daughter of the mountain'. Parvata is Sanskrit for "mountain".
Parvati is the second consort of Shiva, the Hindu God of destruction and rejuvination. She becamse his consort after Sati died. She is the mother of Karttikeya and Ganesha. Parvati's parents are Himavat, the personification of the mountain Himalaya, and the apsara Mena.
Goddess Parvati symbolises power. It is said in the Saundarya Lahiri, a famous literary work on the Goddess, that She is the source of all power in this Universe and that because of Her, Lord Shiva gets all His powers. She is occasionally depicted as half of Lord Shiva.
Shiva (Available Sizes: 1C, 1A, 1, 2, 3, 5)
Shiva (Sanskrit:, and written Siva, pronounced as "shv") is a form of Ishvara or God in the later Vedic scriptures of Hinduism. Adi Sankara interprets the name Siva to mean "One who purifies everyone by the utterance of His name" or the Pure One. That is, Siva is unaffected by the three gunas (characteristics) of Prakrti (matter): Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas. In some sects, and widely in the West, Siva is commonly known as "the destroyer", though this title can be misleading as Shiva appears in a multitude of roles. Additionally, Siva can also mean, "the Auspicious One." He is often depicted as the husband of Uma or Parvati. In the process of manifestation, Lord Shiva is the primeval consciousness and creates the other members of the trimurti. He is symbolized by the wisdom of the Serpent. The third in the Hindu Trinity of Brahma and Vishnu, Shiva is also known by various names like : Shankara and Mahadev.
Mahakaal, Tryambakeshwar, Bholenath etc., Shiva - Rudra is considered to be the destroyer of evil and sorrow. Shiva - Shankara is the doer of good. Shiva is 'tri netra' or three eyed, and is 'neela kantha' - blue necked (having consumed poison to save the world from destruction. Shiva - Nataraja is the Divine Cosmic Dancer. Shiva - Ardhanareeswara is both man and woman.
He is both static and dynamic and is both creator and destroyer. He is the oldest and the youngest, he is the eternal youth as well as the infant. He is the source of fertility in all living beings. He has gentle as well as fierce forms. Shiva is the greatest of renouncers as well as the ideal lover. He destroyes evil and protects good. He bestows prosperity on worshipers although he is austere. He is omnipresent and resides in everyone as pure consciousness.
Shiva is inseparable from Shakti - Parvati the daughter of Himavaan - Haimavati. There is no Shiva without Shakti and no Shakti without Shiva, the two are one - or the absolute state of being - consciousness and bliss.
Shiva (C) (Available Sizes: 2C, 1C, 1A, 1, 2, 3)
Shiva (Sanskrit:, and written Siva, pronounced as "shv") is a form of Ishvara or God in the later Vedic scriptures of Hinduism. Adi Sankara interprets the name Siva to mean "One who purifies everyone by the utterance of His name" or the Pure One. That is, Siva is unaffected by the three gunas (characteristics) of Prakrti (matter): Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas. In some sects, and widely in the West, Siva is commonly known as "the destroyer", though this title can be misleading as Shiva appears in a multitude of roles. Additionally, Siva can also mean, "the Auspicious One." He is often depicted as the husband of Uma or Parvati. In the process of manifestation, Lord Shiva is the primeval consciousness and creates the other members of the trimurti. He is symbolized by the wisdom of the Serpent. The third in the Hindu Trinity of Brahma and Vishnu, Shiva is also known by various names like : Shankara and Mahadev,
Shri Yantra (C) (Available Sizes: 1A, 1, 2)
Sri Yantra is one of the most auspicious, important and powerful Yantras, which not only gives the maximum benefit, but also proves beneficial for almost everybody. It is the source of attaining all worldly desires & fulfilling all wishes through inner cosmic power & mental strength. "Shree Yantra" - Shree meaning wealth and Yantra - Meaning "Instrument" - The Instrument for Wealth The Shree Yantra brings about material and spiritual wealth. Sri Yantra has that unexplained power to fulfill all our wishes and change our life for the better. Shree Yantra is definitely the answer to all the problems and negativity in our life. Any Person using Shree (shri) Yantra achieves much greater affluence, peace and harmony. Shree Yantra helps in breaking all the Obstacles in our life. It helps us push indefinitely and easily the limits of growth - both spiritually and materialistically. There are negative energies around us in greater or smaller magnitude. These negative energy stands in our way of achieving greater success, affluence, Harmony and Peace.
Many times we find that life is out of our control. We find ourselves in a position of extreme stress, lack of peace and harmony, high degree of anxiety, friction in relationship with others, bad investments, faltering business, stagnation in life and profession, decreasing financial prospects, insecure feeling, repeated failures and sheer bad luck - Though we involve our best efforts, hard work, intelligence and good intentions .
