Bhartiya Pratimalakshana - Iconography

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by Dr Anindita Roy, Ph.D ( DesignEducator@gmail.com)

To understand Bhartiya Pratimalakshana, one must view it not just as "art history," but as a precise liturgical science. In the Indian tradition, an image (Pratima) is a "yantra"—a tool for centering the mind—and its characteristics (Lakshana) are the specific codes that make the divine accessible to the human senses.

1. What is Bhartiya Pratimalakshana?

Pratimalakshana (Sanskrit: Pratima = Image/Icon; Lakshana = Attributes/Signs) is the branch of the Shilpa Shastra (the science of arts and crafts) that deals with the creation and symbolic interpretation of religious icons.

  • Canonical Basis: It is governed by texts like the Vishnudharmottara Purana, Agni Purana, and Manasara. These manuals provide strict rules for Iconometry (Talamana), ensuring that every limb is in perfect proportion to the whole.

  • Purpose: The icon is meant to be a "bridge." Because the Absolute (Brahman) is formless (Nirguna), the Pratima provides a form (Saguna) with specific attributes that represent cosmic functions (Creation, Preservation, Destruction).

  • Key Elements:

    • Ayudhas: Weapons or objects held (e.g., Lotus, Trident).

    • Mudras: Hand gestures (e.g., Abhaya for fearlessness).

    • Vahanas: Animal mounts representing the mastery over specific energies or instincts.

2. Iconography of the Deities

Durga (The Invincible)

Durga represents the unified "Shakti" (power) of all the gods.

  • Multiple Arms: Usually 8 or 10, representing her ability to protect from all directions simultaneously.

  • The Lion/Tiger: Her Vahana symbolizes uncontrolled animalistic impulses (ego, anger, greed) which she has tamed and rides upon.

  • Weapons: She carries the Trident (Shiva), Discus (Vishnu), and Conch, signifying that she wields the collective strength of the universe to destroy the "Mahishasura" (the ego-driven buffalo demon).

Shiva (The Auspicious Destroyer)

Shiva’s iconography balances the "ascetic" and the "cosmic."

  • Crescent Moon & Ganga: The moon on his head represents the passage of time; the Ganga in his matted hair symbolizes the flow of knowledge and purification.

  • Third Eye: The eye of Gnana (wisdom) that destroys duality and illusion (Maya).

  • Trident (Trishula): Represents the mastery over the three Gunas (qualities): Sattva (purity), Rajas (passion), and Tamas (inertia).

  • Damaru: The drum whose rhythm initiates the heartbeat of the cosmos.

Saraswati (The Flowing One)

The deity of wisdom, arts, and speech.

  • The Veena: Represents the "Anahata Nada" (the unstruck sound of the universe) and the tuning of the human mind to harmony.

  • White Attire & Lotus: Symbolizes purity, peace, and the transcendence of worldly attachments.

  • The Swan (Hamsa): Known for the "Nira-Ksheera Viveka" (the ability to separate milk from water), symbolizing the power of Discrimination—choosing the eternal over the ephemeral.

Lakshmi (The Goal/Wealth)

She represents both material and spiritual prosperity.

  • Four Hands: Represent the four goals of human life: Dharma (duty), Artha (wealth), Kama (desire), and Moksha (liberation).

  • Gold Coins: Usually seen flowing from her palm (Varada Mudra), representing the abundance that flows to the righteous.

  • The Lotus: Growing in mud but remaining unstained, it symbolizes living in the world without being attached to its filth.

  • Elephants: Often seen flanking her (Gaja Lakshmi), symbolizing royal power and fertility.

Ganesha (Lord of Categories)

The remover of obstacles and the patron of letters.

  • Elephant Head: Symbolizes great wisdom and the "Om" vibration. The large ears signify the importance of listening (Shravana) to gain knowledge.

  • Broken Tusk: Symbolizes the sacrifice required for knowledge (he broke it to write the Mahabharata) and the transcendence of duality.

  • Large Belly: Represents the ability to digest all the experiences of life—good and bad—with equanimity.

  • The Mouse: His Vahana represents the "wavering mind" or "desire" which, though small, can eat through everything; Ganesha sits atop it, showing mastery over desire.

Kartikeya (The Commander)

Also known as Skanda or Murugan, he is the god of war and spiritual victory.

  • The Vel (Spear): Represents sharp, deep, and wide intelligence (Jnana Shakti). The spearhead is broad at the top (breadth of knowledge) and pointed at the tip (one-pointed focus).

  • The Peacock: Represents the destruction of the "serpent" of ego and pride. The peacock's feathers also symbolize the kaleidoscopic beauty of the manifested universe.

  • Six Heads (Shanmukha): Symbolizes his mastery over the five senses and the mind, or the six directions of the compass.

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