Ashtamangala are a sacred suite of Eight Auspicious Signs endemic to a number of Dharmic Traditions such as HinduismHinduism is the predominant religion of the Indian subcontinent. Hinduism is often referred to as ', a Sanskrit phrase meaning "the eternal law", by its adherents. Generic "types" of Hinduism that attempt to accommodate a variety of complex views span folk and Vedic Hinduism to bhakti tradition, as...
, JainismJainism is an ancient dharmic religion from India that prescribes a path of non-violence for all forms of living beings in this world. Its philosophy and practice relies mainly on self-effort in progressing the soul on the spiritual ladder to divine consciousness...
, BuddhismBuddhism, as traditionally conceived, is a path of salvation attained through insight into the ultimate nature of reality. It encompasses a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha...
, and SikhismSikhism, founded on the teachings of Guru Nanak Dev and ten successive Sikh Gurus in fifteenth century Punjab, is the fifth-largest organized religion in the world. This system of religious philosophy and expression has been traditionally known as the Gurmat or the Sikh Dharma...
. The symbols or 'symbolic attributes' ({{bo|t=ཕྱག་མཚན|w=phyag mtshan}}) are yidamIn Vajrayana Buddhism, an Ishta-deva or Ishta-devata is a fully enlightened being who is the focus of personal meditation, during a retreat or for life. The term is often translated into English as tutelary deity, meditation deity, or meditational deity...
and teaching tools. Not only do these attributes, these energetic signatures, point to qualities of enlightened mindstreamMindstream, mind stream, or mental stream is the English translation of a Buddhist philosophical term for the moment-to-moment continuity of consciousness....
, but they are the investiture that ornaments these enlightened 'qualities' (Sanskrit: guna' means 'string' or 'a single thread or strand of a cord or twine'. In more abstract uses, it may mean 'a subdivision, species, kind, quality', or an operational principle or tendency....
; {{bo|t=ཡོན་ཏན|w=yon tan}}). 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 flask, pair of fishes, lidded bowl. In Buddhism, these eight symbols of good fortune represent the offerings made by the gods to Shakyamuni Buddha immediately after he gained enlightenment.
Nomenclature and etymology
"Ashtamangala" (In SanskritSanskrit is a historical Indo-Aryan language, one of the liturgical languages of Hinduism and Buddhism, and one of the 22 official languages of India. It is also declared as a classical language by the government of India....
"ashta" is 'eight' and "mangala" is 'auspicious', DevanagariDevanagari , also called Nagari , is an abugida alphabet of India and Nepal. It is written from left to right, lacks distinct letter cases, and is recognizable by a distinctive horizontal line running along the tops of the letters that links them together. Devanāgarī is the main script used to...
: अष्टमंगल) or the Eight Auspicious Objects or Signs are endemic to a number of cultures including Buddhist symbolismBuddhist symbolism appeared around the fourth century BCE, and started with aniconic symbolism, avoiding direct representations of the Buddha. Anthropomorphic symbolism appeared from around the 1st century CE with the arts of Mathura and the Greco-Buddhist art of Gandhara, and were combined with...
, etc. The Ashtamangala are known as bkra-shis-rtags brgyad ({{bo|t=བཀྲ་ཤིས་རྟགས་བརྒྱད|w=bkra shis rtags brgyad|l={{IPA|tʂáɕitaʔ cɛ̀ʔ}}}}) in Tibetan.
In Buddhism
Tibetan BuddhistsTibetan Buddhism is the body of Buddhist religious doctrine and institutions characteristic of Tibet and certain regions of the Himalayas, including northern Nepal, Bhutan, and India...
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:
Conch
The right-turning white conchA conch is one of a number of different species of medium-sized to large saltwater snails or their shells.The true conchs are marine gastropod molluscs in the family Strombidae, and the genus Strombus and other closely related genera.The name "conch" comes, via French, from the Greek word meaning...
shell (Sanskrit: {{IASTShankha is the divine Conch shell or sea shell, which is one of the insignia in the Hindu God Vishnu's hands. Lord Vishnu, also called Narayan, is imagined to have four hands...
