Queer-religious symbol analysis (QRSA): A semiotic method for reframing Hindu iconography

As sacred traditions face renewed scrutiny, there's a pressing need for methods that read religious iconography as fluid, resistant, and open to new meanings. This article presents the <b>Queer-Religious Symbol Analysis (QRSA)</b> method, a visual-semiotic analytical framework for the reinterpretation of Hindu religious iconography. This method enables the identification of latent meanings in deity forms, ritual symbols, and mythic visual narratives that have traditionally been interpreted within cisnormativity and heteropatriarchal paradigms. QRSA consists of five systematic phases: <b>(1) Iconographic Inventory</b>, cataloguing visual elements and attributes of religious images; <b>(2) Textual Contextualization</b>, linking iconography with scriptural and ritual sources; <b>(3) Queer Semiotic Reframing</b>, reinterpreting symbols through queer theoretical codes; <b>(4) Integrative Visual Analysis</b>, synthesizing symbolic, textual, and cultural layers; and <b>(5) Reflexive Documentation</b>, recording the analytical process with cultural accountability.•Introduces a novel method for analyzing sacred Hindu symbols through queer theoretical lenses•Enables inclusive reinterpretation of religious imagery without violating cultural sanctity•Supports reproducible academic and curatorial practices for visual culture and heritage conservation.