Vishnu is a member of the Hindu trinity, or Trimurti, who is the preserver or protector. He

is said to protect the world when it is threatened with

chaos. He is most often depicted with four hands, each

containing a different “weapon”. Padma (lotus

flower) in his lower left arm, a gada (mace) in his lower right

hand, sankha (conch) in his upper left hand, and the

chakra (discus) in his upper right hand. The conch in his

upper left hand shows Vishnu’s ability to communicate with his

followers by blowing into it. The chakra conveys the idea

that Vishnu protects his devotees. The mace in his

lower right hand symbolizes his energy and power which he

uses to bestow upon the world. Finally, the lotus flower in his

lower left hand represents Vishnu granting blessings to his

devotees.

Vishnu

Lakshmi is the wife and female counterpart of lord Vishnu, the goddess of wealth and prosperity in both the material and spiritual sense. She parallels her counterpart with four hands as well, which represent the four goals of a rich and successful life, which it is said she has the power to grant: dharma (righteous living), kama (worldly pleasure), artha (prosperity), and moksha (spiritual liberation). She is depicted holding a lotus in the back right hand which conveys each person’s duty to achieve moksha, symbolized by the other lotus in the back left hand. The gold coins in her front left hand symbolize the prosperity she brings to her devotees and her front right hand shows her granting those blessings to them.

Lakshmi

Hand gestures in Hinduism are essential to the depictions of gods and goddesses. They help to distinguish each of them from each other and

develop their characteristics and unique traits or attributes. A mudra, or hand gesture, can have deep symbolism in yoga or traditional Indian dances and can

convey a wide range of messages or meanings. Some of the most common mudras are: chin or vitarka mudra (consciousness or deliberation), abhayamudra (no fear), namaskara mudra (giving honor), bhumisparsha mudra

(earth-touching), dhyana mudra (meditation), tarjani mudra (index finger), and varada mudra (giving). Mudras are said to help channel and guide energy

through the brain and other parts of the body.

Interpreting Hindu IconographyNoelle Buitron

Sources: "What is Vishnu? - Definition from Yogapedia." Yogapedia.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Mar. 2017."Who is Lakshmi? - Definition from Yogapedia." Yogapedia.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Mar. 2017."Hindu Deities: Lord Vishnu." Hindu Deities: Lord Vishnu. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Mar. 2017."Hindu Deities: Goddess Lakshmi." Hindu Deities: Goddess Lakshmi. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Mar. 2017."The Secret Language of Hands in Indian Iconography." Smithsonian.com. Smithsonian Institution, 17 Feb. 2016. Web. 21 Mar. 2017.