Ashtamangala

dierent interpretations:

1.1 Conch

Ashtamangala: rst row (left to right): parasol, pair of golden

sh, conch; second row: treasure vase, lotus; Last row: innite
knot, victory banner and wheel.

The Ashtamangala (Sanskrit Aamagala, Tibetan:

, THL: Trashi Takgy ;* [1]* [2] Chinese:
Jxing b bo) are a sacred suite of Eight Auspicious Signs endemic to a number of Indian religions such
as Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhism. The symbols or
symbolic attributes(Tibetan: , THL: chaktsen
) 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 enlightenedqualities(Sanskrit: gua;
Tibetan: , THL: ynten ). 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 ask, pair of shes, lidded
bowl. In Buddhism, these eight symbols of
good fortune represent the oerings made by
the gods to Shakyamuni Buddha immediately
after he gained enlightenment.* [3]

akha

The right-turning white conch shell (Sanskrit: akha;

Tibetan: , THL: dungkar ynkhyil ) represents the beautiful, deep, melodious, interpenetrating and
pervasive sound of the dharma, which awakens disciples
from the deep slumber of ignorance and urges them to
accomplish their own welfare and the welfare of others.

In Buddhism

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

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 dierent teachers may give
1

IN BUDDHISM

having control over the ve classes of beings

.* [3]
In Hinduism, the conch is an attribute of Vishnu along
with the (Sudarshana Chakra. Vaishnavism holds that
Gautama Buddha is an avatar of Vishnu.

1.2

Endless knot

Pair of golden sh

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]

Endless knot

The endless knot (Sanskrit: rvatsa; Tibetan:

, THL: pelbeu )* [4] denotes the auspicious mark 1.4
represented by a curled noose emblematical of love
.* [1] Moreover, it represents the intertwining of wisdom and compassion, the mutual dependence of religious
doctrine and secular aairs, the union of wisdom and
method, the inseparability of nyat emptinessand
prattyasamutpdainterdependent origination, and the
union of wisdom and compassion in enlightenment (see
namkha). This knot, net or web metaphor also conveys
the Buddhist teaching of interpenetration.

1.3

Lotus

Fish

The two goldsh (Sanskrit: gaurmatsya; Tibetan:

, THL: sernya * [5]) symbolise the auspiciousness of all
sentient beings in a state of fearlessness without danger
of drowning in sasra. The two golden shes are linked
with the Ganges and Yamuna, and nadi, prana and carp: The lotus ower, or padma.
The two shes 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 sh, the
feeding of the ve thousand). In Buddhism,
the sh symbolize happiness as they have complete freedom of movement in the water. They

The lotus ower (Sanskrit: padma; Tibetan: , THL:

pma ), represent the primordial purity of body, speech,
and mind, oating above the muddy waters of attachment
and desire.

1.5 Parasol
The jewelled parasol (Sanskrit: chatraratna; Tibetan:
, THL: rinchenduk * [1]), which is similar in ritual function to the baldachin or canopy. It represents the

1.7

Dharmachakra

3
iconographic representation of the treasure vase is often
very similar to the kumbha, one of the few possessions
permitted a bhikkhu or bhikkhuni in Theravada Buddhism. The wisdom urn or treasure vase is used in many
empowerment (Vajrayana) and initiations;

1.7 Dharmachakra

Jewelled parasol

protection of beings from harmful forces, illness; represents the canopy or rmament of the sky and therefore
the expansiveness and unfolding of space and the element
ther; represents the expansiveness, unfolding and protective quality of the sahasrara; under the auspice of the
precious parasol all take refuge in the dharma.

1.6

Vase
The dharmachakra

The dharmachakra or Wheel of the Law(Sanskrit;

Tibetan: , THL: ch kyi khorlo ) represents
Gautama Buddha and the Dharma teaching. This symbol
is commonly used by Tibetan Buddhists, where it sometimes also includes an inner wheel of the Gankyil (Tibetan). Nepalese Buddhists don't use the Wheel of Law
in the eight auspicious symbols.
Instead of the dharmachakra, a y-whisk may be used as
one of the ashtamangala to symbolize Tantric manifestations. It is made of a yak's tail attached to a silver sta,
and used in ritual recitation and during fanning the deities
in pujas. Prayer wheels take the form of a dharmacakra
guise. The Sudarshana Chakra is a Hindu wheel-symbol.
In Unicode the wheel is represented by U+2638 .

