Ashtamangala

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"Ashtamangala" (In Sanskrit "ashta" is 'eight' and "mangala" is 'auspicious', Devanagari: अष्टमंगल) or the Eight Auspicious Objects or Signs are endemic to a number of cultures including Buddhist symbolism, etc. The Ashtamangala are known as bkra-shis-rtags brgyad (Tibetan: བཀྲ་ཤིས་རྟགས་བརྒྱད།; Lhasa dialect IPA: [ʈʂáɕitaʔ cὲʔ]) in Tibetan.

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[edit] The eight auspicious symbols of Vajrayana and Himalayan Buddhism

15/16th Century Tibetan Manuscript Cover. Sculpted cover carved with central deities and auspicious objects within geometric designs and scrolling borders. Central to the carver's artistic structure, the Buddha Shakyamuni is surrounded by the Eight Auspicious Symbols, among which to his left includes, the "Vase of Treasure." This container symbolizes an endless reign of long life, wealth, prosperity and all of the benefits in this world for the liberated being. To the right of the Buddha, the two "Golden Fish" characterize the auspiciousness of all living beings in a state without danger and migrating from place to place spontaneously, just as fish swim freely without fear through water.
15/16th Century Tibetan Manuscript Cover. Sculpted cover carved with central deities and auspicious objects within geometric designs and scrolling borders. Central to the carver's artistic structure, the Buddha Shakyamuni is surrounded by the Eight Auspicious Symbols, among which to his left includes, the "Vase of Treasure." This container symbolizes an endless reign of long life, wealth, prosperity and all of the benefits in this world for the liberated being. To the right of the Buddha, the two "Golden Fish" characterize the auspiciousness of all living beings in a state without danger and migrating from place to place spontaneously, just as fish swim freely without fear through water.
The dharma wheel is incorporated into the design of this building, part of Jokhang Temple (Lhasa, Tibet).
The dharma wheel is incorporated into the design of this building, part of Jokhang Temple (Lhasa, Tibet).

Tibetan Buddhists make use of a particular set of eight auspicious symbols, ashtamangala, in household and public art. Some common interpretations are given along with each symbol although different teachers may give different interpretations:

  • The right-turning white conch shell, representing the beautiful, deep, melodious and pervasive sound of the Buddhadharma which being appropriate to different natures, predispositions and aspirations of disciples, awakens them from the deep slumber of ignorance and urges them to accomplish their own welfare and the welfare of others;
  • The endless knot (Sanskrit "Shrivatsa); Tibetan "Dpal be'u"), representing the inter-twining of wisdom and compassion; represents the mutual dependence of religious doctrine and secular affairs; represents the union of wisdom and method; the inseparability of emptinesss (shunyata) and Dependent Co-arrising (Pratitya-samutpada at the time of the path); at the time of enlightenment the union of wisdom and great compassion; also symbolic of knot symbolism in linking ancestors and omnipresence and the magical ritual and meta-process of binding (refer etymology of Tantra, Yoga and religion) (see Namkha);
  • The golden fish (matsya), representing the state of fearless suspension in a harmless ocean of samsara, metaphorically often refer to buddha-eyes or rigpa sight; symbolises the auspiciousness of all living beings in a state of fearlessness without danger of drowining in thd ocean of sufferings, and migrating from place to place freely and spontaneiously just as fish swim freely wihout fear thorugh water;
  • The Victory Banner, representing the victory of one's body, speech, and mind over negative obstacles. It also represents the victory of Buddhist doctrine over all harmful and pernicious forces;
  • The lotus flower, representing purity of body, speech, and mind, floating above the muddy waters of attachment and desire; represents the full blossoming of wholesome deeds in blissful liberation;
  • The Precious Parasol or Sacred Umbrella which is similar in ritual function to the baldachin or canopy. Müller-Ebeling, Rätsch & Shahi (2002) scholarly chart the origins of the Sacred Parasol in the symbolic origins in the class of sacred medicinal and [hallucinogen]]ic mushroom)s of the Himalayan pharmacopeia; representing the protection of beings from harmful forces, illness; represents the canopy or firmament of the sky and therefore the expansiveness and unfolding of space and the element æther;
  • The treasure vase or Urn of Wisdom (Sanskrit "Bumpa") representing health, longevity, wealth, prosperity, wisdom and the phenomenon of space which is the container and conduit of everything that is manifest or incarnate; symbolises shunyata;
  • The Wheel of Law (Sanskrit Dharmacakra), sometimes representing Sakyamuni Buddha and the dharma teaching; also representing the mandala. This symbol is commonly used by Tibetan Buddhists where it sometimes also includes an inner wheel of the Gankyil, but in Nepal the Wheel of Law is not used by Nepalese Buddhists in the eight auspicious symbols. Instead of the Dharma wheel, a Fly Whisk may be used as one of the ashtamangala symbolizing Tantric manifestations and is made of a yak's tail attached to a silver staff and used during ritual recitation and fanning the deities in an auspicious religious ceremony (puja).

[edit] Sequences of Symbols

Different traditions have different "orders" of the eight symbols.

Here is the sequential order of the Eight Auspicious Symbols of Nepali Buddhism:

  1. Endless knot
  2. Lotus flower
  3. Victory Banner
  4. Wheel of Dharma or Chamaru in Nepali Buddhism
  5. Treasure Vase
  6. Golden Fish pair
  7. Parasol
  8. Conch shell

The sequential order for Chinese Buddhism was defined[1] in the Qing Dynasty as:

  1. Wheel of Dharma
  2. Conch shell
  3. Victory Banner
  4. Parasol
  5. Lotus flower
  6. Treasure Vase
  7. Golden Fish pair
  8. Endless knot

[edit] Non-Buddhist Symbols

In Indian and Hindu tradition[2], the Ashtamangala may be used during certain occasions including: pujas, weddings (of Hindus), and coronations. The ashtamangala finds wide mention in the texts associated with Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. They have been depicted in decorative motifs and cultural artifacts.

[edit] Reference

  1. ^ Zhou Lili. "A Summary of Porcelains' Religious and Auspicious Designs." The Bulletin of the Shanghai Museum 7 (1996), p.133
  2. ^ Dictionary of Hindu Lore and Legend (ISBN 0-500-51088-1) by Anna Dallapiccola
  • Müller-Ebeling, Claudia and Christian Rätsch and Surendra Bahadur Shahi (2002). Shamanism and Tantra in the Himalayas. Transl. by Annabel Lee. Rochester, Vt.: Inner Traditions.
  • Beer, Robert (1999). The Encyclopedia of Tibetan Symbols and Motifs (Hardcover). Shambhala. ISBN-10: 157062416X, ISBN-13: 978-1570624162


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