Most famous Indian Symbols & Cultural marks...

1. Devanagiri script- Devanagari is an alphabet of India and Nepal. It is written from left to right, lacks distinct letter cases, and is recognizable by a distinctive horizontal line running along the tops of the letters that links them together. Devanāgarī is the main script used to write Hindi, Marathi, and Nepali. Since the 19th century, it has been the most commonly used script for Sanskrit.
2. Ashokastambh- The pillar was originally a column surmounted by the "Lion capital of Asoka" presently at display at theSarnath Museum, which consists of a canopy representing an inverted bell-shaped lotus flower, a short cylindrical abacus where alternate four 24-spoked Dharma wheels with four animals (an elephant, a bull, a horse, a lion in this order), and four lions facing the four cardinal directions. The four animals are believed to symbolize different steps of the Gautam Buddha's life:
   The Elephant represents the Buddha's conception in reference to the dream of Queen Maya of a white elephant entered her womb.
   The Bull, according to Foucher, represents the birth of the Buddha, as it happened during the month of Vaicakha (April-May), known to Buddhists as Vesak, under the zodiacal sign of the Taurus, during the full moon. The enlightenment and passing of the Buddha also occurred during the Taurus full moon. The bull is also the symbol of Shiva.
   The Horse represents Kanthaka, the horse the Buddha rode for his Great Departure from palatial life.
   The Lion represents the attainment of Buddhahood.
3. Tilak (Forehead mark)- The tilak (Sanskrit tilaka, “mark”) is a mark made on a Hindu's forehead. On a man, the tilak takes the form of a line or lines and usually indicates his sectarian affiliation. On women, a tilak usually takes the form of a bindi dot, which has its own symbolism. They might be made of ash from a sacrificial fire, sandalwood paste, turmeric, cow dung, clay, charcoal, or red lead. In addition to its religious symbolism, the tilak has a cooling effect on the forehead and this can assist in concentration and meditation.
4. Om( Aum)- Aum in Sanskrit known as praṇava is a mystical or sacred syllable in the Indian religions which originated from Hinduism.
   Aum is commonly pronounced as a long or over-long nasalized close-mid back rounded vowel, though there are other enunciations pronounced in received traditions. It is placed at the beginning of most Hindu texts as a sacred exclamation to be uttered at the beginning and end of a reading of the Vedas or previously to any prayer or mantra. The Mandukya Upanishad is entirely devoted to the explanation of the syllable. The syllable is taken to consist of three phonemes, a, u and m, variously symbolizing the Three Vedas or the Hindu Trimurti or three stages in life ( birth, life and death ). Though ostensibly in some traditions it is polysyllabic and vocalized as a triphthong, the Omkara is held to move through and contain all vowels possible in human speech.
5. Gandiji- When still alive, Mohandas Gandhi had many admirers, both in India and abroad. But his martyrdom in 1948 made him an even greater symbol of peace and non violence. Gandhi became the international symbol of a free India.
6. Rudraksha- Rudraksha beads are the material from which garlands (108 beads in number) are made. The term is used both for the berries themselves and as a term for the type of mālā made from them. In this sense, a rudraksha is a rosary, used for repetitive prayer (japa), a common aid to worship in Hinduism. Rudraksha is also used for treatment of various diseases in traditional Indian medicine.
7. Tajmahal- The Taj Mahal is a mausoleum located in Agra, built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal.
   The Taj Mahal (also "the Taj") is considered the finest example of Mughal architecture, a style that combines elements from Persian, Indian, and Islamic architectural styles. In 1983, the Taj Mahal became a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was cited as "the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world's heritage."
8. Sikh's Dastar- A dastar is a mandatory headgear for Sikhs. Dastar is closely associated with Sikhism and is an important part of the Sikh culture. Wearing a sikh turban is mandatory for all baptized Sikhs (also known as Khalsa).
9. Sari- A sari or saree or shari is a femaled garment. A sari is a strip of unstitched cloth, ranging from four to nine meters in length that is draped over the body in various styles.
10. Sree Krishna- The stories of Krishna appear across a broad spectrum of Hinduism. It regard Krishna as the svayam bhagavan, original form of God, or the Lord himself. Krishna is often depicted as an infant, as a young boy playing a flute as in the Bhagavata Purana or as a youthful prince giving direction and guidance as in the Bhagavad Gita. The stories of Krishna appear across a broad spectrum of Hindu philosophical and theological traditions. They portray him in various perspectives: a god-child, a prankster, a model lover, a divine hero and the Supreme Being.
11. Namaste hand position- Namaste is a common spoken greeting or salutation used in Nepal and India. When spoken to another person, it is commonly accompanied by a slight bow made with hands pressed together, palms touching and fingers pointed upwards, in front of the chest. This gesture, called Añjali Mudrā, can also be performed wordlessly and carries the same meaning.
12. Dhwaja- Dhvaja, 'flag,' is the orange or red banner flown above temples, at festivals and in processions. It is a symbol of victory, signal to all that "Sanatana Dharma shall prevail." Its color betokens the sun's life-giving glow.
13. Tata logo- The Tata logo was designed by the Wolff Olins consultancy. The logo is meant to signify fluidity; it may also be seen as a fountain of knowledge; maybe a tree of trust under which people can take refuge.

