Yoga Symbols Explained

ByRosalie

The Om

One would know this sign from the Om chant that you hear at the beginning or the end of certain yoga classes. With a little hat on top, it looks a bit like the number 30. It is made up of the sounds of the letters A-U-M, Om is for threes.

The Om sign, with its origins in Hinduism, is said to signify the oneness of all life, including the heavens, the earth, and the underworld. Others claim this is a reflection of the three Hindu gods, Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva.

Some claim the symbol’s actual form reflects the word’s syllables: the ‘three’ is the ‘aahh’ Sanskrit letter, the small ‘s’ is the ‘oooh’ and the ‘mmm’ sound is the half moon at the end. Om is considered one of the most powerful mantras, and for thousands of years, the practice of chanting Om has been performed.

There is a very special meaning to each part of the Om symbol:

  • The dot at the top reflects the Absolute State or the 4th state of consciousness. This state of consciousness is where you communicate and feel utter serenity and tranquilly with the divine. The ultimate purpose of spiritual awakening is the 4th level.
  • The shape of the crescent immediately below the dot is an illusion. This part reflects everything that falls in the way of you and the utter state. There are two curves to the left.
  • The bottom is the waking state, and the top is the unconscious state. The waking state curve is the largest curve since it is the most known state of consciousness. This is where we perceive things in the world of the five senses.
  • Above the waking state is the unconscious state, also known as the state of deep sleep. Only when everything subconsciously ceases, including dreams, do we enter this state of sleep.
  • There is one more curve between these two curves, which implies the dream state. The state of the dream is just as it sounds like. This is what we have seen before deep sleep, and it reflects our dreams.

The Lotus Flower

It looks like a water Lilly. The water lily, or lotus flower, has a variety of symbolism and history. The lotus flower blossoms on the surface of the water, with its roots deep in the mud a sign of light and the appearance of darkness.

 In Buddhism, the lotus blossom reflects the opening of the heart. Buddhists associate the opening of the lotus flower petals with the unfolding of what is sacred inside you. It is a perfect expression of fresh starts, of purity and of enlightenment. A closed flower is the heart with its infinite capacity for enlightenment, waiting to unfold.

In Hindu culture, the Lotus specifically represents beauty – particularly that of the eyes of women, fertility, wealth, spirituality and eternity.

The Lotus is used by the Buddhist community to signify purity, spiritual awakening and faithfulness. Buddhists, especially in paintings and other works of art, put sense into the color of the flower.

  1. A blue lotus is indicative of common sense and wisdom.
  2. A white lotus represents purity
  3. A purple lotus reflects mysticism and Buddhism’s 8-fold direction
  4. A pink lotus is Buddha’s “true” lotus,
  5. The heart is signified by the red lotus.

Egyptian culture places a great deal of emphasis on life after death, and the lotus is quite symbolic of this. Throughout Egyptian culture, the lotus represented rebirth and resurrection. The Egyptians discovered that the flower disappears at night, only to reappear the next day—unstained. They connected this with the rising and setting of the sun, as well as life and death.

The Lotus is very significant to many cultures and religions. It is a beautiful and ideal reflection of our spiritual journey from darkness to light.

The Hamsa

This yoga symbol appears as the palm of a hand, and in many cultures and religions, the hamsa is a common symbol. These cultures assume that the symbol (pictured by a right hand with an open palm or a hand with two open thumbs) is a sign of security.

The term “hamsa” is derived from the five fingers of the hand. It is also adorned with the “evil eye” that is thought to avoid any damage or threat. The hamsa is intended to be displayed or worn with fingers facing down to provide proper protection, and to bring good luck and power.

In Jewish culture, the Hamsa is highly symbolic of number 5. The five fingers represent the five books in the Torah, and the five types of sacrifices and offerings in the Torah, which consist of burnt, sin, trespass, grain, and peace. There are also five elements of the human soul, physical, emotional, intellectual, spiritual, and God.

In Buddhism and Hinduism, the five fingers are indicative of the chakras and the five natural elements.

  1. The pinky finger is the sacred chakra and the water element.
  2. The thumb represents the solar plexus and the element of fire.
  3. The middle finger is a symbol of the chakra of the throat and the celestial elements.
  4. The forefinger signifies the air part of the heart chakra.
  5. The ring finger is a symbol of the root chakra and the element of the earth.
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