; {{bo|t=དུང་གྱས་འཁྱིལ|w=dung gyas 'khyil}}), representing the beautiful, deep, melodious, interpenetrating and pervasive sound of the Buddhadharma which awakens disciples from the deep slumber of ignorance and urges them to accomplish their own welfare and the welfare of others;
In Hinduism the Conch is an attribute of VishnuVishnu , , is the Supreme God in Vaishnavite tradition of Hinduism. Smarta followers of Adi Shankara, among others, venerate Vishnu as one of the five primary forms of God...
as is the Wheel. VaishnavismVaishnavism is a tradition of Hinduism, distinguished from other schools by its worship of Vishnu or his associated avatars, principally as Rama and Krishna, as the original and supreme God. This worship in different perspectives or historical traditions addresses God under the names of Narayana,...
holds that Shakyamuni Buddha is an avatarIn Hinduism, Avatar or Avatara usually implies a deliberate descent from higher spiritual realms to lower realms of existence for special purposes, often translated into English as incarnation.Avatars that are of importance are mainly those of the Supreme Being...
of Vishnu.
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 'having control over the five classes of beings'.
Knot
The endless knotThe endless knot or eternal knot is a symbolic knot and one of the Eight Auspicious Symbols. It is an important cultural marker in places significantly influenced by Tibetan Buddhism such as Tibet, Mongolia, Tuva, Kalmykia, and Buryatia...
(Sanskrit: Shrivatsa); {{bo|t=དཔལ་བེའུ|w=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' (Sanskrit: Śūnyatā) and 'Dependent Co-arrising' (Sanskrit: Pratītya-samutpādaThe doctrine of pratītyasamutpāda , often translated as "dependent arising," is a cardinal doctrine within Buddhist Philosophy. Common to all schools of Buddhism, it states that phenomena arise together in a mutually interdependent web of cause and effect...
at the time of the path); at the time of enlightenment the union of 'wisdom' (Sanskrit: PrajñāPrajñā or paññā has been translated as "wisdom," "understanding," "discernment," "cognitive acuity," or "know-how." In some sects of Buddhism, it especially refers to the wisdom that is based on the direct realization of the Four Noble Truths, impermanence, interdependent origination, non-self,...
) and 'great compassion' (Sanskrit: KarunaKaruā is generally translated as "compassion" or "pity". It is part of the spiritual path of both Buddhism and Jainism.-Buddhism:...
); also symbolic of knot symbolism in linking ancestorAn ancestor is a parent or the parent of an ancestor ....
s and omnipresence"Omnipresence" is the property of being present everywhere. According to eastern theism, God is present everywhere. Divine omnipresence is thus one of the divine attributes, although in western theism it has attracted less philosophical attention than such attributes as omnipotence, omniscience, or...
and the magical ritual and metaMeta- , is a prefix used in English to indicate a concept which is an abstraction from another concept, used to complete or add to the latter....
-processIn philosophy and systems theory, basic processes, or logical homologies as they were termed by Ludwig von Bertalanffy, are unifying principles which operate in many different systemic contexts. For example, feedback is a principle that figures prominently in the science of cybernetics...
of bindingBinding may refer to:* Binding , a property relating to anaphors and c-command* Legally binding, in lawJoining physical objects together:* Foot binding* Ski binding, a device for connecting a foot to a ski...
(refer etymology of TantraTantra , or tantram is a religious philosophy according to which Shakti is usually the main deity worshipped, and the universe is regarded as the divine play of Shakti and Shiva...
, YogaYoga refers to traditional physical and mental disciplines originating in India. The word is associated with meditative practices in Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. In Hinduism, it also refers to one of the six orthodox schools of Hindu philosophy, and to the goal toward which that school directs...
and religionA religion is a system of human thought which usually includes a set of narratives, symbols, beliefs and practices that give meaning to the practitioner's experiences of life through reference to a higher power, deity or deities, or ultimate truth...