1.8 Victory Banner

The dhvaja (Sanskrit; Tibetan: , THL: gyeltsen )
banner, agwas a military standard of ancient Indian
warfare. Within the Tibetan tradition, a list of eleven
Treasure vase
dierent forms of the victory banner is given to represent eleven specic methods for overcoming delements.
The treasure vase (Tibetan: , THL: Many variations of the dhvaja's design can be seen on the
terchenpo'i bumpa ) represents health, longevity, wealth, roofs of Tibetan monasteries to symbolise the Buddha's
prosperity, wisdom and the phenomenon of space. The victory over four maras.

JAIN SYMBOLS

4. Parasol
5. Lotus ower
6. Bumpa
7. Golden Fish
8. Endless knot

3 Hindu symbols
In Indian and Hindu tradition,* [7] the Ashtamangala
may be used during certain occasions including: pujas,
weddings (of Hindus), and coronations. The ashtamangala nds wide mention in the texts associated with
Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. They have been depicted in decorative motifs and cultural artifacts.
The North Indian tradition lists them as:
lion called raja
bull called vrishaba
serpent called naga
pitcher called kalasa
necklace called vijayanti
Dhvaja

Sequences of symbols

Dierent traditions order the eight symbols dierently.

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

kettle called bher

fan called vyajana
lamp called deepa* [8]
The South Indian tradition lists them as:
y-whisk
full vase

1. Endless knot

mirror

2. Lotus ower

elephant goad

3. Dhvaja

drum
lamp

4. Dharmacakra (y-whisk in Nepali Buddhism)

ag

5. Bumpa

a pair of sh.

6. Golden Fish
7. Parasol
8. Conch

The list also diers depending on the place, region,

and the social groups.

4 Jain symbols

The sequential order for Chinese Buddhism was deIn Jainism too, the Ashtamangala are a set of eight ausned* [6] in the Qing dynasty as:
picious symbols. There is some variation among dierent
traditions concerning the eight symbols.
1. Dharmacakra
2. Conch
3. Dhvaja

In the Digambara tradition, the eight symbols are:

1. Parasol

Adinath image with Ashtamangala

2. Dhvaja
3. Kalasha
4. Fly-whisk
5. Mirror
6. Chair
7. Hand fan
8. Vessel
In the vtmbara tradition, the eight symbols are:

Six out of eight, Ashtamangala, Fragment of a Jain Vijnaptipatra, Brooklyn Museum

6 Notes
[1] Sarat Chandra Das (1902). Tibetan-English Dictionary
with Sanskrit Synonyms. Calcutta, India: mainly used in
buddhismBengal Secretariat Book Depot, p.69
[2] Source: bkra-shis-rtags brgyad.

1. Swastika
2. Srivatsa

[3] Source: (accessed: January 18, 2008) Archived January

13, 2008, at the Wayback Machine.

3. Nandavarta

[4] Source: Dpal be'u

4. Vardhmanaka (food vessel)

[5] Source: gser nya

5. Bhadrasana (seat)

[6] Zhou Lili.A Summary of Porcelains' Religious and Auspicious Designs.The Bulletin of the Shanghai Museum 7
(1996), p.133

6. Kalasha (pot)
7. Darpan (mirror)
8. Pair of sh

See also
Dzi bead
Eight Treasures (Chinese equivalent)
Iconography
Mani stone
Sandpainting

[7] Dictionary of Hindu Lore and Legend (ISBN 0-50051088-1) by Anna Dallapiccola
[8] Gopal, Madan (1990). K.S. Gautam, ed. India through
the ages. Publication Division, Ministry of Information
and Broadcasting, Government of India. p. 70.

7 References
Beer, Robert (1999). The Encyclopedia of Tibetan Symbols and Motifs, (Hardcover). Shambhala
Publications. ISBN 1-57062-416-X, ISBN 978-157062-416-2

8
Beer, Robert (2003). The Handbook of Tibetan
Buddhist Symbols, Shambhala Publications. ISBN
1-59030-100-5

External links
About The Eight Auspicious Symbols
Tibetan Buddhist Symbols

EXTERNAL LINKS

Text and image sources, contributors, and licenses

9.1

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Ashtamangala Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashtamangala?oldid=703070546 Contributors: Robbot, Nat Krause, MingMecca,

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