Images that have been "self-manifested". Any
depiction of a Hindu god that is thought to exist as a result of divine
self-revelation rather than being created or produced by human hands.
These pictures are said to be particularly holy and
powerful, with a stronger sensation of the deity's presence.
They are places where the deities are believed to be
particularly present and "awake," and thus more receptive to requests
for favors.
They mark instances where these deities have revealed
themselves out of grace in order to become accessible to their devotees
(bhakta), and they are places where the deities are believed to be particularly
present and "awake," and thus more receptive to requests for favors.
For each of the three primary Hindu deities, there are
Svayambhu representations.
Images of the Goddess are often natural rock formations,
such as the goddess Kamakhya's image, which is a natural fissure in the rock,
or stone images of several of the Shiwalik goddesses; but, they may also take
other forms, such as the goddess Jwalamukhi's image, which is a natural gas
vent.
The shalagram, a black stone holding the spiral-shaped
fossil shell of an ancient marine creature thought to be a symbol of Vishnu's
discus, is the god's most well-known self-manifested form (chakra).
The linga, the deity Shiva's pillar-shaped emblem, emerges
in a vast range of self-manifested shapes.
Many of these self-manifested lingas may be found in natural
rock formations, such as those at Kedarnath; Amarnath, where the linga appears
as an ice pillar; and the bana linga, which is a naturally rounded stone that
is generally small enough to be readily portable.
Furthermore, both Shiva and the Goddess are thought to be
present inside one's own body among Hindu religious organizations that
emphasize the subtle body.
Carved images are supposed to be self-manifest forms in
certain instances for all of these deities; in their customary pattern, the
location of the statue is disclosed to a chosen devotee in a dream.
A self-manifested picture is a significant claim for any
site, bolstering its value as a heavenly entry point.
Discover more about Hindu Art, Architecture, and Iconography here.
You may also want to read more about Hinduism here.
Be sure to check out my writings on religion here.