Sri Yantra Sacred Geometry - help in clearing all the negative energies - the fog that surrounds our life - standing in our way of Peace, Prosperity and Harmony and make everything work for us in orderly manner. Shree Yantra the Multi Pyramid Geometric Grid is in 2 Dimension or 3 Dimension form. In 2 Dimension Form it is a Symbol of 9 Intertwined Isosceles triangles. It has been experienced World wide that Intertwined Triangles. The 6 pointed Star or Double Triangle Jewish sacred Geometry has always been proven to be Good Luck and sacred symbols. Shri Yantra is the symbolic form of all Gods and Goddesses. Shree yantra was possessed by Brahma, the creator of the Universe and praised by Vishnu the lord of the Earth. Shree yantra is connected deeply with the Ancient Art of Vaastu and has been specifically mentioned in the 'Vaastu Shastra'. All constructions based on Vaastu must essentially have Shree Yantra in it. The Vedas explain Shree Yantra as a scientific, cosmic and planetary energy zone.
Shree Yantra is the source of supreme energy and energy is nothing but another form of element in the shape of waves and rays. Shree Yantra is highly sensitive and has magnificent magnetic powers. Shree yantra is said to be a divine store-house of energy which pick up particular cosmic ray wave emitted by the planets and other universal objects and transform them into constructive vibrations. These are then transmitted to the surroundings where the Shree Yantra is placed, thus destroying all destructive forces within the vicinity. Shree Yantra is credited with supreme hidden powers which can be noticed within a short span.
Mantras
Om Shreem Hreem Shreem Kamle Kamalalaye Praseed, Praseed, Shreem Hreem Shreem Om Mahalaxmaye Namah
Om Shareeng Hareeng Kaleeng Hareeng Shrimahalakshmiaye Namah
In the cosmos there are three states-Creation, Establishment and Destruction and these are represented by the three circles in the Shree Yantra which in itself is the symbol of the universe or cosmos. When this circle is elevated it stands as a symbol of Sumeru Mountain balancing the whole universe and it contains of all the worlds situated in the Sumeru Mountain, as described in Puranas. It is called "Meru Prastha Shree Yantra" and is the best of all. Shri Yantra is the worshipping place of the form of the super goddess, Mahatripur Sundari. It is Her divine abode. All the gods and goddesses are worshipped in it and all other religious adorations are done here. It includes all the conducts, all the learning and all the elements. The rightful person of all sects, castes and creeds can believe in it as the religious practitioners and priests.
FOR OTHER RELIGIONS
Since Sri yantra works on the cosmic ray theory, apart from Hindus even Muslims, Parsis, Christians and people following other religions also believe in it because they believe in the cosmic ray theory of the stones. They do not do Puja like the Hindus but they keep it near their Holy Books or at the place of worship. They also concentrate on the tip and meditate while chant the lines from their holy books with open eyes.
Shrinath Ji (Available Sizes: 1A, 1, 2)
Shrinathji represents the form of Krishna, in which he lifted the Govardhana hill and subdued Indra the king of Devas who was sending an incessant downpour of rain, causing immense hardship to the cow herds of Gokul. The image of Srinathji is believed to have been a self manifested one. It was originally worshipped in a humble shrine and then moved to a larger temple in its vicinity. Nathdwara enshrines Shrinathji - an image of Krishna, which was originally, enshrined at the Vraja Bhoomi at Mount Govardhana near Mathura.The name Nathdwara means Gate of the Lord. The image was brought to Mewar, for the sake of protection during the period of Aurangazeb, the Moghul monarch. This is one of the most celebrated pilgrimage shrines of India, enshrining Krishna as Govardhana Giridhari. Nathdwara is situated 48 km north east of Udaipur in Rajasthan, on the banks of the Banas River.
St. Padre Pio (Available Sizes: 1C, 1A, 1)
St. Pio of Pietrelcina (Padre Pio) was born of simple, hardworking farming people on May 25, 1887 in Pietrelcina, southern Italy. He was tutored privately until his entry to the novitiate of the Capuchin Friars at the age of 15. Of feeble health but strong will, with the help of grace he completed the required studies and was ordained a priest in 1910.
On September 20, 1918 the five wounds of our Lord's passion appeared on his body, making him the first stigmatized priest on the history of the Catholic Church. Countless persons were attracted to his confessional and many more received his saintly counsel and spiritual guidance through correspondence.
