Hindi Memorial Inscriptions and Phrases

Many Hindu families choose cremation, but still want a memorial plaque or stone with words in Hindi. Devanagari script is beautiful in granite when it's set correctly.

Common phrases

Layout tips

• Place ॐ at the top centre.
• Put the name in both Devanagari and English.
• Keep Hindi and English in separate blocks.
• Supply the text typed in Unicode, not as an image, so it can be set correctly.

Symbols

• Om — see Om symbol meaning.
• Lotus — see lotus meaning.
• Diya (oil lamp) — light and remembrance.
• Swastika — an ancient Hindu symbol of good fortune; many families in North America choose other symbols because of its different meaning in the West.

See Hindu memorial plaques.

Accuracy

Devanagari letters join with a top line and combine into conjuncts; software that doesn't support Hindi can break them. Always have a fluent speaker check the proof, and confirm your monument company's font supports every character. See multilingual inscriptions.

Names and titles

Families often add respectful titles before the name, such as श्री (Shri) for men or श्रीमती (Shrimati) for married women, alongside स्वर्गीय. Some include the family's home town or state in India. A priest or elder can advise on the most appropriate titles and order of names. When both scripts are used, give each its own line rather than mixing Devanagari and English on the same line.

Key Takeaways

• "ॐ शांति" (Om Shanti) is a common heading.
• "स्वर्गीय" means the late, before the name.
• Supply typed Unicode text, not images.
• Have a fluent reader check every conjunct.

Next Step

See Sikh memorial plaques.