Ashtamangala

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Ashta-mangala, the eight Glückssymbole Buddhist:
(First line, l → r): honor screen goldfish pair , conch
(Second row), treasure vase , lotus
(last line) Perpetual node , Victory Banner and wheel . Leh , India.

Ashtamangala ( Sanskrit अष्टमंगल Aṣṭamaṅgala , Tibetan བཀྲ་ ཤིས་ རྟགས་ བརྒྱད ZWPY Zhaxi Dag'gyä , Wylie bkra shis rtags brgyad Lhasa dialect - IPA : [ tʂáɕitaʔ cɛ̀ʔ ]; Chinese  吉祥 八宝 , Pinyin Jíxiáng bā bǎo ) are a sacred series symbols of good luck endemic to a number of Indian religions , and the like. a. Hinduism , Jainism and Buddhism . The symbols or "symbolic attributes" ( Tibetan ཕྱག་ མཚན ། Wylie phyag-mtshan ) are yidam and teaching aids. These attributes (energetic signatures) refer not only to the qualities of the enlightened stream of consciousness , but are the investiture that adorn these enlightened "qualities" ( Sanskrit : guṇa ; Tibetan ཡོན་ ཏན Wylie yon tan ). Many cultural enumerations and variations of the Ashtamangala still exist.

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 .
("Groupings of the eight lucky symbols were originally used in India for ceremonies such as the inauguration / coronation of a king. An early grouping of symbols included: throne , swastika , handprint, hook- knot , vase with jewels, holy water container, goldfish pair , bowl with lid. In Buddhism, these eight symbols of good fortune represent the gifts of the gods to Buddha Shakyamuni immediately after he found enlightenment. ")

Buddhism

Tibetan Buddhists use a special set of eight symbols of good luck, ashtamangala , in household and public art. Some common interpretations are given with each symbol, although different teachers may give different interpretations:

decorated snail horns (11th century?)

Snail horn

The right-turning white snail shell ( Sanskrit : Śaṅkha ; Tibetan དུང་ གྱས་ འཁྱིལ Wylie dung gyas' khyil ), which represents the beautiful, deep, melodious, penetrating and omnipresent sound of Buddhadharma , which awakens the disciples from their deep slumber of ignorance and them urges to achieve her own good and that of others.

In Hinduism, the snail horn ( shankha ) is an attribute of Vishnu, just like the wheel or the throwing disc ( chakra ). The Vaishnavism believes that Sakyamuni Buddha an avatar of Vishnu is.

"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". "

“It is believed that the snail horn was originally a horn trumpet; ancient Indian mythical epics mention hero characters wearing snail horns. The Indian god Vishnu is also described as having a snail horn as one of his main emblems; his snail horn was named Panchajanya, which means 'to have control over the five classes of living beings'. "

Endless knot

Endless (eternal) knot

The stage of endless knot or eternal knot ( Devanagari : श्रीवत्स; Sanskrit : śrīvatsa ; Tibetan དཔལ་ བེའ ུ Wylie dpal be'u ) is according to Chandra et al. () for “the auspicious mark represented by a curled noose emblematical of love” (German: “the lucky sign indicated by a curly loop as an emblem for love”). Moreover, he represents the interweaving of wisdom and passion, the interdependence of religious doctrine and secular affairs, the unity of wisdom and method, the inseparability of emptiness and pratītya-samutpāda, and the unity of wisdom and passion in enlightenment. It is also symbolic in knot symbolism by linking ancestors and omnipresence , and the magical ritual and meta-process of binding (see etymology of tantra , yoga and religion ). This knot / net / mesh metaphor promotes the Buddhist teaching of the doctrine of permeation .

(Gold) pair of fish

Goldfish pair

The two goldfish ( Sanskrit : Gaur- matsya ; Tibetan གསེར་ ཉ Wylie gser nya ), the status of the fearless floating / good hands in a harmless ocean of Samsara represent play metaphorically often to the eyes of Buddha or the Rigpa -face on; They symbolize the happiness of all living beings in a state of fearlessness without running the risk of drowning in samsara (ocean of suffering) and wander freely and spontaneously from place to place and from instruction to instruction just as fish swim freely and without fear through the water .

In the following quote, the two goldfish are linked to the Ganges and the Yamuna , and Nadi , Prana and carp :

“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 Christianity (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. "

“The two fish originally represent the two main rivers of India - Ganges and Yamuna. These rivers are associated with the lunar and sun channels, which originate in the nostrils and carry the changing rhythms of breath and prana. They have religious meaning in Hindu, Jain and Buddhist traditions but also in Christianity (the symbol of the fish, the feeding of the 5000). In Buddhism, the fish symbolizes luck because they have complete freedom of movement in the water. They represent fertility and abundance. It is often drawn in the shape of a carp, which is considered sacred in the Orient because of its elegant beauty, size and lifespan. "

Lotus (blossom)

The lotus symbolizes the "original purity" of the body, speech and spirit.

The holy lotus flower ( Sanskrit : Padma ; Tibetan པད་ མེ Wylie pad me ), which symbolizes the "original purity" ( Tibetan ཀ་ དག Wylie ka dag ) of the body, speech and mind, swims over the muddy waters of clinging to the ephemeral and of desire; it represents the full bloom of healthy deeds in blissful liberation.

Honor / parasol

parasol

The jeweled parasol ( Sanskrit chhatraratna ; Devanagari: छत्ररत्न; Tibetan རིན ཆེན་ གདུགས Wylie rin chen gdugs ) or honorary umbrella / sacred umbrella, which in its ritual function is similar to that of the canopy or the conopeum . Müller-Ebeling, Rätsch & Shahi (2002) scientifically mapped the origins of the sacred umbrella as a symbolic representation of a sacred medicinal and hallucinogenic mushroom of the Himalayas - pharmacopoeia ; it represents the protection of living beings from harmful influences, illness; he represents the conopeum or heavenly tent and therefore the extensibility and development of the universe and the aither ; he represents extensibility, development and protection quality of the Sahasrara ; under the auspices of the precious umbrella, all take refuge (Buddhism) in the Dharma .

Treasure vase / holy water vessel

Treasure vase ( kalasha )

The 'treasure vase' or 'urn of wisdom' ( Tibetan བུམ་ པ Wylie bum pa ) represents health , longevity, prosperity , abundance, wisdom and the phenomenon of space ( Sanskrit : [[akasha | ākāśa ]] ), where 'space' a special meaning of the element of the four elements (Sanskrit: Mahabhuta) and the five pure lights is. 'Space' (Akasha) is that elementary matrix that encompasses, contains and directs all phenomena. 'Space' is the repository and connecting element (English: Conduit (spiritualism)) of everything that is manifest, embodied or incarnated; it symbolizes Śūnyatā (Sanskrit); the iconographic representation of the 'wisdom urn' is often very similar to the 'water pot' (Sanskrit: Kumbha ), one of the few permitted possessions of a Theravada - Bhikkhu or - Bhikkhuni ; the wisdom urn / treasure vase is used in many Vajrayana appointments and initiations. As an architectural element ( kalasha ), it also plays a major role.

wheel

Wheel of law

The wheel of law ( Sanskrit Dharmachakra ; Tibetan ཁོར་ ལོ Wylie khor lo ) sometimes represents the Sakyamuni Buddha and the teaching of Dharma as well as the mandala and the chakra . This symbol is commonly used by Tibetan Buddhists , sometimes including the inner wheel of Gankyil (Tibetan). Nepalese Buddhists do not use the wheel of law as one of the eight symbols of good luck.

Instead of the Dharma wheel , a Chamaru (fly whisk) can be used as one of the Ashtamangala to symbolize tantric manifestations. It is made from a yak tail that is attached to a silver shaft and is used for ritual recitations and for fanning deities in a religious happiness ceremony ( puja ). The wheel of mani is another Dharmachakra appearance that combines the function of the yak tail with the doctrinal aspect of the wheel of law . The Sudarshana Chakra is a Hindu wheel symbol.