) (see NamkhaNamkha is a Tibetan word meaning "sky", "space", "aether"," heaven" Namkha (Tibetan: nam mkha ) is a Tibetan word meaning "sky", "space", "aether"," heaven" Namkha (Tibetan: nam mkha ) is a Tibetan word meaning "sky", "space", "aether"," heaven" (also known as De; (Tibetan mdos ) is a form of...
), the knot, net and the web metaphor also conveys the Buddhist teaching of the Doctrine of Interpenetration;
Fish
The 'two goldfishGoldfish are small ornamental freshwater fish that are commonly kept as pets. Goldfish were one of the earliest breed of fish to be domesticated and are still one of the most commonly kept fish in aquariums and outdoor water gardens.Goldfish were originally domesticated from the Prussian carp ,...
' (Sanskrit: Gaur-matsyaMatsya was the first Avatar of Vishnu in Hindu mythology.According to the Matsya Purana, the king of pre-ancient Dravida and a devotee of Lord Vishnu, Satyavrata who later becomes known as Manu was washing his hands in a river when a little fish swam into his hands and pleaded with him to save...
; {{bo|t=གསེར་ཉ|w=gser nya}} ), representing the state of fearless suspension in a harmless ocean of samsaraSamsara is the endless cycle of suffering caused by birth, death and rebirth within Buddhism, Bön, Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism and other related religions....
, metaphorically often refer to 'buddha-eyes' or 'rigpaRigpa is the primordial, nondual awareness advocated by the Dzogchen and Mahamudra teachings.-Apperception:Rigpa is a contraction of "rang rig pa" which includes both "rig pa" and "rang rig"....
-sight'; symbolises the auspiciousness of all sentient beings in a state of fearlessness without danger of drowning in the Samsaric Ocean of SufferingSamsara is the endless cycle of suffering caused by birth, death and rebirth within Buddhism, Bön, Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism and other related religions....
, and migrating from place to place and teaching to teaching freely and spontaneously just as fish swim freely without fear through water;
In the following quotation, the two golden fishes are linked with the Ganges and YamunaThe Yamuna is the largest tributary river of the Ganges in northern India...
, and nadiNadi is the third-largest conurbation in Fiji. It is located on the western side of the main island of Viti Levu, and had a population of 42,284 at the most recent census, in 2007. Nadi is multiracial with many of its inhabitants Indian or Fijian, along with a large transient population of...
, pranaPrana is the Sanskrit for "breath" .It is one of the five organs of vitality or sensation, viz. prana "breath", vac "speech", caksus "sight", shrotra "hearing", and manas "thought" Prana is the Sanskrit for "breath" (from the root "to fill", cognate to Latin plenus "full").It is one of the ...
and carpCarp is a common name for various species of an oily freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae, a very large group of fish native to Europe and Asia. Some consider all cyprinid fishes carp, and the family Cyprinidae itself is often known as the carp family...
:
The two fishes 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 ChristianityChristianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as presented by the revelations in the New Testament....
(the sign of the fish, the feeding of the five thousand). In Buddhism, the fish symbolize happiness as they have complete freedom of movement in the water. They 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.
Lotus
The lotus flower (Sanskrit: Padma; {{bo|t=པད་མེ|w=pad me}}), representing 'primordial purity' ({{bo|t=ཀ་དག|w=ka dag}}) of body, speech, and mindThe Three Vajras namely 'body', 'speech' and 'mind' are a formulation within Tibetan Buddhism and Bon which holds the full experience of the 'openness' of Buddha-nature, void of all bar the 'qualities' and 'marks' and establishes a sound experiential key upon the 'continuum of the path' to...
, floating above the muddy waters of attachmentAn attachment is a component added onto a machine to alter its functioning. Attachment may also refer to:* Attachment , a predictable emotional connection between individuals...
and desire; represents the full blossomBlossom is a term given to the flowers of stone fruit trees and of some other plants with a similar appearance that flower profusely but for a short period of time in the spring. Blossoms are either pink or white depending on the species or variety. Nectarine blossoms, peach blossoms, most cherry...
ing of wholesome deeds in blissful liberation.
