Cult Image

In the practice of religion, a cult image or devotional image is a human-made object that is venerated or worshipped for the deity, person, spirit, or daemon (not to be confused with a demon) that it embodies or represents. In several traditions, including the ancient religions of Egypt, Greece, and Rome, and modern Hinduism, cult images in a temple may undergo a daily routine of being washed, dressed, and having food left for them. Processions outside the temple on special feast days are often a feature. Religious images cover a wider range of all types of images made with a religious purpose, subject, or connection. In many contexts "cult image" specifically means the most important image in a temple, kept in an inner space, as opposed to what may be many other images decorating the temple. Cult Image references a symbol, idea, or overarching object that plays a role in the harmony of a community. There are a myriad of examples in varying cultures that use cult images as a central representation. Some examples, unrelating to religion, may include family crests, branding logos, or other symbols of a specific idea, such as a mandala. The idea of a cult does not necessarily embody a specific grouping of people who follow the role of one person, but rather a group of people or culture of people who involve themselves all in a similar thing or idea.

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