. Just as religion exceeds the strict boundaries of rationality so too icons tap into a self's emotions. Cassirer indicates that icons cannot be deciphered without relying upon one's intuition.
Unlike Islamic faith, Hinduism posits a polytheistic belief system. Scholars cite the divine depictions of Visnu, Sivß and Devi as the three most basic visual images of Hindu. These images function formerly as yantra, that is, as an instrument which allows individuals to behold how gods make their appearances in the world. More specifically, when the image is used so that the deity is "beheld by the inner eye in an act of imagination", it is to be termed pratima or "measured against." Following the cosmic principles of Hinduism, Sivß has been equated with the phallus and its regenerative powers since his earliest depictions. The identifying symbol and main object of worship for Sivß is the linga wh
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