Parasol
The Precious Parasol (Sanskrit: ChhatraChhatra is the precious parasol, umbrella or canopy, which is used as an auspicious symbol in Dharmic traditions.According to Hindu mythology, it is the emblem of Varuna, also considered an embodiment of kingship. Chhatra is also a deity, yidam and ishta-devata. In various Dharmic Traditions it is...
; {{bo|t=རིནཆེན་གདུགས|w=rin chen gdugs}}) or Sacred UmbrellaAn umbrella or parasol is a canopy designed to protect against precipitation or sunlight. The term parasol usually refers to an item designed to protect from the sun, and umbrella refers to a device more suited to protect from rain...
which is similar in ritual function to the baldachinA baldachin, or baldaquin , is a canopy of state over an altar or throne. It had its beginnings as a cloth canopy, but in other cases it is a sturdy, permanent architectural feature, particularly over high altars in cathedrals, where such a structure may be called a ciborium when it is sufficiently...
or canopy. Müller-Ebeling, Rätsch & Shahi (2002) scholarly chart the origins of the Sacred Parasol as a symbolic depiction of sacred medicinal and hallucinogenic mushroomA mushroom is the fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting body of a fungus, typically produced above ground on soil or on its food source. The standard for the name "mushroom" is the cultivated white button mushroom, Agaricus bisporus, hence the word mushroom is most often applied to those fungi that have...
s of the Himalayan pharmacopeia; representing the protection of beings from harmful forces, illness; represents the canopy or firmamentFirmament is the usual English translation of the Hebrew "raqiya`" meaning an extended solid surface or flat expanse, considered to be a hemisphere above the ground. The word is derived from the Hebrew raqa, meaning "to spread out" by stamping, stretching, beating, or making broad,, e.g...
of the sky and therefore the expansiveness and unfolding of spaceSpace is the boundless, three-dimensional extent in which objects and events occur and have relative position and direction. Physical space is often conceived in three linear dimensions, although modern physicists usually consider it, with time, to be part of the boundless four-dimensional...
and the element æther; represents the expansiveness, unfolding and protective quality of the sahasraraSahasrara is the seventh primary chakra according to Hindu tradition.-Description:Sahasrara is positioned above the head or at the top of it and it has 1000 petals which are arranged in 20 layers each of them with 50 petals...
; under the auspice of the precious parasol all take refuge-Other uses:*Area of refuge, a location in a building that may be used by occupants in the event of a fire* A mountain hut in Europe especially in the Alps* Women's refuge is another term for Women's shelter...
in the DharmaThe term , is an Indian spiritual and religious term, that means one's righteous duty or any virtuous path in the common sense of the term. A Hindu's Dharma is affected by a person's age, class, occupation, and sex. In Indian languages it can be equivalent simply to "religion", depending on context...
;
Urn
The treasure vase or Urn of Wisdom ({{bo|t=བུམ་པ|w=bum pa}}) represents healthAt the of the creation of the World Health Organization , in 1948, Health was defined as being "a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity"....
, longevityThe word "longevity" is sometimes used as a synonym for "life expectancy" in demography. However, this is not the most popular or accepted definition...
, wealthWealth is an abundance of valuable resources or material possessions. The word is derived from the old English wela, which is from an Indo-European word stem...
, prosperityProsperity is the state of flourishing, thriving, success, or good fortune. Prosperity often encompasses wealth but also includes others factors which are independent of wealth to varying degrees, such as happiness and health....
, wisdomWisdom is knowledge of what is true or right coupled with just judgment as to action; sagacity, discernment, or insight. It is an ideal that has been celebrated since antiquity as the application of knowledge needed to live a good life...
and the phenomenon of spaceSpace is the boundless, three-dimensional extent in which objects and events occur and have relative position and direction. Physical space is often conceived in three linear dimensions, although modern physicists usually consider it, with time, to be part of the boundless four-dimensional...