The World’s Most Recognizable Symbols !

1. CocoCola distinctive cursive logo- Frank Mason Robinson
2. Mc'Donald Golden Arches
3. Nike Swoosh Logo- J.B. Strasser
4. Google logo
5. Virgin group logo
6. Micky mouse- Walt Disney
7. Olympic rings- Red, Blue, Green, Yellow and Black
8. Michel Jackson's white glow- While Michael Jackson is known for his moonwalk and dancing abilities, he is probably best know for wearing a single white and crystal glove throughout the 1980’s
9. www.
10. Cross- The cross represents the crucifixion of Jesus and is the most recognizable symbol in the Christian religion. Although there have been several dozen variations used throughout the ages since the crucifixion of Christ, the best known cross is the Latin Cross which has longer extending arms and is the most common among the followers of the faith
11. Star of David- Jewish symbol that is used to identify both the Jewish people and the Jewish nation called Israel. The star can also be found on the Jewish Flag and is associated with the birth date of Jesus Christ as a bright star shined over the location where the Christ child was born.
12. Crescent (Half moon of muslim relegion)

Ying Yang

In Chinese philosophy, the concept of yin yang (often referred to in the west as yin and yang) is used to describe how polar or seemingly contrary forces are interconnected and interdependent in the natural world, and how they give rise to each other in turn. The concept lies at the heart of many branches of classical Chinese science and philosophy, as well as being a primary guideline of traditional Chinese medicine, and a central principle of different forms of Chinese martial arts and exercise, such as baguazhang, taijiquan, and qigong and of I Ching divination. Many natural dualities — e.g. dark and light, female and male, low and high, cold and hot — are viewed in Chinese thought as manifestations of yin and yang (respectively).

A symbol combining the sun (top) and moon (bottom). It's easy for people to understand the philosophy by talking about the sun (Yang), moon (Yin) and universe. After observing the universe, ancient Chinese found that the universe is changing every day. Although it changes easily every day, it also has seasonal and annual cycles.

By observing the sky, recording the Dipper's positions and watching the shadow of the Sun from an 8-foot (Chinese measurement) pole, ancient Chinese determined the four directions. The direction of sunrise is the East; the direction of sunset is the West; the direction of the shortest shadow is the South and the direction of the longest shadow is the North. At night, the direction of the Polaris star is the North.

They noticed the seasonal changes. When the Dipper points to the East, it's spring; when the Dipper points to the South, it's summer; when the Dipper points to the West, it's fall; when the Dipper points to the North, it's winter.

When observing the cycle of the Sun, ancient Chinese simply used a pole about 8 feet long, posted at right angles to the ground and recorded positions of the shadow. Then they found the length of a year is around 365.25 days. They even divided the year's cycle into 24 Segments, including the Vernal Equinox, Autumnal Equinox, Summer Solstice and Winter Solstice, using the sunrise and Dipper positions.

They used six concentric circles, marked the 24-Segment points, divided the circles into 24 sectors and recorded the length of shadow every day. The shortest shadow is found on the day of Summer Solstice. The longest shadow is found on the day of Winter Solstice. After connecting each lines and dimming Yin Part from Summer Solstice to Winter Solstice, the Sun chart looks like below. The ecliptic angle 23 26' 19'' of the Earth can be seen in this chart.