The eight auspicious symbols of Tibetan Buddhism consist of: parasol, pair
of fishes, treasure vase, lotus, white-spiralling conch shell, endless knot, victory
banner, and golden wheel.Groupings of eight auspicious symbols were originally
used in India at ceremonies such as an investiture or coronation of a king. An
early grouping of symbols included: throne, swastika, handprint, hooked knot,
vase of jewels, water libation flask, pair of fishes, lidded bowl.In Buddhism,
these eight symbols of good fortune represent the offerings made by the gods to
Shakyamuni Buddha immediately after he gained enlightenment.
from top left
to bottom right: The Parasol (umbrella): This was a traditional Indian
symbol of protection and royalty. The parasol denoted wealth and status - the
more carried in a person's entourage, the more influential the person was; 13
parasols defining the status of king. This concept was adopted by Indian Buddhists
who saw the Buddha as the universal monarch and 13 stacked parasols form the conical
spire of the Buddha or Tathagata stupa. In Buddhist mythology, a jewelled umbrella
is said to have been given to the Buddha by the king of the nagas . Symbolically,
the protection provided by the parasol is from the heat of suffering, desire,
obstacles, illness and harmful forces. A typical Tibetan parasol consists
of a thin round wooden frame with 8,16 or 32 thin arched wooden spokes. Through
its centre passes a long wooden axle-pole embellished at its top with a metal
lotus, vase and jewel filial. Over the domed frame is stretched white, yellow
or multicoloured silk and from the circular frame hangs a folded or pleated silk
skirt with 8 or 16 hanging silk pendants attached. The parasol dome represents
wisdom and the hanging skirt, compassion. The Two Golden Fishes: The two
fishes originally represented the two main sacred rivers of India - the Ganges
and Yamuna. These rivers are associated with the lunar and solar channels which
originate in the nostrils and carry the alternating rhythms of breath or prana.
They have religious significance in Hindu, Jain and Buddhist traditions but also
in Christianity (the sign of the fish, the feeding of the five thousand). In Buddhism,
the fish symbolise happiness as they have complete freedom of movement in the
water. They represent fertility and abundance. Often drawn in the form of carp
which are regarded in the Orient as sacred on account of their elegant beauty,
size and life-span. The Treasure Vase:This is known as 'the vase of inexhaustible
treasures' - however much is removed from it, the vase remains perpetually full.
In Tibet, wealth vases sealed with precious and sacred substances are commonly
placed upon altars and on mountain passes, or buried at water springs. The symbol
is often shown as a highly ornate, traditional-shaped vase with a flaming jewel
or jewels protruding from its mouth. The Lotus Flower:The lotus blossoms
unstained from the watery mire; it is a symbol of purity, renunciation and divinity. The
Right-Spiralling Conch Shell: The conch shell is thought to have been the
original horn-trumpet; ancient Indian mythical epics relate heroes carrying conch
shells. The Indian god Vishnu is also described as having a conch shell as one
of his main emblems; his shell bore the name Panchajanya meaning 'having control
over the five classes of beings'. The conch shell is an emblem of power,
authority and sovereignty; its blast is believed to banish evil spirits, avert
natural disasters, and scare away poisonous creatures. In Indian culture, different
types of conch shell were associated with the different castes and with male and
female. In Buddhism, the conch was adopted as a symbol of religious sovereignty
and an emblem which fearlessly proclaimed the truth of the dharma. One of the
32 signs of a Buddha's body is his deep and resonant voice, which is artistically
symbolised in images of the Buddha by three conch-like curving lines on his throat. Shells
which spiral to the right are very rare and considered especially sacred, the
right spiral mirroring the motion of the sun, moon, planets and stars across the
sky. Also, the hair whorls on Buddha's head spiral to the right, as do his fine
bodily hairs, the long white curl between his eyebrows and the conch like swirl
of his navel. A shell is made into Tibetan ritual musical instruments by cutting
off the end of its tip and furnishing it with a mouthpiece and an ornamental metal
casing extending from the shell's mouth. The Endless Knot: This symbol
was originally associated with Vishnu and represented his devotion for his consort
Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and good fortune. It symbolises the Buddha's endless
wisdom and compassion. It also can represent continuity or dependent origination
as the underlying reality of existence. The Victory Banner: These
were traditionally carried in battle. Great warriors would often have banners
with their own emblems, the banners being carried on the back of their chariots.
Krishna (an incarnation of Vishnu) had a banner bearing the garuda bird. In early
Buddhism, the banner represented Buddha's victorious enlightenment with his overcoming
the armies of Mara (hindrances and defilements). The banner is said to have been
placed on the summit of Mt Meru, symbolising Buddha's victory over the entire
universe. In Tibetan buddhism, the banner represents eleven methods of overcoming
Mara: the development of knowledge, wisdom, compassion, meditation and ethical
vows; taking refuge in the Buddha,; abandoning false views,; generating spiritual
aspiration, skilful means and selflessness; and the unity of the three samadhis
of emptiness, formlessness and desirelessness. The Golden Wheel: The wheel
is an ancient Indian symbol of creation, sovereignty, protection, and the sun.
The six-spoked wheel was associated with Vishnu and was know as the Sudarshana
Chakra. The wheel represents motion, continuity and change, forever moving onwards
like the circular wheel of the heavens. Buddhism adopted the wheel as a
symbol of the Buddha's teachings and his first discourse at the Deer Park in Sarnath
is known as 'the first turning of the wheel of dharma'. In Tibetan Buddhism, it
is understood as 'the wheel of transformation' or spiritual change. The hub of
the wheel symbolises moral discipline, the eight spokes represent analytical insight,
the rim - meditative concentration. The eight spokes point to the eight directions
and symbolise the Buddha's Noble Eightfold Path: right understanding, right thought,
right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, mindfulness and concentration
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