Ashtamangala: first row (left to right): parasol, pair of golden fish, conch; second row: treasure vase, lotus; Last row: infinite knot, victory banner and wheel.

The Ashtamangala (Sanskrit: अष्टमङ्गल, romanized: Aṣṭamaṅgala) is the sacred set of Eight Auspicious Signs (Chinese: 八吉祥, bājíxiáng) featured in a number of Indian religions such as Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhism. The symbols or "symbolic attributes" (Tibetan: ཕྱག་མཚན་, THL: chaktsen) are yidam and teaching tools. Not only do these attributes (or energetic signatures) point to qualities of enlightened mindstream, but they are the investiture that ornaments these enlightened "qualities" (Sanskrit: guṇa; Tibetan: ཡོན་ཏན་, THL: yönten). Many cultural enumerations and variations of the Ashtamangala are extant.

Carved wooden door with 8 auspicious signs (Ashtamangala) in Nepal

Buddhism

Hinduism

In Indian and Hindu tradition,[11] 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.

Jainism

Adinath image with Ashtamangala placed in front of it, according to Digambara tradition
Ashtamangala, according to Svetambara tradition, on Jain manuscript cover, LACMA M.72.53.22
(from left) : Swastika, Vardhmanaka (food vessel), Pair of fish, Kalasha (pot), Bhadrasana (seat), Srivatsa, Nandavarta, Darpan (mirror)

In Jainism, the Ashtamangala are a set of eight auspicious symbols.[13] There is some variation among different traditions concerning the eight symbols.[14]

In the Digambara tradition, the eight symbols are:

  1. Parasol
  2. Dhvaja
  3. Kalasha
  4. Chamara
  5. Mirror
  6. Chair
  7. Hand fan
  8. Vessel

In the Śvētāmbara tradition, the eight symbols are:

  1. Swastika
  2. Srivatsa
  3. Nandavarta
  4. Vardhmanaka (food vessel)
  5. Bhadrasana (seat)
  6. Kalasha (pot)
  7. Darpana (mirror)
  8. Pair of fish

See also

References

Citations

  1. 1 2 3 Source: (accessed: January 18, 2008) Archived 13 January 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ↑ Source: Dpal be'u
  3. 1 2 Sarat Chandra Das (1902). Tibetan-English Dictionary with Sanskrit Synonyms. Calcutta, India: mainly used in buddhismBengal Secretariat Book Depot, p.69
  4. ↑ Hyytiäinen, Tiina (2008). "The Eight Auspicious Symbols". In Saloniemi, Marjo-Riitta (ed.). Tibet: A Culture in Transition. Vapriikki. p. 198. ISBN 978-951-609-377-5.
  5. ↑ Source: gser nya
  6. ↑ Hyytiäinen, Tiina (2008). "The Eight Auspicious Symbols". In Saloniemi, Marjo-Riitta (ed.). Tibet: A Culture in Transition. Vapriikki. p. 197. ISBN 978-951-609-377-5.
  7. ↑ Powers, John (2007). Introduction to Tibetan Buddhism: revised edition. Snow Lion Publications. p. 23. ISBN 978-1-55939-282-2.
  8. ↑ Hyytiäinen, Tiina (2008). "The Eight Auspicious Symbols". In Saloniemi, Marjo-Riitta (ed.). Tibet: A Culture in Transition. Vapriikki. p. 196. ISBN 978-951-609-377-5.
  9. ↑ Hyytiäinen, Tiina (2008). "The Eight Auspicious Symbols". In Saloniemi, Marjo-Riitta (ed.). Tibet: A Culture in Transition. Vapriikki. pp. 198–199. ISBN 978-951-609-377-5.
  10. ↑ Zhou Lili. "A Summary of Porcelains' Religious and Auspicious Designs." The Bulletin of the Shanghai Museum 7 (1996), p.133
  11. ↑ Dictionary of Hindu Lore and Legend (ISBN 0-500-51088-1) by Anna Dallapiccola
  12. ↑ Gopal, Madan (1990). K.S. Gautam (ed.). India through the ages. Publication Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. p. 70.
  13. ↑ Vyas 1995, p. 20.
  14. ↑ Titze & Bruhn 1998, p. 234.

Sources

source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashtamangala