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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'' () in Tibetan. The symbols are teaching tools and point to qualities of mind and consciousness.

Contents

The eight auspicious symbols of Vajrayana and Himalayan Buddhism

Sequences of symbols

Non-Buddhist symbols

Reference

The eight auspicious symbols of Vajrayana and Himalayan Buddhism

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 Shankha or 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 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 wihout fear through water;

★ Victory Banner, symbolising the victory of the Buddha over the delusions of Mara, 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. For more detail refer Lotus (symbolism);

★ The Precious Parasol, 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;

★ 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 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, 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).

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:
# Endless knot
# Lotus flower
# Victory Banner
# Wheel of Dharma or Chamaru in Nepali Buddhism
# Treasure Vase
# Golden Fish pair
# Parasol
# Conch shell
The sequential order for Chinese Buddhism was defined^[1] in the Qing Dynasty as:
# Wheel of Dharma
# Conch shell
# Victory Banner
# Parasol
# Lotus flower
# Treasure Vase
# Golden Fish pair
# Endless knot

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.

★ 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 Buddhism, 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:
#Parasol (Chhatra)
#Banner (Dhwaja)
#Pot (Kalasha)
#Wisk (Chauri)
#Mirror (Darpana)
#Seat (Bhadrasana)
#Fan
#Vessel
In the Svetambar Jain tradition, the eight symbols are:
#Swastika
#Sri Vatsa
#Nandavarta
#Vardhmanaka (food vessel)
#Bhadrasana (seat)
#Kalasha (pot)
#Darpan (mirror)
#Meen Yugala (pair of fish)

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