His whole life was marked by long hours of prayer and continual austerity. His letters to his spiritual directors reveal the ineffable suffering, physical and spiritual, which accompanied him all through his life. They also reveal his deep union with God, his burning love for the Blessed Eucharist and Our Blessed Lady. Worn out by over half a century of intense suffering and constant apostolic activity in San Giovanni Rotondo, Padre Pio was called to his heavenly reward on September 23, 1968.
Swami Chinmayanand (Available Sizes: 1)
Swami Chinmayananda (May 8, 1916 - Aug 3, 1993) was born Balakrishna Menon (Balan) in Ernakulam, Kerala in a very devout Hindu family. Graduating from Lucknow University, he entered the field of journalism where he felt he could influence political, economic and social reform in India. But his life was changed when he met Swami Sivananda at Rishikesh and became very interested in the Hindu spiritual path.
Balakrishna Menon took sanyas/monkhood from Swami Sivananda to become Swami Chinmayananda - the one who is saturated in Bliss and Consciousness. Swami Shivananda saw the potential in Swami Chinmayananda and sent him to study under a great Guru in the Himalayas - Swami Tapovan Maharaj under whom he studied for 12 years. At the end of the education he decided to spread his teaching all over the world.
During his forty years of travelling and teaching, Gurudev opened numerous centres and ashrams worldwide, he also built many schools, hospitals, nursing homes and clinics. As well as reinvigorating India's rich cultural heritage, Swami Chinmayananda made Vedanta accessible to everybody regardless of age, nationality, or religious background.
On 3 August 1993, in San Diego, USA, Swami Chinmayananda attained Mahasamadhi. His work has created an international organization called the Chinmaya Mission.
Swami Narayan (Available Sizes: 1C, 1A, 1)
The Swaminarayan Sampraday is a Bhakti Sampraday founded by Bhagwan Swaminarayan on 31 December 1801 CE. It belongs to the Vaishnav tradition and represents the purest form of the Hindu religion. It focuses its faith on salvation through total devotion - bhakti - to the Supreme God developed through dharma, jnan and vairagya (righteousness, knowledge and detachment).
Lord Swaminarayan, was born on 3 April 1781, in the village of Chhapiya, near Ayodhya, North India. Having mastered the scriptures by the age of 7, he left home at the age of 11 to travel the whole of India on a holy pilgrimage, eventually settling in Gujarat where he was given the headship of a religious sect known as Uddhav Sampradaay (later known as Swaminarayan Sampradaay),with the blessings of his Guru Sadguru Ramanand Swami, at age 21. He later became known as Swaminarayan after the mantra he taught. Swaminarayan was known by many names such as Shreeji Maharaj, Shri Hari and Sahajanand Swami.
The Swaminarayan Sampradaya is a Bhakti Sampradaya which advocates God within the disciplines of Dharma. Lord Swaminarayan has propagated a philosophy where He says that God is Supreme, has a divine form, is the all doer and always present on earth. He simply states that jivas never merge or dissolve into God and neither are they part of God but always subservient to God. The Jiva, through absolute surrender and attachment toward the Guru, attains the realized state and becomes eligible to offer pure worship to God.
Swami Narayan (C) (Available Sizes: 1C, 1A, 1)
The Swaminarayan Sampraday is a Bhakti Sampraday founded by Bhagwan Swaminarayan on 31 December 1801 CE. It belongs to the Vaishnav tradition and represents the purest form of the Hindu religion. It focuses its faith on salvation through total devotion - bhakti - to the Supreme God developed through dharma, jnan and vairagya (righteousness, knowledge and detachment).
Lord Swaminarayan, was born on 3 April 1781, in the village of Chhapiya, near Ayodhya, North India. Having mastered the scriptures by the age of 7, he left home at the age of 11 to travel the whole of India on a holy pilgrimage, eventually settling in Gujarat where he was given the headship of a religious sect known as Uddhav Sampradaay (later known as Swaminarayan Sampradaay),with the blessings of his Guru Sadguru Ramanand Swami, at age 21. He later became known as Swaminarayan after the mantra he taught. Swaminarayan was known by many names such as Shreeji Maharaj, Shri Hari and Sahajanand Swami.
The Swaminarayan Sampradaya is a Bhakti Sampradaya which advocates God within the disciplines of Dharma. Lord Swaminarayan has propagated a philosophy where He says that God is Supreme, has a divine form, is the all doer and always present on earth. He simply states that jivas never merge or dissolve into God and neither are they part of God but always subservient to God. The Jiva, through absolute surrender and attachment toward the Guru, attains the realized state and becomes eligible to offer pure worship to God.
