The word etymology of swayambhu is 'Svayam' () which means 'self' or 'on its own' and 'bhu' () which means 'to take birth' or 'arising'. This is applicable to the physical and tangible idols of Gods that we see or to the intangible yet existing God whom we cannot see. For example, the jyotirlingas are considered swayambhu- the idol of Venkateshwara at Tirumala and some other ones are considered Swayambu- which means they are not installed by any person but they exist on their own. The word Swayambhu is also applicable to Gods- for example- Brahma is described as swayambhu in Ramayana, Vishnu is called swayambhu in Matsya purana.