The Eight Auspicious Symbols of Buddhism

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Keywords:

The Eight Auspicious Symbols, Buddhist symbols, Tibetan Buddhism, Hindu mythology

Abstract

The Eight Auspicious Symbols (Ashtamangala) are a group of lucky Buddhist symbols that appear on many Buddhist textiles, objects and paintings. Each symbol represents an aspect of Buddhist teaching and when they appear together, their powers are multiplied. The symbols derive from Indian iconography and have become especially popular in Tibetan Buddhism. Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhist art frequently makes use of a particular set of “Eight Auspicious” symbols, (Ashtamangala) in household and public art. These symbols have spread with Buddhism to many cultures arts, including Indian, Tibetan, Nepalese, and Chinese art. Chattra or The Parasol which symbolizes spiritual power. According to Hindu mythology, it is the emblem of Varuna, also considered an embodiment of kingship. Chhatra is also a deity, yidam and ishta-devata. In various Dharmic Traditions it is an accoutrement of chakravartin. A number of deities are depicted with Chhattra, and they include Revanta, Surya, and Vishnu (in his Vamana avatar). In Dharmic Tradition iconography, Traditional Tibetan medicine thangkas and Ayurvedic diagrams, the chhatra is uniformly represented as the Sahasrara. The two fish were originally symbolic of the rivers Ganges and Yamuna, but came to represent good fortune in general, for Hindus, Jain and Buddhists. Within Buddhism it also symbolises that living beings who practice the dharma need have no fear to drown in the ocean of suffering, and can freely migrate (chose their rebirth) like fish in the water. It Symbolises the resurrection of eternal life, rebirth, etc. The pair signifies the ability to swim with ease without obstruction in the ocean of this world.

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References

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Calcutta, India: Bengal Secretariat Book Depot, page 69.

ii. Sarat Chandra Das (1902). Tibetan-English Dictionary with Sanskrit Synonyms.

Calcutta, India: Bengal Secretariat Book Depot, page 69.

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Published

30-01-2018

How to Cite

Dr. Vishwanath Verma. (2018). The Eight Auspicious Symbols of Buddhism. Jai Maa Saraswati Gyandayini An International Multidisciplinary E-Journal, 3(III), 475–478. Retrieved from http://jmsjournals.in/index.php/jmsg/article/view/75