Ashtamangala

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Ashtamangala are a sacred suite of 'Eight Auspicious Signs' endemic to a number of Indian religions. The symbols or 'symbolic attributes' (Tibetan: phyag mtshan are yidam and teaching tools. Not only do these attributes, these energetic signatures, point to qualities of enlightened mindstream, but they are the investiture that ornaments these enlightened 'qualities' (Tibetan: yon tan; Sanskrit: guna). Many cultural enumerations and variations of the Ashtamangala are extant.

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.^[1]

[edit] Nomenclature and etymology

"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.

[edit] In 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.

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:

[edit] Conch

The right-turning white conch shell (Sanskrit: Śaṅkha; Tibetan: Dung-Dkar), 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 Conch is a principal divine attribute of Vishnu as is the Wheel. Vaishnavism holds that Shakyamuni Buddha is an avatar of Vishnu.

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'.^[2]

[edit] Knot

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' (Sanskrit: Śūnyatā) and 'Dependent Co-arrising' (Sanskrit: Pratītya-samutpāda at the time of the path); at the time of enlightenment the union of 'wisdom' (Sanskrit: Prajñā) and 'great compassion' (Sanskrit: Karuna); 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);

[edit] Fish

The 'two goldfish' (Sanskrit: Gaur-matsya; Tibetan: gser nya), 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 drowning in the Samsaric Ocean of Suffering, and migrating from place to place and teaching to teaching freely and spontaneously just as fish swim freely without fear through water;

In the following quotation, the two golden fishes are linked with the Ganges and Yamuna, and nadi, prana and carp:

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 symbolize 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.^[3]

[edit] Banner

Victory Banner (Sanskrit: Dhvaja; Tibetan: rgyal mtshan), symbolising the victory of the Buddha over the delusions of Mara, representing the victory (Sanskrit: Jaya) of one's body, speech, and mind over negative obstacles (Sanskrit: klesha). It also represents the victory of Buddhist doctrine over all harmful and pernicious forces;

[edit] Lotus

The lotus flower (Sanskrit: Padma), representing 'primordial purity' (Tibetan: ka dag) of body, speech, and mind, floating above the muddy waters of attachment and desire; represents the full blossoming of wholesome deeds in blissful liberation. For more detail refer Lotus (symbolism);

[edit] Parasol

The Precious Parasol (Sanskrit: Chhatra) 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 as a symbolic depiction of sacred medicinal and hallucinogenic mushrooms 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; represents the expansiveness, unfolding and protective quality of the sahasrara;

[edit] Urn

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 Śūnyatā (Sanskrit); the iconographic representation of the 'wisdom urn' is often very similar to the 'water pot' (Sanskrit: Kumbha) which is one of the few allowable possessions of a Theravadin bhikku or bhikkuni;

[edit] Wheel

The ' Wheel of Law ' (Sanskrit: Dharmacakra), sometimes representing Sakyamuni Buddha and the Dharma teaching; also representing the mandala and chakra. (May owe a historical iconographic origin also to Sudarshana Chakra.) This symbol is commonly used by Tibetan Buddhists where it sometimes also includes an inner wheel of the Gankyil (Tibetan), 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).

Pair of Golden Fishes

Parasol.

[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^[4] 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^[5], 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.

• The northern Indian tradition lists them as:-
  • lion
  • bull
  • elephant
  • water jar or a vessel filled with gems
  • flywhisk
  • flag
  • trumpet
  • lamp
• The southern Indian tradition lists them as:-
  • flywhisk
  • full vase
  • mirror
  • ankus
  • drum
  • lamp
  • flag
  • a pair of fishes.
• The list also differs depending on the place, region, and the social groups.

In Jainism too, the Ashta-mangalas are a set of eight auspicious symbols. There is some variation among different traditions concerning the eight symbols.

In the Digambara Jain tradition, the eight symbols are:

1. Parasol (Chhatra)
2. Banner (Dhwaja)
3. Pot (Kalasha)
4. Wisk (Chauri)
5. Mirror (Darpana)
6. Seat (Bhadrasana)
7. Fan
8. Vessel

In the Svetambar Jain tradition, the eight symbols are:

1. Swastika
2. Sri Vatsa
3. Nandavarta
4. Vardhmanaka (food vessel)
5. Bhadrasana (seat)
6. Kalasha (pot)
7. Darpan (mirror)
8. Meen Yugala (pair of fish)

[edit] See also

• Shalagram
• Dzi bead

[edit] Notes

[edit] References

• 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

[edit] External links

• About The Eight Auspicious Symbols
• Eight Auspicious Symbols of Buddhism - A Study in Spiritual Evolution