The 8 auspicious signs of Buddhism or Astamangala were originally a set of Indian offerings presented to a king at his investiture. Jainism first picked up these auspicious symbols probably before Buddhism.
In the Buddhist tradition, these 8 auspicious signs represent the offerings presented by the great Vedic gods – an ancient civilization of India at the origin of Hinduism – to Buddha Siddharta after his Awakening. Brahma was the first of these gods to appear even before the birth of the Buddha, presenting him with a wheel with a thousand golden spokes, as a symbolic request to the Buddha to transmit his teachings by “turning the wheel of Dharma”. Indra, Lord of the Sky and god of war and storm – and incidentally king of the gods – appeared next, offering the white conch for the Buddha to “proclaim the truth of the Dharma”.
In the Buddhist tradition, the eight auspicious signs form the body of Buddha.
the parasol represents his head, the two fish his eyes, the vase his neck, the lotus his tongue, the golden wheel his feet, the banner of victory his body, the conch his word, the endless knot his spirit.
In the earliest form of Indian Buddhism, the Buddha was painted aniconically, that is, without being represented in human form, usually by an empty throne under a parasol and under the Bodhi tree or by a stone marked with his divine imprints, which contain several auspicious symbols such as the insignia of the divinity of the Buddha: the banner of victory, the lion throne, the trident, the Three Jewels, the eternal knot, the swastika, the conch, the pair of fish and the most common, the lotus and the wheel.
The Endless Knot or Tibetan Infinite Knot is a Buddhist symbol that represents the movement of that which is eternal, intertwining spiritual paths and time. The shape of the Endless Knot is evocative of wisdom and compassion in Tibetan Buddhism. The top and bottom of the symbol symbolize the interaction of opposing and dual forces, which ultimately come together and unite in the universe. The Tibetan Infinite Knot also represents the inseparability of the Void and the reality of existence. Finally, since the Knot has neither beginning nor end, it is also defined as the Wisdom of Buddha
Traditional instrument of Tibet, the conch is considered to be the symbol of the power of the word of the Buddha. The dextrorotatory conch coils to the right and is the rarest and most conducive to the practice of Tibetan Buddhism. She symbolizes the sound of Dharma which awakens beings from the sleep of Ignorance, thus prompting them to accomplish their own good for the good of others. It is also the protection of the Dharma Jewel, the progression from step to step towards ultimate realization, Awakening or Enlightenment.
Symbol of absolute purity and enlightenment, emblem of spiritual elevation, the lotus has the particularity of taking root in mud or mud, its stem bathing in water while its flower blooms majestically on the water. The lotus represents the elevation of the soul, first purely materialistic through its roots, then tasting the experience of water through its stem, to finally achieve enlightenment and enlightenment through of its flower.
Tibetan Buddhists see through the Lotus the true nature of Beings, the stem being samsara (cycles of life and death), the flower symbolizing peace and serenity.
It particularly symbolizes the Buddha's renunciation of all delusions and illusory appearances of samsara.
It also symbolizes moral discipline, the study and practice of the Dharma, in particular through the good that one can bring to others and the development of altruism.
When you wear a Tibetan jewel representing the treasure vase (it is not by chance that these pendants are often called "ghau" or "gao", quite simply because they can be filled), remember to slip on the inside everything that you think is beneficial for you and all living beings. It can be Tibetan mantras, or pictures of people who are particularly important to you, or thoughts or prayers...
Originally, the two fish were the symbol of the Yamuna river and the Ganges, but they later became the symbol of good fortune for Hindus and Buddhists. Among Tibetan Buddhists, the Golden Fish represents living beings who practice Dharma, and who should not be afraid of drowning in the ocean of suffering, since they can swim freely as fish do in water. , in order to choose their rebirths.
The parasol symbolizes the activity that protects men from all evils: illnesses, accidents, evil spirits. She also protects the beings of the lower worlds. In Tibetan Buddhism, the umbrella protects us from suffering. The Tibetan umbrella guarantees wisdom.
From a Buddhist point of view, the parasol represents a form of protection and welcome to anyone who would like to enter the path of Dharma and progress on the path of Enlightenment.