Swastik (Available Sizes: 2C, 1C)
The swastika (from Sanskrit svastika) is an equilateral cross with its arms bent at right angles either clockwise or counterclockwise . It is traditionally oriented so that a main line is horizontal, though it is occasionally rotated at forty-five degrees, and the Hindu version is often decorated with a dot in each quadrant. The word swastika is derived from the Sanskrit svastika (in Devanagari), meaning any lucky or auspicious object, and in particular a mark made on persons and things to denote good luck. It is composed of su- (cognate with Greek e-), meaning "good, well" and asti a verbal abstract to the root as "to be"; svasti thus means "well-being".
The swastika is a holy symbol in Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism. The swastika is now used universally in religious and civil ceremonies in India. Most Indian temples, wedding, festivals and celebrations are decorated with swastikas.
However, whereas Aum is representative of a single primordial tone of creation, the swastika is a pure geometrical mark and has no syllabic tone associated with it.
Taj Mahal (Available Sizes: 2, 3)
Taj Mahal is the name of a monument located in Agra, India. It was commissioned by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, the son of Jahangir, as a mausoleum for his Persian wife, Arjumand Banu Begum, also known as Mumtaz-ul-Zamani or Mumtaz Mahal. It took 23 years to complete (1630 - 1653) and is a masterpiece of Mughal architecture.
Ten Commandments (Available Sizes: 3)
The Ten Commandments, or Decalogue, is a list of religious and moral imperatives which, according to the Bible, was spoken by God to Moses on Mount Sinai and engraved on two stone tablets. They feature prominently in Judaism and Christianity. In Biblical Hebrew they are termed Aseret ha-Dvarîm, and in Rabbinical Hebrew Aseret ha-Dibrot, both translatable as "the ten statements". The name decalogue is derived from the Greek name dekalogoi ("ten statements") found in the Septuagint, which is the Greek translation of the Hebrew name.
The terms Ten Commandments and Decalogue generally refer to the passages Exodus 20:2-17 and Deuteronomy 5:6-21. Some maintain that the laws mentioned in Exodus 34 are also a decalogue, commonly called the Ritual Decalogue, which may have predated the "Ethical Decalogue" of Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5. According to the Bible, God inscribed the Ten Commandments into stone: "God said to Moses, 'Come up to Me, to the mountain, and remain there. I will give you the stone tablets, the Torah and the commandment that I have written for [the people's] instruction.'" (Exodus 24:12) also referred to as "tables of testimony" (Exodus 24:12, 31:18, 32:16) or "tables of the covenant" (Deuteronomy 9verses 9, 11, 15), which he gave to Moses.
In Hinduism, Venkateshwara (also spelled as Venkateswara, Venkateshwer or Venkatachalapathi) is a much-worshipped form of Vishnu. He is also known as Balaji or Lord Venkateswara.
Vishnu, in the form of Venkateshwara, is much worshipped at the famed Tirupati temple. Venkateshwara is the presiding deity at Tirumala temple complex, believed to be the richest of the Hindu shrines in the world. The temple is situated in the region of seven hills in southern Andhra Pradesh in Chittoor district. It is around 120 km away from Chennai, South India. The presence of seven hills had given the alternate name for the lord as Edu kondala vadu in Telugu and as Elumalaiyan in Tamil, which means the Lord of the Seven Hills.
The Lord Vishnu, in the form of Venkateswara, and his consort are belieived to have enshrined themselves at Tirumala Tirupati for the benefit of mankind. This phenomenon is called swayambhu loosely translated to mean "self-existent and established on earth of one's own accord, without any external cause".
Yashoda Maiya (Available Sizes: 1)
Krishna, was a very charming and Lovable child. Everyone loved Him.
There are many stories famous for the mischief and lovely acts of Baby Krishna with his mother – Maa Yashoda.
Zarathushtra (C) (Available Sizes: 2C, 1C, 1A, 1)
The name of the founding Prophet of Zoroastrianism is not Zoroaster, which is a Greek transliteration of the name, but Zarathushtra.
Zarathushtra was divinely gifted with inspiration and closeness to Ahura Mazda. His life is an inspiration for Zoroastrians of all persuasions, traditionalist and modern - in his innovation, loving relationship with God, and spiritual courage he is a model for all his followers. After his death. Zarathushtra's great soul attains almost the level of a Bounteous Immortal.
He spent years in the wilderness communing with God before his first vision, in which Vohu Manah came to him in the form of a huge Angel. All the heavenly entities, the Amesha Spentas, instructed Zarathushtra in heaven, and he received perfect knowledge of past, present, and future. Zarathushtra's preaching to King Vishtaspa was enhanced by miracles, especially the healing of a paralyzed horse that convinced the king to accept the new religion.