. Indeed, to disambiguate, "Space" (Sanskrit: {{IASTAkasha is the Sanskrit word meaning "aether" in both its elemental and mythological senses....
) is a rendering of the particular denotation of the element of the 'mahabhutaMahābhūta is Sanskrit and Pāli for "great element." In Hinduism, the five "great" or "gross" elements are ether, air, fire, water and earth. In Buddhism, the "four great elements" are earth, water, fire and air....
' (Sanskrit; English: "Great Elements") and the Five Pure LightsThe Five Pure Lights are a conceptual mystery in the Dzogchen tradition of Bön and Nyingma and are aspects of non-dual clarity and primordial luminosity of dharmakaya, Kunzhi and/or the Void. It is important to emphasize from the outset that their light-like essence-quality and their associated...
. Space is that elemental matrix which contains, holds and conducts all phenomena. Space is the repository and conduit of everything that is manifest, embodied or incarnate; symbolises Śūnyatā (Sanskrit); the iconographic representation of the 'wisdom urn' is often very similar to the 'water pot' (Sanskrit: KumbhaKumbha , that is a pot, a jar or a pitcher, in the context of Hinduism and Hindu mythology, is symbolic of the womb. It represents fertility, life, generative power of human beings and sustenance; and is generally associated with the mother goddesses, particularly Durga.In Hindu mythology and...
) which is one of the few allowable possessions of a Theravadin bhikku or bhikkuni; the wisdom urn or treasure vase is used in many vajrayana empowerments and initiations;
Wheel
The Wheel of Law (Sanskrit: DharmacakraThe Dharmacakra or Dhammacakka , Tibetan chos kyi 'khor lo, Chinese fălún 法輪, "Wheel of Dharma" or "Wheel of Law" is a symbol that has represented dharma, the Buddha's teaching of the path to enlightenment, since the early period of Indian Buddhism. It is also sometimes translated as wheel of...
; {{bo|t=ཁོར་ལོ|w=khor lo}}), sometimes representing Sakyamuni Buddha and the DharmaThe term , is an Indian spiritual and religious term, that means one's righteous duty or any virtuous path in the common sense of the term. A Hindu's Dharma is affected by a person's age, class, occupation, and sex. In Indian languages it can be equivalent simply to "religion", depending on context...
teaching; also representing the mandalaMandala is a concentric diagram having spiritual and ritual significance in both Buddhism and Hinduism...
and chakraChakra is a Sanskrit word that translates as "wheel" or "turning"....
. This symbol is commonly used by Tibetan Buddhists where it sometimes also includes an inner wheel of the GankyilThe Gankyil is a symbol and ritual tool in Tibetan Buddhism. In Bön and Nyingma Dzogchen lineages, the Gankyil is the principal symbol and teaching tool: it is symbolic of primordial energy and represents the central unity and indivisibility of all the teaching, philosophical and doctrinal triune...
(Tibetan), but in Nepal the Wheel of Law is not used by Nepalese BuddhistsBuddha was born in Shakya kingdom which lies in Rupandehi district, Lumbini zone of Nepal.10.74% of Nepal's population practice Buddhism, consisting mainly of groups of Tibeto-Burman origin.- Overview :...
in the eight auspicious symbols. Instead of the Dharma wheelThe Dharmacakra or Dhammacakka , Tibetan chos kyi 'khor lo, Chinese fălún 法輪, "Wheel of Dharma" or "Wheel of Law" is a symbol that has represented dharma, the Buddha's teaching of the path to enlightenment, since the early period of Indian Buddhism. It is also sometimes translated as wheel of...
, a Fly Whisk may be used as one of the ashtamangala symbolizing Tantric manifestations and is made of a yakThe yak is a long-haired bovine found throughout the Himalayan region of south Central Asia, the Tibetan Plateau and as far north as Mongolia. In addition to a large domestic population, there is a small, vulnerable wild yak population. In Tibetan, the word gyag refers only to the male of the...
