Peepal

Also known as Bodhi tree or sacred fig tree, it is significant in Buddhism as the tree under which Siddhartha Gautama meditated until he attained enlightenment.

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Mudra

Originating from the Sanskrit word for "seal" or "mark," it is a symbol or ritual gesture that is performed using…

Vanamala

An important motif in Vaishnavite Hinduism, it is offered as a garland to Krishna and Vishnu. It is usually identified…

Alam

A religious processional object used by the Shi’a community on Ashura, the tenth day of Muharram. It is considered a…

Trifuli

A motif of a plant with three flowers sharing a stem, used in most block printing traditions across India. In…

Kayotsarga Pose

A meditation posture in Jainism, it is frequently observed in artistic depictions of the Tirthankaras (or great teachers) of the…

Lotiform

A design element shaped like an inverted lotus. It is an important iconographic symbol in Ancient Egyptian art, seen on…

Gaja Hasta

A single-handed gesture in South Asian iconography in which the palm is stretched out and downwards from the wrist, with…

Lalitasana

A pose found depicted in the religious art of Sikhism, Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism, it is also known as “the…