Page 20 - Handbook of Tibetan Buddhist Symbols

Handbook of Tibetan Buddhist Sy 9/1/10 11:29 AM Page 2

2 T he Handbook of T ibet an B uddhist S ymbols

The eight auspicious symbols: top row, from left – the parasol; the golden fishes; the treasure vase;
the lotus; bottom row, from left – the right-turning conch shell; the endless knot; the victory banner;
and the wheel.

of four-faced yellow Brahma and white tree, or by a stone impression of his di-
Indra are traditionally shown kneeling be- vinely marked footprints. These footprints
fore the Buddha’s throne, where they offer display various auspicious symbols as in-
their respective symbols of a golden wheel signia of the Buddha’s divinity, such as the
and a white conch. The earth goddess victory banner, lion throne, trident, Three
Sthavara (Tib. Sa’i Lha-mo), who had borne Jewels, eternal knot, swastika, conch, and
witness to the Buddha’s enlightenment, pre- pair of fishes, but the most common of
sented Shakyamuni with a golden vase full these insignia were the lotus and the wheel.
of the nectar of immortality. In early Vajrayana Buddhism the eight aus-
In early Indian Buddhism the image of picious symbols were deified into eight god-
the Buddha was depicted in an aniconic or desses, known as the Astamangala Devi,
non-representational form, usually by an each of whom carry one of the auspicious
empty throne under a parasol and bodhi- symbols as an attribute.