's tail attached to a silver staff and used during ritual recitation and fanning the deities in an auspicious religious ceremony (pujaIn Buddhism, puja are expressions of "honour, worship, devotional attention." Acts of puja include bowing, making offerings and chanting...
); another guise of the Dharmacakra which unites the functionality of the yak's tail with the doctrinal aspect of the "Wheel of Law" is the Mani wheel. The Sudarshana ChakraSudarshana Chakra is a spinning disc like weapon with very sharp edge, which serves as an attribute of the Hindu God Vishnu. Lord Vishnu, also called Narayana, is portrayed with four hands, holding a Shankha , the Sudarshana, a Gada and a Padma...
is a Hindu wheel-symbol.
Victory Banner
DhvajaDhvaja , meaning banner or flag. The Dhvaja is comprised amongst the Ashtamangala, the 'eight auspicious symbols'.-Vedic outlook:...
(Skt. also Dhwaja; {{bo|t=རྒྱལ་མཚན|w=rgyal mtshan}}), meaning banner or flag. Dhvaja banner was a military standard of ancient Indian warfare. Makara Dhvaja has become latter an emblem of the Vedic god of love and desire - Kamadeva. Within the Tibetan tradition a list of eleven different forms of the victory banner is given to represent eleven specific methods for overcoming defilements. Many variations of the dhvaja's design can be seen on the roofs of Tibetan monasteries to symbolyze the Buddha's victory over four maras.
Sequences of symbols
Different traditions have different "orders" of the eight symbols.
Here is the sequential order of the Eight Auspicious Symbols of Nepali BuddhismTibetan Buddhism is the body of Buddhist religious doctrine and institutions characteristic of Tibet and certain regions of the Himalayas, including northern Nepal, Bhutan, and India...
:
- Endless knot
The endless knot or eternal knot is a symbolic knot and one of the Eight Auspicious Symbols. It is an important cultural marker in places significantly influenced by Tibetan Buddhism such as Tibet, Mongolia, Tuva, Kalmykia, and Buryatia...
- Lotus flower
- Victory Banner
Dhvaja , meaning banner or flag. The Dhvaja is comprised amongst the Ashtamangala, the 'eight auspicious symbols'.-Vedic outlook:...
- Wheel of Dharma or Chamaru in Nepali Buddhism
- Treasure Vase
The bumpa , or pumpa, is a ritual vase with a spout used in Tibetan Buddhist rituals and empowerments. It is understood to be, in some contexts, the vessel of the universe....
- Golden Fish pair
- Parasol
- Conch shell
The sequential order for Chinese BuddhismChinese Buddhism refers collectively to the various schools of Buddhism that have flourished in China proper since ancient times after introduction from its original source, India...
was defined in the Qing DynastyThe Qing Dynasty , also known as the Manchu Dynasty, was the last ruling dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912...
as:
- Wheel of Dharma
- Conch shell
- Victory Banner
Dhvaja , meaning banner or flag. The Dhvaja is comprised amongst the Ashtamangala, the 'eight auspicious symbols'.-Vedic outlook:...
- Parasol
- Lotus flower
- Treasure Vase
The bumpa , or pumpa, is a ritual vase with a spout used in Tibetan Buddhist rituals and empowerments. It is understood to be, in some contexts, the vessel of the universe....
- Golden Fish pair
- Endless knot
The endless knot or eternal knot is a symbolic knot and one of the Eight Auspicious Symbols. It is an important cultural marker in places significantly influenced by Tibetan Buddhism such as Tibet, Mongolia, Tuva, Kalmykia, and Buryatia...
