Hindu iconography

Over the course of two millennia of its development, Hinduism has developed a tradition of iconography comprising symbols, images, gestures, and other visual forms associated with its beliefs and practices and derived from scriptural sources. The exact significance accorded to these visual forms varies with region, historical period, and Hindu tradition. Over time some of the symbols, for instance the Swastika has come to have wider association while others like Om are recognized as unique representations of Hinduism. Other aspects of Hindu iconography are covered by the terms murti, for icons and mudra for gestures and positions of the hands and body.