Page 30 - Handbook of Tibetan Buddhist Symbols

Handbook of Tibetan Buddhist Sy 9/1/10 11:29 AM Page 12

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

The eternal, endless, or mystic knot is Indian warfare. This standard adorned the
common to many ancient traditions, and be- rear of a great warrior’s chariot, and was
came particularly innovative in Islamic and mounted behind the great parasol (Skt. ata-
Celtic designs. In China it is a symbol of patra), or royal parasol (Skt. chatra). Each
longevity, continuity, love, and harmony. As standard bore the specific ensign of its cham-
a symbol of the Buddha’s mind the eternal pion or king. Krishna’s chariot was adorned
knot represents the Buddha’s endless wis- with a garuda-topped banner. Arjuna’s bore
dom and compassion. As a symbol of the the device of a monkey. Bhisma’s bore the
Buddha’s teachings it represents the continu- emblem of a palm tree. But primarily the
ity of the ‘twelve links of dependent origina- dhvaja was the ensign of Shiva, the great god
tion’, which underlies the reality of cyclic of death and destruction, whose banner was
existence. topped with a trident. This trident symbol-
ized Shiva’s victory over the three worlds, or
the ‘three cities’, which were located above,
THE VICTORY BANNER upon, and below the earth.
(Skt. dhvaja; Tib. rgyal-mtshan) In Indian warfare the military banner fre-
quently took on horrific forms that were de-
The dhvaja, meaning banner, flag, or ensign, signed to instill terror in the enemy. The
was originally a military standard of ancient impaled head and flayed skin of an enemy or

Three examples of the victory banner, with the two on the right adorned with a frieze of tiger-skin.