Non-Buddhist symbols
In IndiaIndia, officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the south, the Arabian Sea on the west, and the Bay of Bengal...
n and HinduA Hindu is an adherent of Hinduism, a set of religious, philosophical and cultural systems that originated in the Indian subcontinent. The vast body of Hindu scriptures, divided into Śruti and Smriti , lay the foundation of Hindu beliefs which primarily include dhárma, kárma, ahimsa and saṃsāra...
tradition, the Ashtamangala may be used during certain occasions including: pujas, weddingA wedding is the ceremony in which two people are united in marriage or a similar institution. Wedding traditions and customs vary greatly between cultures, ethnic groups, religions, countries, and social classes...
s (of Hindus), and coronationA coronation is a ceremony marking the investiture of a monarch or their consort with regal power, specifically involving the placement of a crown upon his or her head, and the presentation of other items of regalia...
s. The ashtamangala finds wide mention in the texts associated with HinduismHinduism is the predominant religion of the Indian subcontinent. Hinduism is often referred to as ', a Sanskrit phrase meaning "the eternal law", by its adherents. Generic "types" of Hinduism that attempt to accommodate a variety of complex views span folk and Vedic Hinduism to bhakti tradition, as...
, BuddhismBuddhism, as traditionally conceived, is a path of salvation attained through insight into the ultimate nature of reality. It encompasses a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha...
, and JainismJainism is an ancient dharmic religion from India that prescribes a path of non-violence for all forms of living beings in this world. Its philosophy and practice relies mainly on self-effort in progressing the soul on the spiritual ladder to divine consciousness...
. They have been depicted in decorative motifs and cultural artifacts.
- The northern Indian
North India is a loosely defined region in the northern part of India. The exact meaning of the term varies by usage. The dominant geographical features of North India are the Indo-Gangetic Plain and the Himalayas, which demarcate the region from Tibet and Central Asia...
tradition lists them as:-
- lion
The Lion is one of four big cats in the genus Panthera, and a member of the family Felidae. With some males exceeding 250 kg in weight, it is the second-largest living cat after the tiger...
- bull
Cattle are the most common type of large domesticated ungulates. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae, are the most widespread species of the genus Bos, and are most commonly classified collectively as Bos primigenius...
- elephant
Elephants are large land mammals in two genera of the family Elephantidae: Elephas and Loxodonta. Three species of elephant are living today: the African Bush Elephant, the African Forest Elephant and the Asian Elephant...
- water jar or a vessel filled with gems
- flywhisk
- flag
A flag is a piece of fabric, often flown from a pole or mast, generally used symbolically for signaling or identification. It is most commonly used to symbolize a country...
- trumpet
The trumpet is a musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BC...
- lamp
An oil lamp is a simple vessel used to produce light continuously for a period of time from an oil-based fuel source. The use of oil lamps commences from prehistory and extends to the present day....
- The southern Indian
South India, also known as the Dravida in the Indian anthem, is the area encompassing India's states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu as well as the union territories of Lakshadweep and Pondicherry, occupying 19.31% of area...
tradition lists them as:-
- flywhisk
- full vase
The vase is an open container, often used to hold cut flowers. It can be made from a number of materials including ceramics and glass. The vase is often decorated and thus used to extend the beauty of its contents....
- mirror
A mirror is an object with at least one polished and therefore specularly reflective surface. The most familiar type of mirror is the plane mirror, which has a flat surface...
- ankus
The Aṅkuśa is an accoutrement employed in the handling and training of elephants, the largest land animals. It consists of a hook which is attached to a two- or three-foot handle...
- drum
The drum is a member of the percussion group of music instruments, technically classified as a membranophone.. Drums consist of at least one membrane, called a drumhead or drum skin, that is stretched over a shell and struck, either directly with parts of a player's body, or with some sort of...
- lamp
An oil lamp is a simple vessel used to produce light continuously for a period of time from an oil-based fuel source. The use of oil lamps commences from prehistory and extends to the present day....
- flag
A flag is a piece of fabric, often flown from a pole or mast, generally used symbolically for signaling or identification. It is most commonly used to symbolize a country...
- a pair of fishes.
- The list also differs depending on the place, region, and the social groups.
