We have a need for religious symbols,whatever be our religion.Through such symbols,we fulfill our need to relate to God.To pray to a hitherto unseen but Allmighty God,as an ordinary human being,we need a symbol.It is this need of the human being that gave rise to religious symbols,in every nation,every culture and every religion.

During times of turmoil,stressful periods,difficulties and when at crossroads in life,during our decision making processes in life's struggles,often we exclaim,Oh!My God!.We turn our eyes and face towards the heavens in search of the mighty power which seems to control our life.

For example,if while driving,we get into an accident,the first few words that escape our lips is OMG.

And so on.There are many situations when nature forces the human being to pray,to surrender and supplicate and seek help.If we are christians,we look at the Cross,the picture of Jesus or Virgin Mary etc.These symbols are,for us,the embodiment and the personification of Allmighty God,who alone can help us out of the most difficult of situations.The all powerful,the omnipotent and Universal power of the Creator is represented to us through our religious symbols.From very early childhood,from baptism and through various religious functions,Christmas,weddings,f unerals et al,we have been exposed and have been instructed upon by parents,siblings,teachers,past ors and many others about the significance of symbols.

Notwithstanding everything else,through our experiences,we get accentuated to the sensibilities of these symbols,because more often than not,we do get help from none other than God,once we have surrendered and prayed sincerely.

With tears in our eyes and with limbs that tremble in apprehension and prayer,if we surrender everything to God,through a religious symbol,a photograph,a cross,a talisman,anything in fact,ultimately help does arrive.

And that is the significance of religious symbols to us.This is also true in other religions such as Islam,where their main symbol is the Ka'aba( rectangular black colored block of stone).

Hinduism,Buddhism also use symbols,idols etc as reprentative symbols of the presence,power and influence of Allmighty God in the life of every one.

Chinese,Egyptian,African and Mayan cultures are also full of symbolic representations of the all powerful God Allmighty at whose whims and fancies,Tsunamis,tornadoes and earthquakes take place.The fury of nature,the splendour and grandeur of mother nature reveals and exposes human beings to many hazards and turmoils.To be blessed and saved in such situations,human beings need to relate to their Creator,God and hence the religious symbols.

Learn more about this author, Madhusoodanan.K.P..
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