Portal:Indian Christianity/Selected picture/March 2008

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This is a Nasrani Menorah also known as the Mar Thoma Cross. The six branches, (three branches on either side of the cross) represents God as the burning bush, while the central branch holds the cross, and the dove at the tip of the cross represents the holy spirit. In all, there are seven branches in the etched icon, representing the Jewish menorah and the cross.

The Nasrani menorah or the Mar thoma cross represents the Christian-Jewish tradition of the Nasrani people in Kerala, South India. Cross is the most common symbol of Christianity, intended to represent the redeeming martyrdom of Jesus when he was crucified on the True Cross in the New Testament.