Tibetan Eight Sacred Buddhist Symbols
Eight Sacred Buddhist Symbols
Some symbols recur on the walls of almost every temple, shrine, and monastery, or on the walls of private houses. The most common decorative motifs of all are the Eight Sacred Emblems of Buddhism, as follows:
1. Conch Shell (dun) - used in Buddhist worship as a trumpet or offertory vessel and symbolizes the spoken word of Buddha.
2. Vase (bum-pa) - used as the storage urn of a sacred receptacle and thus symbolizes hidden treasures.
3. Umbrella (gdugs) - a token of loyalty and symbolizes the protection of the Dharma (faith).
4. Endless Knot (apal-be) - an auspicious geometric diagram, it symbolizes devotion.
5. Dharma Wheel (chakra) - represents the unity of all things and symbolizes Sakyamuni himself.
6. Golden Fish (gser-na) - as water allows fish to swim freely, so Buddhist belief emancipates the soul. They symbolize spiritual liberation.
7. Lotus flower (padma) - as the flower rises from muddy roots, so Nirvana arises from this shabby world; therefore it symbolizes purity.
8. Banner of Victory (dpal-be) - a unique Buddhist object, the cylindrical layered banner symbolizes victory over ignorance and death.
The eight auspicious symbols of Tibetan Buddhism consist of: a parasol, a pair of fishes, a treasure vase, a lotus, a white-spiraling conch shell, an endless knot, a victory banner, and a golden wheel.
Some symbols recur on the walls of almost every temple, shrine, and monastery, or on the walls of private houses. The most common decorative motifs of all are the Eight Sacred Emblems of Buddhism, as follows:
1. Conch Shell (dun) - used in Buddhist worship as a trumpet or offertory vessel and symbolizes the spoken word of Buddha.
2. Vase (bum-pa) - used as the storage urn of a sacred receptacle and thus symbolizes hidden treasures.
3. Umbrella (gdugs) - a token of loyalty and symbolizes the protection of the Dharma (faith).
4. Endless Knot (apal-be) - an auspicious geometric diagram, it symbolizes devotion.
5. Dharma Wheel (chakra) - represents the unity of all things and symbolizes Sakyamuni himself.
6. Golden Fish (gser-na) - as water allows fish to swim freely, so Buddhist belief emancipates the soul. They symbolize spiritual liberation.
7. Lotus flower (padma) - as the flower rises from muddy roots, so Nirvana arises from this shabby world; therefore it symbolizes purity.
8. Banner of Victory (dpal-be) - a unique Buddhist object, the cylindrical layered banner symbolizes victory over ignorance and death.
The eight auspicious symbols of Tibetan Buddhism consist of: a parasol, a pair of fishes, a treasure vase, a lotus, a white-spiraling conch shell, an endless knot, a victory banner, and a golden wheel.
posted by eYongs at 2:03 AM