In Unicode the wheel symbol ☸ is contained in the block Various symbols as U + 2638 wheel of dharma .

Victory Standard

Victory banner / victory standard

Dhvaja (Skt. Also Dhwaja; Tibetan རྒྱལ་ མཚན Wylie rgyal mtshan ), banner or flag. The Dhvaja banner was a military standard of ancient Indian warfare. Makara - Dhvaja later became an emblem of the Vedic god of love and lust - Karkadhvaja. Within the Tibetan tradition, there is a list of eleven different forms of the victory banner that represent eleven specific methods of overcoming defilements. Many variations in the design of the Dhvajas can be seen on the roofs of Tibetan monasteries, symbolizing the Buddha's victory over the four maras.

Order of symbols

Different traditions arrange the eight symbols differently.

Order of the lucky symbols in Buddhism from ...
symbol Nepal China
Endless knot 1 8th
Lotus flowers 2 5
Victory banner 3 3
Wheel of the Law /
Chamaru 		4th 1
Treasure vase 5 6th
Golden fish pair 6th 7th
Umbrella of honor 7th 4th
Snail horn 8th 2

Hindu symbols

In Indian and Hindu traditions, Ashtamangala can be used on certain occasions including: pujas , weddings (by Hindus) and coronations . The Ashtamangala are mentioned extensively in texts associated with Hinduism , Buddhism and Jainism . They have been depicted in decorative motifs and cultural artifacts.

  • The North Indian tradition lists these as follows:
    • lion
    • Cop
    • elephant
    • (Weih) water jug ​​/ vessel filled with precious stones
    • Fly whisk
    • flag
    • Trumpet
    • oil lamp
  • The South Indian tradition lists these as follows:
  • The list differs depending on the place, region and social group.

Jain symbols

Adinath picture with Ashtamangala

In Jainism as well , the Ashtamangala are a set of eight symbols of happiness. There is some variation between different traditions in the eight symbols.

In the Digambara tradition these eight symbols are:

  1. Parasol ( Chhatraratna )
  2. Banner ( dhvaja )
  3. Vessel ( kalasha )
  4. Frond ( chauri )
  5. Mirror ( darpana )
  6. Seat ( sukhasana )
  7. subjects
  8. vessel

In the Svetambara tradition, these eight symbols are:

  1. swastika
  2. Sri Vatsa
  3. Nandavarta
  4. Vardhmanaka (food vessel )
  5. Bhadrasana (seat)
  6. Kalasha (pot)
  7. Darpan (mirror)
  8. Meen Yugala (pair of fish)

See also

literature

  • Robert Beer; The Encyclopedia of Tibetan Symbols and Motifs . Shambhala Publications, 1999, ISBN 1-57062-416-X .
  • Robert Beer: The Handbook of Tibetan Buddhist Symbols . Shambhala Publications, 2003, ISBN 1-59030-100-5
  • Müller-Ebeling, Claudia, Christian Rätsch , Surendra Bahadur Shahi: Shamanism and Tantra in the Himalayas . 2002

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c Sarat Chandra Das: Tibetan-English Dictionary with Sanskrit synonyms . Bengal Secretariat Book Depot, Calcutta 1902, p. 69
  2. ↑ Source: bkra-shis-rtags brgyad
  3. ↑ a b c Source: About The Eight Auspicious Symbols. www.buddhistinformation.com, archived from the original on January 13, 2008 ; accessed on September 15, 2013 .
  4. ↑ Source: Dpal be'u
  5. ↑ Chandra et al., 1902, p. 69
  6. ↑ gser nya
  7. ↑ The order in Chinese Buddhism was established by Zhou Lili during the Qing Dynasty . A Summary of Porcelains' Religious and Auspicious Designs . In: The Bulletin of the Shanghai Museum , 7, 1996, p. 133.
  8. ↑ Anna Dallapiccola: Dictionary of Hindu Lore and Legend . ISBN 0-500-51088-1 (German: Dictionary of Hindu Customs and Legends )