In JainismJainism is an ancient dharmic religion from India that prescribes a path of non-violence for all forms of living beings in this world. Its philosophy and practice relies mainly on self-effort in progressing the soul on the spiritual ladder to divine consciousness...
too, 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
Chhatra is the precious parasol, umbrella or canopy, which is used as an auspicious symbol in Dharmic traditions.According to Hindu mythology, it is the emblem of Varuna, also considered an embodiment of kingship. Chhatra is also a deity, yidam and ishta-devata. In various Dharmic Traditions it is...
)
- Banner
A banner is a flag or other piece of cloth bearing a symbol, logo, slogan or other message. Banner-making is an ancient craft.The word derives from late Latin bandum, a cloth out of which a flag is made...
(Dhwaja)
- Vessel
Vessel may refer to:*Marine vessel or boat*Bowl *Blood vessel, a part of the circulatory system and function to transport blood throughout the body*Drinking vessel, a container for holding drinkable liquids...
(KalashaKalasha, also spelled as Kalash , is a metal pot with a large base and small mouth, large enough to hold a coconut. Sometimes "Kalasha" also refers to such a pot filled with water and topped with a coronet of mango leaves and a coconut...
)
- Whisk
thumb|120px|rightt|An African fly-whisk from [[Côte d'Ivoire]], made of horsehair with a decorated wooden handle.A fly-whisk is a tool to swat or disturb flies. It is used as a regalia in some cultures....
(Chauri)
- Mirror
A mirror is an object with at least one polished and therefore specularly reflective surface. The most familiar type of mirror is the plane mirror, which has a flat surface...
(Darpana)
- Seat
A chair is a raised surface used to sit on, commonly for use by one person. Chairs often have the seat raised above floor level, supported by four legs. A chair without a back or arm rests is a stool, or when raised up, a bar stool or high chair . A chair with arms is an armchair and with...
(Bhadrasana)
- Fan
A hand-held fan is an implement used to induce an airflow for the purpose of cooling or refreshing oneself. Any broad, flat surface waved back-and-forth will create a small airflow and therefore can be considered a rudimentary fan...
- Vessel
In the Svetambar Jain tradition, the eight symbols are:
- Swastika
The swastika is an equilateral cross with its arms bent at right angles, in either right-facing form or its mirrored left-facing form. Archaeological evidence of swastika-shaped ornaments dates from the Neolithic period and was first found in the Indus Valley Civilization of the Indian...
- Sri Vatsa
- Nandavarta
- Vardhmanaka (food vessel)
- Bhadrasana (seat)
- Kalasha
Kalasha, also spelled as Kalash , is a metal pot with a large base and small mouth, large enough to hold a coconut. Sometimes "Kalasha" also refers to such a pot filled with water and topped with a coronet of mango leaves and a coconut...
(pot)
- Darpan (mirror)
- Meen Yugala (pair of fish
A fish is any aquatic vertebrate animal that is typically ectothermic , covered with scales, and equipped with two sets of paired fins and several unpaired fins...
)
See also
- Eight Treasures
The Eight Treasures are popular symbols in Chinese art.While technically they may be any subset of the much longer list of the Hundred Treasures, there is a combination that is most popular...
(Chinese equivalent)
- Shalagram
- Dzi bead
Dzi bead is a bead stone of mysterious origin worn as part of a necklace and sometimes as a bracelet. In several Asian cultures, including that of Tibet, the bead is considered to provide positive spiritual benefit. These beads are generally prized as protective amulets and are sometimes ground...
- Mani stone
Mani stones are stone plates, rocks and/or pebbles, inscribed with the six syllabled mantra of Avalokiteshvara , as a form of prayer in Tibetan Buddhism. The term Mani stone may also be used in a loose sense to refer to stones on which any mantra or devotional designs are inscribed...
- Iconography
Iconography is the branch of art history which studies the identification, description, and the interpretation of the content of images. The word iconography literally means "image writing", and comes from the Greek εἰκών "image" and γράφειν "to write". A secondary meaning is the painting of icons...
- Sandpainting
Sandpainting is the art of pouring colored sands, powdered pigments from minerals or crystals, and pigments from other natural or synthetic sources onto a surface to make a painting. These are often ritual paintings for religious or healing ceremonies...
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