The Eight Auspicious Symbols of Vajrayana - Golden Fishes

The Eight Auspicious Symbols are one of the most common, yet very popular in the Vajrayana Buddhism or  Tibetan Buddhism and culture for over thousands of years.

Eight Auspicious Symbols in the Sanskrit word is  "Ashtamangala". In the Tibetan language is known as "Tashee-tag-gyay" The Eight Auspicious Symbols of Buddhism is a genre of Buddhist symbolism. The symbols derive from Indian iconography and have become especially popular in Tibetan Buddhism. 

The Eight Auspicious Symbols are traditionally offered to Lama, teachers during long life ceremonies and are used in various forms of ritual art. It is believed that each of the Tibetan symbols represents one aspect of the Buddha’s teachings and when appearing all together their powers are multiplied. 

In this fascinating study,the Eight Auspicious Symbols are as follows:-

1. Right-Coiled White Conch Shell

2. Precious Parasol 

3. Victory Banner 

4. Golden Fishes 

5. Dharma Wheel 

6. Endless Knot 

7. Lotus Flower 

8. Treasure Vase

These eight symbols of good fortune represent the offerings made by the Gods, and Brahma to Shakyamuni Buddha immediately after he attained enlightenment. 

What do the eight symbols of Buddhism mean?

In Buddhism, these eight symbols of good fortune represent the offerings made by the gods to Shakyamuni Buddha immediately.

4. Golden Fishes

The two golden fish (Sanskrit: gaurmatsya; Tibetan: sernya) symbolise the auspiciousness of all sentient beings in a state of fearlessness without danger of drowning in saṃsāra. The two golden fishes are linked with the Ganges and Yamuna nadi, prana, and carp:

The pair of fish 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 symbolise 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.

What does the golden fish symbolize?

In Buddhism, the golden fishes symbolise happiness, as they have complete freedom in the water. They represent fertility and abundance, as they multiply very rapidly. Fish often swim in pairs, and in China, they represented conjugal unity and fidelity, where a pair of fishes would often be given as a wedding present.

The golden fish symbolises the auspiciousness of all living beings in a state of fearlessness, without danger of drowning in the ocean of suffering, and migrating from place to place freely and spontaneously, just as fish swim freely without fear through water.

In Tibetan Buddhism, the sea is usually associated with the world of suffering and trials. This world of suffering is called the "cycle of samsara." The symbol of these two Golden Fish represents the contentment and courage to swim across the ocean of suffering without tiring or drowning, and free of fear and anxiety. Artists usually depict these two fish as two carp fish because the carp is an elegant fish owing to its great shape, size, and longevity.  

Two Golden Fish are also the symbol of eyes for Buddha and act as a reminder to be fearless no matter what fate brings.

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Aspiration For Bodhichitta

For those in whom the precious Bodhichitta has not arisen

May it arise and not decrease.

But increase further and further.

 

Dedication of Merit

By this merit, may we then obtain omniscience then.

Having defeated the enemies wrongdoings

May we liberate migratory from the ocean of existence.

With its stormy waves of birth, old age, sickness, and death.

 

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