Aniconism
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Aniconism is the cultural absence of artistic representations of the natural and supernatural worlds, or it is the absence of representations of certain figures in religions. The prohibition of materi
An aniconic representation of Mara's assault on the Buddha, 2nd century CE, Amaravati, India.
Traditional flower offering to the aniconic Shiva linga in Varanasi
Persian miniature painting from the 16th century AD, depicting Muhammad, his face veiled, ascending on the Buraq into the Heavens, a journey known as the Mi'raj.
14th-century hagaddah depicting Moses leading the people (David Kaufmann collection)
Lingam
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A lingam, sometimes referred to as linga or Shiva linga, is an abstract or aniconic representation of the Hindu god Shiva in Shaivism. The word lingam is found in the Upanishads and epic literature, w
Aniconism
…Hinduism is commonly represented by such anthropomorphic religious murtis, aniconism is equally represented with such abstract symbols of God such as the Shiva linga and the saligrama. Moreover, Hindus have found it easier to focus on anthropomorphic icons, Krishna says in the Bhagavad Gita that it is much more…
A lingam with tripundra, projected on a yoni base
A linga-yoni in Nepal carved with four seated Buddhas
a 5th-century Mukha-linga (with face)
a Sahasra-linga (with 1001 carvings).